In today’s digital landscape, freelancers and consumers have a range of platforms to showcase skills or find the right talent. Upwork and Fiverr dominate the market, offering freelancers a free way to display their skills. However, while these platforms are well-known, they have significant restrictions and costs that can impact freelancers and their clients. Being a freelancer on these platforms often comes with its own set of challenges.
On Upwork and Fiverr, freelancers must use the platform’s escrow system, which charges high fees for every transaction. These fees are deducted from the freelancer and the client, often reducing the freelancer’s total earnings and increasing the consumer’s cost. While this is the cost of doing business on these platforms, it adds up quickly, affecting freelancer profitability and consumer value.
Another drawback is the strict prohibition against doing business outside of the platform. Once a freelancer and client connect through Upwork or Fiverr, they cannot take their business off the platform. This means communication is tightly monitored, and freelancers are restricted from sharing personal contact information, like email addresses, to maintain privacy.
While this keeps business on the platform, it presents issues for clients who may need to share confidential or sensitive information. For example, clients often require freelancers to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Still, the lack of privacy in these platforms’ messaging systems makes it difficult to send important information securely.
Communication Barriers
Another limitation is the communication process. Freelancers and clients often operate in different time zones, making it challenging to connect in real-time. Although these platforms provide messaging systems, communication can be slow or delayed, hindering project progress. Ideally, both parties would be online simultaneously, but this isn’t always the case, causing inefficiencies in collaboration.
SphereCard: A Better Alternative
Enter SphereCard is the new platform designed to address these issues while offering more value. SphereCard provides all the features that platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer, but it also has significant advantages that give freelancers and consumers more control and privacy.
Unlike its competitors, SphereCard allows unrestricted communication between freelancers and clients. Whether you want to exchange contact information or send confidential documents, you fully control your communications without worrying about the platform monitoring your messages. This makes SphereCard the perfect choice for clients who require privacy and secure communication when sharing sensitive details like NDAs.
Flexible Fees and Escrow
SphereCard also offers an escrow service, but unlike Upwork and Fiverr, its fees are much lower. Freelancers and clients are not obligated to use the escrow system but have the option if they prefer a secure payment process. This flexibility translates into significant cost savings for both parties, making SphereCard an affordable and attractive option for freelance professionals.
A Comprehensive Marketplace
On top of its privacy features and cost savings, SphereCard offers a variety of ways for freelancers to market their skills. Whether you’re a graphic designer, a writer, or a programmer, SphereCard makes it easy to showcase your work and connect with potential clients. You can leverage multiple marketing tools within the platform to promote your business more effectively.
Conclusion
While Upwork and Fiverr have long been the go-to platforms for freelancers and clients, their limitations—high fees, restricted communication, and lack of privacy—can hold users back. SphereCard is a superior alternative, providing the same marketplace benefits while offering more control, privacy, and flexibility at a fraction of the cost. For freelancers looking to take their business to the next level and consumers seeking a seamless, secure, and cost-effective way to hire talent, SphereCard is the future of freelancing.