Holdy vs Upwork

Your clients. Your terms. Half the fee.

Upwork takes 10% and keeps you locked in for 24 months. Holdy charges 5-8%, you bring your own clients, and there's no non-compete.

Switch to Holdy See the comparison →
Head to head

Feature comparison

Feature
Platform fee
Bring your own client
Non-compete clause
Scope locked before pay
Buyer protection
Dispute resolution
Revision handling
Time to first payout
Chargeback defence
Profile/reviews required
Monthly fees
Recommended
Holdy 5-8% Fee
5-8% Tiered by deal size
That's the model
None
Deliverables list is the contract
Rule-based, automatic outcomes
Fixed rules, same for everyone
Budget set per deal, separate from rejections
2-7 days Via Stripe
Auto-bundled delivery evidence
No, just share a Commit Link
None
Upwork 10% cut
10% Flat rate
! 24-month non-circumvention
24 months lock-in
! Contract/milestone based
Upwork moderator review
Human moderators, case-by-case
Depends on contract terms
5-30 days Milestone + clearance
Platform handles
Profile + JSS score matters
! Free tier + paid Connects
The fine print

The clause nobody reads

Upwork's Terms of Service include a 24-month non-circumvention clause. If you find a client on Upwork, or a client finds you there, you cannot work with them outside Upwork for 24 months after your last contract ends.

Even if that client is someone you already knew. Even if they found your website through Google and just happened to message you on Upwork first. The moment a relationship touches Upwork, it belongs to Upwork for two years.

This means you're effectively renting your client relationship from Upwork. You do the work, build the trust, deliver great results, but you can't take that relationship with you without waiting two years or continuing to pay Upwork's fee.

Holdy has no such clause. Your clients are yours. Always.

The real cost

Side by side on a €1,000 deal

Upwork

€100 fee

10% flat rate. You keep €900.

But if the client wants to work with you directly next time, you can't for 24 months. Or you keep paying Upwork anyway.

Holdy

€65 fee

6.5% at this deal size. You keep €935.

The client is yours forever. Next deal can be on Holdy again, or not. Your choice.

€350

saved over 10 deals

€4,200

saved over a year at 10 deals/month

Honest take

Who should use what

Stay on Upwork if:

  • You need Upwork to find clients for you

  • You rely on the Upwork algorithm and JSS score

  • You're building a profile from scratch with no existing network

Switch to Holdy if:

  • You already have clients who contact you directly

  • You're tired of the 24-month lock-in

  • You want scope locked upfront instead of negotiating milestones

  • You want faster payouts without the clearance period

Your clients deserve better than a 24-month clause.

Lower fees. No lock-in. Your relationship, your rules.

Create your first Commit Link