Ask Are Upwork's proposal costs discouraging talented freelancers?

[Edward22]

Talented freelancers sometimes avoid applying to certain jobs on Upwork simply because the proposal costs do not match the size or budget of the project. Spending several connects on a job that might not even respond back feels like a risk many skilled workers are not willing to take repeatedly. This may push some talented people toward platforms with lower or no upfront costs. Are Upwork's proposal costs discouraging talented freelancers from applying to jobs that truly match their skills?

 

[SuperAffiliateX]

Yeah they can be. Spending connects just to send proposals feels risky when you are new and have no reviews yet. Talented freelancers who are broke often skip good jobs because they don't want to waste money. It pushes people to chase cheap gigs or leave Upwork completely.