Freelancer.com vs Upwork:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Upwork had more branded searches than Freelancer.com among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand. Upwork was estimated to have 5.3K branded searches compared to Freelancer.com’s 120, and held a 41.8% Share of Search versus Freelancer.com’s 0.95%.
Follow Freelancer.com vs Upwork and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Which is more popular in search, Freelancer.com or Upwork?
Compare the freelance marketplaces New Zealand businesses hire contractors from. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Upwork, Freelancer.com. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Fiverr | Upwork | Toptal | Freelancer.com | 99designs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 65.7% | 31.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.74% |
| Nov 2025 | 60.8% | 35.8% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.49% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.9% | 36.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.57% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.2% | 40.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.38% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.8% | 36.3% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.48% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.2% | 41.8% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.68% |
| Apr 2026 | 55.5% | 41.3% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.38% |
| May 2026 | 58.3% | 37.7% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.67% |
| Jun 2026 | 59.8% | 37.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.55% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.2% | 41.9% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.47% |
| Aug 2026 | 55.1% | 41.8% | 1.5% | 0.95% | 0.71% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Freelancer.com and Upwork comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Upwork was ahead of Freelancer.com in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Freelancer.com’s estimated Share of Search among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 1.1% to 0.95%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 180 to 120.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Upwork’s estimated Share of Search among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 31.3% to 41.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.1K to 5.3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand freelance marketplaces in August 2026?
1 change
In August 2026, Freelancer.com fell from 3rd to 4th among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Freelancer.com’s and Upwork’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Freelancer.com
2 branded search terms
- freelancer com
- freelancer website
Upwork
11 branded search terms
- odesk upwork
- upwork
- upwork co m
- upwork com
- upwork freelance
- upwork freelance platform
- upwork freelance writing
- upwork hire
- upwork near me
- upwork nz
- upwork virtual assistant
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.