Upwork vs WritingEmpires: I Tracked 60 Days of Both. Here's What Paid More.

Published: November 10, 2025 | Category: FREELANCERS GUIDE

I Ran an Experiment No Sane Freelancer Would Try.

For 60 days, I split my time 50/50 between Upwork and WritingEmpires. Same niches. Same effort. Same 8-hour workdays.

One platform had me bidding like a matatu tout at rush hour.
The other sent briefs to my phone while I was eating githeri.

Results?
Upwork: KSh 87K total.
WritingEmpires: KSh 234K.

Same writer. Same skills. Different game.

If you're tired of "submit your best rate" emails from clients named "John S." who disappear after 3 messages, keep reading.

This isn't another "leave Upwork" rant. It's data from my M-Pesa statements and screenshots you can verify.

By the end, you'll know exactly which platform fits your hustle—or if you should run both (spoiler: maybe not).

The Setup: What I Tested

I'm a 2-year freelance writer based in Nairobi.
4.9 Upwork rating. 200+ jobs done.
Niches: SaaS case studies, health tech guides, crypto explainers—all hot in Kenya 2025.

Time split:
• 4 hours/day on Upwork
• 4 hours/day on WritingEmpires

Why 60 days?
Long enough to see real patterns. Short enough to stay sane.

I tracked everything:
• Proposals sent
• Gigs won
• Hours worked
• M-Pesa alerts
• Stress levels (yes, really)

No cherry-picking. No fluff. Just numbers.

Upwork: The Grind in Numbers

I treated Upwork like a full-time job.

What I did:

• Sent 47 proposals (average 20 minutes each = 15.6 hours bidding)
• Won 8 gigs (17% success rate)
• Total earned: KSh 87K
• After Upwork fees (20% first KSh 43K, 10% after): KSh 78K net
• Hours on paid work: 32 hours
• Hours bidding: 15.6 hours
• Actual hourly rate: KSh 1,638/hour

The hidden costs:

• Data: ~KSh 2K for constant proposal refreshing
• Mental tax: High. Every "We went with another writer" stings
• Payment speed: 5–14 days after completion
• Client quality: 3/8 were nightmares (endless revisions, scope creep)

What worked on Upwork:
✅ Established profile helps (took me 6 months to build)
✅ High-ticket clients exist (found one KSh 45K gig)
✅ Global reach (US/EU clients pay better than local)

What sucked:
❌ Bidding fatigue is real
❌ Race to the bottom pricing
❌ "I can do this for $5" competition from everywhere
❌ Proposal ghosting (80% no response)

WritingEmpires The Match System

I registered with 3 niche samples. That’s it.

What I did:

• Got matched to 11 briefs via dashboard
• Accepted 9 (turned down 2 low-budget ones)
• Total earned: KSh 234K
• After WritingEmpires cut (15%): KSh 199K net
• Hours on paid work: 38 hours
• Hours on platform admin: 2 hours (just accepting briefs)
• Actual hourly rate: KSh 4,975/hour

How matching works:

1. Client posts brief with budget (pre-screened by WritingEmpires)
2. System scans writer profiles for niche fit
3. Top 3–5 writers get pinged
4. First to accept gets it (24-hour window)
5. Submit → instant M-Pesa (or get packages for priority)

The money shots:

• Biggest gig: KSh 78K SaaS case study (6 hours)
• Fastest: KSh 26K in 2.5 hours (crypto explainer)
• M-Pesa speed: Average 8 minutes after submission
• Client quality: 8/9 smooth (clear briefs, metrics provided)

What worked:
✅ Zero bidding (saved 15+ hours)
✅ Pre-vetted clients (no jokers asking for free samples)
✅ Instant payment (bills don't wait 14 days)
✅ Package perks speed up matching

What needs work:
❌ Fewer briefs than Upwork (but higher quality)
❌ Limited to Kenyan/African market (but rates match global)
❌ New platform (smaller pool—growing fast)

Side-by-Side Breakdown

Who Should Use What

Stick with Upwork if:

• You're building your first portfolio (free exposure)
• You need global client diversity
• Your niche isn't hot in Kenya yet (e.g., Vietnamese SEO)
• You enjoy the bidding game (some do!)

Switch to WritingEmpires if:

• You're tired of proposals that go nowhere
• You need money fast (M-Pesa instant beats escrow waits)
• Your niche is local-friendly (tech, health, crypto, climate)
• You value time over volume
• You want packages for steady work

Run both if:

• You have 6+ hours/day
• Upwork profile is already strong (maintain it)
• WritingEmpires slots fill your off-hours
• You like diversified income

My plan: 80% WritingEmpires, 20% Upwork (only for 5-star past clients).

Real Talk: The Money Math

If you match my results:

• 60 days on WritingEmpires = KSh 234K
• Annualized: KSh 1.4M/year
• That's KSh 117K/month average
• With packages: Potentially KSh 150K–200K/month (faster matching)

Reality check:

• First month: KSh 50–80K (fewer samples, slower matching)
• By month 3: KSh 120K+ if you nail 2 niches
• Top frexperts: KSh 300K+ (but 50–60 hours/week)

Upwork math:

• 60 days = KSh 87K
• Annualized: KSh 522K/year (KSh 43K/month)
• To hit KSh 120K/month: 3x the proposals and time

Conclusion & Next Step

I'm not saying delete Upwork.
I'm saying stop making it your only hustle.

WritingEmpires proved I can 3x my income with half the stress.

If that sounds worth testing, register at writingempire.com/register.

First brief could hit your phone today—M-Pesa waiting.

Try it for 30 days. Track your own numbers. DM me the results.

One of us is about to make rent in 3 days instead of 14.