OnlineJobs.ph vs Upwork: fees, pay and the kind of work each one gets you

Both are free to join. The difference is how you get hired and who takes a cut: on OnlineJobs.ph an employer hires you and pays you directly; on Upwork you bid for contracts and Upwork keeps a fee from each one.

Published by DayShift, the job site of Catalyst Outsourcing, which is one of the options below. Checked 6 October 2026.

Pick OnlineJobs.ph for a long-term salaried role with one employer and no platform fee. Pick Upwork for many short projects with Upwork's payment protection, budgeting 0% to 15% of each contract and USD 0.15 per Connect.

Side by side

SiteWhat it isCost to youPay shown before you applyHoursHow you get paid
OnlineJobs.phJob board for Filipino workers; Philippine nationals only[1]Free, and it takes no cut of your pay[1]Usually, in the employer's currency[2]Set by each employer; most are in the US, UK or Australia[1]Directly by the employer, for example by Payoneer or PayPal[1]
UpworkFreelance marketplace[3]0% to 15% fee per contract, USD 0.15 per Connect, USD 0.99 per bank withdrawal[4]Budgets on fixed-price jobs; not on the hourly ones read[5]You manage your own time; clients worldwide[3]Through your Upwork balance, then withdrawn[3]
DayShift (this site)A third option: the job site of a Singapore agencyFree: no application, placement or training feeYes, on every listing, in SGD or MYRSingapore and APAC clients on GMT+8, so daytimeBy Catalyst Outsourcing, under your contract

Who should pick which

You want one long-term employer and to keep the whole salary
OnlineJobs.ph. Employers pay a subscription, and you agree pay with them directly.
You want many short projects with payment protection
Upwork, if you can budget for its fee and for Connects.
You want daytime hours with Singapore clients
DayShift, which is ours: smaller, with the pay on every listing.

How you get hired

On OnlineJobs.ph you make a free profile, verify your ID, and apply to jobs or wait for employers to contact you. Each employer runs its own interview, by email, call or video.

On Upwork your profile has to be approved first. Then you send proposals, most of which cost Connects at USD 0.15 each, and agree a contract with the client.

What it costs you

OnlineJobs.ph says you will not pay anything to get a job, and it does not take a percentage of your salary. Employers pay it a monthly subscription instead.

Upwork's Freelancer Service Fee is 0% to 15% per contract, shown before you propose or accept. Add Connects to bid, and USD 0.99 for each withdrawal to a local bank.

How you get paid, and what protects you

On OnlineJobs.ph the employer pays you directly, by a method you agree on. The site says it steps in on pay disputes and removes employers who refuse to pay.

On Upwork the client is billed through Upwork, and hourly and fixed-price contracts carry payment protection when you meet its requirements, such as logging your hours.

Questions

Is OnlineJobs.ph free for job seekers?

Yes. Its own page says you will not have to pay anything to get a job, and it takes no cut of your pay.

How much does Upwork take?

A Freelancer Service Fee of 0% to 15% per contract, plus USD 0.15 per Connect to send most proposals, as of 6 October 2026.

Which one has day shift work?

Neither sets hours. On OnlineJobs.ph most employers are in the US, UK or Australia, so hours depend on each job; on Upwork you manage your own time.

Related comparisons

Sources, read 6 October 2026

  1. OnlineJobs.ph, How it works for job seekers, https://www.onlinejobs.ph/how/jobseeker
  2. OnlineJobs.ph, job search, https://www.onlinejobs.ph/jobseekers/jobsearch
  3. Upwork, How to sign up as a freelancer, https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/24492534968211-How-to-sign-up-as-a-freelancer-on-Upwork
  4. Upwork, Freelancer Service Fee, https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062538-Learn-about-the-Freelancer-Service-Fee
  5. Upwork, virtual assistant jobs, https://www.upwork.com/freelance-jobs/virtual-assistant/