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In this new era, the desire of many people to be their own bosses can be fulfilled by working as a freelancer.
Numerous people currently take advantage of the freedom and advantages that working as a freelancer offers. Actually, more than 20% of Americans are thought to work as independent contractors on a full- or part-time basis.
So, if you want to become a freelancer and you are looking for the disadvantages of Fiverr, this article is for you.
What is Fiverr?
A well-known online marketplace called Fiverr was established in 2010 and provides independent contractors to clients all over the world.
The idea behind Fiverr is a two-sided marketplace where people can sell and acquire all kinds of digital services. Since 2013, Fiverr has established itself as one of the most popular marketplace services in the United States, ranking in the top 100 most visited websites.
If you head over to Google Trends and type Fiverr, you will get this:

As you can see, Fiverr has been getting popular since it was launched in Feb 2010.
If you are someone who is looking to become a freelancer, then Fiverr can be a great platform.
But there are a few disadvantages that I would like you to know before you take the decision of choosing Fiverr as your preferred platform.
Disadvantages Of Fiverr
1. Low commission
Since Fiverr’s main source of revenue is taking a cut on every transaction, you will get less money when you complete a task.
For instance, Fiverr takes 20% for every transaction, which can be quite significant if you are not charging a lot of money for the services that you provide.
If you are a seller, here is how much you will make after each completed transaction:
Gig Price | Revenue after order completed |
$5.00 | $4.00 |
$10.00 | $8.00 |
$15.00 | $12.00 |
$20.00 | $16.00 |
$25.00 | $20.00 |
$50.00 | $40.00 |
$100.00 | $80.00 |
$150.00 | $120.00 |
$200.00 | $160.00 |
$250.00 | $200.00 |
$500.00 | $400.00 |
$1000.00 | $800.00 |
2. Can be difficult for beginners to get started
Many beginners find it very hard to get started on the platform since there is a lot of competition. Since Fiverr has a large number of freelancers, you will be up against thousands of other sellers.
Also, the Fiverr algorithms favor sellers who have good reviews in the search results. This in turn discourages many beginners as it can be really difficult to get their gigs ranking on page one.
Well, this is a problem any beginner on any platform will have. The problem is not only on Fiverr.
People who have started earlier will have a definite advantage over beginners.
But it doesn’t mean you should give up. Everything has a solution and if you are meticulous with your research, you will be easy solutions.
For instance, if you want to break through on the platform, then there are a few things that you can do.
For instance:
- Choose a Low competition Fiverr gig that will allow you to appear on search results faster.
- Find and use keywords effectively so that you can appear on the search results for keywords that no one is targeting.
- Use social media platforms to leverage your Fiverr profile.
If you are really interested to become a seller on Fiverr and become a successful freelancer, then here is a complete guide that will help you to get started and get your first order within a week.
3. You will be At the Mercy of Fiverr.
Another disadvantage of Fiverr is that you are really at the discretion of the site. You should abide by their rigorous restrictions.
If ever you are late in completing your order or are not able to meet the expectation of the buyer, they can report you and your account can get banned.
Fiverr also has the ability to raise its commission rate for as much as they want without your agreement or approval.
4. Meticulous buyers who are difficult to work with
Although most buyers are very lenient and are very easy to work with, you can come across buyers who are very meticulous and make your life very difficult.
It is better to end the conversation if you have any reason to believe that your buyer will cause you problems rather than dealing with them and putting yourself in a difficult situation.
Here are a few red flags that you should take into consideration when you are dealing with a buyer:
- They take too long to reply to your messages
- They do not have actual or clear criteria and do not address your project-related queries
- They inquire about refunds if ever they are not happy with the order
- They ask you for free work so that they can access the quality
5. Fake Reviews
Sadly, not all sellers on Fiverr are trustworthy, and some of them may try to attract buyers’ attention by posting false reviews. Even while this site has gotten better at spotting false reviews, some still exist.
If you visit the seller’s profile and see a number of nice reviews that are not genuine, it may have a significant impact on how you first perceive them and perhaps even how good the service will be.
Fake reviews are a real problem on Fiverr since the algorithm favors people who have a lot of positive reviews.
Once you spend some time on the platform, you will notice that there are sellers who contact other sellers and exchange reviews.
I know this is not ethical at all, but it’s a real thing on Fiverr. But I am sure, the company is working hard to remove such kinds of fake reviews.
Is it worth using Fiverr?
Absolutely. My recommendation is to give Fiverr a try and see it for yourself. If freelancing is your future goal, then getting started on Fiverr will help you a lot to make a full-time income within a year.
If you are still confused about Fiverr, then here are a few resources that will help you to take a better decision:
- How To Join Fiverr And Earn Money – Quick And Easy
- How Fiverr Affiliate Works-Hidden Secrets Of Fiverr Affiliate Marketing
- How Fiverr Works For Beginners
- 10 Amazing Fiverr Typing Jobs That You Can Start Today
Final thoughts: Disadvantages of Fiverr
These were the top 5 disadvantages of Fiverr. I hope that this blog post will help you to take a better decision on whether you should create your Fiverr account and get started on the platform.
See you soon!