Silkstaff vs Upwork for hiring a full-time remote assistant
Fees, screening, speed and guarantees compared, with the cases where Upwork is the better option.
Upwork and Silkstaff solve different problems. Upwork is a marketplace: you post a job, receive proposals and do the screening yourself, and Upwork takes a fee on every payment for as long as you work together. Silkstaff is a recruitment service: we source and test candidates, you interview a shortlist, hire one person directly and pay a single fee on their start day. Here is an honest comparison for hiring a full-time remote assistant.
| Upwork | Silkstaff | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Freelance marketplace | Recruitment (direct hire) |
| What you pay the platform | up to 7.99% client marketplace fee on every payment (3% if you pay from a qualifying US bank account), plus a $0.99–$14.99 contract initiation fee per new contract | One-time $2,500 (assistant / support) or $3,000 (e-commerce ops), paid on the start day |
| Who screens | You | Written test, video interview, references and setup check before you see a profile |
| Shortlist | Proposals arrive as soon as you post; you filter them | 3 profiles with intro videos in 7 days |
| If the hire leaves | Start again | Free replacement within 90 days |
| Payment to the person | Through Upwork | Directly (Deel, Wise or Payoneer) |
| Moving off-platform | Payments stay on Upwork for 24 months, or you pay a conversion fee (13.5% of estimated annual earnings, minimum $1,000) | Not applicable: the contract is yours from day one |
| Best for | Short projects, part-time and hourly tasks, specialist freelancers | One full-time assistant or support person you plan to keep |
Cost over 12 months for a full-time assistant
Example: an executive assistant at $950 a month for 12 months ($11,400 in pay).
| Upwork | Silkstaff | |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant's pay | $11,400 | $11,400 |
| Platform or agency fee | $911 (up to 7.99% of payments) | $2,500 once |
| Payment tool | included | Deel $588 a year, or Wise transfer fees |
| Your screening time | Yours | A few interviews from a shortlist |
Upwork's fee depends on your account and payment method; check the current rate on Upwork's own fee page (linked in sources). The longer you keep the person, the more a one-time fee wins over a percentage.
When Upwork is the better choice
- You need a few hours of work, a one-off project or a specialist skill.
- You want to start today and are happy to screen proposals yourself.
- You are not sure yet that you need a full-time person.
When Silkstaff is the better choice
- You need one reliable full-time assistant or support person working your hours.
- You do not have the time to read proposals and run first-round interviews yourself.
- You want a replacement guarantee and a direct relationship with the person, without a monthly cut.
How Silkstaff works
- 3 vetted profiles with intro videos in 7 days after a 15-minute brief.
- Every candidate passed a role-specific written test in English, a live video interview, a reference check and a setup check.
- One-time fee: $2,500 for assistant and support roles, $3,000 for e-commerce operations, paid on the person's first working day. No deposit, no exclusivity.
- 90-day free replacement if the person leaves or is let go.
- Direct hire: you sign a contractor agreement with the person and pay them directly (Deel, Wise or Payoneer). No monthly markup on their pay.
FAQ
Is Silkstaff cheaper than Upwork?
For a single short task, Upwork is usually cheaper. For a full-time assistant you keep for a year or more, compare Silkstaff's one-time $2,500 fee with Upwork's up to 7.99% marketplace fee on every payment: at $950 a month that is about $76 a month, or $911 a year, plus your own screening time.
Can I move an Upwork freelancer off the platform?
Under Upwork's User Agreement, a client who finds a freelancer on Upwork must keep paying them through Upwork for 24 months, unless the client pays a conversion fee: 13.5% of the freelancer's estimated 12-month earnings, with a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $50,000.
Who screens the candidates?
On Upwork you do. At Silkstaff every profile you see has passed a written test in English, a live video interview, a reference check and a home-office setup check.
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Sources
- Upwork Help: What is the Client Marketplace Fee: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/4660220468499-What-is-the-Client-Marketplace-Fee
- Upwork User Agreement (v8.2, effective 20 July 2026), sections 7.1 and 7.3: https://www.upwork.com/legal
- Deel pricing: https://www.deel.com/pricing/