Elance and Upwork are not the same, but they are related.
Elance was an online platform for freelancers and clients to connect for project-based work. It was established in 1999.
Upwork was formed in 2015 as a result of a merger between Elance and another freelancer platform called oDesk. After the merger, all operations transitioned to Upwork, which has since become one of the largest freelancing platforms globally.
| Feature | Elance | Upwork |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 1999 | 2015 (merger of Elance and oDesk) |
| Current Status | Defunct (merged into Upwork) | Active, leading freelancing platform |
| Focus | Freelance work | Freelance work, with a wider range of features |
As a result, while Elance was a significant player in the freelancing market, it is now part of Upwork's platform and services.