Freelancer Review: Scam or great opportunity? [2024]

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Freelancer Review: Scam or great opportunity? [2024]
Need a flexible job while traveling? Consider using Freelancer, an app that connects freelancers to work they can do anywhere, anytime. An in-depth review of Freelancer and whether you should use it to find your next gig.
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As a digital nomad, I love the way freelancing your skills allows you to travel the world. There's no greater joy than the ability to decide where to work and the jobs you work on. It's the ultimate freedom!

To kickstart your freelancing career, the best way I have found to get work is through remote work apps like UpworkWeWorkRemotely, and RemoteOK. They allow you to search for jobs, bid for the ones you love, and, if you win, start the new work straight away!

So is Freelancer the next app you should be using? Offering jobs in a wide variety of fields and skill levels, Freelancer does seem to be a dream come true. So let's dive into everything you need to know about Freelancer.

freelancer logo
Image Courtesy of Freelancer

What is Freelancer?

Freelancer is an app that connects digital nomads to new remote work. The app helps freelancers find new work and help employers discover new talents. Freelancer has connected over 61 million freelancers and employers globally in over 247 countries, regions, and territories. That's some impressive stats!

The jobs that Freelancer offers range anywhere from software development, writing, and data entry, right through to engineering, the sciences, sales, and legal services. With over 1800 categories of work, there's bound to be something on there that works for you. 

Compare more work platforms for digital nomads...

What is a freelancer?

A freelancer is a person who is self-employed and is not committed to a long-term employer. Some freelancers work under agencies, while others fly solo and pick up jobs through platforms such as Freelancer. 

The biggest benefit of being a freelancer is flexibility. Most have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world, so they can travel the world and live the life of their dreams while still paying their bills.

freelancer
Image by ​​S O C I A L . C U T from Unsplash

How to sign up to Work on Freelancer?

If you're interested in using freelancer to gain remote work, there are a few simple steps to follow:

Complete your profile

This is one of the most important parts! You will need to attach a professional photo, a bio, and details about yourself. Sell yourself to future employers with credentials and employment history! You want your profile to stand out against other people on Freelancer, so get creative. 

Browse jobs

Once you have your profile set up, it's time to browse the jobs available. When searching, use keywords specific to your field of work. My favorite feature is their filter, you can save so much time if you narrow down your search!

Write a bid

Found a job you like? Great, it's time to start a bid. This is where you apply for the job you have seen. Tell the client why you would be a good fit for this job, how you can help with the brief and how long it will take. This is the time to sell yourself and your skills!

Earn

If you're bid is accepted, you and your employer can agree on a price and time for the work to be done. Then it's time to grab a coffee and get cracking!

How to list a job on Freelancer?

Looking to hire a freelancer to complete some work for you? Then listing your job on Freelancer could be the way to find the perfect candidate. The process is easy:

Post a project or contest

Once you have set up your account, begin by posting the job or contest on Freelancer's marketplace. Include what needs to be done, the time frame you're working with, and a guide price. 

Choose the Freelancer perfect for the Job

Now that your job is live, you will start receiving job applications for your project. Similar to any other job-seeking platform, you can review the freelancer's proposal to decide which proposal works for you. The live chat, in-depth profiles, and past work features allow you to get a feel of what the freelancer can provide. 

Once you're happy, you can accept the freelancer's proposal, and they will start the work.

Pay Once You're Happy

A great feature of Freelancer is its milestone payment system, allowing you to pay securely. Set milestones to check in with your freelancer and ensure the job is being done to your liking. Once the work is completed and you're 100% happy, you can release the final payment to the freelancer. 

Does Freelancer take a fee?

The simple answer is yes.

Depending on whether you're a freelancer or an employer, the fee charged will vary. It's free to sign up and bid for freelancers, but a fee will be charged for every project you accept and complete. 

For fixed jobs, you're charged 10% of the contract's value or $5, depending on which is greater. If you're completing an hourly job, you're charged 10% of every payment you receive.

If you're an employer, unfortunately, you also get charged a fee. The good news is signing up and listing a job is free! Fixed jobs cost 3% of the project price or $3, whichever is higher. For an hourly job, you have to pay 3% every time you release the money to a freelancer. 

All these fees may seem like a high price to pay, but it's very standard for freelancer apps. It allows for a secure and easy way for both parties to discover and collaborate.

freelancer vacation
Image courtesy of Mike Swigunski from Unsplash

Why choose Freelancer?

Over 10000 job listings

If you're looking for a job, there's bound to be one that suits your skill set. Freelancer claims to have over 10,000 freelancer jobs available in the US now!

Jobs for all professions

There are over 1800 categories of work, so you're bound to find one in your field of work. If you have a couple of different freelancing skills, there's no stopping you from applying for different jobs in different categories. Just make sure you have the qualifications and experience to back it up!

Easy to join

To join Freelancer, all you have to do is set up your profile and start bidding on work. It's a quick way to gain access to thousands of freelance jobs while sitting right at home.

Live chat with freelancers and employers

The ability to chat with your future employer or freelancer, allows you to form connections straight away. You can hash out the details and find out more about each other, all in a safe, user-friendly environment. 

24/7 Support

Freelancer offers 24/7 support for both freelancers and employers. So regardless of timezone differences, someone can answer all your questions and fix those weird glitches. There's also an FAQ section for common questions and tips on landing new gigs.

digital nomad in cafe
Image courtesy of ​​Brooke Cagle from Unsplash

The drawbacks of Freelancer

Fees

As mentioned above, there are fees involved with using Freelancer. This is very common when using remote work-seeking apps. It's how they make their money. However, it can be costly if you're strapped for cash or working on a larger project.

It can be difficult to build your initial client base as a new freelancer. So although the fees are steep, they might be your best shot at finding clients.

Very competitive

There are 1000s of people on Freelancer. So job bidding on there can get a little competitive. You could be competing with over 100 people for one proposal. 

Pro tips for landing freelance gigs:

  • Always write a new proposal for each project.
  • Show off, you only get one shot!
  • Do your research on the company where possible
  • Apply for multiple proposals, better to have more than less!
  • Use multiple remote working apps
  • Define your skills, and go for what you feel passionate about
  • Set your price and stick to it! 
  • Be open-minded and confident

Membership and getting verified

Most work-seeking platforms offer paid products to help you get noticed. Freelancer offers a premium membership, the blue verified tick, for discoverability. You can also purchase additional credits for submitting job proposals.

What are people saying about Freelancer?

Most reviews on Freelancer are positive. Reviewers express gratitude for connecting them to jobs and allowing them to have the freedom to work and travel. Their marketplace is also mentioned to be easy to use, and profile setup is quick and simple. Many reviewers say they have had great success in finding multiple jobs!

There are, however, a few negative reviews. Much of these negative comments discuss overcharging fees and profiles getting shut down. Luckily, most negative comments have a reply from Freelancer mentioning an attempt to look into the problem. Companies willing to address negative reviews are always a good sign. 

With 1000s of positive reviews and experiences from both freelancers and employers, the collective opinion on Freelancer seems to be positive. So you can feel confident using their services! 

If things ever do go wrong, there is always a friendly member of their customer service team ready to help solve your issues. 

freelancer in a cafe
Image courtesy of Brooke Cagle from Unsplash

Is Freelancer worth it?

Freelancer is a great remote work-seeking platform that allows you to browse 1000s of jobs from anywhere in the world. It's also great for those who are looking to pick up some extra cash while backpacking. 

Freelancer offers great support and has 1000s of positive reviews from their users. But like any other remote work app, they do take a fee, and these fees do make a dent in your paycheck. But with that in mind, the app gives you the security that you're going to get paid for the work you do. 

So overall, yes, Freelancer is worth it! 

It allows you to work from anywhere on the globe and make your dreams as a digital nomad come true. I have worked all over the world using apps like Freelancer, and I encourage you to give it a try too. It's truly life-changing!

Our Rating: 4.5/5

Pros:

  • 1000s of jobs in 1800 different categories
  • 24/7 support and live chat
  • Great customer service
  • 1000s of positive reviews

Cons:

  • Fees deducted from projects
  • Have to pay to get noticed

Work Hard, Travel Harder

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Disclosure: Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Grace Reveley
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