Hi I’m Abhay, freelancing since 2019 & have worked with leading platforms such as Freelancer (Since 2020 till present), Upwork (2019 to 2022) & 99 Designs (2019 to 2021) and here is my opinion about best freelancing platform to start your career with –
Upwork and Freelancer are two of the biggest sites for freelance work. Both have differences and various ways of working that might be help or hinder you. So, you’re looking to dive into the world of online freelance work. Both platforms can connect you with clients from all over the world and offer tons of opportunities for freelancers. However, there are some differences between the two that you should know before you sign up.
FREELANCER Vs UPWORK
Freelancer is considered the “world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace” based on users and projects. It’s a budget-friendly option for freelancers since it has lower fees, and freelancers can bid on jobs for free. But, this can lead to more competition and potentially lower rates for freelancers.
On the other hand, Upwork has a higher fee structure but offers more tools and features, such as time tracking and project management tools. The platform also has a more rigorous vetting process for freelancers, which means clients can expect higher-quality work from freelancers but this also invite SCAMS
| Features | Freelancer.com | Upwork |
| Job posting | Yes | Yes |
| Custom offers | Yes | No |
| Profile browsing & Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Secure chat | Yes | Yes |
| Secure payments | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Invoice | Yes | No |
| Custom Quote | Yes | No |
| Services/Gigs | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Milestone payments | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Send and receive files | Yes | Yes |
| Verification badges | Yes | Yes |
| Preferred Freelance Option | Yes | No |
| Community & Private Groups | Yes | No |
Easy To Find Work
Finding work is very easy on Freelancer compare to Upwork, Freelancer is a crowdsourced marketplace. So anyone can sign up and take on work, which means the barrier to entry is lower. Secondly, Freelancer does well with software and website work out of India more specifically. Once you join Freelancer, you can browse the jobs listed. You can filter by hourly costs, project costs, location, languages and skills. There is a simple way to sort for skills like NET, PHP, CSS, and HTML. After finding a project within the range that works for you, you may go ahead and submit a bid for the project. If approved by the buyer you can get started. You get 6 free bids per month.
Upwork is globally popular and has clients like Microsoft, Airbnb and GoDaddy. There are a wide variety of projects available, which include an array of creative work too. When you are ready to sign up, which is free by the way, you can do so from the website and create a profile. You will have to be approved by Upwork to move forward. Afterwards, you can search Upwork for jobs that match your profile and specialization. For New Freelancers, it’s really hard to get any projects and this can be really frustrating for new comers whereas Freelancer is better to win projects even for new freelancers because Freelancer bidding system pushes New Freelancer profiles to the client and there are high chances to win the projects.
Platform commissions & Charges
Freelancer’s commission is 10% for ordinary freelancers and 15% for Preferred Freelancers with a minimum $15 USD withdrawal requirement whereas Upwork charges a whooping 20% commission + additional when you start making more
Getting Paid
Freelancer.com : Easy to get paid with daily withdrawal allowed with a minimum $15USD only, payouts are processed on all business days
Upwork : Upwork offers weekly payouts with 5 days after fixed price project milestones are complete; 10 days after for hourly projects, which is quiet disappointed when you really need your own hard earned money, Isn’t it ?
Conclusion
Still confused where to start? Based on my 5+ years of experience I will suggest to start your Freelancing Career with Freelancer because of it’s easy to sign up, easy to get project awarded, daily withdrawals with less minimum limit and there awesome Support Team, PS : This is not any paid promotion / neither Freelancer has paid me anything to write this blog. This comparison and conclusion is purely based on my own experience as a freelancer, online reviews and personal opinions from a group of other freelancers working on both Freelancer & Upwork.
About Me :
I’m a Verified Preferred Freelancer with 21% Rehire rate, Ranked in Top 3% Freelancers with a 4.8 star ratings, offering complete Web Development, Design & Digital Marketing. Hire me on freelancer : Click Here
