Updated on 19 November 2023

Freelancer Review

Item: Freelancer
Rating: 4.5
Author: The Logician

If you’re a beginner who is just starting out with Freelancer, this Freelancer review can help you learn the ropes quickly.

Updated on 19 November 2023

4.5

Easy to Set Up and Start Working Immediately
Largest Range of Freelance Jobs Available
Not as Costly as Other Freelance Platforms

Starting From

$0/free

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Recommended: Largest Freelance Database

Freelancer is an excellent platform for beginners as it is easy to use and offers the widest range of services out of all the platforms out there. It allows freelancers to choose jobs based on skill and language or based on jobs featured at the moment. So, it is ideal for those who want access to as many jobs as possible as quickly as possible.

Price	Charges $5 or 10% (whichever is greater) for Fixed Projects and 10% for Hourly Projects
Customer Support	Support Is Available via Email, Live Chat, a Client Help Center, a Freelancer Help Center
Number of Projects Posted	Around 10,000
Number of Freelancers	N/A
Reputation	Excellent

The Way Toward 16 Million Job Positions

It seems like more and more people nowadays are giving up their full-time jobs and switching to a more flexible approach – freelancing. However, freelancing isn’t that easy, which is why you need the proper tools to help you.

With Freelancer.com, you can choose jobs based on skill and language or based on jobs featured at the moment. You will also bring your skills and talent or your project to a platform where you will find clients or collaborate with other freelancers from your niche.

In my Freelancer review, I will cover the company’s origin and its main aspects like features, type of platform, number of freelancers, pricing, etc. When you get a clear image of the company, we’ll move on to its pros and cons, and I will reveal who Freelancer is best for.

I suppose you’re more than ready to begin your freelancing journey, so I won’t waste more time!

Freelancer.com At A Glance

Freelancer.com was founded in Sydney, Australia, back in 2009. Since then, the company has grown into one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, with 40+ million users and 16 million Freelancer.com jobs.

Many worldwide-known companies utilize Freelancer.com in order to find an expert with the right skills for their project. Some of them are:

Google
Deloitte
Amazon
Facebook
NASA

Most freelance platforms are vetted, which means that freelancers need to pass a proficiency test before they match with their clients. However, Freelancer employs the bidding system for finding your perfect client or freelancer.

Important

Clients submit their orders on the platform, and registered freelancers start bidding for it (providing different prices for the job). Then, the client reviews their profiles and picks one to work with.

Today, many recognize this platform as Freelancer.com for beginners because it especially helps you find a client with the exact skills you’re looking for.

Note

You can even search within your time zone or country.

What’s more, if you are looking for a job, you can just open the Freelancer.com official site and find writing, design, science, software development, sales, data entry, engineering, marketing, accounting, and even legal services categories.

Important

Freelancer has thousands of sub-categories, such as flashmob and feng shui, which contribute to the 16 million open job positions.

Due to this, you can easily find clients for your email marketing campaign, social media maintenance, web hosting site, or SEO experts for boosting your project’s appearance.

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2.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact

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Ongage

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MailerLite

MailerLite

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Now that you have the overall image of Freelancer.com, it’s time to move on to the vital parts of one freelancing platform!

Freelancer Features, Pricing, & More

If you refer to Freelancer as Freelancer.com for clients or Freelancer.com for freelancers, you won’t be mistaken. This platform is suitable for everyone as it allows freelancers to list their skills and services, and clients (businesses) hire them for their projects based on their abilities.

That’s why I thoroughly tested this platform and shared some of the most crucial aspects, such as the platform type, availability of work, project types, number of freelancers, client demographics, fees, payment terms and protection, skill tests and certification, support and resources, entry barriers, user experience, and reputation and trustworthiness.

Warning

These are the aspects that I personally find most helpful. But you can also take into account other elements and offerings from the platform.

Let’s have a better look at what I found out!

Type of Platform

What I first look at when choosing the right freelance platform is its type. This is because, to make the right choice, you must be aware of whether the platform is general or specialized.

Tip

If you haven’t decided on what niche you want to focus on, it’s better to go for a general platform, but if you know what skills exactly you offer or are looking for, opt for a specialized platform.

From what I’ve seen so far, Freelancer is more of a general platform because, thanks to its numerous categories, you can employ it for web hosting, web design, SEO, email marketing, blogging, social media maintenance, etc.

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WebCare360

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HostArmada

HostArmada

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ScalaHosting

ScalaHosting

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Availability of Work

Finding a platform with many job opportunities can be challenging. Luckily, Freelancer significantly makes this process easier. In other words, thanks to the 16 million Freelancer jobs, the chances of you not finding a job or hiring a freelancer are almost equal to zero.

More precisely, it doesn’t matter whether you are an SEO specialist, musician, blogger, copywriter, web designer, virtual assistant, or email marketer. You’ll find categories regarding writing, web design, programming, finance, Internet marketing, business, and basically any other niche you may think of. Due to this, there are 40+ million Freelancer users.

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2.

Surfer SEO

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Majestic SEO

Majestic SEO

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SEMRush

SEMRush

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Project Types

Platforms like Freelancer, which have many open job positions, usually come with short-term or long-term project types.

Note

Not all platforms offer both project types at the same time. Some are more focused on only one.

Freelancer segments its projects mainly into urgent or full-time ones. Here’s what you should know about them:

Urgent projects are open for bidding for only 24 hours, and they usually require the freelancer to start working immediately.
Full-time projects refer to commission-based work, in which you will need to pay fees only if your payment exceeds $5,000.

Number of Freelancers

Freelancing is rapidly expanding, which means you’ll face a lot of competition. While some of your rivals will be weaker, some will significantly cause you problems. That’s why you need to choose a platform with fewer users in order to avoid competition.

While Freelancer has over 40 million satisfied users, this also means you need to work really hard so you can stand out from the crowd.

Warning

This can be an issue if you are a beginner and lack technical knowledge.

Client Demographics

The client demographics of your chosen platform directly impact your business reputation. Suppose you offer excellent web design services, but the platform accepts all kinds of freelancers (experienced and inexperienced). Due to this, clients may doubt your expertise and avoid you.

Unfortunately, Freelancer may not be the best choice for building your reputation as you can easily come across not-so-knowledgeable freelancers who won’t do their job as they promise.

Note

This is because anyone can register on Freelancer.com.

Fees

Some platforms will charge you as a freelancer with a flat fee, while some take a percentage according to your earnings.

Note

The fees are subtracted from your total earnings. Therefore, a platform with a flat fee is much better.

In the case of Freelancer, you will encounter Freelancer.com fees of 10% or $5 on the fixed-price jobs.

Warning

If you are a Preferred Freelancer, the fees are higher.

Moreover, if you’re working on an hourly project, you need to pay a 10% fee for each payment you receive.

Important

If you’re hiring, you can post your project for free, but you must pay 3% or $3 on fixed-price jobs or 3% on every payment for hourly jobs after you accept a bid.

Payment Terms and Protection

The good thing with Freelancer is that you can choose whether you want to have a fixed payroll or an hourly one.

As the name implies, fixed-price projects have pre-determined prices, no matter how long it takes you to finish. Therefore, you will get paid at the end of the project.

Tip

If you work on a long-term project that will take weeks or months, you can ask to receive a payment for pre-determined milestones.

On the other hand, if you go for an hourly-paid project, you will be paid for the hours you have worked. But how can your employer control you? Freelancer has a tracking app that records the hours you have worked.

Warning

It even makes screenshots so that your employer can monitor the progress of the project.

Skill Tests and Certification

In order to hire the best freelancer, you need to find a platform that will conduct various skill tests, proficiency checks, and grant training certifications. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Freelancer.

Warning

Freelance.com users have often encountered scams, such as fake reviews or testimonials.

This freelancing platform doesn’t conduct any tests, and it doesn’t filter the more experienced from the less experienced freelancers. This is because you just need to provide your ID card or passport to become a user.

Note

You can take a skill test but only manually. It’s not necessary.

Support and Resources

As freelancing requires more expertise and technical knowledge, you may want to find a platform that will provide you with 24/7 support via various channels. Freelancer offers support via live chat, email, a Client Help Center, and a Freelancer Help Center.

Unfortunately, the Freelancer.com customer service is not as good as I expected. They need hours, sometimes days, to respond, which personally leaves me with the impression of not being interested in your users’ experience.

Entry Barriers

Some platforms have a rigorous selection process, accepting only a fraction of applicants. This can mean less competition but can also be more challenging to get into.

You won’t have any issues with Freelancer because, as I mentioned above, you only need to provide your personal details in order to register on the platform.

Warning

This may cause doubts about you or your project.

User Experience

If you find out how other users feel about Freelancer.com or what kind of personal experiences they share, you will make a much better and more informed decision. This is why the overall user experience plays a crucial role when choosing a freelancing platform.

Note

User and expert Freelancer.com reviews will help you form a whole image of how the platform works. I suggest you read reviews of people in your niche.

Reputation and Trustworthiness

The reputation of one freelance platform is crucial. You need a reliable platform that will help you promote your business and gain more collaborators and customers.

Although Freelancer.com lacks some elements, it still has an excellent reputation as there are millions of users who are satisfied with what it has to offer.

Freelance Pros & Cons

Best for

Ability to find freelancers from around the world
Quickly finding talents for immediate needs
Starting without paying a dollar
Flat fee rate
Includes over 1,800 different project categories
Doesn’t require payment until you’re satisfied with your project

Not good for

Allows anyone to join the network
Has millions of available freelancers, which results in more competition
Requires a lot of personal information
The support takes way too long to respond

Freelancer Standout Features

Freelancer.com comes with some pretty amazing features. However, the platform also includes some unique ones that help it stand out from its rivals. So, let’s see what I find the best:

Seller Ratings
Conflict Resolution
Workflow Automation
Increase Insights
Streamline Internal Adoption

Tip

All of these features contribute to a better freelancing experience and boost your business toward more page traffic.

Who is Freelancer Best For?

While Freelancer.com is attractive for many freelancers who want to sell their skills or hire clients for their own projects, it may not be the best option for everyone. That’s why I decided to share my opinion on who is Freelancer.com best for:

Clients that want their job to be done as soon as possible
Freelancers who wish to gain reliable income
Businesses looking to promote their project
Beginners that aren’t sure in which niche they find themselves in
Individuals who want to publish their project for free

Conclusion

Choosing the right freelance platform can be pretty tough, but I might have something for you. Freelancer allows you to compare different project bids from various freelancers and choose the one that suits your business the best. It also helps you find the perfect job because you can choose from multiple job categories in several niches.

Although Freelancer has had some issues like weak customer support or some unsatisfied users in the past, it is still the choice of 40+ million freelancers. So, go ahead and see whether it’s right for you!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Freelancer.com is a freelance platform or an online marketplace that comes with different perks for clients and freelancers around the globe. It allows you to bid on a project and collaborate with others for mutual benefit.

Yes, Freelancer.com is legit. Although there were some reliability issues in the past, Freelancer has established an excellent reputation and now has more than 40 million satisfied users on the platform.

Yes, Freelancer.com is worth it. The main reason for this is that it charges lower fees than most of the current freelance platforms. At the same time, you will enjoy a huge selection of jobs and thousands of projects.

Freelancer is often used by individuals who want to find the perfect job, pay lower fees, share their project for free, and take advantage of the bidding system. Most of the businesses that utilize Freelancer.com have 1-10 members.

Yes, Freelancer is free. However, it is free if you want to choose up to eight jobs. If you want to go over that number, you can pay $4.99/month, $49.00/month, or $99.00/month.

Freelancer allows you to start for free and find up to eight jobs without paying anything. However, it comes with three premium plans that come with more features and allow you to find more jobs at the same time. Therefore, you can pay $4.99/month, $49.00/month, or $99.00/month.

Freelancer.com works very straightforwardly. You first create an account with your email and password, and then you list your skills and provide a photo of you. After that, you post a project and select the best freelancer. Once the freelancer finishes the job, you pay them.

Yes, Freelancer is good for beginners. This is because it is not tricky, it doesn’t require complex signing-in processes, and it has a lot of job opportunities that are perfect for beginners who haven’t made up their minds yet.

Everyone can join Freelancer. The only thing you need to do is to log in with your email or password or your Facebook account. You can take a test in order to show your competencies, but this is not necessary.

No, Freelancer does not have a screening process. But you can find a skill test on your own and complete it if you want to be more trustworthy.

Yes, you can get scammed on Freelancer. The main reason is that there are no built-in skill tests, and anyone can write whatever they want. Also, freelancers can “ghost” you just because they don’t want to work with you anymore.

The best Freelancer alternatives are Fiverr, Guru, Upwork, and Gigster. They are a bit more reliable and come with better security measures.

Yes, Freelancer offers customer support. However, its team takes a bit longer to answer your questions, which may be a bit of a drawback in cases when you have bigger issues.

Yes, Freelancer.com is safe for payments. The platform has a whole system that makes sure you don’t get tricked and receive your money for the job you have done.

How much money you can earn on Freelancer.com mainly depends on your job. However, you can definitely make a few thousands of dollars per month. The average Freelancer.com salary ranges from approximately $40,000/year for a videographer to $155,619/year for a creative director.

The issues with Freelancer.com are mainly related to scams and frauds. More precisely, some users claimed they’ve experienced fake testimonials, stolen portfolios, malicious software, mimicked contact data, and ghosting.

To become a Preferred Freelancer on Freelancer.com, you need to have a qualified profile. Then, you just need to contact the support team and apply for the Preferred Freelancer program. Once you are approved, you will receive a badge on your profile that alerts employers that you have decent skills.

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The Logician

Trademark of a Living Legend

Freelancer Review

4.5

$0/free

Recommended: Largest Freelance Database

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Freelancer.com?

Is Freelancer.com Legit?

Is Freelancer.com Worth It?

Who Uses Freelancer?

Is Freelancer Free?

What Does Freelancer Cost?

How Does Freelancer.com Work?

Is Freelancer Good For Beginners?

Who Can Join Freelancer?

Does Freelancer Have A Screening Process?

Can You Get Scammed on Freelancer?

What Are The Best Freelancer Alternatives?

Does Freelancer Offer Customer Support?

Is Freelancer.com Safe For Payments?

How Much Money Can You Earn On Freelancer?

What Are The Issues With Freelancer.com?

How to Become a Preferred Freelancer on Freelancer.com?

The Logician

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