Freelancer.com is the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, connecting over 75 million employers and freelancers across multiple countries, regions, and territories. Freelancer.com, established in 2009, serves as the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, linking employers with skilled freelancers across multiple countries, regions, and territories. It facilitates a wide range of work categories, including web and graphic design, software development, and legal services. Trusted by major companies, Freelancer.com offers flexible pricing models, an efficient hiring process, personalized talent acquisition, and milestone-based project completion.
The platform distinguishes itself through mobile accessibility, a robust support system, a secure payment system, and a global reach that makes it scalable for businesses of all sizes. In the competitive landscape of freelance platforms, Freelancer.com rivals services like Flexiple, especially in the area of hiring web developers, offering employers access to a broad range of technical expertise to meet diverse project requirements.
How Does Freelancer.com Work?
Freelancer.com is a leading global platform that connects millions of employers with skilled freelancers across a wide range of industries. Whether you're a business looking to hire top talent or a professional seeking exciting projects, Freelancer.com provides the tools and resources to facilitate successful collaborations. Here's how the platform works for both clients and freelancers:
For Clients
1. Posting Projects
- Clients can post detailed descriptions of their projects, specifying the type of work needed, required skills, budget, and deadlines.
- They have the option to choose the project type, such as fixed-price, hourly, or contest-based, where multiple freelancers submit proposals and the client selects the best one.
2. Finding Freelancers
- Clients can browse through freelancer profiles filtered by skills, experience, ratings, and portfolio.
- They can shortlist potential candidates and invite specific freelancers to submit proposals for their projects.
3. Hiring Freelancers
- Clients review bids from freelancers for fixed-price projects or evaluate hourly rates for ongoing work.
- They select the freelancer who best fits their project requirements and budget.
4. Communicating and Project Management
- Freelancer.com provides secure communication tools and project management features within the platform.
- Clients can monitor project progress, provide feedback, and release payments upon satisfactory completion of milestones.
For Freelancers
1. Creating a Profile
- Freelancers create a comprehensive profile showcasing their skills, experience, and portfolio to attract potential clients.
- A well-crafted profile helps freelancers stand out and demonstrate their capabilities to employers.
2. Finding Projects
- Freelancers can browse available Freelancer jobs posted by clients and use search filters based on their expertise and interests.
- This allows them to find projects that align with their skills and career goals.
3. Bidding on Projects
- Freelancers submit bids for fixed-price projects by outlining their proposed approach, timeline, and pricing.
- For hourly projects, freelancers can set their desired hourly rates to attract clients looking for ongoing work.
4. Working on Projects
- Once selected, freelancers collaborate with clients through the platform by communicating, sharing files, and managing tasks.
- Freelancer.com ensures that all interactions and work are streamlined for efficiency and clarity.
5. Getting Paid
- Upon project completion and client approval, freelancers receive payments securely through Freelancer.com. If any issues arise during the payment process, Freelancer Support team is available to assist and ensure a smooth transaction.
- The platform ensures that payments are processed smoothly, deducting only the necessary Freelancer fees to maintain trust and reliability.
Freelancer.com's Business Model
Freelancer.com operates on a multifaceted business model designed to generate revenue through diverse and scalable streams, ensuring sustainability and growth in the competitive freelancing marketplace. The primary revenue source for Freelancer.com is commission fees, where the platform takes a percentage—typically around 10%—from the total project cost paid to freelancers. This commission is automatically deducted from the freelancer's earnings, providing a steady and predictable income for the platform.
In addition to commission fees, Freelancer.com offers featured listings and promoted projects. Clients seeking greater visibility for their projects can pay extra to have their listings highlighted, which attracts more qualified and competitive bids from freelancers. This premium placement not only benefits clients by increasing the likelihood of finding the ideal freelancer but also serves as a significant revenue generator for Freelancer.com.
Another key component of Freelancer.com's business model is the Freelancer Membership Options. The platform provides optional membership plans that offer various benefits to freelancers, such as the ability to submit more proposals, access to advanced project management tools, and entry to exclusive projects. These memberships are available through monthly or annual subscription fees, creating a recurring revenue stream and enhancing the value proposition for committed freelancers.
Furthermore, project upgrades present an additional avenue for revenue. Clients can enhance their project postings with features like non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or escrow services, ensuring greater security and trust in transactions. These upgrades not only improve the overall quality and reliability of projects on the platform but also contribute to Freelancer.com's income by offering these premium services on a pay-per-use basis.
How Much Does Freelancer.com Cost?
Freelancer.com applies various fees based on membership level, project type, and services used. Freelancers incur a project fee of 10% or $5, whichever is greater, for fixed-price projects. For hourly projects, the fee is 10%. Clients are charged a 3% project fee. Optional services, such as enhanced project visibility and premium memberships, come with additional costs. Premium memberships, which range from $0.99 to $59.95 per month, offer benefits like lower fees, more bids, and improved listing visibility, all designed to enhance the user experience and increase job acquisition success on the platform.
Review of Freelancer.com’s Key Features
Freelancer.com offers a comprehensive platform that caters to the needs of both clients and freelancers by providing a range of features designed to facilitate successful collaborations and efficient project management. Below are the key features that benefit both freelancers and clients.
Global Crowdsourcing and Freelancing Marketplace
Freelancer.com is the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace, connecting over 75 million employers and freelancers from 247 countries, regions, and territories. This extensive network allows both clients and freelancers to access a diverse pool of talent and opportunities, fostering global collaboration and innovation.
Diverse Work Categories
The platform supports a broad spectrum of job categories, including web and graphic design, software development, writing, data entry, engineering, sales, marketing, accounting, and legal services. This diversity enables clients to find specialized expertise for their projects and allows freelancers to showcase their varied skills, increasing their chances of securing suitable work.
Flexible Pricing Models
Freelancer.com accommodates both hourly and fixed-price projects, providing flexibility for clients to set budgets that align with their project scopes and durations. Freelancers benefit from this flexibility by being able to choose the pricing model that best fits their work style and financial goals, whether they prefer ongoing hourly engagements or one-time project-based payments.
Mobile Accessibility
Freelancer.com’s freelancer app allows both clients and freelancers to manage their projects while on the move. With seamless access, users can post jobs, browse for talent, communicate, and monitor progress from any location, improving overall efficiency.
Extensive Global Reach
The platform's vast pool of freelancers from around the world gives clients access to a wide range of skills and portfolios, enhancing the matchmaking process for projects. For freelancers, this global reach means more opportunities to work with international clients and expand their professional networks beyond geographical limitations.
Secure Payment System
Freelancer.com employs a secure payment system where funds are held in escrow and only released when project milestones are achieved to the client's satisfaction. This system ensures trust and reliability in transactions, protecting both clients' investments and freelancers' earnings. The Freelancer staff closely monitors these processes to maintain transparency and security for all users.
Wide Range of Technical Skills
Clients can hire freelancers with specific technical skills such as .NET, Python, JavaScript, AWS, and many more, catering to a wide spectrum of technology projects. Freelancers benefit by being able to market their specialized skills to a targeted audience, increasing their employability and project relevance.
Milestone-Based Project Completion
Freelancer.com supports milestone-based payments, encouraging freelancers to meet or exceed project expectations within specified timelines. This feature helps clients manage their budgets effectively while providing freelancers with clear goals and timely payments as they progress through the project.
Robust Support System
The platform offers comprehensive support through a team of recruiters and customer service representatives who assist both clients and freelancers in navigating the platform, resolving issues, and finding the right matches for their projects or talents. This support ensures a smooth and efficient experience for all users.
Freelancer.com User Experience Review
Freelancer.com delivers a comprehensive user experience tailored to both freelancers and clients. For freelancers, the platform offers an extensive range of job listings across diverse industries, intuitive bidding processes, and secure payment mechanisms such as milestone payments that ensure financial protection. The user interface is streamlined, allowing easy profile creation, portfolio showcasing, and efficient communication with clients through integrated messaging tools. Additionally, Freelancer.com provides resources for skill development and project management, enhancing the overall freelance experience. However, high competition and service fees can pose challenges for some freelancers seeking to secure consistent work.
From the client perspective, Freelancer.com simplifies the process of finding and hiring skilled professionals by offering detailed job posting capabilities, access to a vast talent pool, and robust search and filtering options to identify the best candidates. The platform’s rating and review system aids in assessing freelancer reliability and quality, while features like milestone payments and dispute resolution services ensure project security and accountability. The user-friendly dashboard facilitates effective project management and communication, making it easier to track progress and collaborate seamlessly. Nevertheless, clients may occasionally encounter variability in freelancer quality and navigate the associated platform fees when utilizing premium services.
Pros and Cons of Freelancer.com: Positive & Negatives
Freelancer.com is a widely used platform that bridges the gap between freelancers and clients, enabling collaboration on projects across diverse fields. It provides valuable features such as access to global talent and secure payment systems but also has areas for improvement, making it essential to weigh its pros and cons for an informed experience.
Pros
- Wide Range of Opportunities: Access to numerous job categories that suit various skills.
- User-Friendly Interface: Easy navigation and bidding process.
- Project Management Tools: Helpful features for tracking time and managing tasks effectively.
Cons
- High Competition: Intense competition, especially for new users, can make it hard to secure jobs.
- Fees and Charges: Fees for services and transactions can significantly decrease freelancers' take-home pay.
- Variable Project Quality: Inconsistent job postings can lead to engagements with unrealistic expectations or low compensation.
Freelancer.com Reviews from Clients & Freelancers
Freelancer.com reviews from clients and freelancers highlight varied experiences on the platform. Users comment on job availability, project management tools, and the bidding process. Feedback ranges from high satisfaction to concerns about competition and fees.
Freelancer.com Review 1 from Freelancer
This is a 5-star review from Muhammad Khan, praising the exceptional support he received on the platform. Here are the key takeaways:
Positive Aspects
- Outstanding Support: Muhammad highlights the prompt and effective assistance provided by Janessa G., which significantly improved his experience on Freelancer.com. Her quick understanding and professional demeanor ensured a seamless solution to his needs.
- Enhanced Freelancing Experience: The support received has enhanced his ability to maintain an impressive portfolio, leading to high satisfaction with the service provided and appreciation for the personalized attention to his freelancing needs.
Negative Aspects
None reported, indicating a fully satisfactory interaction with the platform and its representatives.
Freelancer.com Review 2 from Client
This is a 4-star review from Andrew Kirby, who describes a transformative experience with Freelancer.com. Here are the key takeaways:
Positive Aspects
- Platform Improvements: Andrew appreciates the significant improvements in security measures at Freelancer.com from 2023 to 2024, making the platform more reliable.
- Preferred Choice: He now prefers Freelancer.com over competitors like Fiverr and Upwork, citing a better overall experience and fewer issues.
Negative Aspects
- Initial Challenges: Andrew initially encountered challenges due to insufficient verification methods on the platform, leading to multiple scams.
- Suggestion Implementation: His proactive approach led to the platform implementing his security suggestions, drastically enhancing user experience.
Freelancer.com Review 3 from Freelancer
This is a 5-star review from Gaurav K., sharing a generally positive experience with the platform. Here are the key takeaways:
Positive Aspects
- Platform Excellence: Gaurav appreciates Freelancer.com as an excellent starting point for new freelancers, highlighting its wide variety of jobs, user-friendly interface, and global reach which connects freelancers with clients worldwide.
- Cost-Effectiveness and Reliability: The review commends the platform for its cost-effective solutions and trustworthy review system, adding significant value for users.
Negative Aspects
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High Fees and Communication Barriers: Gaurav notes the platform's high fees and occasional communication barriers as drawbacks, particularly when working with international clients, which can impact the overall user experience.
Top Alternatives to Freelancer.com for Clients
When searching for alternatives to Freelancer.com, clients have access to several exceptional platforms that cater to diverse hiring needs with unique features and specialized services. Flexiple, Upwork, and Hired.com each offer distinct advantages, ensuring that businesses can find the right talent efficiently and effectively to drive their projects forward.
1. Flexiple
Flexiple is a premier network that excels in connecting clients with top-tier freelance developers and designers for both full-time and contract roles, ensuring a perfect match within just 48 hours. The platform employs an advanced vetting process, evaluating over 50 unique data points to ensure that only the best professionals join their network. This meticulous screening guarantees that clients have access to elite talent, including alumni from leading companies like Amazon, Adobe, and Microsoft.
Flexiple facilitates the hiring of developers at various levels—junior, senior, and architect—precisely matching client requirements. Additionally, clients can trial developers for a week to assess compatibility and skills before making a final hiring decision. Flexiple's flexible hiring models allow engagements to be part-time or full-time based on project demands, and a dedicated success manager ensures smooth communication and project alignment, making it an ideal choice for high-profile, venture-backed companies such as Urban Ladder and MobiKwik.
2. Upwork
Upwork is a well-established global freelancing platform that offers businesses the flexibility to post detailed job requirements and connect with a vast network of freelancers across multiple industries. The platform features an Expert-Vetted program that highlights the top 1% of freelance talent, ensuring that clients can access pre-vetted professionals for high-quality outcomes. Upwork manages payments securely through milestone-based or full project payments, enhancing trust and reliability in financial transactions.
With its extensive global network, Upwork allows clients to find freelancers with diverse skills, ranging from web development to creative design, and supports various hiring methods, including direct job postings, browsing projects, or using AI-driven matching to identify the best-suited talent. Major brands like Microsoft and Airbnb utilize Upwork, underscoring its credibility and effectiveness in the corporate sector. Additionally, Upwork provides 24/7 customer support and a quality assurance framework, ensuring that clients pay only for work that meets their specified standards.
3. Hired.com
Hired.com, now part of LHH Recruitment Solutions since its founding in 2018, focuses on connecting recruiters with pre-screened professionals through a comprehensive talent marketplace. The platform offers clients transparent hiring processes by providing upfront access to candidates' skills, experience, salary requirements, and contract types, which facilitates informed decision-making. Hired's solution suite significantly streamlines recruitment by saving approximately 45 hours typically spent on sourcing talent.
The platform features a diverse range of tech professionals, including frontend, backend, and mobile engineers, as well as product managers, data analysts, and sales experts, catering to businesses of all sizes globally. Trusted by industry-recognized companies such as Zopa, Dropbox, and Fitbit, Hired utilizes a sophisticated matching algorithm and offers tools like free software engineering assessments to help employers evaluate candidates effectively. Additionally, Hired supports remote and flexible work arrangements, making it easier for businesses to build robust tech teams with specialized expertise in areas like NLP, computer vision, and AR/VR technologies. The integration with LHH Recruitment Solutions further enhances Hired's offerings, providing comprehensive recruitment, career mobility, and leadership development services to meet the evolving needs of the job market.
Alternatives to Freelancer.com for Freelancers
If you're new to freelancing, you can consider other similar platforms to Freelancer.com, like:
- Upwork
- Fiverr
If you're an experienced developer, these vetted tech talent networks might be a better fit:
- Toptal
- Flexiple
- Hired.com
Is Freelancer.com the Right Platform for You?
Yes, Freelancer.com is the right platform if you seek a versatile and expansive freelancing marketplace. It is the world’s largest, with over 75 million users across 247 countries, offering work categories ranging from web and graphic design to software development and legal services. The platform ensures efficient project management through flexible pricing models and a secure payment system.
At Freelancer.com, the Freelancer team is dedicated to helping clients and freelancers with any questions or issues, ensuring smooth operations whether you’re managing your freelancer account or setting up your bank account for payments. It’s a legitimate platform where businesses can post jobs and hire freelancers from all over the world. The site ensures security and trust by verifying both clients and freelancers through a thorough process. With competitive fees and an easy-to-use app, applying for freelance jobs is simple and efficient. The Freelancer team is always available to address any concerns you may have whenever you contact support. Whether you're hiring freelancers or looking for opportunities to demonstrate your skills, Freelancer.com is your trusted platform for freelance success.
However, intense competition can make it difficult for new freelancers to secure projects. The global reach introduces variability in talent quality, requiring clients to invest time in careful vetting. Additionally, managing projects across time zones and cultural differences may complicate coordination. Despite these challenges, Freelancer.com is a reliable and evolving platform, well-suited to the needs of its global user base.
FAQs on Freelancer.com Reviews
1. What should I look for when choosing a freelancer website?
When choosing a freelancer website, it’s important to consider factors like job variety, security features, payment protection, and the quality of customer support. Freelancer.com excels in all of these areas, providing a reliable platform for freelancers and clients to connect and collaborate effectively.
2. Is Freelancer.com a freelancer legitimate platform?
Yes, Freelancer.com is considered a freelancer legitimate platform. It offers a secure and trustworthy space where businesses can find skilled professionals and freelancers can showcase their expertise. The platform’s verification process and high standards ensure credibility and security for all users.
3. How does Freelancer.com ensure the quality of freelancers and clients on the platform?
Freelancer.com implements several measures to ensure quality, including rigorous verification processes, a rating and review system, and the ability to view detailed profiles and past work. These features help maintain a high standard of professionalism within the community.
4. Can I follow up after I’ve contacted support if my issue isn’t resolved?
Absolutely! If your issue remains unresolved after you've contacted support, you are encouraged to follow up by replying to the email or submitting a new request via the support page. The team will ensure that your concern is addressed as quickly as possible.
5. How do Freelancer.com's fees compare to other freelancing platforms?
Freelancer.com's fee structure is competitive within the industry, though some users find the fees higher compared to other platforms. It charges a project fee and a percentage of earnings, which varies depending on membership levels and project types.
