The process of finding work from home for specific companies can be tedious when positions are not always available and entry is not as easy.
Luckily there are platforms for freelancers as an alternative, which, unlike, have a consistent flow of projects from hundreds of thousands of clients around the world and where you have control of setting your own payment rates.
The entry process is much simpler, and although inside you will find voracious freelancers constantly battling for projects, soon we will see how to differentiate ourselves and stand out among so many people.
3 Different Ways Platforms Use for Freelancers
Before starting, it is necessary to understand the different methods that freelance platforms use in terms of work management: hourlies, projects, and spec work (spec work).
- Projects: it is the most used method, and it consists of offering your services to projects previously published by your potential clients, being able to charge them a fixed price per activity or price per hour worked.
It should be noted that all the platforms that operate under this modality have a kind of virtual token (some call it connects, credits, proposals or offers) to limit the number of projects to which you apply, thus ensuring that you only apply to those that match. with your profile and projects are not saturated with proposals.
- Hourlies ( not to be confused with projects charged by the hour): a concept introduced by PeoplePerHour, and comes from the idea that the activities or “mini-jobs” that you offer can be completed in a few hours – such as editing or converting a document —although over time it has expanded into more extensive activities. Fiverr is the leader in this category.
- Spec Work (Not Recommended): many call it “contests,” and in other words, it is to do a job in advance, without guarantee of payment, with the false hope that the client will select your work among all the postulates and only then will you be paid. It is more common in creative activities such as graphic design.
With this information in hand, let’s see what we have here.
5 Platforms for Freelancers to Start Your Freelance Career
#1 – UpWork
As of today, the largest freelance platform on the planet (at least on planet Earth).
It emerged in 2015 when two of the largest up to that time joined forces: Elance and oDesk.
Commission Model
Over time, UpWork has implemented a commission system that is more convenient for freelancers who, due to the nature of their profession, tend to have longer contracts.
Why do I say it? Because the commission percentage varies according to the amount of money invoiced with ONE specific client. Tell yourself, the more you worked with a particular client, the lower percentage of commissions you will have of what you receive from him, specifically:
- 20% for the first US$500 with a certain client.
- 10% once the amount exceeds US$500,
- and 5% when the billed amount exceeds $US10,000.
Unfortunately, if the jobs you plan to offer are related to activities that companies only do once—for example, designing their brand/logo—and each project you do is for a different client, you will be affected.
It’s a way for UpWork to force its freelancers into longer-term relationships with their clients, but for some, it may be unavoidable.
Memberships and Tokens (Connects)
They have two memberships: Freelancer Basic (free version) and Freelancer Plus (US$10/month).
As Freelancer Basic, you have 60 monthly connects, and to opt for more you require a “Freelancer Plus” membership that will offer you several benefits, such as:
- 70 monthly connections (10 additional),
- The possibility of acquiring more connects (US$1 per connect),
- Accumulation of unused connects from the previous month,
- Among other benefits.
Regarding free membership:
Modality: Projects
Tokens: 60 connects per month
Commission: 5%-20% depending on what is invoiced with a particular client
#2 – Freelancing
After having acquired Nubelo, a previous Spanish platform, Freelancer has grown substantially in the Spanish-speaking market.
It is undoubtedly the #1 recommendation if you only speak Spanish and the language is relevant to your profession.
Like most, its main mechanism consists of the publication and application of the projects by the employer and the freelancer, respectively.
However, they have also been involved in the modality spec work or “contests”.
Commission Model
The Freelancer commission system is one of the simplest and most competitive on the market, varying based on the modality used and the method of payment:
- For projects charged by the hour: 10%,
- For fixed price projects: 10% or US$5, whichever is higher,
- For contests: 10% or US$5, whichever is greater.
It is possible to acquire a 0% commission if you refer buyers or employers to the platform.
Memberships and Tokens (Offers)
They have plans ranging from $1 to $60 per month, though the benefits get a bit worthless unless you spend 24 hours bidding on projects or are a skilled mechanic.
- Free Plan: 8 offers per month and 20 skills.
- Intro Plan ($US1/month): 15 offers per month and 30 skills.
- Basic Plan ($US5/month): 50 offers per month and 50 skills.
- Plus Plan ($US10/month): 100 offers per month and 80 skills.
- Professional Plan ($US30/month): 300 offers per month and 100 skills.
- Premium Plan ($60/month): 1500 offers per month and 400 skills (seriously!).
With a site profile and relevant project offers it is possible to get started with the free plan. In the worst case, you have nothing to lose by trying a month with the Intro Plan or even the Basic Plan.
Regarding free membership:
Modality: Projects, Spec Work (competitions)
Tokens: 8 offers per month
Commission: 10%
#3 – PeoplePerHour
This English company has room for everyone. Despite being well known, it does not appear to be excessively populated by freelancers like others.
With an easy-to-use interface, this platform allows you to work with the project mode and hourlies, and not so long ago they implemented the “contests” mode on their platform, giving you even more possibilities.
Commission Model
Similar to the UpWork modality, the commission is staggered, this time not classified by what is billed with a particular client, but what is billed every month. This is how it goes:
- For the first US$650 earned in a month, a commission of 20% corresponds.
- When exceeding US$650 in a month, the commission decreases to 5%.
Memberships and Tokens (Credits)
With your free plan, you will have the possibility to apply to 15 projects with what they call “credits.”
BEWARE: Unfortunately, your “free” plan goes through a trial period of 3 months, in which, if you do not execute at least 2 jobs with more than 4 stars or invoice more than US$125 during the said period, you will have to pay US$14 to extend the trial period for 3 more months.
The reason why there is a little less competition.
And well… it seems that not only freelancers are competing.
Just like Freelancer, if you refer a buyer, they remove your lifetime fees. The offer is good but it may be an indication that its demand is falling.
Regarding free membership:
Modality: Projects, Hourlies, and SpecWork (contests)
Tokens: 15 credits per month
Commission: 5-20% depending on your monthly income
#4 – Guru
One of the pioneers in the movement, although left behind by other large companies that have grown exorbitantly.
Perhaps one of its weaknesses has been its design, and it is said that the work is generally of poor quality and less paid.
More than populated by individual freelancers, the platform is full of agencies, companies, or groups of people that offer services through it.
This could be an advantage since some clients are looking for people in particular.
Commission Model
The commissions range from about 8.95% to 4.95% depending on the type of membership you have, which range from free plans to basic plans of 9 USD/month to even executive plans of 40 USD/month.
Keep in mind that as an individual, the free one is enough, although you could give yourself a little boost the basic or the professional one.
Memberships and Tokens (Proposals)
The benefits for free, which I imagine are the ones you’re interested in, include 120 proposals a year, 8.95% charges for your work, and being on that plan, you can’t take tests to show off your skills unless you pay US$5 for these.
The other plans increase your annual proposals to 600, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
Regarding free membership:
Modality: Projects
Tokens: 120 proposals per year (10 per month)
Commission: 8.95%
#5 – Workana
Despite being the largest platform for Hispanic freelancers, I have put it last on purpose.
More and more freelancers who are just starting with their benefits plans have been cut off, making it more difficult to start without paying plans.
Even so, it is #1 in Latin America and many have managed to start as a freelancer in it.
Within their platforms, they have 4 different plans: free or default, Plus, Professional, and Premium.
Commission Model
Commissions are between 10-15% depending on the benefit plan you have active, corresponding to 15% for all plans (including the free one) except for the Premium Plan (see below).
Memberships and Tokens (Proposals)
Over time, this platform almost forces you to pay for the membership since for free, you only have access to 3 skills and 2 proposals per week. This is the detail of the plans and their advantages:
- Free Plan: 2 weekly proposals, a maximum of 3 skills in your profile, and they do not allow you to certify skills through tests. 15% commission.
- Plus Plan (4.90 USD/month): +20 weekly proposals, the possibility of taking tests (although only one per month), and the addition of 5 skills to your profile. 15% commission.
- Professional Plan (16.90 USD/month): +40 weekly proposals, unlimited skills certification, and the addition of 10 skills to your profile. 15% commission.
- Premium Plan (24.90 USD/month): + 100 weekly proposals, unlimited skills certification, and the addition of 20 skills to your profile. 10% commission.
As you can see, it will take you a long time to gain traction with no certified skills, only 3 skills, and no more and no less than 2 proposals per week.
It’s not impossible, but a bit difficult. It continues to be recommended in the Hispanic market because it is 100% Latino (a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese) but I would have it as the last alternative.
Regarding free membership:
Modality: Projects, Hourlies (for the Professional and Premium Plan)
Tokens: 2 proposals per week
Commission: 10-15% depending on your active plan
Last words
Here are some of the most popular platforms in the freelance market where you can start as a freelancer.
There are dozens or perhaps hundreds of other platforms on the net, but these are just some of the most recommended and most prestigious.
With the knowledge you have so far, it is easier to make a decision and register on several of the platforms, being one step closer to reaching the goal of escaping your job and being a successful freelancer.
