🌐Freelancer.com Platform Overview
Founded in 2009, Freelancer.com is one of the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplaces by number of users and projects. With over 50 million registered users across 247 countries, the platform offers a unique blend of traditional project bidding and competitive contests.
✨What Sets Freelancer.com Apart
- →Contest Model: Unique crowdsourcing contests where freelancers compete by submitting work before getting hired
- →Milestone Payments: Built-in escrow system with flexible milestone-based releases for project-based work
- →Global Reach: Massive international user base creates opportunities across all skill levels and price points
- →Skills Tests: Over 1,000 certification exams to validate expertise and boost profile credibility
📊Popular Categories
- • Website Development & Design
- • Mobile App Development
- • Content Writing & Translation
- • Graphic Design & Branding
- • Data Entry & Admin Support
- • Marketing & SEO
🎯Best For
- • Beginners building portfolios
- • Designers entering contests
- • International freelancers
- • High-volume bidders
- • Technical specialists
- • Budget-conscious clients
⚙️Essential Platform Features
🏆Contests: Crowdsourcing at Scale
Freelancer.com pioneered the contest model where clients post a prize amount and freelancers compete by submitting completed work. The client reviews all entries and selects a winner who receives the full prize.
Popular Contest Types:
- • Logo & Brand Identity Design
- • Website & App UI Design
- • Product Naming & Taglines
- • T-Shirt & Merchandise Design
- • Business Card & Stationery
Contest Benefits:
- • Quick portfolio building
- • No upfront proposal writing
- • Showcase creativity directly
- • Build client relationships
- • Potential for repeat work
Pro Tip:
Enter 3-5 contests daily early in your career to build portfolio quickly. Focus on "Guaranteed" contests where prizes must be awarded, and target contests with 10-30 entries for better winning odds.
💰Milestone Payment System
Freelancer.com's milestone system allows you to break projects into smaller, manageable phases with payments released upon completion of each milestone. This protects both freelancers and clients while providing cash flow throughout longer projects.
How Milestone Payments Work:
- 1.Define Milestones: Break project into 3-7 deliverable phases with clear descriptions and amounts
- 2.Client Funds Escrow: Client deposits funds for first milestone (and optionally future milestones) into escrow
- 3.Complete & Request: Deliver milestone work and request release of payment through platform
- 4.Client Reviews: Client has 14 days to review and either approve or request revisions
- 5.Auto-Release: If client doesn't respond within 14 days, payment auto-releases to freelancer
🎓Skills Tests & Certifications
Freelancer.com offers 1,000+ skills tests across all categories. Passing exams displays badges on your profile, increasing credibility and search ranking. Tests range from beginner to expert levels.
Strategic Test Selection:
- →Take 5-10 tests in your core skills
- →Focus on high-demand technologies
- →Retake failed tests after studying
- →Display top scores prominently
Impact on Success:
- ✓+40% higher profile visibility
- ✓Increased bid credibility
- ✓Better search ranking
- ✓Justifies higher rates
Calculate Your Competitive Bid Pricing
Use our free rate calculator to determine optimal pricing that wins bids while maintaining profitability.
Calculate Your Rate⭐Membership Tiers & Pricing
Free Membership
$0/mo- ✓ 8 bids per month
- ✓ Basic profile features
- ✓ 3% + $3 withdrawal fee
- ✗ No preferred freelancer status
Best for: Testing the platform, beginners
Plus Membership
$6.95/mo- ✓ 100 bids per month
- ✓ 5 skills listed in search
- ✓ Job email notifications
- ✓ 1% + $1 withdrawal fee
Best for: Active freelancers, regular bidders
Professional
$24.95/mo- ✓ 300 bids per month
- ✓ 10 skills in search results
- ✓ Preferred Freelancer badge
- ✓ Higher search ranking
- ✓ 1% + $1 withdrawal fee
Best for: Full-time freelancers, serious income seekers
Premier
$49.95/mo- ✓ 500 bids per month
- ✓ Unlimited skills in search
- ✓ Premier badge & priority support
- ✓ Maximum search visibility
- ✓ 1% + $1 withdrawal fee
Best for: High-volume bidders, agencies
💡Membership ROI Strategy
Start with Plus ($6.95/mo) if bidding regularly. Upgrade to Professional ($24.95/mo) once you're landing 2-3 projects per month—the Preferred badge and higher ranking pays for itself quickly. Premier is only worth it for agencies or freelancers bidding 15+ times daily.
🎯Proven Bidding Strategies
💰Strategic Pricing Model
Freelancer.com is highly competitive with bidders from lower-cost regions. Your pricing strategy must balance competitiveness with profitability.
The 3-Tier Pricing Approach:
Tier 1: Entry Bids (First 10-20 projects)
Bid 10-20% below market average to build reviews. Focus on quick-turnaround projects.
Tier 2: Market Rate (20-100 projects)
Bid at competitive market rates once you have 10+ five-star reviews.
Tier 3: Premium (100+ projects)
Charge 20-30% above market with strong portfolio and Top Rated badge.
✍️Winning Proposal Template
Copy this structure for higher response rates:
1. Personalized Greeting (1 sentence)
"Hi [Name], I noticed you need [specific requirement from project description]."
2. Demonstrate Understanding (2-3 sentences)
"From your description, I understand you're looking for [summarize need]. The key challenges will be [mention 1-2 specific challenges]."
3. Your Solution (3-4 sentences)
"I'll solve this by [specific approach]. I've completed [X similar projects] including [relevant example]. You'll receive [specific deliverables] within [timeframe]."
4. Proof & Portfolio (1-2 sentences)
"Please see my portfolio showcasing [relevant work]. I maintain a [X%] completion rate and [Y] star average."
5. Call to Action (1 sentence)
"I'm available to start immediately. Let's discuss your project in detail."
🚀Advanced Bidding Tactics
✓ Do This:
- • Bid within first 3 hours of posting
- • Ask clarifying questions to show interest
- • Attach relevant portfolio samples
- • Offer a free consultation or audit
- • Propose milestone structure upfront
- • Follow up once after 48 hours
✗ Avoid This:
- • Generic copy-paste proposals
- • Bidding on 100+ projects daily
- • Extremely low bids (damages credibility)
- • Overpromising unrealistic timelines
- • Mentioning competing platforms
- • Multiple follow-ups (appears desperate)
💳Fee Structure & Commissions
Platform Fees
💡Real Earnings Example
A developer earning $1,000 on a fixed-price project with Professional membership: