Freelancer.com vs Upwork Which is Better for Freelancers?

Freelancer and Upwork are top platforms for freelancers to find more clients and projects to grow their reputation, income and client portfolio. Choosing the right platform to find clients for freelancers is one of the most important parts of freelancing. In this article, we will review the top 2 platforms, freelancer.com and Upwork. 

Freelancer.com: Founded in 2009, Freelancer.com is a global freelancing marketplace that allows professionals to bid on projects globally. 

Upwork: Established in 2015. Upwork is one of the largest freelancing platforms. It offers a range of job categories.

There are other platforms like Fiverr, Toptalent, Toptal and Guru. Top services on Fiverr and others are mostly the same as freelancer.com and Upwork. 

Job Opportunities and Categories

Freelancer.com offers freelancers a large capacity of job categories. These categories include writing, design, programming, marketing, SEO work, administrative works and more. It is indeed a great platform for freelancers who want to grow their client portfolio.

Upwork also offers a diverse range of job categories, with a strong emphasis on professional and long-term contracts. The platform’s job listings are categorized into skill-based areas, allowing freelancers to specialize and find relevant opportunities. Upwork tends to attract clients looking for more substantial and ongoing projects, which can be advantageous for freelancers seeking steady work.

Job opportunities are various in these platforms. Also to understand how to find job on fiverr and other platforms freelancers need to make a deep research of the market metrics. 

Bidding and Proposal System

Freelancer.com: On Freelancer.com, freelancers submit bids for projects, specifying their rates and timelines. It allows multiple freelancers to bid for the same job because of that the system of bidding can be competitive for freelancers.  

Upwork: Upwork uses a combination of hourly and fixed-price contracts, with freelancers submitting proposals for jobs they are interested in. The platform offers a "Connects" system, where freelancers use virtual tokens to submit proposals. This system can help manage the volume of proposals and ensure freelancers invest in jobs that align with their skills and interests.

Fee Structures

Freelancer.com: Freelancer.com charges a fee based on the total project value. For fixed-price projects, the fee is generally 10% of the total payment. For hourly projects, it’s 10% or a minimum fee, whichever is higher. The platform also offers a membership plan that provides additional features and reduced fees, but these plans come at an extra cost.

Upwork: Upwork’s fee structure is tiered based on the total amount billed with a client. For the first $500 billed with a client, Upwork charges a 20% fee. For earnings between $500.01 and $10,000, the fee drops to 10%, and for amounts over $10,000, the fee is 5%. Upwork’s fees can be higher for lower-value contracts but decrease as you build long-term relationships with clients.

When it comes to fee structures, Ruul has competitive advantages and rates.The first invoice is free if it is the first transaction for both the talent and the client. And the most beneficial part is the applied commission rate starts at 2.75%. 

Payment Protection and Security

Freelancer.com: Freelancer.com offers a milestone payment system for fixed-price projects, where clients fund milestones upfront, and freelancers receive payments upon completion of each milestone. For hourly projects, payments are tracked through Freelancer’s Time Tracker, and freelancers are paid weekly. However, some users report issues with disputes and resolution processes.

Upwork: Upwork provides robust payment protection plans for both hourly and fixed-price contracts. For hourly jobs, Upwork’s Time Tracker captures work hours, and clients are billed weekly. For fixed-price projects, clients fund escrow accounts to ensure payments are secured. Upwork’s dispute resolution system is generally well-regarded for handling payment issues and disputes.

When it comes to security, Ruul allows freelancers to receive payment, manage their invoices and billing, and simplify the whole process way more easily. Ruul allows freelancers to receive payout in their preferred account in 1 business day.

User Experience and Interface

Freelancer.com: Freelancer.com has a good, easy and user friendly system and a dashboard that allows freelancers to track projects, bids, notifications and messages. 

Upwork: Upwork’s interface is clean and professional, with a focus on ease of navigation. The platform provides tools for managing projects, tracking time, and communicating with clients. Upwork’s system for tracking job progress and managing contracts is generally more streamlined, contributing to a smoother user experience.

Upwork also offers comprehensive profile and portfolio features, allowing freelancers to present their skills, experience, and previous projects effectively. Upwork’s profile system includes client reviews, skill tests, and a work history that can enhance credibility and attract clients. A well-crafted profile on Upwork can significantly impact your success on the platform.

Ruul: Game Changer Freelancing Tool

Ruul allows freelancers to sell their digital services to businesses anywhere around the world.  It helps freelancers to invoice their clients in 190 countries with global standards.

Ruul supports Cryptocurrency payout, that means freelancers can accept or exchange their payments to crypto currencies. And the best part is Ruul initiates the payout to freelancers' preferred account immediately in 24 hours and handles sales tax compliance.

Freelancing has many requirements. To stay organized, safe, grow securely and maintain financial stability, freelancers need to use the right tools. Working with global clients brings financial freedom however, managing their invoicing, getting paid on time and making sure to have all necessary documents such as service agreements, NDA and others can be challenging for freelancers. Ruul helps you manage your global clients in an easy way. Ruul, as your Merchant of Record, onboards your client, handles invoicing and payment collection. This makes things extremely easy while freelancers focus on their quality of work.