Freelancer.com Review: Is It Right for You?

Freelancer.com says it offers the services of over 50 million freelancers for any size or budget across 1,800+ skills. To help make the search manageable, it offers nine parameters for search.

Begin on the home page with a general skill, like graphic design or data entry, then narrow it further from the choices on Freelancer.com’s secondary menu. Alternatively, you can begin by location.

You can search for freelancers by skill set. The menu lets you drill down to specifics.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Next, you’re taken to a search page where you can narrow your search further. As you set parameters on the left column, the results populate to the right.

Category of work: The drop-down menu of work gives general categories, like website design or data entry. We didn’t always find them pertinent to the skill. For example, Legal showed up as a category of work under Graphic Design.

Narrow your category of work further using the drop-down menus.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Skills: This list is long and not well organized, but Freelancer.com offers suggestions, or you can type in the skill you want.

The skills list is not well organized and does not adapt to the type of job you want.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Countries: If you want to limit the location, you can select a country. Choose one at a time—your choices populate at the top of the screen with the skills.

You can select desired countries.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Specific location: If you need local help, you can put in a city, state, zip code, or even an address and it shows you freelancers in your area. Freelancer.com confirms the local addresses of freelancers.

You can get down to the neighborhood and find freelancer locations on a map.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Exams: Freelancers can take exams on skills from English to PhP to prove their capability. You can search for these. It’s a great way to make sure you have someone qualified.

Freelancer.com offers certification tests.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You can search for certifications to ensure you get qualified freelancers.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Rates: If you prefer to pay by the hour, you can set a range. Projects can also be paid by milestones or completed work. In that case, you leave this blank.

You can set a range for paying by the hour.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Star rating: Freelancers can get user reviews, which include a star rating. You can narrow your search to freelancers that have earned a certain star rating or higher.

Online chat: If you want to reach out to a freelancer right away, the search engine lets you look for those that are online. You can then go to your dashboard and contact them for a chat.

You can narrow the search not only by star rating but also by choosing freelancers who are available to chat.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Recruiting Assistance

If you’re in a hurry, aren’t quite sure what you need, or are just concerned about picking the best freelancer, then you can use Freelancer.com’s recruiter assistance program. Recruiters are available 24/7 to help you find the perfect candidate. It costs $9.50 per project.

Once you post a brief, you can choose to use the recruiting program. A recruiter will contact you to get more details, help you perfect your brief, interview talent for you, and present you with a shortlist. Once you’ve made your hire, your recruiter sets you up with the milestones for getting the project done.

Freelancer.com’s recruiting service helps you pick a qualified candidate from its top 3% of freelancers.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Freelancer.com API (Beta)

If you hire freelancers regularly and don’t want to go through the hassle of logging into Freelancer.com each time, take advantage of its API. You can integrate Freelancer.com into your recruiting software. This program is still in Beta, but some companies are using it successfully.

Businesses are using Freelancer.com’s API to cycle through talent or connect specific jobs to old or new talent.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

If you have a job and want to have freelancers come to you, you can post a job or a contest. The difference is that with contests, the freelancer submits an entry that meets your specifications, whereas a job posting generates bids but no drafts of the project.

The process is the same for both. Begin by clicking the Post a Job button and follow the wizard as it leads you through the steps. Alternatively, you can submit your project via text. Once you’ve put in the details, it will ask if you want to upgrade with one of Freelancer.com’s many extras. There’s no obligation—you can post a job for free on Freelancer.com.

Finally, it gives you the option to invite certain freelancers to bid on your project. This helps when you have a favorite freelancer who might be a good fit, but you aren’t sure enough to hire them outright.

It’s easy to start posting a job. Click the post a job button and follow the instructions.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Based on your job description, the wizard recommends skills, and you can enter more.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You can choose how to pay, and Freelancer.com lets you choose your own pricing or use one of its recommendations.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

If you prefer, you can create a contest and take bidders.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Got an urgent need? For a fee, you can get a quick turnaround.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You can post projects for free or pay for extra features from recruiter assistance to NDA processing.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Once complete, you can review your details and post the job.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Once you post a job, you can invite freelancers to bid.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You can also text in a project.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Photo Anywhere

Do you need a specific photo for your website or advertising? Freelancer.com has a program called Photo Anywhere. Through the app, you request a photo by object and location, adding instructions for the photographer (such as time of day, etc.). One of the active 50 million freelance photographers can take the photo and send it to you through the app within 48 hours. Prices start at $35 for a package, and you can offer a bonus to attract more participants.

• Google Play: No ratings yet
• Apple Play Store: 3 out of 5, two ratings

You can choose your location on the map.
(Source: Google Play Store)

Once you accept the images, you pay and receive the full-sized files on the app and via email.
(Source: Google Play Store)

You can view images on the app.
(Source: Google Play Store)

The app lets you communicate with the photographer for additional instructions or to thank them.
(Source: Google Play Store)

Once you have a shortlist of freelancers, you can do a deeper dive to evaluate them. Freelancer.com offers multiple tools for evaluating the qualifications of a candidate.

Earnings History

The freelancer profile includes a chart reflecting their earnings. This speaks to their success in a project as well as gives a hint on their price ranges. This chart only shows their earnings through Freelancer.com, of course.

Freelancer.com shows you how much a freelancer has earned, which can reflect their performance and success in projects.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Verifications & Certifications

You can find a list of all the freelancer’s certifications on their profile. In addition, Freelancer.com provides some personal information on the freelancers through its verification list. The list includes the following:

• Preferred Freelancer: Member of Freelancer.com’s elite freelancer list
• Identity Verified: ID verified through birth certificate and proof of address
• Payment Verified: Has a valid method of payment
• Phone Verified: Has a valid phone number
• Email Verified: Has a valid email address
• Facebook Connected: Has a valid Facebook account where you can contact them

Freelancer.com offers several verifications as well as lists of certifications to help you make a decision.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Reviews

Once a freelancer completes a project, their client can leave a review with a star rating and comments. It’s a good place to get a better feel for the freelancer and what to expect from their work.

You can read reviews from previous clients.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Preferred Freelancer Program

Like many freelance job sites, Freelancer.com has a preferred program for its top 3% of freelancers. Freelancers need to apply for this, and in return they get special consideration, such as working with recruiters.

Freelancers for this program are chosen by skill, service, excellence of portfolio, certifications, and more. They also need to take an entrance exam and have a great track record with their customers.

Freelancer.com does not stop at helping you find freelance talent. It offers tools to assist you through every step of the project, from communicating your needs with a freelancer to paying them for a job well done.

Messaging Freelancers

In addition to being able to chat with a freelancer before hiring, you can message them from within your software to discuss progress. The messages are kept in your inbox and are searchable by name. You can also do a video call with your contracted freelancer.

For convenience, only freelancers to whom you award a project can contact you unless you reach out to a bidder yourself after the project is awarded.

You can message a freelancer from your proposal or payment tabs on your account dashboard.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Milestones

For projects that are not paid hourly, Freelancer.com recommends milestones. You link the milestones and specific payments to your account balance or payment method. Then, the amounts are paid out to the freelancer as they achieve the goals such as submitting a first draft, loading a website page, or completing a certain percentage of a project. This system helps protect the freelancer and you, the client. You cannot use the Dispute Resolution system for project-payment work unless you create milestones.

As a freelancer completes a milestone, you have the choice of accepting it and releasing payment, canceling it, or disputing it. You can also select a partial payment. The remaining amount to be paid will still be shown. This could be useful if you want to reward excellent work, or the freelancer needs an advance such as to buy materials or tools to complete a milestone.

You can set up partial payment for milestones.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Time Tracker

If you pay your freelancer hourly, then the Time Tracker tool makes it simple to monitor their hours and pay them accordingly. Like some other freelance websites, Freelancer.com also takes screenshots of the freelancer’s computer while they are on the clock so you can see what they are doing on a project. Freelancers can manually log in time not spent on the computer such as for phone calls or out-of-office work. It also lets them file share such as for showing progress on a document they are editing.

If you have weekly billing set up, the hours are automatically generated into payment at the end of the billing cycle.

You can see how many hours your freelancer has worked on a project and view screenshots of the online time.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Your dashboard also shows you the status of time billed and paid.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Technical Co-pilot(TM)

If you lack the time or expertise to manage a project you need, Freelancer.com’s experts can do it for you. You work with a Technical Co-pilot(TM) to discuss the parameters of what you want built, and they take it from there. They can break your project into tasks, set specifications, hire freelancers, and execute the project. It includes an NDA and IP transfer documentation. (With regular job posting, you’d pay for these extras.)

They keep you updated per a schedule you set—daily, weekly, or by milestone. When a milestone is reached, you have 48 hours to examine the work, provide critiques, and accept it. Once a project is complete, your Technical Co-pilot(TM) will demo a walkthrough of the project for you and pass on all the source code and original documents.

It’s easy to get started with a 30-minute Technical Co-pilot trial to discuss your project.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You can pay a freelancer in full at the end of a completed project, but Freelancer.com recommends paying by milestone or hourly. These methods allow you to pay intermittently throughout the project and are protected with dispute resolution. Freelancer.com pays out in over 39 currencies.

By Milestone

To use Milestones, you need to put money in escrow or connect the project to a verified payment method like a credit card. When you release a payment, it means you are completely satisfied with the progress or deliverable thus far. It allows the freelancer to continue to the next step.

You create milestones within a project, setting payment for the milestones.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

By Hour

Hourly projects are paid out once a week. You can set a maximum number of hours to pay for each week; otherwise, it defaults to 168. You also set the hourly rate as agreed upon with your freelancer. Freelancer.com gives you the option of approving hours worked. As with Milestones, you also need a verified payment method.

Invoices are generated each Monday according to the hours set in the Time Tracker. These are paid every Wednesday (in your time zone) along with any milestone payments. Since hourly projects are managed through Milestone Payments, you also have the advantage of dispute resolution if needed.

If you award a project on an hourly basis, you need to set up automatic billing.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

When you release the full payment or a payment exceeding the original project, you verify that the freelancer completed the work.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

You have the option to end the project at any time as well, before full payment is sent.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

To end an hourly project early, you need to disable automatic billing.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

If you are not satisfied with the quality of work or the progress that your freelancer is making, your first step is to discuss it with the freelancer. You can use the messaging tools Freelancer.com provides. If you cannot come to a resolution, however, you can use the Dispute Resolution tool.

There are four stages to the dispute management process:

1. You or your freelancer initiates the dispute.
2. Both parties enter the dispute and try to work it out. This is when you submit evidence and make arguments.
3. If you or your freelancer refuse to settle the dispute, one starts to move to arbitration by paying the arbitration fee. This is the last chance to resolve the issue or present evidence.
4. Both of you pay the arbitration fee, and the dispute is forwarded to a dispute team that makes the final decision. There are no appeals.

Arbitration fees are 3% of a project ($3 for fixed-priced projects) or 3% of each hourly payment you’ve made to the freelancer.

You can log a dispute from the project page.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

If you are working with a steady stream of freelancers, then the Enterprise Plan may be just what you need. While it has no extra charges for access or job posting and no monthly fees or subscriptions, you do pay a higher commission and pay for upgrades. If you are commissioning to a certain volume, however, these are waived. Get in touch with one of Freelancer.com Enterprise Plan’s team members for more information.

You will have access to curated and vetted talent in over 2,000 skills. You can also create your own cloud of trusted freelancers to work with on a regular basis. You still have access to Freelancer.com’s other programs like Recruiting Assistance and Technical Co-pilot(TM). The enterprise program also offers InSource, a cloud workforce platform that integrates with vendor management systems. (There may be an additional fee for this.)

Fortune 500 and US government agencies use Freelancer.com’s enterprise program.
(Source: Freelancer.com)

Freelancer.com has a mobile app that works for both freelancers and clients. The features are similar to the web version. You can search for freelancers, look at profiles, set up job ads or contests, hire, and communicate with your freelancer. You can also access your account to see projects in progress, account information, and the like.

It’s easy to post a project on the mobile app.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

Creating a job post works very much like creating one online.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

You can upload files from your phone to the project as well. Some users have problems with this function, however.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

There is a chat function for discussing projects with your freelancer.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

There are some new features, like saving jobs or freelancers.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

Optimized for mobile, it lets you put in parameters first, then see results.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

You can view profiles just like you would online.
(Source: Freelancer.com app on Samsung Galaxy S9)

Reviews of the app are divided between the app itself and Freelancer.com’s service in general. After weeding out those involving the service, we found that most users on Google had problems with the app failing to load, not loading attachments, and other intermittent issues. Freelancer.com updated this app in early March and has apparently been struggling with it ever since.

The iOS version has much higher ratings, but the last posted review was in October 2021, and the two reviews addressing the app itself were not complimentary. In fact, one person asked why Freelancer.com didn’t take advantage of its own system to hire someone to fix the app.

• Score on Google Play: 3.2 out of 5, 55,400+ reviews
• Score on Apple Play Store: 4.4 out of 5, 1,400+ reviews