Freelancer aims to serve as a marketplace where freelancers and employers can link up for specific projects. Freelancer offers a few ways to forge those links. Employers, for example, can choose to put a project up for bidding amongst interested freelancers; if they have a specific person in mind, though, they can offer that person a job offer directly. Payment can then be made on a fixed-price or hourly basis, depending on the employer and freelancer’s agreement. Employers can also cast a wider net by choosing to hold contests instead, so that all interested freelancers can submit entries for consideration.<\/p>\n
Freelancers, meanwhile, can create profiles, display portfolios, enter contests, and find or bid on projects that match their skillsets. On a free plan, freelancers are limited to bidding on a maximum of 8 projects a month. This means beginning freelancers can suss out projects that will help build their name and reputation on the market, without having to pay exorbitant fees upfront.<\/p>\n
Make no mistake, though, the fees do come in eventually. While posting projects, bidding or submitting entries, evaluating candidates’ credentials, and discussing project details and requirements are all free, Freelancer starts charging the minute a project is actually awarded and work begins. Fixed-price payments are charged 3% or $3 (whichever is greater) for employers and 10% or $5 for freelancers. Hourly payments, meanwhile, incur service fees of 3% per payment for employers and 10% for freelancers. There are other fees for holding (or winning) contests, listing and providing services, and more.<\/p>\n
Once the project starts, employers can also communicate with their chosen freelancer\/s through the site’s built-in system. They’ll also have access to tools like time trackers and reporting systems, so they can monitor their hires’ productivity. Mobile apps for both iOS and Android ensure that Freelancer’s services can be accessed anywhere you go. And once it’s time to send or receive payments, Freelancer guarantees Geo-Trust 128-bit SSL encryption and a Milestone Payment system to ensure that payments are made in the most secure and satisfactory way for everyone involved.<\/p>\n
Aside from these essentials, other features can also be unlocked by paying the corresponding fees. Freelancers and employers alike can pay $29 to be featured on the site, for example, to boost visibility. Projects can be marked urgent, taken off search engine results and labeled private (for confidential tasks), extended, and more, for prices ranging from $5-20. Employers can also request for added services like non-disclosure agreements for accepted freelancers, or commission-based payment schemes, for additional fees ranging from $29-$199.<\/p>\n
These fees can quickly add up — a major disadvantage for both freelancers and employers, but especially for beginning freelancers who might not yet be earning enough to weather all these deductions. To reduce the burden of these fees, Freelancer offers a selection of paid membership plans that come with lower service fees and perks like higher monthly bid limits. There are 5 paid membership plans in all.<\/p>\n
Freelancer offers 24\/7 support through its live chat, email, and phone channels. It also maintains a comprehensive knowledgebase and an active community hub. Watch out, though, because with more than 20 million users, Freelancer seems to be having difficulties providing speedy customer support to everyone. Don’t expect lightning-fast support services here.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>