Note: this content is general, educational information, not individualized legal, tax or employment advice. Conditions at each company and country change frequently; always verify current figures and requirements against the official source before making a decision.
Freelance platforms do not all work the same way: some make you apply to posted projects, others wait for the client to come to you. Picking the one that matches how you work speeds up landing your first clients considerably.
Quick comparison
| Platform | Model | Fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upwork | You apply to posted projects | 10% | Building a track record from zero |
| Fiverr | You list fixed-scope service packages | 20% | Well-defined, repeatable services |
| Landing.jobs | Company job listings, not one-off projects | None (free for candidates) | Tech profiles looking for a contract, not gig work |
| Wellfound | Startup job listings | None (free for candidates) | Anyone targeting a remote startup role |
The strategy that works best when starting out
Focus your first 3-6 months on a single platform instead of spreading effort across several: these marketplaces' recommendation algorithms reward active profiles with a recent track record on that same platform.
