I'm active on both Upwork and Fiverr right now. I've tried Freelancer.com. Here's where the money actually is — and where most new developers waste their time.
Upwork — where the real money is
Upwork is a bidding platform. Clients post jobs, you send proposals, they pick a freelancer. It's more like applying for a job each time.
Best for: long-term clients, bigger projects ($1,000+), ongoing retainer relationships
Pros:
- Higher budgets — clients are looking for quality, not the cheapest option
- Long-term contracts — I have clients who've been with me for months
- Hourly contracts with time tracking — you get paid for every hour
- Client history is visible — you can avoid bad clients before you start
Cons:
- Slow start — getting your first job is hard without reviews
- 10% platform fee on everything you earn
- Competitive — some jobs get 50+ proposals
- Proposal limits on the free plan (10 "connects")
My take: Start on Upwork if you want to build a real freelance business, not just make quick cash.
Fiverr — where you build initial momentum
Fiverr flips the model. You create "gigs" (listings), and clients come to you. You set the price and scope upfront.
Best for: smaller projects ($50-$500), building reviews quickly, getting your first clients
Pros:
- Clients come to you — no proposal writing
- You set the price — no bidding wars
- Faster first sale — it's easier to get your first order on Fiverr than Upwork
- Good for packaging services into clear offerings
Cons:
- Lower budgets — most buyers are price-sensitive
- 20% platform fee (higher than Upwork's 10%)
- Race to the bottom — competitors undercut your prices
- Less relationship building — most transactions are one-off
My take: Fiverr is where you get your first reviews and build confidence. Then move to Upwork for real income.
Freelancer.com — skip it
I tried it. The pricing model encourages race-to-the-bottom bidding. Clients post projects, 100 freelancers bid $1/hour, and quality is irrelevant. Not worth your time as a developer.
The strategy that worked for me
- Start on Fiverr — create 2-3 gigs targeting specific services ("I'll build a React Native app", "I'll design and code a landing page")
- Price low for the first 5 orders — reviews are more valuable than money at this stage
- Raise prices after 5 reviews — you now have social proof
- Open Upwork account — reference your Fiverr reviews in your Upwork profile
- Focus on Upwork — this is where the big clients and long-term relationships are
- Keep Fiverr active — it's passive income at this point, clients come to you
What most freelancers do wrong
- Copy-paste proposals on Upwork — clients can tell. Read the job posting and reference something specific.
- Underpricing on Fiverr forever — raise your prices after every 5 good reviews
- Trying to be on every platform — pick two max. Upwork and Fiverr is enough.
- Ignoring their profile — your profile photo, bio, and portfolio matter more than you think
- Not asking for reviews — after every successful project, ask for a review. Most happy clients will leave one if asked.
The numbers (my real experience)
- Fiverr: first order in 2 weeks, 20+ completed orders, consistent flow
- Upwork: first job took 30+ proposals, but now I have long-term clients worth $5,000+ each
- Freelancer.com: tried it, earned $0, wouldn't recommend
Want to work with a freelancer who knows the game?
I work through both platforms or directly — whatever works for you. Get in touch.