My Honest Experience with Truelancer: Is It Worth Your Time?

I recently revisited Truelancer, a freelance marketplace I first joined around 2018. Since then, I’ve done one project as a freelancer and also tried hiring someone for a task. So, while I don’t claim to be a Truelancer veteran, I do believe my experience, especially from the perspective of both a freelancer and a buyer, can help anyone who's just starting out on the platform or considering giving it a try.

In this article, I’ll share how Truelancer works, how my experience has been over the years, and what you really need to succeed there.

What is Truelancer?

Truelancer is an online freelancing platform where clients (businesses or individuals) can post projects and freelancers can apply for those projects by submitting proposals. It works similarly to other platforms like Upwork and Freelancer, but with its own unique pros and cons.

The platform offers opportunities in fields such as:

• Writing and Translation

• Graphic Design and Branding

• Software Development

• Digital Marketing

• Virtual Assistance

• Admin Support

• Finance and Accounting

• Mobile App Development
  ...and many more.

What makes Truelancer appealing, especially to beginners, is that it offers a free basic plan that gives you a limited number of bids (usually 5 per month). This allows you to test the waters without having to pay upfront.

My Journey with Truelancer

When I first joined back in 2018, Truelancer was relatively new and promising. Unlike some other platforms that required a paid subscription to stay active, Truelancer allowed free usage with no pressure to upgrade immediately. That alone made it feel more accessible for a beginner like me.

I managed to complete one project as a freelancer and also hired someone for a different task. That limited but real experience gave me insight into how the platform works from both sides.

What’s changed since then? Competition.

Back then, if a client posted a project, maybe five people would apply. Now, that number can easily jump to over 100 proposals per job. This means you’re competing with experienced freelancers who have built up star ratings, reviews, and a long track record. For someone new, this can feel intimidating and discouraging.

The Three Things That Determine Your Success

I realized that success on Truelancer, just like on any freelancing site, boils down to three critical factors:

1. Your Samples (Proof of Work)

Many beginners make the mistake of uploading work done for previous clients or, worse, downloading generic examples from the internet. That doesn’t work anymore. You need to create your own original samples, custom projects that clearly show your initials or branding. These help build trust and give clients confidence that you actually know what you’re doing.

For example, if you're a graphic designer, create business cards or flyers for fictional companies. Include your name or initials in the design. Make it obvious that you created the work yourself.

2. Your Proposals

Writing a personalized, well-thought-out proposal is essential. I’ve learned that many freelancers still copy and paste the same generic message into every job application. That’s a red flag for clients. It shows you didn’t read their job description or understand what they need.

When writing a proposal, I make sure to:

• Mention specific details from the job post

• Explain how I’ll solve their problem

• Keep it short, but packed with value

• Add a friendly tone that feels human, not robotic

What I love about Truelancer is their proposal rating tool, a feature that uses AI to review and score your proposals. It gives you feedback on how effective your message is, which is super useful if you’re still learning how to write strong pitches.

3. Your Attitude and Patience

This one hit me the hardest. I’ll be honest, I don’t have the best attitude when it comes to waiting. I find it hard to spend the whole day scrolling through jobs, tweaking proposals, and following up. That lack of patience has definitely held me back.

Freelancing, especially when you're starting out, takes time, consistency, and grit. You may have to send 10 or 20 proposals before getting one reply. If you’re not willing to push through the early rejections, you won’t make it far.

Buyer Experience: Hiring on Truelancer

From the buyer’s side, I also hired someone once. The process was straightforward. I posted a project, received several bids, and chose the one that felt right. The freelancer completed the task on time, and communication was decent.

However, it’s clear that clients need to sort through a lot of irrelevant or low-effort proposals. That’s why writing a good one truly makes you stand out.

Final Thoughts: Is Truelancer Worth It?

Yes, but only if you’re prepared.

If you have solid samples, know how to write good proposals, and most importantly, have the patience and discipline to stick with it, you can absolutely land projects on Truelancer, even if you're a beginner.

But if you’re like me and struggle with staying consistent, then it might not be your best option. That doesn’t mean the platform is bad—it just means freelancing in general might not be the best fit for your personality, and that’s okay too.

At the end of the day, platforms like Truelancer offer opportunities, but it’s up to you to make the most of them.

Thanks for reading my honest take on Truelancer. If you're just starting out, I hope this helped you get a realistic picture of what to expect. Good luck on your freelancing journey!