Freelancing Turns into Hell

In this post, you'll learn about:

Low pay for long-term projects.
Clients asking to bypass rules.
Huge commissions.
Paid connects: how much will it cost you to land a gig?
Fierce competition from workers charging $1–3 per hour.
Is there any upside to Upwork? And can it be replaced?

Hi, this is Punny. I'm here to share my frustrations and shed light on the real state of freelancing platforms in 2025.

Recently, a well-known school approached me to create a course on freelancing.

We couldn't agree on pricing or deadlines. Instead of creating a $1,000 course on finding clients on platforms like Upwork, I'll tell you for free why it might not be worth it. Let's dive in!

I already covered some of this in an earlier article click. Let's continue.

I decided to leave Upwork at the beginning of 2024. The reason? Changes in the company's policies.

In addition to a 22% commission on every payment, I had to buy connects to apply for jobs. After calculating the number of orders and applications in my niche, I realized it would cost me at least $100 to land one client.

Some freelancers began complaining about "empty" jobs—where you pay for connects, but the client changes their mind, hires someone else, or it turns out to be a bot...maybe?

I still had a few clients left, so I had to keep working.

However, I encountered challenges like prolonged revisions and delayed responses from clients. A small order for 10 illustrations stretched over three months, and in the end, the client decided to finish some parts themselves, reducing my payment.

Here are the main issues:

1. Low pay for long-term projects

Clients control their review timelines and the assignment of new tasks. Time passes, but you don't get paid unless you have an hourly contract (which requires a time tracker) or a fixed-price contract. Completing one project can take months, and the payment remains the same.

You hesitate to take on new orders because you never know when you'll need to finish the current one, leading to overwork.

Meanwhile, your bills pile up, and Upwork doesn't truly regulate your client relationships.

2. Clients demanding rule-breaking

The platform's bot already sends warnings that your account, which you've built for 5–8 years, might be banned if you mention anything resembling "payment."

Despite taking 22% from every transaction, Upwork also threatens to block your account.

Clients often ask to switch to WhatsApp or send files directly to their cloud storage. If you argue, they'll simply leave and hire another freelancer from the platform's vast pool.

This intense competition leads to price dumping.

You're not protected on the platform and can't prove anything. If you want to take legal action, you'll need to pay for it—starting at $600 in 2023.

3. Huge commissions

Due to the influx of competition, labor prices on the platform have dropped to a minimum. After deducting commissions and connects, you lose 30–40% of your earnings, which, according to freelancers on social media, rarely exceed $2,000–$5,000 for multiple projects.

4. Paid connects

At first, $1.50 per connect seems trivial. However, applying for a single job typically requires 16 connects. To land a gig, you'll need to submit at least 20–40 applications at 16 connects each.

If luck isn't on your side, you'll spend around $300 just to find a client.

Your results depend on the quality of your portfolio, soft skills, and conversational English proficiency.

5. Fierce competition

The platform is crowded with freelancers from all over the world, many with strong portfolios but few job openings. Differences in economies and intense competition create a market for cheap labor.

If you're ready to charge $150 for a project, a competitor will offer to do it for $50, which might be sufficient for their country's economy.

6. What's good about Upwork?

To be fair, one significant advantage is the automatic creation of contracts. You don't need to consult a notary to draft one; the platform handles it for you.

However, platforms like Fiverr also offer this service as intermediaries.

Conclusion: What should we do?

If you're an expert with experience, English skills, marketing knowledge, proficiency in digital tools, and a market-quality portfolio, you can find clients directly online. At least you won't have to pay for that!

Just be polite, spend time understanding people's interests and needs, or create your own product and start selling it.

What do you need for that? Here's the basic list:

Design skills
Video editing and animation skills
3D graphics skills
Programming skills
Sales and marketing skills
Economic understanding

I don't know what your university teaches, but make sure you're gaining these skills.

Good luck! And remember, I can help you with design, content, and invite you to check out Punny Panda Studio's projects.

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