How to Bid on Freelancer and Win More Projects With Smarter Pricing, Sharper Proposals and Careful Bid Upgrades

Learning how to bid on Freelancer comes down to four moves. Pick projects that match your skills, quote a fair price, write a short proposal aimed at that client and reply fast when they message. Free accounts have a limited monthly bid allowance, so each bid should go to a project you can realistically win.

Freelancer.com works differently from many other marketplaces. Clients post a project, freelancers place bids, and the client compares offers on price, timeline and profile. This article explains each part of a bid, the fees that apply and the habits that raise your chances.

Table of contents

1. How does bidding work on Freelancer.com?
2. What do bids and fees cost?
3. How to bid on Freelancer step by step
4. How do you choose projects worth a bid?
5. How much should you bid?
6. How do you write a proposal that gets read?
7. Are bid upgrades worth paying for?
8. How does bidding compare with Upwork?
9. Why are your bids not winning?
10. Frequently asked questions
11. Conclusion

How Does Bidding Work on Freelancer.com?

Freelancer.com is an open marketplace. A client posts a project with a brief, a budget range and a deadline. Freelancers see it and submit bids. The client reviews bids, chats with a few candidates and awards the project to one.

After the award, you accept, and work usually proceeds through milestone payments. A milestone is a funded stage of the project that the client releases when they approve your delivery.

What does a bid contain?

• Bid amount: a fixed price or an hourly rate, depending on the project type.
• Delivery time: how many days you need.
• Proposal text: your message to the client.
• Milestones: optional stages with their own prices.
• Upgrades: optional paid features that raise visibility.

What Do Bids and Fees Cost?

Costs on Freelancer.com change from time to time, and regional versions of the site can show different details. The figures below come from the site’s published fee and bidding pages at the time of writing. Confirm them on the official pages before you rely on them.

Item	What the site states
Free membership bids	6 bids per month
Bid replenishment (free plan)	The bidding FAQ describes used bids returning at a fixed interval
Fixed-price project fee	10% or $5, whichever is greater
Hourly project fee	10% of each payment
Sponsored bid upgrade	0.75% of the bid amount, with a minimum and maximum
Highlighted bid upgrade	$1
Sealed bid upgrade	$0.10
Minimum balance to bid	The fee page lists a minimum balance requirement, which can be higher for some accounts

Always subtract the project fee when you decide your price. A small fixed project can lose a noticeable share of its value to the minimum fee.

How to Bid on Freelancer Step by Step

Follow this sequence for every bid. It takes a few minutes once you have a routine.

1. Prepare your profile. Add a clear photo, a headline that names your specialty, a short summary and a few relevant portfolio items.
2. Add accurate skills. The site uses skills to show you projects, so list the ones you can actually deliver.
3. Browse and filter. Use filters for skills, budget, project type and recency.
4. Open the project and read everything. Check the brief, attachments and any questions the client asked.
5. Review the client. Look at payment verification, past hires and ratings.
6. Click to bid. Enter your amount and delivery time.
7. Write your proposal. Aim it at this client only.
8. Add milestones if useful. Splitting larger work into stages builds trust.
9. Submit and watch for replies. Answer messages quickly.

How Do You Choose Projects Worth a Bid?

With a monthly limit, selectivity matters more than speed. A rushed bid on a poor-fit project wastes an allowance you may not get back quickly.

Signs of a strong project

• The brief is specific about deliverables and format.
• The client has a verified payment method.
• The client has hired before and left feedback.
• The budget is believable for the scope.
• The project is recent, so fewer bids have arrived.

Red flags to skip

• A huge budget with a vague, one-line task.
• Requests to move to another chat app before awarding.
• Demands for free sample work.
• Suggestions to pay outside the platform.

Keeping payment and chat on Freelancer.com protects you under the site’s milestone and dispute processes. Moving off-platform removes that protection and may break the site’s rules.

How Much Should You Bid?

Your price is a signal. A bid far below the range can suggest low quality. A bid far above it needs strong proof. Most winning bids sit near the middle of the client’s budget, adjusted for your skills and the scope.

Approach	When it fits	Trade-off
Lower end of the range	Your first few projects, when you need reviews	Attracts price-focused clients
Middle of the range	Most standard projects	Balanced win rate and earnings
Upper end of the range	Strong reviews and a very close sample	Fewer awards, better pay
Above the range	Specialist work with a clear value story	You must justify the price

Set a delivery time you can beat

A very short deadline may win attention but can hurt your review if you run late. Quote a time that leaves a small buffer. Early delivery is an easy way to earn positive feedback.

How Do You Write a Proposal That Gets Read?

Clients scan many bids. Your first two lines decide whether they keep reading. Write for one person, not for a crowd.

A four-part structure

1. Their goal: restate what the client wants in plain words.
2. Your plan: list two or three steps you would take.
3. Your proof: link one sample that matches the project.
4. Your question: ask something specific that moves the conversation forward.

An example you can adapt

Hi Daniel, you need a clean list of 500 roofing company owners with verified emails for a cold email campaign. I would collect the contacts from public sources, verify every address and deliver a tidy spreadsheet. Here is a similar list I prepared as a practice sample: [link]. Do you want phone numbers included, or emails only?

This example is short and specific. It also asks a question that invites a reply. For a bigger toolkit of wording ideas, see our guide on how to send proposals on Upwork, since the writing principles carry over.

What to leave out

• Generic openers such as “Dear Sir, I read your project.”
• Long lists of unrelated skills.
• Pressure phrases like “Award me now.”
• Promises that clash with the brief.

Are Bid Upgrades Worth Paying For?

Freelancer.com sells optional upgrades that change how your bid appears. They cost extra, so use them only where visibility matters.

• Sponsored bids move your bid higher in the list. They suit larger projects where a small fee is minor compared with the payout.
• Highlighted bids make your bid stand out visually for a small charge.
• Sealed bids hide your amount from other freelancers, which can limit price comparison.

An upgrade cannot fix a weak proposal. It only puts that proposal in front of more eyes. Improve the proposal first, then consider the upgrade for high-value projects where you are a strong fit.

Should you pay for a higher membership?

Paid memberships offer more bids and extra features, and plans change often. Ask three questions before you upgrade:

1. Do you run out of bids while good projects remain?
2. Do you know your win rate from past bids?
3. Can you deliver more work if you win more?

If the answers are yes, check the current membership page and compare it with your expected income.

How Does Bidding Compare With Upwork?

Many freelancers use both platforms. The habits are similar, but the mechanics differ.

Topic	Freelancer.com	Upwork
How you apply	Place a bid with price, time and proposal	Send a proposal that uses Connects
Free allowance	Monthly bid limit on the free plan	Monthly Connects, depending on plan
Project types	Projects and contests	Hourly and fixed-price jobs
Visibility boosts	Sponsored, highlighted and sealed bids	Boosting a proposal with extra Connects
Fee model	Project fee on awarded work	Service fee on earnings

Fees and allowances change on both sites, so read the current Help pages. If you plan to use Upwork too, our beginner roadmap on how to start freelancing with no experience covers profile setup and early proposals.

Why Are Your Bids Not Winning?

If bids go unanswered, diagnose before you send more. Most problems fall into a few categories.

1. Weak project fit. You bid on work your profile does not support.
2. Generic proposals. Copy-pasted text shows no effort.
3. Thin profile. Missing portfolio items or skills reduce trust.
4. Price mismatch. Your bid is far from the client’s range without explanation.
5. Slow replies. Clients often award the first person who answers well.
6. No next step. A proposal with no question gives the client nothing to answer.

How can you track what works?

Keep a simple log of each bid: project type, price, proposal angle and result. After twenty bids, patterns appear. You might win more on smaller projects, or with a certain sample. A spreadsheet is enough, and tools like BidStaff can automate tracking for Upwork if you also use that platform.

A sample weekly routine

• Monday: review new projects and shortlist the best fits.
• Tuesday: write tailored bids for the top choices.
• Wednesday: reply to messages and update samples.
• Thursday: consider one higher-value project for an upgrade.
• Friday: review results and adjust targeting.

Pair this routine with wider outreach. Our article on how to find freelance clients lists other channels, so you do not depend on a single marketplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bids do free members get on Freelancer.com?

The site states that free members receive 6 bids per month. Used bids return over time. Check the bidding FAQ for the current replenishment rule.

Is it free to bid on Freelancer.com?

Placing a basic bid uses your bid allowance and does not charge a separate fee. Optional upgrades cost extra, and a project fee applies when you are awarded and paid.

How much does Freelancer.com charge freelancers?

The fee page states 10% or $5 for fixed-price projects, whichever is greater, and 10% of each payment for hourly projects. Confirm the current numbers on the official page.

How much should I bid as a beginner?

Bid near the lower-middle of the client’s range for your first projects, keep the scope clear and raise prices as reviews grow.

How long should a Freelancer proposal be?

Short is better. A few focused paragraphs that cover the client’s goal, your plan, one sample and a question are enough.

Why do I keep losing bids on Freelancer?

Common causes are poor project fit, generic text, a thin profile, slow replies and prices far from the budget. Review each bid for these issues.

Are sponsored bids worth it?

They can help on high-value projects where you are a strong match. On small projects, the cost may outweigh the benefit.

Can I bid on Freelancer without experience?

Yes. Use honest samples, start with smaller projects and write proposals that show you understand the brief. Our guide on freelancing without experience shows how to build proof.

Should I take the conversation outside Freelancer.com?

Avoid it. Keeping chat and payment on the platform protects you and respects the site’s rules.

Conclusion

To bid on Freelancer well, think quality over quantity. Choose projects that match your skills, price fairly, write for one client at a time and respond quickly. Use upgrades sparingly, and track your results so you can improve.

Your action plan:

• Polish your profile and add two or three relevant samples.
• Shortlist a few projects each week instead of bidding on everything.
• Use the four-part proposal structure and end with a question.
• Subtract fees before you set your price.
• Log every bid and review your results after twenty bids.

Other related articles

• How to send proposals on Upwork
• How to find freelance clients
• How to find clients online
• How to start freelancing with no experience
• How to start a freelance business

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and he writes about proposals and marketplace strategy.