Updated April 30, 2025.
If you’re looking for freelance work you can do from home, FreeUp is a platform that connects independent contractors with businesses around the world.
It’s designed for experienced freelancers who want consistent access to new clients in areas like digital marketing, virtual assistance, writing, design, development, and more.
FreeUp claims to only accept the top 1% of applicants, so the screening process is more involved than on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork.
But if you're approved, you’ll have access to a marketplace where businesses post paid projects daily, and many are looking to hire fast.
Here’s how the application process works, step-by-step, so you know what to expect before signing up!
What Is FreeUp?
FreeUp is a freelance marketplace where experienced professionals can offer services in over 85 different skill areas.
As a freelancer, you set your own hourly or project rate, apply to open jobs, and work directly with clients through the platform.
FreeUp is used by over 20,000 businesses and is known for offering quality opportunities with less competition than many other freelance sites. That’s partly because they screen applicants before granting access to their job board.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
FreeUp’s application process has several steps, but it’s designed to make sure you’re a good fit for the platform and understand how everything works before starting.
1. Submit Your Application
You’ll begin by filling out a quick application online. Just enter your skill areas, background, and availability. You should hear back within a day or two to find out if you passed the initial screening process.
2. Take the FreeUp Culture & Community Course
If you move on, you’ll be sent a short training guide with FreeUp’s terms of use and best practices. After that, you’ll take a quiz to make sure you understand how to work through the platform and communicate with clients.
3. Complete a Zoom Interview
Next up is a 15–20 minute interview with a FreeUp team member. You’ll talk about your past experience, communication style, and what kinds of projects you’re looking for. It’s short, but it’s your chance to show professionalism and reliability.
4. Set Up Your Account
Once you get approved, a FreeUp assistant will reach out to you to help create your freelancer profile and connect your preferred payment method. From there, you’ll have full access to the FreeUp marketplace.
Finding Work on FreeUp
After your account is active, you can view and apply to client projects right inside the platform. The job board updates daily, and you can filter projects by category, rate, or fixed/hourly pay.
If a client is interested, they’ll reach out for a short interview. If it’s a good fit, you just start the project!
So it’s a fast-moving system, especially once you’ve gotten a few great client reviews under your belt.
How and When You Get Paid
FreeUp pays every week, so this is a valuable option if you like sites that pay weekly. Their billing cycle runs Wednesday through Tuesday, and payments are processed the following Thursday.
So if you log time during the week, you’ll get paid like clockwork the next week. No chasing down invoices or waiting around.
What Freelancers Say
FreeUp gets solid reviews from freelancers, with many saying the internal support team is helpful and easy to reach. Others appreciate the quality of clients and how quickly new jobs come in.
Like any platform, there are a few cons. Some users mention limited job variety or slower seasons depending on your skill area, and of course, the approval process takes a lot of effort.
But overall, freelancers who do well on FreeUp tend to be consistent, proactive, and great at communication—qualities clients on this platform are looking for.
They get a solid 4.4 on Glassdoor. You can read those reviews for yourself to get more insight.
What I Think
If you’re a skilled freelancer looking for legit remote work without the hassle of constantly pitching or competing with hundreds of people, FreeUp might be a good fit.
It’s not as open-entry as other freelance marketplaces, but that’s exactly why many freelancers prefer it. Once you’re in, it’s just a matter of applying to jobs, delivering great work, and getting paid on time.
So if you’re ready to put your skills to use and land new projects from home, FreeUp is definitely worth a try.
Need Even More Remote Job Leads?
If you want access to even more legit work-from-home jobs, FlexJobs is a great resource to check out. They post hundreds of new listings each week—everything from part-time gigs to full-time remote roles with well-known companies.
Every job is screened for scams, and there are no ads cluttering the site. So you’re just seeing real opportunities from real employers.
There is a small membership fee, but right now you can get full access for just $2.95 for 14 days. It’s an easy way to see what’s out there—and of course, you can cancel anytime before the trial ends if it’s not for you.
👉 Click here to try FlexJobs for 14 days.
Good luck with your search!
Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.