What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc?

visimedia · 03-15-2011, 07:07 AM

Hi, what do you think about odesk, freelancer, elance, etc?
what makes all of them different from each other? Feature or stuff like that?

Which one is the best?

It's viewed from the freelancer or job seeker side.

Any review?

Tashi Mortier · 03-15-2011, 09:40 AM

I can only speak about Elance. In my experience they have very high paid jobs, but it can take you some months 'till your first successful bid.

So you have to be persistent and never give up, then you can make it there.

artistic · 03-15-2011, 10:07 AM

There is not much difference. Freelancer actually promote low budget projects, and odesk do the same a bit. But elance promote high paying projects, and as tashi said, it can take many days to win your first project on Elance.

I'll also suggest you to try out freelancerin, this site promote both high and low paying projects.

dumina · 03-15-2011, 10:08 AM

I think freelance is the best.

Christian Little · 03-15-2011, 10:12 AM

odesk is for cheaper workers, typically from the phillipines or other countries like Pakistan. They're really cheap, and the quality of the work done is usually so-so. Don't expect anything amazing out of them.

elance and the other sites have more workers from 1st world nations like the US, the UK, and such. The rates are way higher, but so is the quality of work provided.

blue_sky · 03-15-2011, 10:30 AM

I used scriptlance for small scripts...also I am under the impresion that a lot of people on Freelancer, Scriptlance etc are using bots to place a bid...

Aimee Vo · 03-15-2011, 10:34 AM

"It's viewed from the freelancer or job seeker side."
what services are you offering? article writing, programming?
I personally like odesk to hire because of their work diary where they do screen shots of the workers. It really varies on the quality of work.

Joyful Thiek · 03-15-2011, 11:19 AM

The number of free bids you can make on projects is more in frelancer than in elance. I don't know about oDesk.

totalprocessing.net · 03-15-2011, 02:03 PM

I've had a few jobs done on elance. I was satisfied with them. elance has an escrow account so you can make sure you are satisfied with the work before you release the funds. Most bidders there have a rating by others they have worked for. Be sure to read the comments.

trevord92 · 03-15-2011, 03:24 PM

Vworker (used to be called Rentacoder) is another option.

They operate an escrow system to protect both sides.

As with the other sites, ratings are important but their scoring system tends to be all-or-nothing so it pays to read the comments.

Trevor

Mike McAleer · 03-15-2011, 03:24 PM

I have only used Odesk really so all I can say is that Odesk is a pretty good one. There are lots of jobs and lots of freelancers.

visimedia · 03-15-2011, 08:36 PM

cool thx thx thx guys n gals

planetlubs · 02-08-2012, 03:46 PM

I have used both odesk and Elance.

I do not know if you are asking as some one who wants to bid jobs on these websites or as some one who is interested in Posting jobs.

Now If you are seeking for jobs and you are just starting out, Odesk will be the best option because there are plenty of jobs with low budgets and your rating seems not to count so much to the hirer. You can start small by bidding on those low budget projects and build your feedback. (This is also good if you want to post jobs. You can start with small budget and as you build up your team).

However, the job posters here seem to take advantage of that and really pay less. I can call it Exploitation.

Plus, there is no escrow system and so the person who hired you can easily fail to pay you and there is little you can do. I have not personally had it happen but I think it is one of the vulnerabilities of the system.

If you want to post A job project,

Then Elance is better. Why? they use an Escrow system and your money is protected if the contractor does not come through with their work.

Plus, you can easily have control over the turn over time because it has to be specified in the proposal. So the contractors here know when to have their job completed.

On Odesk, I find that some times I am on the mercy of the worker. They tend to take their time.

Anyway, you still have to study these systems. EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.

Trucker · 02-13-2012, 08:34 AM

Elance has really a nice way to provide jobs & offer other services...Their dispute system is even more strong.

Odesk lost its bit of image coz of spam jobs & low bid value. You find a worker @ 0.5 bucks per hour. Good timetracking management.

I prefer moving with Elance from long back...

Infomaster · 02-13-2012, 09:49 AM

FYI, watch out - I recommend all avoid freelancer.com - fees for several no-value actions and little results if any for many would-be buyers. Took weeks to get my deposit of $300 back out. Lost about $35 in fees for no results. $5.42 just to cancel a project that had already expired. What? I'll never use them again. Better to try other sites like elance and odesk.

100bucksaday · 02-15-2012, 03:45 AM

I don't know about elance.. In my opinion freelancer is best..

03-15-2011, 07:07 AM	#1
visimedia Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,139 Blog Entries: 27 Thanks: 68 Thanked 62 Times in 60 Posts	What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? Hi, what do you think about odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? what makes all of them different from each other? Feature or stuff like that? Which one is the best? It's viewed from the freelancer or job seeker side. Any review?

03-15-2011, 09:40 AM	#2
Tashi Mortier HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hesse, Germany Posts: 356 Thanks: 37 Thanked 76 Times in 66 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I can only speak about Elance. In my experience they have very high paid jobs, but it can take you some months 'till your first successful bid. So you have to be persistent and never give up, then you can make it there.

03-15-2011, 10:07 AM	#3
artistic Active Warrior Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 89 Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? There is not much difference. Freelancer actually promote low budget projects, and odesk do the same a bit. But elance promote high paying projects, and as tashi said, it can take many days to win your first project on Elance. I'll also suggest you to try out freelancerin, this site promote both high and low paying projects.

03-15-2011, 10:08 AM	#4
dumina Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I think freelance is the best.

03-15-2011, 10:12 AM	#5
Christian Little CEO of BoltWebHosting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 526 Thanks: 53 Thanked 113 Times in 93 Posts Social Networking	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? odesk is for cheaper workers, typically from the phillipines or other countries like Pakistan. They're really cheap, and the quality of the work done is usually so-so. Don't expect anything amazing out of them. elance and the other sites have more workers from 1st world nations like the US, the UK, and such. The rates are way higher, but so is the quality of work provided.

03-15-2011, 10:30 AM	#6
blue_sky HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Were Sunhine meets the Big Blue Posts: 263 Thanks: 28 Thanked 25 Times in 12 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I used scriptlance for small scripts...also I am under the impresion that a lot of people on Freelancer, Scriptlance etc are using bots to place a bid...

03-15-2011, 10:34 AM	#7
Aimee Vo Aimee Vo War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 89 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 15 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? "It's viewed from the freelancer or job seeker side." what services are you offering? article writing, programming? I personally like odesk to hire because of their work diary where they do screen shots of the workers. It really varies on the quality of work.

03-15-2011, 11:19 AM	#8
Joyful Thiek Founder, Promotrics War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 166 Thanks: 17 Thanked 28 Times in 21 Posts Social Networking	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? The number of free bids you can make on projects is more in frelancer than in elance. I don't know about oDesk.

03-15-2011, 02:03 PM	#9
totalprocessing.net Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I've had a few jobs done on elance. I was satisfied with them. elance has an escrow account so you can make sure you are satisfied with the work before you release the funds. Most bidders there have a rating by others they have worked for. Be sure to read the comments.

03-15-2011, 03:24 PM	#10
trevord92 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: , , United Kingdom. Posts: 238 Thanks: 5 Thanked 89 Times in 22 Posts Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? Vworker (used to be called Rentacoder) is another option. They operate an escrow system to protect both sides. As with the other sites, ratings are important but their scoring system tends to be all-or-nothing so it pays to read the comments. Trevor

03-15-2011, 03:24 PM	#11
Mike McAleer WSOCharity.com War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 58 Thanked 256 Times in 210 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I have only used Odesk really so all I can say is that Odesk is a pretty good one. There are lots of jobs and lots of freelancers.

03-15-2011, 08:36 PM	#12
visimedia Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,139 Blog Entries: 27 Thanks: 68 Thanked 62 Times in 60 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? cool thx thx thx guys n gals

02-08-2012, 03:46 PM	#13
planetlubs The Researcher War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 47 Thanks: 9 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I have used both odesk and Elance. I do not know if you are asking as some one who wants to bid jobs on these websites or as some one who is interested in Posting jobs. Now If you are seeking for jobs and you are just starting out, Odesk will be the best option because there are plenty of jobs with low budgets and your rating seems not to count so much to the hirer. You can start small by bidding on those low budget projects and build your feedback. (This is also good if you want to post jobs. You can start with small budget and as you build up your team). However, the job posters here seem to take advantage of that and really pay less. I can call it Exploitation. Plus, there is no escrow system and so the person who hired you can easily fail to pay you and there is little you can do. I have not personally had it happen but I think it is one of the vulnerabilities of the system. If you want to post A job project, Then Elance is better. Why? they use an Escrow system and your money is protected if the contractor does not come through with their work. Plus, you can easily have control over the turn over time because it has to be specified in the proposal. So the contractors here know when to have their job completed. On Odesk, I find that some times I am on the mercy of the worker. They tend to take their time. Anyway, you still have to study these systems. EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.

02-13-2012, 08:34 AM	#14
Trucker HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 109 Thanks: 7 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? Elance has really a nice way to provide jobs & offer other services...Their dispute system is even more strong. Odesk lost its bit of image coz of spam jobs & low bid value. You find a worker @ 0.5 bucks per hour. Good timetracking management. I prefer moving with Elance from long back...

02-13-2012, 09:49 AM	#15
Infomaster David Pettit War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 18 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Contact Info	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? FYI, watch out - I recommend all avoid freelancer.com - fees for several no-value actions and little results if any for many would-be buyers. Took weeks to get my deposit of $300 back out. Lost about $35 in fees for no results. $5.42 just to cancel a project that had already expired. What? I'll never use them again. Better to try other sites like elance and odesk.

02-15-2012, 03:45 AM	#16
100bucksaday Active Warrior Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 56 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: What's the difference between odesk, freelancer, elance, etc? I don't know about elance.. In my opinion freelancer is best..