Freelancing vs a Remote Job: Which Should You Choose?
Both freelancing and remote jobs let you work from home and earn from employers or clients far away. But day to day, they're very different. Choosing the one that fits your situation saves you months of frustration.
The difference in one sentence
- A remote job means you work for one employer, usually with a fixed salary, set hours and a manager, just not in an office.
- Freelancing means you run your own small business and sell your services to many clients, project by project.
How they compare
| Remote job | Freelancing | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Fixed salary, paid regularly | Changes from month to month |
| Stability | Higher, though jobs can still end | Lower at first, higher with many clients |
| Hours | Set by the employer | You choose, around client deadlines |
| Boss | One manager | Many clients, and you choose them |
| Getting hired | Applications, tests and interviews | Proposals, profiles and referrals |
| Income growth | Raises and promotions | Raise your prices, add clients |
| Benefits | Sometimes included | You arrange your own |
| Paperwork | Often handled by the employer | Contracts, invoices and tax are yours |
Remote jobs: pros and cons
Pros: a predictable salary, a team to learn from, clear responsibilities, and sometimes benefits.
Cons: fierce competition for remote roles, many listings limited to certain countries, fixed hours that may fall at night in your time zone, and less control over your work.
Freelancing: pros and cons
Pros: you choose your clients and projects, you can start with no money, your income can grow quickly with your skills, and you can work from almost anywhere.
Cons: irregular income, finding clients is an ongoing job, and you handle your own taxes, contracts and savings.
Which suits you?
A remote job may suit you better if:
- you need a steady income right now
- you prefer clear instructions and a team
- you'd rather not deal with sales, contracts and invoices
Freelancing may suit you better if:
- you want to choose your clients and projects
- you're comfortable with some uncertainty, especially at first
- you enjoy talking to people and solving their problems
- you want to start without waiting for an employer to say yes
You can do both
Many people combine the two:
- Freelance part-time while you look for a remote job, to build experience and a portfolio.
- Keep a part-time remote job for stability while you grow a freelance business.
- Turn a freelance client into a remote job: happy clients sometimes offer long-term roles.
Check your employment contract first. Some employers don't allow side work, or don't allow it for competitors.
Where to find each
- Remote jobs: We Work Remotely, Remote OK, Working Nomads, Wellfound, LinkedIn Jobs and Indeed. Our free platforms directory lists them.
- Freelance clients: marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork, LinkedIn and your own network. See our list of 20 freelance websites that are free to join.
Watch out for fake remote jobs
Scammers love the word "remote". Be careful of job offers that:
- ask you to pay for training, equipment or a "starter kit"
- hire you without any interview
- move straight to WhatsApp or Telegram
- send you a check and ask you to send part of it back
Read freelance scam red flags before you accept any offer.
Your next step
If you want to try freelancing, start with our guide to what freelancing is, then follow the 30-day plan to start with no money.