PinoyRemote
I’ve found clients through both OnlineJobs.ph and Upwork, but they played different roles in my work. If you’re choosing between those platforms and Fiverr, look at the opportunities, the costs and how you’ll show a client what you can do.
- OnlineJobs.ph: worth checking for direct-hire roles where you apply to an employer’s job post
- Upwork: worth considering when you can respond to a specific project or role with relevant samples and a clear proposal
- Fiverr: worth considering when you can describe a service clearly enough for a buyer to order it
These are starting points, and the types of work overlap. Choose based on the actual role or project, your schedule and what you can deliver.
Hindi mo kailangan sabay-sabay gumawa ng profile sa lahat. Compare the options first, then give one platform enough attention to build a useful profile and test your approach.
My experience with OnlineJobs.ph and Upwork
I’ve used both OnlineJobs.ph and Upwork to find clients. In 2020 to 2021, my Upwork work was mainly short-term e-commerce and Shopify projects. I applied to jobs I felt capable of doing, had quick interviews through Upwork chat, and kept the work on the platform. Clients left reviews when the projects ended.
What I like about Upwork is that the work history and client reviews give me something concrete to show a potential client. They can see that I’ve done paid work before. For someone building a track record, I think that’s a useful part of the platform.
OnlineJobs.ph brought me my very first client. It also brought me long-term clients, including one I still work with today. The work happened outside OnlineJobs.ph, so I have to keep my profile updated myself. Magkaiba yung naging experience ko sa dalawang platform: project-based work on Upwork, and longer client relationships through OnlineJobs.ph.
Upwork also supports ongoing, long-term work. My experience with shorter projects does not mean that’s the only kind of work available there. Upwork’s contract guidance
I haven’t personally used Fiverr. The Fiverr section below is based on its published features and rules, rather than my own experience finding clients there.
Compare how you would get hired
| Platform | A common way to find work | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| OnlineJobs.ph | Apply to a posted role and discuss the arrangement directly with the employer | Profile, relevant work sample and application that answers the job post |
| Upwork | Send a proposal for a suitable job; agree an hourly or fixed-price contract | Relevant sample, proposal, rate and budget for application costs |
| Fiverr | Publish a Gig that explains your service; discuss a custom offer when needed | Clear deliverable, sample, price, delivery time and revision limits |
OnlineJobs.ph offers a free jobseeker account for Filipino workers. Upwork explains its proposal and Connects process. Fiverr’s freelancer guide describes Gigs, and its custom-offer guide explains tailored offers. The table is a practical comparison, not a rule that each platform supports only one kind of work.
Before choosing, read a few relevant listings or service pages. Check the tasks, required skills, working hours and budget. If the available work does not fit your schedule or ability, a lower platform fee will not fix that.
OnlineJobs.ph for direct applications
OnlineJobs.ph connects you with employers hiring Filipino workers. You agree the work and payment arrangement with the employer. Its pricing page describes direct hiring without salary markups.
Applications use Apply Points. OnlineJobs.ph’s guide, updated March 2026, says verified jobseekers receive 10 points on days they visit while logged in, with a maximum balance of 60. You choose how many to use for an application, and you cannot buy more. Check your balance before planning your applications. Apply Points guide
Use that limit to make a shortlist rather than sending the same message everywhere. For each role, identify the main task and choose a sample that shows you can do it. Follow the employer’s application instructions, but be cautious about requests for money or unnecessary sensitive information.
OnlineJobs.ph says EasyPay is free and it takes no cut of payments. EasyPay uses outside processors, so transfer and currency-conversion costs can still apply. It is not a promise that every payment will arrive in full or that every employer will pay on time. EasyPay explanation
Before starting, agree the work, pay schedule, payment method and any paid trial in writing. For a new direct client, discuss a small paid first assignment or a shorter initial payment interval so you are not waiting through a long stretch of unpaid work.
Upwork when a proposal can show your fit
Upwork can suit a VA who can explain how they would handle a specific task and show relevant work. Read the job carefully before spending on a proposal. A polished profile will not make an unrelated application a good fit.
Connects cost $0.15 each. The number needed varies by job, and boosting a proposal uses extra Connects. Upwork says some freelancers may receive 10 free monthly Connects through offers; do not assume every Basic account gets them. Current Connects guidance
For a sample application budget, five proposals using 12 Connects each would use 60 Connects, costing $9 before applicable tax if all were purchased. Twelve is an example, not a fixed requirement. Optional boosts would cost more.
Set a spending limit you can afford even if those applications do not lead to a contract. Track which proposals receive replies and what kind of work they concerned before buying more.
Upwork’s standard freelancer service fee currently ranges from 0% to 15% per contract. The percentage is shown before you submit a proposal or accept an offer and stays fixed once the contract begins. Check the fee shown for your contract when setting your rate, rather than using an old percentage from memory. Freelancer service fee
For a closer look at proposal spending and deductions, see the Upwork Connects and fees guide.
Fiverr when the service is easy to define
Fiverr’s Gig format lets you define a service before a buyer orders. Explain the result, what the client supplies, how much work is included and when you will deliver. The format can also lead to repeat business; it does not limit you to one-off or weekend work. Fiverr’s freelancer guide
Here is a sample service outline, not a promise about demand or a service you must offer:
- Deliverable: clean and format one spreadsheet containing up to 200 contact records
- Included: standardize names and formatting, flag missing fields and remove exact duplicates
- Client supplies: the file and the rules for how the final sheet should look
- Not included: researching missing contact details, buying data or uploading records to a CRM
- Delivery and revisions: specify a timeframe you can meet and how many revision rounds the price covers
Use demo data for a public sample. Do not expose a client’s contact list to show what you can do.
Fiverr also supports custom offers, so you can agree a tailored scope when a buyer’s request does not match your standard package. Put that agreement in the offer before the order starts. Custom offers
Freelancers receive 80% of the cleared order payment. Funds normally have a 14-day clearing period after completion before withdrawal; eligible programs can have shorter periods. Allow for that wait as well as the time your payout method takes. Fiverr earnings and clearance
Compare the same amount before other costs
This example uses $500 owed for your work, not the buyer’s total checkout budget. It compares only the platform’s share. Buyer-side charges, Connects, taxes, withdrawal fees and currency conversion are excluded.
| Arrangement | Platform share in this example | Remaining before other costs |
|---|---|---|
| Direct client through OnlineJobs.ph | $0 OnlineJobs.ph cut | $500 |
| Upwork contract | $0 to $75 at a 0% to 15% fee | $425 to $500 |
| Fiverr order | $100 at a 20% share | $400 |
Sources: OnlineJobs.ph EasyPay, Upwork fees, Fiverr earnings.
The highest number in the table does not automatically make that platform the better choice. Compare the work you can actually win, the time required, the payment arrangement and the final amount you keep.
For Philippine freelancers, Upwork says it collects 12% VAT on its taxable services, including Connects and freelancer fees, unless the required valid VAT-registration information is provided. This is tax on those services, not an automatic 12% deduction from your entire client payment. Simply having a TIN does not mean you are VAT-registered. Check your account and get advice for your own tax situation. Upwork’s Philippines VAT guidance
For example, a sample 10% Upwork fee on $500 is $50. If 12% VAT applies to that $50 fee, another $6 is charged, leaving $444 before Connects, payout costs and your other taxes or expenses. Use your actual contract fee when doing your own calculation.
If you need help working out a rate before these costs, see the beginner VA rate guide.
Check the payment rules before doing the work
On Upwork hourly contracts, payment protection has conditions. These include using the Desktop App time tracker, relevant screenshots and work-diary memos, adequate activity, staying within the weekly limit, a verified identity and client billing method, and an account in good standing. Manually entered hours do not qualify. Read the full hourly protection requirements before relying on them.
On Upwork fixed-price contracts, confirm that the milestone is fully funded before starting. Deliver work matching that milestone through Submit Work for Payment. Protection provides a dispute process, but does not guarantee payment in every case. Fixed-price protection
Keep pre-contract discussions on Upwork unless a stated exception applies. Moving a conversation off-platform after a contract starts does not give permission to move payments off-platform. Follow Upwork’s communication rules and payment rules.
On Fiverr, keep payments on Fiverr and use its order and delivery tools. Third-party communication is allowed only after an order is placed; bring important notes back into the order conversation. Check the actual order in your account before starting, rather than relying on an email or screenshot. Fiverr’s off-platform policy
With a direct client, verify who you are dealing with and keep the agreed terms and payment records. A job-board listing alone is not proof that the employer is trustworthy. Do not pay a supposed client to unlock a job or release your earnings.
If you still need a practice sample or profile, start with the beginner VA roadmap. For optional downloadable portfolio and application materials, the ₱299 VA Starter Kit includes a portfolio template, message templates and an application tracker.
Pick one and review what happens
For your next few application sessions, choose one platform and record:
- The type of work you targeted
- The sample or offer you used
- Time spent and any application cost
- Replies, interviews or buyer inquiries
- Paid work won, if any
Then look at where the process stops. If you are finding suitable jobs but getting no replies, review your sample and application. If the jobs themselves do not fit, change the search or try another platform. If buyers ask for more than your Fiverr package includes, tighten the scope or prepare a custom offer.
Kung wala pang replies, check muna yung applications or offer before spending more. Keep what you learn specific enough to improve the next attempt.
If you want to work with multiple clients on projects and build a visible work history, I recommend considering Upwork. Account for its fees when setting your rate, and budget for applications that may not lead to work. I’d also include OnlineJobs.ph in a search for long-term work, based on the relationships I found there. Neither choice guarantees the same result for you. For Fiverr, review comparable services and decide whether you can offer a clear deliverable at a price that works after fees.
