I've been working remotely full-time for a little over two years now and honestly, it’s been a mixed bag. The stability is great, I can budget and plan ahead, and I do like having a team I talk to daily. But sometimes I wonder if freelancing could offer more freedom and higher pay per project, especially since I’ve built a decent network. Has anyone here made the switch from full-time to freelance (or vice versa)? Curious to hear what people actually experienced in terms of income and stress levels.
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Has anyone here made the switch from full-time to freelance (or vice versa)?
Has anyone here made the switch from full-time to freelance (or vice versa)?
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I made the switch from full-time to freelance about a year ago, and honestly, it’s been a mix of pros and cons — but overall worth it for me. Income-wise, I started a bit lower than my full-time salary, but after 6–8 months of building momentum and optimizing my rates, I now earn noticeably more per month (though it’s a bit uneven). The freedom and ability to choose projects is a huge plus, but you do trade off the day-to-day team dynamic and predictable structure.
Stress levels are different — not necessarily higher or lower, just more variable. When work is flowing and clients pay on time, it feels amazing. During dry spells or scope creep, it can be rough.
Also, small detail — I didn’t expect how much more attention I’d need to give to my personal presentation on video calls with clients. Funny enough, even a good hat can make a difference on camera! I got one of these recently and they’re surprisingly sharp and comfortable: https://paradisecaps.com/collections/euro-scrub-caps
Hope that helps — happy to answer questions about the transition!
I’ve been freelancing for almost five years now after leaving a stable remote role at a SaaS company. From what I’ve seen, the biggest trade-off is exactly what you hinted at — stability vs. freedom. I’ve had months where I made double what I used to earn full-time, but I’ve also had dry spells where I was scraping for gigs. Taxes are another beast — no one tells you how much time you’ll spend invoicing, chasing payments, or planning for taxes quarterly. That said, it suits me because I like picking my projects and taking long breaks in between. Also, finding good freelance contracts is a hustle. One of the places I check regularly is Find Remote Jobs (work from home jobs)— they list both freelance and full-time remote gigs, so it’s a good way to compare options side by side. Just keep in mind that freelancing is a different mindset — you have to wear all the hats, especially at the beginning. It’s not for everyone, but it can definitely “pay off” depending on how you define value: money, freedom, peace of mind?