Why I No Longer Use Upwork as a Freelancer

How I spent $350, sent 85 proposals and still got blocked

Hello,

It’s been about 3 years now im coding.

From writing simple Python scripts to building functional Web scraping tools, automating browsers and creating crypto trading bots-I’ve done it all.

During this journey led me into machine learning, data science, full-stack web development, server management and even VPN deployment on Linux servers. It’s been really cool, exciting and self-taught.

And then i decided to try freelance.

My Upwork Dream

• Automation tools
• Data extraction projects
• Python-based backend logic

Upwork seemed like perfect platform. I spent hours writing proposals, making good profile and applying for jobs around:

My idea was simple: get a few small jobs, build a track record and then scale up.

But Upwork is competitive. Even for a $30 job, you may be bidding against more than 20 people. And it costs connects just to apply. So I decided to go all in.

I purchased the $240 yearly Freelancer Plus plan because it gave me 100 connects/month. I also used around $100 extra on connect for jobs i was really ready for.

Total spent? Around $350.

What Happened Next

After spending 85 proposals, I finally landed one job for around $30.

Then one day, everything stopped.

My account was suspended.

“Please verify you are living in a country that Upwork supporrts.”

I Had already submitted identity verification.

I Had already logged in using both residential and data center IP addresses.

I Had even explained everything clearly.

But the support team refused to reactivate my account. No refund, No discussion.

Why This Feels So Unfair

Upwork is already a difficult place to succeed for new freelancers. The platform is full of applications and visibility is low unless you’re constantly paying for connects or already established.

Spending $350 and getting just one job and then getting blocked — made me feel like my investment didn’t worked and my identity as a self-taught developer didn’t matter.

I didn’t break any rules knowingly.

I only applied to jobs I was qualified for.

I wrote every proposal by hand.

Still, none of that helped.

My Biggest Lesson

I learned a hard truth:

Freelancing platforms are like rented land.

Just like writing platforms. Just like social media.

They own the ground and you can be asked to leave anytime.

That’s why I’m now building my own personal website under the brand pycoin24.

This is where I’ll share:

It’s also where I’ll connect directly with my clients — no middleman, no restrictions.

• Don’t put all your energy (or money) into one platform.
• Focus on building your brand, your site, your audience.
• Use platforms to attract traffic — not to depend on them.

If You’re a New Freelancer, Read This

Arash Hadadsoleymani, Freelance Python Developer

Web Automation | Web Scraping | Crypto Bots | Full-Stack Builder

You can fuel my next data science deep dive by buying me a coffee ☕!