Best freelance jobs online for beginners in the Philippines: Which is the best for you?

Freelancing is a popular career path for many Filipinos as it introduces more flexibility to their schedules and exposes them to international clients around the world. With a strong English proficiency in the Philippines, freelancing with global companies has become more accessible.

If you want to transition to a freelance career, keep reading for some of the best freelance jobs for beginners in the Philippines and where to find these virtual freelance jobs for beginners. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees.

How to get started as a freelancer in the Philippines?

If you’re starting out, you will need to ensure that your home office is properly set up. At the minimum, you need a computer or laptop, as well as a reliable internet connection, and mobile phone. Some jobs may require a printer, or even your own vehicle.

Working as a freelancer also means that you are self-employed. Hence, just like a business, you need to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines to ensure that you are paying the correct taxes.

Next is to amass the experience to clinch these freelance jobs. Even without any experience, you can gain valuable skills from volunteering; creating sample projects so that your clients can have an idea of your work also helps.

Look towards your previous work experience for transferable skills to put on your resume. Enhance your employability by upgrading your skillsets or acquiring certifications in your specialization by attending courses.

Best freelance jobs online for beginners in the Philippines

What are some of the best freelance jobs online for beginners in the Philippines? The top 10 entry-level freelance jobs in the Philippines¹ include content writing, transcription, data entry, and even working as a virtual assistant or customer support.

Of course, these are also subject to one’s own skills and interests. A person with a flair for language could be suited for a content writing role, while someone with good organizational skills may excel as a virtual assistant.

1. Writing

A freelance writer is someone who creates written content, be it articles, blog posts, and other types of content on various platforms, on a project basis. In addition to writing, a freelance writer may also be required to do research, edits, conduct interviews, and have some knowledge in Search Engine Optimization.

According to TalentLyft², they should also preferably have a Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, communications, or related fields.

2. Transcription

Those who are detail-oriented and can accurately type and draft meeting minutes or an interview from an audio file can apply for freelance transcription jobs online. Despite the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), human transcription services are still very much in demand, due to our higher accuracy, or when working with complex, sensitive material.

According to Upwork³, fast typing speed is key, as well as strong grammar and language fluency. The person also needs to be able to polish and proofread AI transcriptions. Although not necessary, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred. Those with additional certifications such as in the medical or legal industry can have an edge when transcribing these specialized documents.

3. Data entry

Another online freelance job for beginners in the Philippines is data entry, where data such as numbers, text and even formulae are input into a spreadsheet. This remains a key function for businesses to keep their data accurate and organized for smooth operation.

According to Data Entry Institute⁴, despite increasing automation, it has seen a 7% growth in job postings for data entry specialists over the last year (2024). The reason being that companies still need human oversight for data quality, especially in fields like healthcare, finance, and logistics.

To excel at data entry, one needs meticulous attention to detail with high accuracy for handling large data sets, as well as typing speed of at least 50 words per minute. They also need to be proficient in data entry software and may need to be versed in data privacy standards and data analysis.

4. Virtual assistant

A virtual assistant is someone that provides professional administrative services to companies and clients remotely, says Indeed. Some common tasks that the online freelance job of a virtual assistant entails: managing calendars, organizing files and documents, and even managing social media for the client.

According to VirtualStaff.ph⁶, the Philippines is the main country in the world for entrepreneurs and business owners to hire virtual assistants in. While there are no fixed requirements, good organizational skills are a must. Other administrative functions such as bookkeeping, customer relationship management software.

Read more in our guide on how to become a virtual assistant in the Philippines as a beginner.

5. Customer support

The customer support function is to troubleshoot and assist customers with their issues, says Upwork. Representing the brand or company, a freelance customer support executive is also a touchpoint that addresses questions and provides information about the product or service.

To qualify as a freelance customer support professional, one needs strong communication skills and, most importantly, patience, notes online resource Customer Service Manager (CSM)⁷. Dealing with angry customers is also a possibility.

Where to find virtual freelance jobs for beginners?

To find virtual freelance jobs for beginners in the Philippines, online job portals serving both local and international markets. In this section, we will talk about some of the more popular platforms that list virtual freelance jobs for beginners, including the benefits of each and what the platform is for.

Upwork

Upwork prides itself as the “world’s largest talent marketplace”, connecting both hirers and freelancers. For freelance beginners, this is simple as all they need to do is to create a free Upwork profile, and just submit proposals for jobs, while setting their own rates and accepting only the jobs they want. Payment is made securely via the platform.

However, freelancers need virtual tokens to bid for jobs on the platform. Beyond the free allotment, they need to buy more to be able to bid for new jobs.

Fiverr

Fiverr⁸ is another similar platform that connects freelancers and businesses with secure payment made via the website. It has a rating and review system in place, but these can be faked. Top vetted freelancers can be listed as Pro sellers, which give them more visibility to clients.

The process to set up an account for freelancers takes a bit more time, as you need to create your profile and add gigs. Only 10 main categories of digital skills and their subsets are offered – not suitable for those who prefer other types of freelance work. In addition, Fiverr charges a service fee of 20% for each transaction.

OnlineJobs.ph

The OnlineJobs.ph⁹ platform is like a job board for Filipino talents without middleman fees. While it showcases Filipino workers, they can be hired from anywhere in the world.

Employers can also communicate directly with freelancers, which is a double-edged sword. While this means security is compromised, it also fosters better rapport between client and freelancer.

VirtualStaff.ph

Aspiring freelance virtual assistants can use VirtualStaff.ph, an outsourcing marketplace based in the Philippines with no middlemen fees. You can set your preferred salary and choose between part-time and full-time roles.

It is free to sign up, but you must be vetted – which could increase the difficulty for complete freelance beginners but raises credibility with employers. The platform also offers secure payments via the website, as well as time-tracking tools and more.

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1. FlexJobs
2. TalentLyft
3. Upwork
4. Data Entry Institute
5. Indeed
6. VirtualStaff.ph
7. Customer Service Manager (CSM)
8. Fiverr
9. OnlineJobs.ph