u/rockworlds

Full-stack AI/ML engineer in India.

Almost everyone on Reddit says the platform is finished so I wanted to know is it really so from people here and I pulled my actual numbers for the last 9 months.

Nov–Jul:
- Earned: ~$10,800
- Fees, taxes, connects: ~$2,170
- Take-home: ~$8,600

Decent middle-class income in India. Maybe not in US. Same numbers, different meaning.

The ride wasn’t smooth though. That income took 300+ proposals and a lot of interviews that went nowhere. A big chunk of my fees is just connects burned on bids that never landed.

So which is it:

1. A Western-rates problem? At Indian cost of living, $25/hr is a good living. If you need $80/hr to make rent, you're squeezed. Those are different claims.
2. Survivorship bias? People earning well are not posting. Reddit would look identical whether the platform were healthy or dying.
3. Or just niche? Commodity writing and design look hollowed out by AI. AI/ML is what companies are hiring for. I might be in the one growing category and mistaking that for the platform being fine.

If you're doing okay — what country, what niche, what fee percentage? And if you've left, what actually broke?

I’m a software developer from India, Top Rated on Upwork, with 7 clients and around $7K in total earnings.

From my experience, the time to close a client varies a lot. One client hired me almost immediately at $20/hr, another took a few weeks, and one took a few months before finally converting.

I also have a client who interviewed me about a month ago and still says the hiring process is ongoing.

However, when I Google this, I often see claims that freelancers can expect to close a client within 2–3 days, which doesn’t really match my experience.

For other software developers, and those from India charging around $20/hr:

1. How long does it usually take you to close a client?
2. How many proposals do you typically send before getting hired?
3. Does being Top Rated / having more reviews significantly improve this?

Is 2–3 days actually realistic, or is that too optimistic?

Would love to hear some real numbers and experiences.

I'm currently in the Philippines on a 2-month eVisa. To stay longer, I've been told I need to visit the Bureau of Immigration and apply for a sticker visa, which is subject to evaluation.

Has any Indian passport holder here gone through this process?

Did you mention tourism as your reason for applying, and was it accepted?

What documents were you asked to provide?

How long did the evaluation take, and was your application approved?

I entered the Philippines legally, have no overstays or immigration issues, and simply want to continue traveling as a tourist. I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Thank you!