Should I work for free to gain experience and build a portfolio as a new freelancer?

If you’re a new freelance web designer, chances are someone has told you this:‍

“You should work for free to build your portfolio.”

It sounds harmless, maybe even smart. You don’t have clients yet, you want experience, and you’re trying to get your foot in the door. So what’s the harm, right?

But here’s the thing: I’ve been designing websites professionally for years, and I’ve never worked for free. Not once. And I’ve never asked anyone working with me to do it either (even when they offered!).

This post isn’t about being rigid or gatekeeping how people start out. It’s about being intentional with your time and energy, and understanding that “experience” and “exposure” aren’t always the opportunities they’re made out to be.

Let’s talk about why I chose not to take the free work route, and why I think you don’t need to either.

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Why you may be tempted to work for free

If you’re just starting out as a web designer, you might feel stuck. You don’t have real client work to show, your inbox is quiet, and everyone seems to be saying the same thing: “Do a couple of free projects to build experience and get testimonials.” You might think:

• “I need something to put in my portfolio.”
• “If I do this one project for free, they might hire me again later.”
• “It’s a small task, maybe it’s not a big deal.”
• “At least I’ll get a testimonial or some exposure.”
  

I get it. The pressure to “just get started” can make unpaid work feel like the only way forward. But in most cases, it doesn’t work out the way you hope. The experience isn’t great, the work doesn’t end up in your portfolio, and those promises of future paid opportunities rarely turn into anything real.

Before you say yes to free work, here’s what you should know.

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5 reasons I’ve never worked for free — and you shouldn’t either

1. Free work attracts the wrong kind of clients

There’s a quote by Mike Monteiro in his book Design Is A Job that I think every independent professional should live by:

“Clients value you in direct proportion to how much it costs them.”

So if you cost them nothing, how much do you really think they’re going to value you?

Now, what’s the harm if the client doesn’t value you?

Oh boy, where do I even start. When clients don’t respect you, they act like they own you. I’ve experienced that firsthand, not with free clients, but with low-ballers I took on when I was just starting out. And let me tell you, the pattern is the same.

• They don’t respect your process.
• They don’t send proper briefs.
• They take forever to respond.
• You’ll have to chase them down for content, feedback, or even basic answers.

They’ve got nothing to lose if the project drags on, stalls out, or spins into ten rounds of revisions because they haven’t invested anything in it. And they’re certainly not going to start now.

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2. You can’t do your best work when you feel taken for granted

This is the deal-breaker for most freelancers who once enthusiastically took on free work and then lived to regret it!

Here’s the reality: if you’re a professional, you need to get paid. It’s not just about making money - it’s about being able to sustain your work, your energy, and your business. Without compensation, it becomes really hard to stay committed and motivated.

You might start the project feeling excited, grateful for the opportunity, eager to do your best. But it won’t be long before that excitement fades and the work starts to feel like a burden. Especially when you remember you’re not making a single dollar from it.

Paid work will always take priority over unpaid work. That’s just how it is. So when a client you’re not charging starts asking for changes, follow-ups, or feedback revisions, you start to feel resentful. Even simple requests feel heavy.

That doesn’t help you. It doesn’t help the client. And it definitely doesn’t help the quality of the final result.

And let’s be honest -  if “experience” or “portfolio work” was enough to justify working for free, companies like Google and Meta would be offering unpaid roles. But they don’t. Because they know what all serious businesses know: compensation directly impacts performance, ownership, and the standard of work.

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3. You don’t need clients to build a portfolio

This is probably the most common reason people agree to work for free:
“I just need something to put in my portfolio.”

I get it. I was in that exact position when I first signed up on Upwork three years ago. I didn’t have any client work to show, and I was figuring things out as I went. But even then, I didn’t take on free projects. Instead, I started building my own.

I created a fictional brand guide and landing page for an online learning platform. Where did the idea come from? My head. I was interested in the education space, and I decided to explore it creatively… that’s it.

I also did “how-I-would-do-it” versions of real websites or brands. These were redesigns based on gaps I’d noticed myself or feedback I’d seen online. It was fun, it was hands-on, and more importantly, it was mine.

Was my work groundbreaking? Of course not. I was a beginner. But it was solid enough to land me my first, second, and third jobs on Upwork, and after that, I never had to look back.

Here’s the bottom line: you don’t need clients to build a strong portfolio. You can redesign existing websites, create concept brands, build templates, or solve imaginary problems for real companies. What matters is how you think, how you execute, and how you present your work, not whether someone paid you to do it.

And in case you’re wondering, “But won’t clients ask if it was for a real project?”  Guess how many people asked me that? Zero. They saw the quality, understood my process, and trusted me to deliver. That was more than enough to win the job.

And here’s a little secret: you’ll probably end up loving these personal projects more than most client work, and they’ll often turn into your strongest portfolio pieces. Why? Because nothing limits you. The only thing that shapes the outcome is your own skill, creativity, and commitment. You’re not bound by client goals, feedback loops, or tight deadlines. You can push yourself, experiment, and fully show what you’re capable of, and that freedom makes a huge difference!

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4. Pricing your work is a crucial skill and you don’t learn it by working for free.

If you’re planning to make money as a freelancer, you have to learn how to price your services. And the only way to learn that is by actually charging for your work even if it’s a small amount at first.

This is one of those skills no one really teaches you, and most of us have to figure it out the hard way. What’s too high? What’s too low? Should you charge hourly or per project? How do you talk about money without sounding awkward?

I remember the first time I had to price a project myself,  I was so nervous. I didn’t want to come across like I didn’t know what I was doing (even though, to be honest, I didn’t). I wasn’t confident in the number I quoted, and I definitely didn’t know how to explain why I was charging it.

But the more projects I did,  the more I experimented, adjusted, and had real conversations with clients and an honest look at my own financial goals, the better I got at it. None of that would’ve happened if I had worked for free.

When you don’t charge anything, you skip over one of the most important parts of freelancing: learning how to put a number on your time, your effort, and your value.

And here’s the thing most beginners don’t realize: pricing isn’t just about money. It’s about setting boundaries. It’s about understanding what’s in scope and what’s not. It’s about building confidence in what you bring to the table.It’s also about having the confidence to say no when something doesn’t justify your time or energy, and the clarity to walk away when needed.

Free work teaches you none of that.

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5.  “Free trial” projects almost never lead to fair pay.

I’ve only ever been approached once with a “free trial” offer. You know, the kind where the client dangles the carrot of a future paid opportunity or long-term collaboration. I’m glad I recognized it for what it was: a way to get something for nothing. These offers often sound like this:

• “Let’s just do this one task for free to see if we’re a good fit.”
• “If this works out, we can discuss a bigger paid role.”
• “This is just to test things before we invest.”
  

In reality, it sets the tone for everything that comes after, and not in a good way.

If someone starts by asking you to work for free, they’ve already shown you how they see your value. And if they can get something from you without paying, there’s very little incentive for them to suddenly start offering fair compensation later.

Even if the project goes well, that dynamic rarely shifts. You’re not being seen as a professional partner you’re being treated as a risk-free experiment. And trust me, that’s not the kind of relationship you want to build your business on.

In my case, I politely said no. And I’m so glad I did.

Because when someone respects your time, they’ll pay for it, even for a “small test project.” That’s the real test.

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When it could make sense to work for free

All that said, I’m not completely against doing free work. But it has to be your decision, on your terms, with a clear reason behind it. Here are a few situations where working for free might actually make sense:

1. You genuinely care about the cause

If it’s a nonprofit, community initiative, or a mission you personally believe in, and you want to contribute, go for it. This isn’t necessarily about portfolio building, testimonials or future opportunities. It’s about doing something meaningful, and you’re consciously choosing to give your time while knowing and accepting what that costs.

2. You’re building a passion project or exploring a new niche

Maybe you’re testing a new service, experimenting with a design style, joining a very early stage startup, or building something just for fun — a side project, a mock brand, or even a concept redesign. You’re not trying to monetize it (at least not right now), and you’re using it as a playground to learn and grow.

3. You’re collaborating with someone you trust

If you’re teaming up with a developer, marketer, or fellow freelancer on a shared idea, and both sides are contributing equally, then it’s not really “free work.” It’s an investment of time and skills with shared ownership, which could turn into something bigger down the road.

The common thread in all of these? You’re not being taken advantage of.
You’re in control. You’ve chosen to work for free — not because someone asked, but because you saw value in it. That’s a big difference.

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6 better ways to gain experience and build a portfolio (without working for free)

If you're just starting out and want to build a portfolio that actually helps you land paid work, skip the free gigs. Here are sixbetter options:

1. Start a self-initiated project

Pick an idea you care about, maybe a product in a space you’d love to design for, and create a landing page, a brand identity, or a full website for it. This gives you full creative control, and the final result is something you're proud to share (and actually want in your portfolio).

2. Do a “How I Would Do It” redesign

Find a website, app, or brand you think could use improvement, and redesign it your way. These case studies are great for showing your thinking, process, and execution. You’re solving real-world problems, even if it’s not for a real client.

I know freelancers who’ve used these types of projects to actually pitch to the brand afterwards, and I think that’s a genius idea! What better way to make an impression than to identify a problem they really have, research it, and craft a thoughtful solution to show them?

3. Create templates or digital assets

Design a Webflow template, a Figma UI kit, or a style guide, whatever makes sense for your industry, and publish it. Not only does it build your skills and portfolio, but it can also turn into a passive income stream or get shared around (which means real visibility)!

4. Collaborate with a peer on a shared project

Know a developer, copywriter, or marketer who’s also getting started? Team up and build a fictional business or service together. You both get portfolio material, hands-on experience, and the dynamic is mutual, not exploitative.

5. Turn client inquiries into paid MVPs

When a potential client says, “I don’t have a big budget,” don’t default to free. Instead, offer to scope a smaller, simpler version of what they need. If they are looking for a services website, offer to build them a one-pager with the core sections and fuctionality they need. Something they can afford, that still pays you, and gives you real work for your portfolio. These projects are far more likely to turn into bigger opportunities down the line than free ones.

6. Offer a discounted rate with clear limits

If you’re set on helping someone and they genuinely can’t pay full price, offer a discount with a proper contract. Lay out the scope clearly and get their agreement on it. This way, you still learn how to manage a real project, and you’re not working for free.

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TL;DR — Key Takeaways

• Working for free might seem like a smart move when you’re just starting out but in most cases, it backfires.
  
• It attracts clients who don’t value your time, your skills, or your process.
  
• You won’t do your best work if you feel taken for granted, and it usually doesn’t lead to anything you can proudly showcase.
  
• You don’t need clients to build a portfolio. Self-initiated projects can be just as powerful (and way more fun).
  
• Pricing your work is a core skill, and you only learn it by actually charging.
  
• “Free trial” clients rarely become high-quality, high-paying clients.
  
• The only time free work makes sense is when you choose it: for a cause you care about, a creative project of your own, or a collaboration you believe in.
• There are better ways to gain experience than free work,like redesigning real products, creating templates, or pitching self-initiated work directly to brands.
  
  

If you’re serious about freelancing, start valuing your time from day one.
Because the way you treat your work is how others will treat it too.