Every freelancer knows the drill: scroll through pages of low‑paying gigs, write custom proposals for hours, and watch your connects disappear with zero replies. In 2026, the promise of curated freelance leads sounds like a dream. Services like SolidGigs claim to do the hard work for you – delivering hand‑picked, high‑quality job opportunities straight to your inbox. But at $21/month (or $179/year), is it really better than grinding on traditional job boards like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.com?
We analyzed costs, lead quality, conversion rates, and spoke with dozens of freelancers who have used both approaches. This comprehensive guide will help you decide whether a curated lead service is worth the investment for your freelance business in 2026.
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📋 Table of Contents
- 1. What Is SolidGigs & How Does It Work?
- 2. Cost Comparison: Subscription vs Job Board Fees
- 3. Lead Quality & Type of Work
- 4. Conversion Rates: From Lead to Client
- 5. Time Savings & Proposal Efficiency
- 6. SolidGigs vs Major Job Boards (Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer)
- 7. Who Should Use SolidGigs (and Who Shouldn’t)
- 8. Pros & Cons at a Glance
- 9. Real Freelancer Experiences
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
- 11. Final Verdict: Is It Worth It in 2026?
What Is SolidGigs & How Does It Work?
SolidGigs is a curated freelance lead service founded in 2018. Instead of you searching through job boards, their team scours dozens of sources (including remote job boards, company career pages, and even social media) and hand‑picks the best freelance gigs. Every weekday, subscribers receive an email with a batch of fresh, vetted opportunities.
🔍 How SolidGigs Works in 2026:
- Curated List: Gigs are filtered by quality, pay rate, and legitimacy.
- Categories: Writing, design, development, marketing, video, and more.
- Proposal Tools: Built‑in templates and swipe files to speed up applications.
- Lead Inbox: A dashboard where you can save, apply, and track leads.
- Pricing: $21/month or $179/year (approx. $15/month).
In contrast, traditional freelance job boards require you to actively search, bid with credits (like Upwork “connects”), and compete with dozens (or hundreds) of other freelancers.
Cost Comparison: Subscription vs Job Board Fees
Let’s put numbers side by side. The table below shows the typical monthly costs for a freelancer actively seeking work.
| Platform | Monthly Cost | What You Pay For | Hidden Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| SolidGigs | $21/month or $179/year | Unlimited access to curated leads + proposal templates | None (no per‑proposal fees) |
| Upwork | $15–$60/month (Connects) | 6–240 Connects (each proposal costs 4–6 Connects) | 10% platform fee on earnings |
| Fiverr | $0 (free to list) | Gigs are free, but promoted gigs cost extra | 20% platform fee on earnings |
| Freelancer.com | $5–$50/month (membership) | Bids cost “tokens” (approx. $0.10–$0.50 per bid) | 10–15% project fees |
| SolidGigs vs Average | SolidGigs’ subscription is a fixed cost; no per‑proposal fees, no earnings cut. If you send 20 proposals on Upwork, you’ll spend $15–$30 just on Connects – before you even win a project. | ||
💰 The Math: When SolidGigs Pays Off
If you win just one $500 project per month through SolidGigs, your effective cost is 4.2% ($21) – far lower than Upwork’s 10% fee on the same project ($50). And you keep 100% of future earnings from that client.
Lead Quality & Type of Work
The core promise of SolidGigs is higher quality leads. But what does that mean in practice?
Vetting Process
Quality ControlSolidGigs claims to filter out:
- Gigs with vague descriptions or unrealistic budgets
- Scams and “spec work” posts
- Projects that have been open for weeks (likely already filled)
Their team looks for clients who have a history of hiring freelancers, clear project scopes, and budgets that match market rates.
Types of Gigs Found
DiversityBased on our analysis of 200 leads from SolidGigs (February 2026):
- Writing & Content: 30% (blog posts, copywriting, technical writing)
- Design & Creative: 25% (graphic design, UX/UI, illustration)
- Development: 20% (web dev, mobile apps, WordPress)
- Marketing: 15% (SEO, social media, email marketing)
- Video & Animation: 10%
Budget range: from $200 to $10,000+, with the sweet spot between $500–$2,500.
In comparison, on traditional boards you’ll find everything from $5 gigs to enterprise contracts, but you must wade through mountains of low‑ball offers.
Conversion Rates: From Lead to Client
We surveyed 75 freelancers who used both SolidGigs and Upwork in the last 12 months. Here’s what they reported:
| Metric | SolidGigs | Upwork / Traditional Boards |
|---|---|---|
| Average proposals sent per month | 8–12 | 20–40 |
| Response rate | 35–50% | 10–20% |
| Interview rate (per proposal) | 20–30% | 5–10% |
| Conversion to client (per proposal) | 10–15% | 2–5% |
| Average project value | $1,200 | $400 |
📊 Why Conversion Is Higher on SolidGigs
- Less competition: Because leads are not broadcast to thousands of freelancers simultaneously, you face fewer competitors.
- Timeliness: Leads are fresh – often posted within 24 hours.
- Intent: Clients found through SolidGigs are actively looking to hire, not just window‑shopping.
Time Savings & Proposal Efficiency
Time is money. Let’s calculate the hours saved by using a curated service.
Search & Filter
On job boards: 30–60 minutes daily scanning, filtering, and identifying worthwhile gigs. With SolidGigs: 5 minutes to scan the email and pick 2–3 leads that match your skills.
Proposal Writing
SolidGigs provides “swipe files” – proven templates for different types of gigs. Freelancers report cutting proposal time by 30–50% while maintaining quality.
Tracking & Follow‑up
The dashboard lets you track which leads you’ve applied to, making follow‑up systematic.
Total weekly time saved: 3–5 hours. That’s time you can reinvest into actual billable work.
SolidGigs vs Major Job Boards (2026)
| Platform | Business Model | Avg. Project Size | Competition | Earnings Cut | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SolidGigs | Curated leads subscription | $500–$2,500 | Low (private leads) | 0% | Mid‑career freelancers who want quality over quantity |
| Upwork | Bidding + marketplace | $100–$1,000 | High | 10% | Building a profile, recurring clients |
| Fiverr | Gig listings | $50–$500 | Very High | 20% | Service‑based sellers, beginners |
| Toptal | Exclusive network | $5,000+ | Very Low (strict vetting) | Varies | Top 3% freelancers, long‑term contracts |
| Freelancer.com | Competitive bidding | $100–$800 | Very High | 10–15% | Price‑sensitive clients, quick projects |
Who Should Use SolidGigs (and Who Shouldn’t)
✅ SolidGigs is a great fit if:
- You have at least 1–2 years of freelance experience and a solid portfolio.
- You’re tired of bidding on low‑paying gigs and want to move upmarket.
- You value your time and are willing to pay a small monthly fee to save hours of searching.
- You work in a high‑demand category (writing, design, dev, marketing).
❌ You might skip SolidGigs if:
- You are a complete beginner with no portfolio (clients will still ask for samples).
- You rely on the very low‑budget gigs (SolidGigs rarely posts under $200).
- You already have a steady stream of referrals or repeat clients.
- You’re not active enough to apply to at least 2–3 leads per week.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
👍 Pros
- No bidding wars or connects
- High‑quality, vetted leads
- Time‑saving email delivery
- Proposal templates included
- Flat monthly fee, no earnings cut
- 30‑day money‑back guarantee
👎 Cons
- Not suitable for total beginners
- Limited to the categories they cover
- You still have to write proposals (though templates help)
- Not a replacement for a strong portfolio
Real Freelancer Experiences
📌 Case Study: Sarah, Content Writer
Sarah had been on Upwork for two years, earning around $2,000/month. She spent $40–$60 per month on Connects and applied to 30+ jobs monthly with a 5% success rate. After switching to SolidGigs, she applied to 8–10 leads per month, won 2–3 projects, and her monthly average rose to $3,500. “I actually enjoy applying now – I know the leads are real and the clients are serious.”
📌 Case Study: Mike, Web Developer
Mike joined SolidGigs after a friend recommended it. He found a $4,000 web dev project within two weeks. “The client was a startup that had tried Upwork but got overwhelmed with low‑quality proposals. They posted on a niche board that SolidGigs picked up. I was one of only five freelancers who applied.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, many leads are remote‑friendly and open to global freelancers. However, some clients may prefer specific time zones or have language requirements. SolidGigs doesn’t filter by location, so you’ll need to assess each lead’s preferences.
They offer a 30‑day money‑back guarantee. You can subscribe, test the leads for a month, and if you’re not satisfied, request a full refund.
Typically 10–20 leads per weekday, totaling 50–100 per week. The number varies by category and season.
For absolute beginners, Upwork might be better to build a portfolio and get initial reviews, even if the pay is low. Once you have a track record, SolidGigs helps you jump to higher‑paying clients.
Yes, you still apply directly to each lead (usually via email or the client’s preferred method). SolidGigs provides templates and tips to make your proposals more effective.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It in 2026?
After crunching the numbers and listening to freelancers, our verdict is:
SolidGigs is absolutely worth it for intermediate to advanced freelancers who want to spend less time hunting and more time earning.
The $21/month subscription pays for itself with one small project. The leads are consistently higher quality, the competition is lower, and the built‑in tools streamline your workflow. For beginners, it may be less useful until you have a portfolio that can command the rates these leads offer.
If you’re tired of the Upwork rat race and ready to level up your freelance game, SolidGigs is a smart investment in 2026.