The gig economy is rapidly expanding, and many Filipinos are now tapping into freelancing as a way to earn a living. According to Business Inquirer, over 1.5 million Filipinos are currently registered on international online platforms for freelancing services based on reports from GCash and Payoneer.
As more people embrace remote work, another career path gaining popularity is virtual assistance. Businesses are increasingly relying on virtual assistants to help manage tasks efficiently, contributing to the growing demand for this type of role in the Philippines.
With both freelancing and VA jobs on the rise, you might be wondering: What is a freelancer job, and is it different from virtual assistance? Let’s dive into the distinctions between freelancing and virtual assistance so you can figure out which career path is right for you.
What Is A Freelancer Job And How Does It Work?
Freelancing is like being your own boss but with clients calling the shots. Freelancers offer specific work on a project-by-project basis without tying themselves to one employer. It’s perfect for those who want to break away from the daily office grind and prefer working on their own terms.
As a freelancer, you get to choose what services to offer when to work, and how much to charge. You also get to decide how much workload to accept, allowing you to work with multiple clients at the same time.
Some Filipinos freelance on the side, juggling it with their day job. Others turn it into a full-time gig, relying mainly on their skills (and maybe luck) to find clients and maintain a somewhat stable income. Most freelancers work on short-term projects, jumping from one client to another. But, if a client loves what you do, they might send more contractual work your way. The best part is you’re free to decline or negotiate every contract.
You also have to stay on top of communication — whatever that means for you. It could mean being available for a chat or call at certain times, sending scheduled updates about your progress, or responding to emails within a reasonable timeframe. Again, it’s up to you to lay out the terms you’re comfortable with, but you need to make sure you’re clear with your clients about expectations from the start. As a freelancer, maintaining a good relationship with clients is key, but you also have to set boundaries.
What Is A Virtual Assistant?
A virtual assistant (VA) is basically a professional who supports businesses, entrepreneurs, or busy individuals without being physically present in the office. They work behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly, all from the comfort of their homes (or anywhere, really).
While many freelancers specialize in fields like graphic design or web development, virtual assistants primarily work on administrative and operational tasks. However, they may also focus on specialized areas like social media management, SEO, or content creation. You’re not confined in a box as long as you’re willing to step out.
As a VA, your tasks depend on your client’s needs, but some common duties include:
- Keeping track of meetings, scheduling appointments, and organizing events.
- Answering emails and making sure your client sees important messages.
- Writing website copy or crafting social media content to boost their online presence.
- Researching competitors and gathering any info to stay ahead.
- Providing technical support and improving your client’s SEO for increased online visibility.
- Processing invoices, tracking expenses, and making sure the company’s books adhere to the standards and regulations in your client’s country.
- Handling admin tasks, like data entry, file organization, document management, and more.
According to some Filipino VAs, they even help clients with some personal stuff, like booking family vacations or managing personal errands. Basically, if your client needs something done, and it fits within your initial agreement, you’re there to make it happen. However, always be prepared to learn a new skill. Just when you think you’ve got everything down, your client might need your help with something you’ve never done before.
Why Work As A Freelancer Or Virtual Assistant?
Freelancers and virtual assistants enjoy similar perks that make their work lives much more flexible and fulfilling than traditional office jobs. Here’s a deeper look at the key advantages of being a freelancer or VA:
Work-From-Home = No Commutes
For Filipino remote workers, almost nothing can top the benefit of having to skip the daily commute. Imagine waking up, enjoying a cup of coffee, and then heading straight to your desk — all without the stress of sitting for hours in traffic or cramming into a crowded jeep or train. You can reclaim precious time and energy that would otherwise be spent in transit.
Those who work at night no longer have to rely on Grab when there’s no other public transit option. Freelancers can embrace being night owls or early birds who like getting a head start while everyone else is preparing for work. For VAs, all they have to do is show up within their agreed-upon hours and maintain a consistent connection.
Better Work-Life Balance
The level of flexibility that comes with remote work allows you to get your life priorities in order. When you don’t have to spend hours (unpaid) a day on the commute, you get more time to:
- Be more hands-on with your kids as they grow.
- Keep watch of an ill family member or elderly
- Share meals with family or friends without feeling rushed.
- Work on your hobbies or some skills you’ve always wanted to learn.
- Pay more attention to your physical and mental health.
Many Filipinos also choose either of these career paths to fulfill their wanderlust. Can an office job allow you to live for 1 month in Siargao while sending you a paycheck? Traditional office jobs typically don’t offer this level of flexibility, but remote work opens up the possibility. With some jobs, you can even choose to work from different locations every week. The question is whether your gig can actually sustain this lifestyle (and whether there’s internet to do your work!).
Financial Freedom
Both freelancers and virtual assistants often have more earning potential compared to some local office employees. Freelancers can negotiate rates, set their own pricing models, and take on multiple projects, while some VAs can also enjoy the freedom to work with multiple clients or agencies.
Plus, many remote work opportunities pay in dollars, which is a huge advantage given the exchange rate. More pesos for your hard work? Yes, please!
With the right clients, skills, and pricing strategy, freelancing or offering VA work can help you hit your financial goals faster — whether that’s saving up for a dream home, supporting your family, or maybe even retiring early. It isn’t just about earning money; it’s about taking control of your financial future and achieving the kind of freedom many of us dream of.
Diverse Work Opportunities
One of the great things about being a freelancer or VA is the sheer variety of tasks you can take on. Whether you’re working as a freelancer or in a VA role, your job won’t be limited to repetitive tasks. Freelancers enjoy the opportunity to explore different industries and types of work, which keeps things fresh and exciting. One project could involve writing articles for a client in the travel industry, while the next could be helping a startup set up a new website.
For VAs, while you might focus more on administrative work, the range of tasks you can help with — like managing emails, scheduling, or customer service — can be just as diverse. If you want to learn new skills and grow your portfolio, this career allows you to do just that.
Both freelancers and virtual assistants have the chance to work with clients from all around the world. You might find yourself working with multinational companies, tech giants, or small businesses. What’s more, these relationships aren’t just professional — they can help you learn about different cultures and even make friends in unexpected places.
Freelancer Vs. Virtual Assistant: What’s The Difference?
Both paths offer flexibility and independence, but they come with distinct differences in how you work and the type of tasks you’ll take on. Let’s break down the key differences between freelancing and being a virtual assistant so you can decide which one best fits your skills, goals, and lifestyle.
Flexibility
As a freelancer, you can freely design how you want your work day to look like. Don’t want to work on a Friday? No problem! Want to work at a nearby cafe? You can do that every day or only on specific days. Want to meet with friends or do some errands first? Maybe you can schedule those in the morning. Want to take a sick leave? Oh wait, you don’t need to file leaves or submit medical certificates.
Your client doesn’t generally care about your daily schedule. What’s important to them is that you deliver what you said you’d deliver when you said you would.
In contrast, virtual assistants often have more structured schedules. Most VAs are typically required to work specific times, often coinciding with their client’s business operation schedules. Some clients agree to work “async” (asynchronous) with their VAs, which would give you some flexibility in how you manage your time. However, you may still need to attend regular meetings, work for a certain number of hours, or deliver reports at specific times.
Stability
For freelancers, stability can be a bit elusive. Your income relies heavily on the number of projects you can land and your ability to maintain a steady stream of clients. Many times, it depends on luck and the current job market. It’s a career path that often swings between extremes, with periods of high-paying projects followed by times when work slows to a crawl, leaving you scrambling for new opportunities. Many Filipino freelancers even consider looking for clients to be a whole job in and of itself.
Virtual assistants, on the other hand, may enjoy a more stable income, especially those with long-term clients. Most VAs have fixed contracts with regular pay and consistent working hours, creating a sense of job security and making it easier to maintain a predictable flow of income.
Benefits
Freelancing gigs don’t typically come with benefits like health insurance and government contributions. And since they also don’t have fixed schedules, there are also no paid sick leaves or vacation leaves (in other words, no work, no pay). Self-employed individuals must manage their own HMOs, government contributions, and taxes.
Some VAs are in the same situation, especially since many work for international clients who have no obligation to follow our local labor laws. However, those who work under PH-based agencies enjoy typical employee benefits like PhilHealth, SSS, 13th-month pay, and the like. If you manage to score a good client, you may also get these perks, depending on your arrangement. Some even give bonuses! At our company, for example, VAs get extra on their birthdays and for good performance.
Earnings
Freelancers have significant control over their pay structure. They can negotiate their rates with clients and decide whether to charge by the hour, per project, or on a retainer basis. A freelancer’s income depends on their skill level, demand for their services, and ability to secure contracts. For example, a Filipino freelancer who specializes in content creation may offer blog writing services with different payment structures — charging by the hour, a fixed fee per article based on difficulty, or a set price for an entire project.
For VAs, your payment all depends on how you’re working — whether you’re freelancing, part of an agency, or in a more traditional employment setup. VAs working independently can set their rates similarly to freelancers, but those working for an agency may be paid a fixed salary, which can offer financial predictability. In some cases, you might land a part-time or full-time role with a direct client, which could resemble traditional employment. You work set hours, receive a regular salary, and collaborate with other VAs and teams.
Required Skills
The skills needed to start freelancing are vast and varied — whether you specialize in web development, graphic design, writing, or marketing, there’s a place for you in the freelance world. However, staying competitive requires more than just technical expertise. You’ll need to be adaptable, constantly learning new tools and expanding your skill set. Beyond your core industry skills, successfully marketing yourself and building a network is crucial for thriving in the freelance space. In fact, finding clients and maintaining visibility can be just as important as the services you offer.
For virtual assistants, the focus is more on administrative and organizational tasks. Think of skills like communication, scheduling, data entry, and project management. Many also specialize further in areas like content creation, social media management, bookkeeping, and customer service, which would require different sets of specific skills. At its core, though, a VA’s job is to juggle multiple tasks efficiently.
Work Opportunities
Freelancers have the freedom to explore a wide range of industries and endless opportunities. However, they often have more specialized roles, usually in fields like creative work, technical services, or consulting. If freelancers want to expand their horizons, they can diversify their skill set by learning new tools or picking up additional expertise. For example, a writer might branch out to copywriting, content strategy, or SEO. Or, they could start learning and writing about a new industry, hopping from fashion stuff to tech reviews (or doing both at the same time).
On the other hand, a VA may not have many opportunities to work across different industries or try different projects, but they typically enjoy steady demand and long-term opportunities. Many businesses rely on VAs for essential tasks like admin support, social media management, and content creation, providing a more stable demand. Moreover, a virtual assistant can still grow by expanding their skills, such as learning project management, bookkeeping, or digital marketing. This allows them to build expertise while still having room for career growth.
Self-Discipline
For some, freelancing is the dream because there’s no supervisor breathing down their necks while they’re working on a project. Since they manage their own schedules and workload, they enjoy a certain level of independence that allows them to push themselves to their potential freely. However, this doesn’t work out well for everyone. Freelancing requires a high degree of self-discipline and time management to create a healthy balance of responsibility and freedom. If you’re not careful about managing your time and energy, you can succumb to procrastination or burnout.
Other people thrive in consistent and structured environments. Can relate? If so, you might be more compatible with VA work. Many VAs often have a more guided setup, often reporting to someone who’s overseeing your tasks. While their roles still demand motivation and dedication (especially if your bed is just a few steps away), the more structured environment helps keep things on track and create accountability. With clear expectations and defined tasks, you may find it easier to maintain focus and avoid the pitfalls of procrastination, even on days when your energy dips.
Finding Your Digital Career Path As A VA Or Freelancer
Choosing the right career path is a big decision, and it’s something you definitely want to think through. Not sure which one is the better fit? Here’s a quick guide to help you weigh the pros and cons:
Step 1: Assess Your Strengths And Talents
First things first — take a moment to think about what you’re really good at. Are you a natural at organizing tasks, answering emails, or keeping things in order? If you relate more to being a jack-of-all-trades, then VA work might be a better fit for you. Some VA roles also require specialized skills, but freelancing can offer you the opportunity to really dive deep into one specific area and hone your expertise.
Step 2: Choose Your Ideal Work Style
If you’re the kind of person who loves making your own schedule, picking your own clients, and working on different projects all the time, freelancing may be more up your alley. But if you’re cool with a bit more structure — say, following a routine, working closely with one or two clients, and having some stability — being a virtual assistant could be just the right fit.
Step 3: Assess Your Income Stability Needs
Let’s be real — money’s a big factor in deciding. Freelancers can potentially earn a lot (given they have many clients), but if we’re honest, securing consistent work can be challenging, especially during periods when client demand is low. If you’re okay with the ups and downs and love the hustle, freelancing could work. But if you’re looking for a more predictable income stream that helps you consistently cover your monthly bills and provide for your family — especially if you’re a breadwinner — then being a VA might be the way to go.
Step 4: Think About Your Long-Term Goals
Think about where you want to be in a few years. Freelancing offers a great opportunity to develop specialized skills and build a unique niche, leading to more opportunities, higher pay, and industry recognition. If your goal is to become an expert in a specific field, freelancing could be the right choice. However, if you’re seeking a stable, long-term career with consistent growth, becoming a VA could provide the stability and career progression you’re looking for.
Taking The Leap As A Freelancer Or Virtual Assistant
Ready to dive into the world of freelancing or virtual assistance? Whether you’re looking for flexibility, financial freedom, or a steady career, there’s a path that suits your unique strengths and goals. If you’re specifically looking for some VA jobs, we have some amazing opportunities waiting for you. Browse our current job listings and take the next step toward your digital career today!