Is freelancing still worth it for software engineers in 2026?

I’ve been seeing more developers move away from traditional freelancing platforms because the client acquisition process feels overly competitive and time-consuming. Between bidding systems, platform

I’ve been seeing more developers move away from traditional freelancing platforms because the client acquisition process feels overly competitive and time-consuming. Between bidding systems, platform fees, and delayed payments, it seems like a lot of engineers spend more time competing for work than actually doing it. At the same time, some people are still building solid income streams through freelancing, but I’m curious how they’re actually structuring it today. Is the issue the platforms themselves, or is freelancing just becoming more saturated in general?