# Compare freelancer proposals and choose who to hire

A side-by-side comparison of freelancer proposals with red flags, hidden costs, call questions, and ready-to-send replies.

- Topic: HR & Hiring
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Communication, Analyze, Plan, Fill-in Template, Step-by-step
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/compare-freelancer-proposals-and-choose-who-to-hire

## Prompt

```text
Help me compare proposals from freelancers and choose the right one. This is step 2 of the 'Hire and work with a freelancer' pack; paste the project brief from step 1 if you have it.

**Project summary:** [SUMMARY, or paste step 1]
**What matters most, in order:** [quality, cost, speed, communication, relevant experience]
**Proposals:** [PASTE each proposal or a summary: label, price, timeline, approach, samples, reviews]
**Step 1 output (optional):** [PASTE]

Work through:
1. A comparison table: price, pricing model, timeline, what's included, what's missing compared with my brief, relevant experience, communication quality.
2. Red flags in each (e.g. no relevant samples, vague scope, a price far below the others, full payment upfront, pressure to move off a platform's payment protection).
3. What each quote probably excludes that could cost more later (extra revisions, rush fees, licensing, hosting).
4. A shortlist of 2, with 4-5 questions to ask each on a short call.
5. A small paid test task if the choice is close.
6. A recommendation with reasoning.

Then draft a short message to the chosen freelancer to move forward, and a polite decline for the others. Base everything on what the proposals actually say; mark anything unclear as [ASK].
```

## What to fill in

- SUMMARY, or paste step 1
- quality, cost, speed, communication, relevant experience
- PASTE
- ASK

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.