# Find app development clients without paying to apply > You can find app development clients through a mix of your own network, public work and marketplaces. Compare channels by what they cost per real conversation, not per click. On ErdiBuilds, applying is free and the fee is only charged on paid work. Canonical: https://erdibuilds.app/guides/find-app-development-clients-without-paying-to-apply Last updated: 2026-11-06 (November 6, 2026) ## Count the real cost of finding clients Every channel costs something: money, time or both. Some marketplaces sell credits or tokens for applications, so you pay before you know if the client will answer. Others charge only when you earn. Neither is wrong in itself, but they change your risk. Before you choose, write down what a channel costs you for one serious conversation. - Money: subscriptions, application credits, ad spend, tools. - Time: writing proposals, calls, unpaid scoping work. - Risk: payment delays, scope disputes, clients who disappear. ## Channels that work for app and SaaS developers **Common ways to find clients** | | Strength | Watch out for | | --- | --- | --- | | Your network | Warm trust, short sales cycle | Slow to grow, depends on a few people | | Public work | A blog, open source or a build log attracts the right clients over time | Takes months before it pays | | Communities | Founders ask for help every day in forums and groups | Self promotion rules, noisy | | Marketplaces | Clients arrive with a project and budget | Fees, competition, how applications are charged | Most developers combine two or three channels. A marketplace fills the gaps while a slower channel such as public work grows. ## How applying works on ErdiBuilds Applying is free, with no paid bids. Developers pay 8 percent plus payment processing. Free for clients. Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Projects are matched to you by help type, project type, technologies, portfolio, budget fit and availability. The match score runs from 0 to 100 with plain reasons, and you need at least 40 to apply. Clients see proposals sorted by score, and 80 or more earns a Top match badge. There is no public developer directory, so the way to be found is a complete profile and good proposals. > A free application model lets you apply only where you fit. Quality beats volume: focused proposals for projects that match your stack. ## A weekly routine that wins work 1. Keep your profile current: technologies, availability, portfolio. 2. Check new matching projects once a day and pick the ones you can do well. 3. Write each proposal for the project. See [how to write a proposal that wins](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-proposal-that-wins). 4. Set fair prices per milestone with a clear method. See [pricing fixed-price milestones](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-price-fixed-price-milestones). 5. Add finished work to your portfolio after each project. ## Track what each channel gives you A simple sheet beats a gut feeling. For every channel, write down each month how many serious conversations it gave you, how many became paid work and how many hours you spent. After three months the table shows which channel deserves more time and which one only feels busy. - Conversations: only count a reply from a real client with a real project. - Paid work: count a project once the first milestone is funded, not when someone says maybe. - Hours: include writing, calls and unpaid scoping. - Notes: write one line on why a lost project was lost, such as budget, timing or fit. ## Mistakes that cost developers clients - Applying to everything. A short, specific proposal for a project that fits beats ten copied ones. - Hiding the stack. Clients want to know what you build with and what you know best. - Starting unpaid trial work. Offer a small paid milestone instead. - Vague deliverables. Say what the client can open or test when each step is done. ## Choose the model that fits your situation If you have steady work and a strong network, you may only need a channel for the gaps. If you are new to freelancing, free applications reduce the cost of learning what clients want. Compare fees on a typical project, including payment processing and any credits, before you commit. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does it cost anything to apply to a project? Applying is free, with no paid bids. ### What does ErdiBuilds charge developers? Developers pay 8 percent plus payment processing. Free for clients. ### Who can join as a developer? Developers come from the 27 EU countries. Verified means an ErdiBuilds admin has reviewed the developer and approved the profile by hand. ### How do clients find me? Clients post a project and see proposals sorted by match score. There is no public developer directory, so a complete profile, a relevant portfolio and a focused proposal are what count. ### Should I use only one channel? Most developers mix a few: network, public work and one marketplace. That spreads risk and keeps the pipeline filled. ## Related - [For developers](https://erdibuilds.app/developers): How independent developers join and get hired. - [How to Write a Proposal That Wins](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-write-a-proposal-that-wins): How developers can write a proposal clients choose: read the brief, answer the real problem, split the work into clear milestones and show relevant proof. - [Build a Developer Portfolio That Gets Hired](https://erdibuilds.app/guides/how-to-build-a-developer-portfolio-that-gets-you-hired): What belongs in a developer portfolio: a few real projects, short case studies, working links, honest numbers and proof of ownership clients can trust. - [Upwork alternatives for developers](https://erdibuilds.app/compare/upwork-alternatives-for-developers): ErdiBuilds for developers: apply to app, SaaS, website and game projects for free, with every milestone funded before you start. Open to the EU. - [Pricing](https://erdibuilds.app/pricing): What ErdiBuilds costs for clients and developers. - [Guides for your project](https://erdibuilds.app/guides): Plain guides on planning, scoping and paying for apps, SaaS, websites and games, written for people who are not developers.