Fixed: budget floor first
A $200 “rebuild the platform” is not a bargain. Set a minimum fixed budget that matches a week of your time. Read the brief for missing pages, APIs and revisions before you name a number.
Hourly: rate and client history
On Upwork, client spend and hire count matter more than the listed rate. Job Alerts can require a minimum client rating and verified payment. Use that on the hourly profile.
Two subscriptions beat one messy list
Keep a fixed profile and an hourly profile. Different keywords are fine. Different Telegram noise levels are better.
Which contract type is safer for beginners?
Small fixed jobs with a written deliverable. Hourly is easier after you have one review and a rate you will not undercut.