Is hiring a freelancer cheaper than a full-time employee?

It depends on project duration and frequency. For short or occasional work, a freelancer is usually cheaper since you avoid ongoing overhead (PF, benefits, office space, onboarding). For continuous, long-term work, a full-time hire often becomes cheaper past a certain point because per-month freelance rates are typically higher than salary-plus-overhead. Our calculator shows the break-even point for your specific numbers.