Best platform for new freelancers?

I've been doing graphic design as a hobby for a couple of years and finally want to start making some real money from it. But every time I look at freelance platforms, I get overwhelmed. Some take huge cuts from your earnings. Others are flooded with cheap buyers who want complex logos for five bucks. Some require you to pay for connects or bids just to apply for projects. And then there are the horror stories about freelancers doing the work and never getting paid.
I have a small portfolio, some good reviews from friends I've helped, but nothing major yet. What I need is a platform that is actually friendly to beginners, where you can get your first few gigs without paying a fortune just to apply, and where there's some protection so you don't get scammed out of your work.
Has anyone here started from zero on a freelance site and actually made it work? Which platform would you recommend for someone in my shoes? Not looking for get-rich-quick stuff, just a solid place to find real clients and build a reputation over time.

Did logos for friends, got a few good reviews, but had no idea how to break into real paid work. Tried Fiverr and Upwork, but the fees are brutal and competing against five dollar logos is hopeless. Then someone pointed me to here . It's built different. No paying for connects, no crazy commission cuts. You just set up your profile, show your portfolio, and clients post projects looking for people exactly at your level. I landed my first paid gig, a simple flyer for a local caf, within a week. The money sat in escrow so I knew I'd get paid. It wasn't huge, but it was real and it built my confidence.