How much should I charge as a beginner freelancer?

Starting out with zero reviews and no portfolio to point to. How do people usually price themselves at the very beginning?

Most freelancers start below what they'll eventually charge, specifically to win the first handful of reviews/testimonials, which matter more early on than the rate itself. A common approach is to research what established freelancers with a similar skill set charge, then price noticeably below that for your first few projects — not rock-bottom (which can itself look suspicious to clients, or attract the worst clients), just modest. Once you have a handful of solid reviews and a couple of portfolio pieces, raise your rate incrementally rather than all at once. It's also worth deciding upfront whether you'll charge hourly or per-project; fixed project pricing tends to reward getting faster over time, while hourly can feel safer when you're still estimating how long things actually take you.