What's the actual difference between freelancing and remote employment?

People use 'online work' to mean both. Are freelancing and having a remote job the same thing legally/practically?

They're quite different even though both can be done from home. A remote employee is still an employee — one employer, typically a salary or hourly wage, benefits in many countries, taxes withheld automatically, and ongoing job security tied to that one company. A freelancer is self-employed: you take on clients or projects (often several at once), set or negotiate your own rates, handle your own taxes (including self-employment tax in places like the US), get no employer-provided benefits, and your income can be a lot less predictable month to month. Freelancing generally offers more flexibility and control; remote employment generally offers more stability. Neither is strictly "better" — it depends what you're optimizing for.