Approach A

• Title, Company A
• Freelance + Title, Company B
• Title, Company C
• Freelance + Title, Company D
• Title, Intern, Company E

Approach B

• Title, Company A
• Title, Company B
• Title, Self
• Title, Intern, Company D

In approach B, you would list all freelance/contract work you did under the "Title, Self" experience. For example:

• Company A
  • Project 1
  • Project 2
• Company B
  • Project 1

Question Which of these two approaches is better? And why?

Update I think there's value in this question to the community as it relates specifically to programmers. I'd think that handling this issue on a resume is career-specific. Also, I've found similar questions on the site:

• Referring to freelance marketplaces as evidence of the experience for a potential full-time employer
• How to write freelancing in resume for programmers job

In any case, I don't think it should be closed. It should be migrated to The Workplace or Freelancing.