Fees · Upwork
Upwork Connects cost explained
| Item | What Upwork publishes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Connects | $0.15 USD each; sold in bundles; custom amount may be available; buy on web (Connects → Buy Connects), not in the mobile app | Help |
| Freelancer Basic monthly Connects | Pricing table shows 0, with note: earn up to 10 monthly by completing tasks | Pricing |
| Freelancer Plus | $19.99/month · 100 Connects each month (first month may be 90–100 per Help) | Pricing + Help |
| Identity verification badge | 35 Connects on Basic; listed as Included on Plus. Not refunded if verification fails or times out (7 days) | Pricing + Help |
| Expiration | Each Connect expires one year after issue; freelancer unused Connects roll over (no monthly freelancer rollover limit) | Help |
What Connects are used for
- Submit a proposal — the job post shows the base Connects required (can change while the job is live).
- Boost a proposal — optional extra Connects for a promoted position.
- Boost your profile / Boosted Messages / Availability Badge — bid/budget models; Connects charged for eligible interactions or while the badge is on.
- Identity verification badge — optional; 35 Connects on Basic per Help/pricing.
Using Connects does not guarantee a view, interview, or hire.
When Connects are not required
- Responding to a client invitation to apply (accept or decline).
- Accepting a direct offer.
- Invitation-only Talent Accelerator opportunities.
- Working on or messaging about an existing contract.
Help notes some new freelancers must first make a qualifying Connects purchase or join Freelancer Plus before submitting marketplace proposals, including invitation responses.
Rough math (illustrative only)
- 100 purchased Connects ≈ $15 at $0.15 each.
- Freelancer Plus at $19.99 with 100 included Connects is roughly the same Connects face value as buying 100, plus the other Plus features on the pricing page (job alerts, proposal insights, 0% Direct Contracts fee for your own clients, profile tools).
- If a proposal costs 16 Connects, that is about $2.40 in purchased Connects — before any boost.
Sibling fee context: Upwork fees explained · hub: multi-platform fee comparison.
Agency note
Freelancer and agency Connects balances are separate. Agency Basic cannot buy agency Connects or pursue most new non-Enterprise work; Agency Plus is required for other new agency work. Agency unused Connects may roll over up to a monthly cap (Help: up to 400). Do not treat freelancer rules as agency rules.
FAQ
How much does one Connect cost?
Upwork Help states Connects cost $0.15 USD each. They are sold in bundles, and a custom amount may also be available on the purchase page. Buying Connects is not available in the Upwork mobile app.
Does Freelancer Basic include free Connects every month?
Upwork’s freelancer pricing page lists Basic monthly Connects as 0, with a note that you can earn up to 10 Connects monthly by completing tasks that help you find work. Do not budget as if 10 Connects are automatic.
What does Freelancer Plus include for Connects?
The freelancer pricing page lists Freelancer Plus at $19.99 per month with 100 Connects each month. Help says first-month Connects may be 90–100 depending on when you upgrade. Apple App Store subscriptions can use different pricing — check your Membership plan screen.
Do unused Connects expire?
Yes. Help says every Connect expires one year after the date it was issued. Unused freelancer Connects roll over with no monthly freelancer rollover limit. Expired Connects cannot be restored or refunded. Upwork does not email reminders before expiration.
Sources
- Upwork Help — About Connects: costs, uses, balances, and expiration: support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062898-Understanding-and-using-Connects (checked Nov 6, 2026)
- Upwork — Freelancer pricing (Basic vs Freelancer Plus): www.upwork.com/pricing/freelancer (checked Nov 6, 2026)
- Upwork Help — What is Freelancer Plus?: support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062888-What-is-Freelancer-Plus (checked Nov 6, 2026)
No affiliate links on this page. Figures change; re-check the official page and your Membership / Buy Connects screens before you rely on them.