More Connects to win more of the work you love

[katbenjamin]

UPDATE: This is already live. You’ll see these free Connects added to your account at the start of your next billing cycle. You can find this date on your Memberships and Connects page under User Settings.

In December, we’re upgrading Connects to provide you free monthly Connects and bonus Connects for interviews you win. You’re doing amazing things on Upwork, and more Connects means more chances to do the work you love. 

We’ve seen a huge surge in client activity, and our work marketplace is full of opportunities for all the incredible talent on our platform. We can’t wait to watch you use these Connects to win your share of these opportunities, form stronger relationships with clients, and grow your career on Upwork.

We introduced paid Connects to keep spam from crowding out your proposals and help you win the jobs you want. But we want to ensure connecting with clients is exciting and affordable, so we’re changing our program to provide you with the Connects you need to build deeper relationships and unlock the best opportunities.

Here’s exactly what you can expect:

Freelancer Basic Plan	Receive 10 free Connects per month (according to billing cycle)
Freelancer Plus Plan	Receive 80 Connects per month (70 + 10 free Connects) (according to billing cycle)
Connects Rollover Limits	The Basic and Plus roll over limit is now 200 Connects
Interview Requests	Freelancers receive free Connects (the number may vary) when they win an interview with an established client on Upwork**

In December, you’ll see these free Connects added to your account at the start of your next billing cycle. You can find this date on your Memberships and Connects page under User Settings. You’ll also receive an email when your Connects are available for use.

These changes will create more opportunities for everyone in our community, and we’re continuing to explore other ways to show our appreciation for everything you do. Your success is our success, and we’re proud to provide a home where you can do the work you love, form lucrative relationships, and build an amazing independent business.

Learn more about how Connects work here. 

* Update 7/23/2021: Note that when Connects are awarded for interview requests this will show up as two transactions in the Connects History. There is no change to how these are awarded, this is simply done for accounting purposes.

** Updated 1/2/2023

[joomwebexprt]

Just 10 free connects for each month?? Upwork should reconsider about the number of free connects. Thank you!

[carloslobo28]

Really all that noise to say me that I will be given 10 connects per month?

[steven-j-cox]

I'm in complete agreement with many of the previous comments. Surely the number of free Connects should be at least aligned with the number required to submit a proposal, i.e. 12 free Connects should be given, as this would allow two proposals to be submitted. 
While I fully appreciate that Upwork wants freelancers to only submit proposals for relevant contracts, this mis-match between the number required for a single proposal and those being granted is going to mean that many people will be juggling a small number of Connects left over at the end of each month. It could also create confusion. Surely it could have been arranged so that the number of free Connects is a multiple of the number needed to submit most proposals?

[kabirislam7]

It is a great news to us that upwork has turned their way to a broad for the freelancer. But the amount of connect for basic is just 10! It can not be a logical anymore. Because with this 10 connect we can just submit proposal for 2 or 3 per month. So really it would be harder to win on the job. Therfore requesting upwork please review your plan to raise the amount of connects for basic membership. Thanks.

[shem_sargentech]

The almighty Upwork giveth and He taketh away. Mostly taketh.

[e_violetta]

Its great to see Upwork really taking in the feedback from all sides and trying to make some new improvements. Looking forward to seeing how the new year goes! 

[toobaliqbal28]

That is beyond great!

Thanks for acknowledging our work.

[jonathan007]

Thsnk you for the blessings more power to you

[probalbg]

I also agree with Josh. 10 connects is very little where where many of the projects require 4-6 connects. If upwork is trying to earn money from connects and from us - freelancers - then we are kind of squezed to apply for more jobs. The business concept should be to providing more connects to freelancers - not only for agencies but also for individuals so that they can send more and more proposals and it is simple to understand that the more we secure our projects, the more upwork also earn. Its a win-win situation.