What is Freelancer Plus on Upwork?
Updated
Freelancer Plus on Upwork is a paid freelancer membership plan that gives you included monthly Connects and other account features, but the exact price, Connect count, and feature list can change, so check Upwork before you buy.
How Freelancer Plus works in practice
In plain English, Freelancer Plus is not a shortcut to winning jobs. It does not make your proposal better by itself. It gives you a membership layer on top of a normal freelancer account, with included monthly Connects as the clearest bidding-related benefit.
I’m avoiding a full feature-by-feature list here because Upwork can change plan pricing, the included Connect amount, and plan perks. For a buying decision, use the Freelancer Plus checkout or plan page inside Upwork as the source of truth.
| Connect type | What it means for bidding |
|---|---|
| Included monthly Connects | These come with the Freelancer Plus membership. Treat them as part of your monthly bidding budget, not as a reason to apply to poor-fit jobs. |
| Separately purchased Connects | These are bought outside the membership. Upwork lists Connects at $0.15 per Connect. |
| Boosted bids | If you use Connects to boost proposals, compare that usage against your included monthly Connects and any Connects you buy separately. |
What it changes about your proposals and Connects
- You may have more Connects available at the start of the month because some are included with the plan.
- You still need to choose jobs carefully. More Connects can mean more waste if you apply broadly.
- Your proposal quality does not change automatically. Your first lines, proof, scope fit, and screening answers still matter.
- If you boost proposals, Freelancer Plus may affect how quickly you use your monthly Connect budget.
- If you rarely run out of Connects, the plan may not change much about your bidding behavior.
A simple break-even check
- Look at your monthly application volume. If you send only a few selective proposals, a membership may be unnecessary.
- Check your average Connects per proposal. If your normal month already exceeds your Connect supply, included monthly Connects may reduce friction.
- Separate normal applications from boosted bids. Boosting can use Connects faster, so it should be part of the comparison.
- Track replies and interviews by job type. If certain job types never respond, more Connects will not fix that.
- Compare the plan cost against the cost of buying the extra Connects you actually need at $0.15 per Connect.
Connect refunds still matter
Freelancer Plus does not mean every proposal is risk-free. Upwork says Connects are refunded when the client cancels the job before a contract is made, not when the post simply expires, or when Upwork removes the job for violating its Terms of Service.
Connects are not refunded when the client declines your proposal, hires someone else, the job expires without a hire, or you withdraw your proposal. That is why your job filter matters as much as your membership choice.
How to decide before buying
Before you subscribe, compare your real monthly application volume, average Connects per proposal, boosted bid habits, and how many extra Connects you usually buy. If the included monthly Connects would cover a gap you already have, Freelancer Plus may help. If you are not measuring replies or interviews, fix that first.
You can also use a simple tool like the Upwork Connects calculator to estimate bidding cost, or a job scorer to decide which posts deserve Connects. BidGrow can help score jobs and draft proposal text from your templates, but you always review and send yourself.
Questions
Should I buy Freelancer Plus or more Connects?
Compare your monthly application volume, average Connects per proposal, boosted bid usage, and how often you run out. If the included Freelancer Plus Connects would cover the gap you normally fill by buying extra Connects, the plan may be worth checking. If you only need a small one-off top-up, buying Connects separately may be simpler.
Does Freelancer Plus make my proposals rank higher?
Do not treat it as a proposal quality upgrade. It can affect your Connect budget and access to plan features, but your targeting, opening line, proof, and fit for the job still do the real work.
Are Connects refunded if I do not win the job?
Usually no. Upwork says Connects are not refunded when the client declines your proposal, hires someone else, the job expires without a hire, or you withdraw your proposal.