What Are Upwork Connects? Use Them to Win Work

Connects are Upwork’s virtual tokens that freelancers use to submit job proposals, run ads, and access important features on the platform. Depending on your account plan, you might receive 10 or as many as 100 Connects each month. You may also receive Connects for reaching certain milestones on the platform, and you can purchase them for $0.15 (USD) each through your Upwork settings.

This guide will help you understand how Connects work, why they matter, and how to use them to support your success as an independent professional. You’ll also find tips and best practices to help you make the most of every Connect you spend.

What are Upwork Connects?

Connects are the virtual tokens that freelancers use on Upwork to submit proposals, run ads, turn on the availability badge, or get the identity verification badge. As a freelancer, you can use Connects to let clients know you’re interested in their job posting. You can purchase Upwork Connects in bundles or a custom amount of your choice. 

You’ll need to spend Connects to submit proposals and apply to jobs on Upwork. The number of Connects required to submit a proposal varies from job to job, depending on the size, scope, and market demand. 

How much do Upwork Connects cost?

You can purchase Upwork Connects for $0.15 (USD) each, if at any point you feel like you need more. These are sold in bundles (for example, 10 Connects for $1.50 or 80 Connects for $12), or you can select a custom amount.

How to buy more Connects

The Connects Calculator is a free tool that can help you figure out how many Connects to purchase and create a budget for how to spend them. Keep in mind that you need to have a verified billing method set up on your account before you can purchase any Connects or a Freelancer Plus membership.  

If you’re on a computer, select your profile picture and then:

1. Go to Connects
2. Select Buy Connects
3. Choose the amount that you want to purchase
4. Select Buy Connects

Once you’ve selected the bundle you wish to purchase and click Buy Connects, your account will automatically be charged.

Tips for earning free Upwork Connects

You can occasionally earn free Connects on Upwork when you reach certain milestones or take actions that support your success on the platform.

“There is significant upside with Upwork as you become more established on the platform. For example, you can earn talent badges that distinguish you from the crowd and enable you to earn certain benefits such as bonus Connects”

 — Peter Ono, Top Rated Graphic Designer

Here are some ways you can earn free Connects on Upwork. 

Purchase Connects bundles or Freelancer Plus

New freelancers may receive a one-time bonus of 50 Connects after purchasing Connects for the first time or upgrading to Freelancer Plus. If eligible, you’ll receive this offer when you sign up for Upwork.

Freelancer Plus subscribers receive 100 Connects per month as part of their membership, along with other perks. 

“I would absolutely recommend Freelancer Plus. You get Connects included, so the monthly cost works out about the same — and all the extra insights and perks are like a bonus.”  

— Abel Alene, Top Rated Landscape Architect

Free monthly Connects

We run different offers at times, and some freelancers may receive 10 free Connects each month. If you’re eligible, you’ll get these free Connects on the first day of your monthly billing cycle. 

Earn Talent Badges

Upwork Talent Badges recognize top performers and promising new talent on the platform. These icons appear on freelancer profiles and in search results, helping clients quickly see the value you bring. You can earn 30 free Connects for each badge: Rising Talent, Top Rated, and Top Rated Plus.

If you skip a badge, the Connects are combined. For example, if you’re awarded the Top Rated but didn't get the Rising Talent badge, you'll get 60 Connects when you become Top Rated. The most Connects you can earn through the three badges is 90.

As a new freelancer, the first badge you may qualify for is the Rising Talent badge. This badge is given to professionals who show strong potential to deliver quality work. We evaluate that potential by looking at your recent activity on Upwork, the projects you’ve completed so far, and the experience and achievements you bring from outside the platform.

Earn Connects for being active on Upwork

When you engage regularly on Upwork, you can earn extra Connects without having to buy more. Taking steps like applying to projects, interacting with clients, or completing educational content can help you stay visible and keep building momentum in your freelance business.

Submitting a proposal 

Twice per calendar month, you can earn 18 free Connects when you submit three or more proposals AND spend at least a total of 54 Connects doing so. You’ll get these Connects within 24 hours of meeting the criteria. 

Completing education content

When you submit a proposal, you may also see opportunities to earn a one-time Connects bonus by completing educational content about trust and safety on Upwork. These offers appear as banners on your My proposals page when they’re available.

Boosting a proposal for the first time

If you’ve never boosted a proposal before, you can earn 10 free Connects the first time you successfully boost one and are charged for the boost at the end of the auction. This reward is available only once per freelancer and is added to your balance immediately after the auction ends, and the boost is confirmed.

Getting an interview with a client

You may receive free Connects when you get an interview with an established client on Upwork. Established clients are those who have previously hired through the platform, although we don’t share the exact criteria to prevent misuse. These Connects aren’t awarded for every interview, and the number you receive can vary.

When Connects are awarded, they appear in two parts: a refund of the Connects you used to apply, followed by any additional Connects you’ve earned. For example, if you spent eight Connects to submit a proposal and received ten for the interview, you would see eight refunded and two awarded.

Claim a Connects reward

From time to time, Upwork will offer free Connects as part of a limited promotion. In these cases, you’ll receive a promo code to redeem the Connects.

To use your promo code:

1. Go to Connects and choose Buy Connects
2. Select an amount
3. Enter your coupon or promo code
4. Choose Apply

There are many ways to access Connects on the work marketplace. Connects are a valuable resource, so you want to make sure you’re using them wisely for maximum impact.

How to use Upwork Connects

Connects help you stand out to clients, let them know you’re looking to take on new projects, and grow your business on Upwork. No matter where you’re located or how long you’ve been freelancing, using Connects strategically can help you find the right opportunities and build long-term client relationships. Here’s how to put them to work for you.

Submit proposals

You’ll need to use Connects to submit proposals to projects that match your skills. Each job post shows how many Connects are required, and that number can change based on the project’s size, scope, and market demand. Review opportunities carefully and apply to those that best match your skills.

Boost your proposal

When you see a job you’re excited about and know you’re a strong match for, you can increase the chances that the client notices your proposal by boosting it with additional Connects. 

Boosting lets you bid for one of the first four “boosted” slots at the top of the client’s proposal list, marked with the Boosted icon that helps your proposal stand out. Freelancers who boost their proposals have seen up to 10x more earnings on ad spend, making this a smart strategy for the opportunities that matter most.

Turn on the Availability Badge

Turning on your Availability Badge lets clients know you’re ready to take on new work right now. The weekly Connects cost varies based on demand, and you set the maximum you’re willing to use each week. Freelancers who use the Availability Badge receive up to 70% more job invitations, which can help you keep your pipeline full.

Boost your profile

Boosting your profile helps you appear in more client searches so the right people can find you. Choose the categories you want to target and set the maximum number of Connects you’re willing to spend per click. When a client searches for talent in those categories, your profile may appear in a promoted spot based on your bid and relevance. You’re only charged when a client interacts with your boosted profile, such as clicking on it, saving it, or inviting you to a job. You can adjust your budget or turn off boosting whenever you need.

“I can see that interest in my profile is much higher when my profile is boosted. I see every day that somebody is clicking on my profile and that people are contacting me.” — Oleksandr Vinichenko, Top Rated Plus International Lawyer

Get the identity verification badge

The identity verification badge is a blue check mark next to your name that shows clients your identity has been verified. This helps build trust from the start and may increase your chances of getting offers. You can add this badge to your profile by spending 35 Connects and successfully completing identity verification. The badge remains valid for three years, after which it will have to be renewed.

Be selective with job applications

When you’re new to Upwork, the number of available projects can be exciting and many freelancers want to test the waters by trying a little bit of everything. But Connects are valuable, and you’ll want to use them thoughtfully. 

So what does this mean for your job search? Be strategic about when you choose to submit a proposal. You’ll have a better chance of landing an interview and potentially earning additional Connects when your skills closely match what the client is looking for.

Before applying, take a moment to review each project carefully and ask yourself:

• Do my skills and experience align with what the client needs?
• Am I comfortable spending Connects on this proposal?
  

If you can confidently answer yes to both questions, go ahead and submit your proposal.

Treat Upwork Connects as an investment

Connects are an investment in your freelance business. They help you reach more clients, win more work, and build long-term relationships with people who value your skills. Using Connects strategically, whether you’re applying to projects, boosting a proposal, or highlighting your availability, shows clients you are committed to your craft and serious about building strong working partnerships.

If you want more support as you grow, upgrading to Upwork’s Freelancer Plus plan can help. Members receive 90 Connects each month along with benefits like unlimited access to Uma, Upwork’s Mindful AI™, confidential earnings, a customized profile URL, and other exclusive tools designed to strengthen your presence on the platform. Consider signing up to take the next step in building your freelance business.