Video Calls: Work More Efficiently With Upwork Video Meetings

Upwork video meetings keep all project members on the same page. You can create a video call directly within Upwork Messages, helping you more easily turn meetings into action items and milestones.

What to know about Upwork video calls

• Upwork video meetings are free and built directly into Upwork Messages — no third-party tools or downloads needed.
• Uma, Upwork's Mindful AI, automatically generates meeting recordings, transcripts, summaries, and action items.
• The meeting host controls AI features and can turn them off before or during any call.
• Recordings, transcripts, and summaries are stored in your message history for six months.

Text messages and audio calls get the job done, but sometimes you need face-to-face conversation to align on details and milestones or build trust with a new collaborator. Upwork video meetings make that easy without leaving the platform. Powered by Uma™, Upwork’s Mindful AI, Upwork video meetings enable seamless collaboration and help align deliverables with expectations.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about collaborating with others via Upwork video meetings.

What is an Upwork video meeting?

AnUpwork video meeting is a smooth video calling experience available right from your Upwork Messages dashboard. This feature is free to use and automatically includes:

• Background noise reduction
• Hand gesture detection
• Meeting recordings
• Meeting transcripts
• Action items
• Post-call meeting summaries

Photo by Matilda Wormwood on Pexels

How does an Upwork video call work?

​​When you start an Upwork video meeting, a new window opens with your video feed and call controls.

During the video call:

• All participants can share their screen, rearrange their meeting view, and use the built-in chat.
• The meeting host can invite up to 9 people, including guests outside the original message room.
• Background noise is reduced automatically, and hand gestures are detected so reactions come through clearly — even when you're on mute.

Behind the scenes, Uma handles the details:

• The call is recorded and a full transcript is generated automatically.
• Uma creates a summary with action items, so you can stay focused on the conversation instead of taking notes.
• The meeting host controls whether AI features are active. They can be turned off before or during any call.

You no longer need to worry about taking notes or stress about forgetting what was said in a meeting. After each call, you’ll get a message when your recording and summary are available (choose “View Now” to access them). You’ll also find the recording, transcript, and summary in the message room’s “Meeting recap” drop down options.

Who can use Upwork video meetings?

Upwork video meetings are available to clients and freelancers on the Upwork platform and are being rolled out gradually.

Of course, clients and freelancers who aren’t comfortable with video meetings can still exchange asynchronous text-based messages or chat via an audio call. While we’ve designed Upwork video meetings for easier, more efficient collaboration, we also recognize that sometimes a simple message will do.

How to use Upwork video meetings

Using Upwork video meetings is simple — especially if you’ve started an audio call through Upwork before. Doing a quick audio/video check and reviewing notes beforehand go a long way. Showing up on time and prepared is good meeting etiquette and key to having an efficient Upwork video call.

1. Open Upwork Messages

You’ll need to open an existing message thread in Upwork Messages or create a message with a contact before using Upwork video meetings.

Once you’ve created an active message room, click on the camera icon and choose “Upwork video meeting.” This will generate a join link that all parties can use to enter the meeting room. You’ll have the option to create an instant meeting or schedule a call for the future. 

2. Decide if you’ll use AI

Uma is enabled in each Upwork video meeting by default. If you don’t want automatic recordings, noise reduction, transcripts, and summaries of your meetings, you can turn off AI features when starting a call. 

Only the meeting host can enable or disable Uma in a video meeting. 

3. Host the video meeting

Chatting together in Upwork video meetings is simple. Once you start a call, a new window will pop up and all participants can share their screen or rearrange what their meeting view looks like. 

4. Review video meeting details at any time

Once your call is over, as long as Uma was enabled, participants can rewatch the meeting or review its transcript and summary. For shorter calls, Uma may not generate a full meeting summary.

Note that while we store meeting recordings, transcripts, and summaries in your Upwork messages history for six months, these files don’t equal contract requirements. If you talk about specific actions, requests, or milestones during the call, these items will need to be manually updated in the Upwork contract.

Follow-up actions to take after your video call

After your Upwork video call wraps up, a few quick steps can help you turn the conversation into progress.

• Review your meeting recap. Open the "Meeting recap" dropdown in your message room to revisit the recording, transcript, and AI-generated summary. This is a good time to confirm what was agreed on while the details are fresh.
• Update your contract with any new milestones. Meeting recaps don't automatically update your Upwork contract. If you discussed specific deliverables, deadlines, or scope changes during the call, add them to your contract manually so both sides have a clear record.
• Share action items in the message thread. Uma generates a list of action items after each call. Use Upwork messages to confirm next steps, assign ownership, and set timelines — all in one place.
• Follow up with a written summary for guests. If anyone joined your meeting as a guest (outside the original message room), they won't have access to the recap. Send them a quick summary or share the key action items separately.
• Create a new contract. If you’re meeting to discuss a new project, Uma can also use key details from Upwork video meetings to guide the development of a new contract, allowing you to move from discussion to hire faster.

Work more efficiently with Uma and Upwork video meetings

Get ready to work more efficiently on Upwork with Upwork video meetings. Sign up or log in to your Upwork account to send a message, meet with freelancers or clients, or have Uma help you find your next project.