26/07/2026
TRUTH ABOUT UPWORK CONNECTS‼️
Disclaimer: This post is only an opinion based on my experience and I don't mean to bash Upwork or argue with anyone. In fact, I am truly grateful to this platform for giving my family a life since pandemic up to now. This is just for awareness. If you'd like to add anything, please feel free to comment and please be kind. 🫶🥰
Saw a job post worth $60 for a file organization project. It was posted about 5 minutes ago when I saw it and I was alerted thru my notification via Upwork website as I am subscribed to the MEMBERSHIP PLUS which cost $19.99 per month plus tax. [THIS IS FOR ANOTHER TOPIC! 😉]
As I was composing my "proposal" (or job application) and about to submit, I saw that one freelancer has already bid for 50 connects!! I was like...😱 So before submitting, I stopped and just wanted to share some thoughts about this bidding system and how it works especially for those who are just starting their freelancing journey as a virtual assistant and want to create a profile in Upwork.
📌What does bidding in Upwork mean?
This means that the more "connects" you spend, the more chance of your proposal being seen and being on top of the proposals list seen by the client. But of course, the client has still the final say which proposal to open, that is why the first line of each proposal is very important when applying to jobs as this is what the client sees first that builds the initial impression of the freelancers' proposals.
There are meticulous clients that open each proposal before shortlisting candidates and there are clients that open the first few proposals that they see in their inbox or notifications, and the bidding system favors the latter.
📌What is connets and how much does it cost?
You can buy "connects" or this token-like thing that is required for you to purchase before sending your proposal. When you buy 10 connects, it costs $1.50 plus tax. So, imagine, this 50 connects costs $7.50 plus connects and in Philippine currency, it's around P450.00 just for one job application that will not guarantee you 100% in landing a job. 😥
And not only that.. That P450 is for the bid only, the job post itself has its own value of connects. Like if you don't bid and just want to submit a proposal, it still costs maybe 8 to 20 connects depending on the type of job and budget of this specific job post. (I am not sure if the clients set this though.) You will think twice if you would like to still send the proposal when you see others are bidding higher than you and the big question is: Do you have enough number of connects to beat them and stay on top? 🤔
I have read some complaints coming from other freelancers that they opted to move to other platforms because of this bidding system. Using Upwork nowadays is really expensive and landing a job on this platform has become difficult due to high competition as well since this platform has been in the freelancing industry for so long.
As time goes by, in my opinion, this favors more on the business side of the company in terms of revenue, but I hope Upwork would remove this kind of like "money" competition. After all, paying clients deserve great freelancers and not only the ones who can afford to bid and buy lots of connects. Also, I don't believe this bidding system is a great idea aside from all the taxes they are imposing on the platform. We are on the platform to earn and not to gamble and risk our hard-earned money.
Unlike before, having the TOP RATED badge was a great edge in applying to jobs in Upwork and that gives you more chance to be seen. But now, it has a lesser effect because if you don't bid and just submit normally, the client might not see your proposal since those who bid will be seen first and the money you spent on connects will just be gone. As a freelancer who is actively using Upwork for years, I still love the platform despite of these new terms, but I hope they will improve this or consider other ways to help freelancers land more jobs using their platform. 😊
