Connects are Upwork's virtual tokens that freelancers spend to submit proposals to job postings. Each job requires a set number of Connects based on the project's budget and category.
Upwork introduced Connects to reduce spam proposals and ensure that freelancers are strategic about which jobs they apply to. Free-tier accounts receive a limited number of Connects each month (currently 10), and additional Connects can be purchased in bundles. The cost per job varies: smaller projects may require 2-4 Connects, while enterprise-level postings can cost 16 or more.
Connects are also used for 'Boosted Proposals', where freelancers can spend extra Connects to have their proposal featured at the top of the client's list. Because Connects have a monetary value (roughly $0.15 each), treating each proposal as an investment changes your approach from quantity to quality. Freelancers who carefully researched jobs and sent tailored proposals report a significantly higher return on their Connect investment compared to those who mass-apply.
Put this into practice
Ready to apply what you have learned about Connects?