Wondering how leaving feedback for a freelancer or agency works on Upwork? Learn about the feedback you can leave, the 14-day window, and editing options.
Important: Updates to the end-of-contract feedback form
- What’s changing in the end-of-contract review?
- Why was the private feedback rating removed?
- What is the private note?
- Is the private note required?
- Will freelancers see my private note immediately?
- Can I edit a private note after submitting it?
- Do I still need to complete a review to end a contract?
- Are there any changes to how reviews appear on freelancer profiles?
In this article
- What type of feedback am I asked for at the end of a contract with a freelancer?
- How do I leave feedback after a contract ends?
- How long do I have to leave a review and feedback after a contract ends?
- When will the freelancer or agency see my end-of-contract review?
- How do I edit the public review I left for a freelancer or agency?
- What are the guidelines for leaving feedback for a freelancer or agency?
- If my freelancer gives me a full refund, can I still leave a review and feedback?
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How do I leave feedback on a contract that is open?
What’s changing in the end-of-contract review?
We’ve streamlined the review form to make it faster and clearer.
Here’s what’s changing:
- The private rating and review are being removed
- You’ll leave only a 1 to 5 star public rating
- You can now leave an optional private note for the freelancer
The goal is to reduce confusion and make the process quicker to complete.
Why was the private feedback rating removed?
We heard from clients that having both the public star rating and the private recommendation rating created confusion and made it more time-consuming to complete feedback. To simplify the form, we removed the private rating and streamlined the feedback experience. You can now share your overall experience through the star ratings and written feedback, making it easier to leave clear and meaningful feedback for freelancers.
What is the private note?
The private note is an optional message that:
- Is visible only to the freelancer
- Does not appear on their public profile
- Does not impact their reputation
It’s designed as a space for thoughtful, direct feedback, especially useful for growth-focused comments you may not want to publish publicly.
Is the private note required?
No. It’s completely optional.
You can:
- Leave a public review only
- Leave a private note only
- Leave both
Will freelancers see my private note immediately?
They’ll see it once:
- They submit their own feedback, or
- 14 days pass after you leave feedback
This preserves the fairness of the double-blind feedback process.
Can I edit a private note after submitting it?
No. Private notes are read-only once submitted. If you need to update public feedback, you can still follow the existing public feedback change process.
Do I still need to complete a review to end a contract?
Yes. There are no changes to the contract-ending process. You are still required to complete the review form when ending a contract. The 14-day window for leaving feedback after a freelancer ends a contract also remains the same.
Are there any changes to how reviews appear on freelancer profiles?
No. Public reviews display the same way they always have. There are no changes to public profile presentation in this phase.
What type of feedback am I asked for at the end of a contract with a freelancer?
- A public review — You can leave a star rating (ranging from one to five stars) and comments on the freelancer’s or agency’s profile. Exception: If a freelancer or agency gives you a full refund, your feedback will not appear on their profile
- An optional private note for the freelancer. This note does not impact their Job Success Score
How do I leave feedback after a contract ends?
- Go to Manage work > All contracts
- Choose the job you need and select the (...) button
- Select Give feedback. If 14 days have passed since the contract has closed, your opportunity to leave feedback has passed and you won’t see this option
How long do I have to leave a review and feedback after a contract ends?
If you end the contract, you’ll be asked to leave feedback right in the End Contract form. If the freelancer or agency ends the contract, you’ll still have 14 days to leave feedback.
Heads-up: The 14-day window is based on UTC time, so the deadline will be midnight UTC on the final day—not necessarily midnight in your own timezone. It’s a good idea to double-check how your local time compares to UTC to avoid missing the cutoff.
When will the freelancer or agency see my end-of-contract review?
We use a double-blind system, which means the review isn’t visible until both you and your freelancer have submitted one, or 14 days have passed. This helps keep things fair and independent.
If only one person leaves feedback, we’ll publish it once the 14-day window closes.
Note: While your freelancer won’t see your review until they’ve shared theirs or 14 days have passed—your input might still affect their Job Success Score earlier, since the score updates daily.
How do I edit the public review I left for a freelancer or agency?
If you left feedback but need to make a change, you can contact the freelancer or agency and request the opportunity to change your public review. They can enable the edit option from their Upwork account, and if they do, you'll have 14 days to edit your public review.
What are the guidelines for leaving feedback for a freelancer or agency?
Any feedback you leave must be genuine and follow Upwork’s Terms of Service. To maintain the integrity of the feedback system:
- You cannot accept anything of value from a freelancer, such as free or reduced work, in exchange for leaving good feedback
- Feedback should be professional and relate to the contract
- Feedback cannot contain:
- Abusive or offensive language
- Racist or discriminatory language
- Explicit content or links to explicit content
- Your freelancer’s private contact information or other confidential information
If my freelancer gives me a full refund, can I still leave feedback?
Yes, you can. However, if the freelancer issues a full refund, any written review you left will not appear on their profile. Your other feedback will still be considered in the freelancer’s Job Success Score.
How do I leave feedback on a contract that is open?
Learn more about leaving mid-contract feedback here.