Upwork allows only one account per person to ensure fairness, trust, and security. Learn what to do if you need separate profiles or can’t access your old account.
In this article
- Why does Upwork limit each person to one account?
- What if I need to separate different types of work?
- What if I already have two main accounts?
- What if I delete my old Upwork account? Is it OK to create a new one then?
- I need to create a new account because I can’t remember my Upwork login information. Is this allowed?
- It’s been years since I had an Upwork account. Should I create a new one?
Why does Upwork limit each person to one account?
Fairness and trust
Allowing multiple main accounts and logins could lead to misuse, such as:
- Avoiding or hiding poor feedback
- Misrepresenting skills, experience, or hiring history
- Circumventing our rules on contracts, payments, and reviews
Easier profile and work management
Having everything in one place means:
- You can easily track contracts, earnings, and hiring history with one login
- Important messages (for example, job invites) arrive in one location
- Your reputation (through ratings and reviews) includes your full Upwork history
Preventing policy violations and security issues
Multiple main accounts with separate logins can cause unintended problems, including:
- Security risks, like logging into the wrong account or mixing up financial details
- Account suspension (creating or having multiple accounts is against our Terms of Service)
What if I need to separate different types of work?
Instead of creating a second main account, we offer built-in options:
- Freelancer + client account profiles in one account. If you both freelance and hire, you can switch between roles within the same main account
- Create an agency. If you want to work as a team, you can set up an agency within your existing main account. This lets you manage projects under an agency brand while keeping your freelancer account profile separate
- Business vs. personal hiring. If you’re a client hiring for multiple companies, you can create separate client account profiles for different businesses, still within one main account with one login
If you need to maintain more than one account for one of the reasons below, please contact Customer Support and include relevant documentation:
- Hiring on behalf of your employer or another company that requires you to use their corporate email domain and hiring permissions
- Paying taxes in more than one country as a freelancer
- A client or an agency you work with requires you to use an account registered with their corporate email domain
What if I already have two main accounts?
If you accidentally created a second main account, don’t use both—this could lead to suspension. Instead: Close one of the accounts.
What if I delete my old Upwork account? Is it OK to create a new one then?
No. Think of it as you can only have one Upwork account for life. However, under that main account you can have one freelancer profile, one agency account, and multiple client accounts. Learn how to reactivate a closed freelancer account.
I need to create a new account because I can’t remember my Upwork login information. Is this allowed?
No, creating a second Upwork account is always against our Terms of Service. To avoid account suspension, please resolve the sign-in issue with your existing Upwork account. Learn more: Forgot password or security answer.
It’s been years since I had an Upwork account. Should I create a new one?
No, your old account will still be accessible and that’s the one you need to use, per our Terms of Service. If you can’t remember your login details, get help here.