When you join Upwork, you agree to only ever create one main account. However, under that main account you can have the following: one freelancer profile, one agency profile, and multiple client profiles. Learn more: Adding new profiles to your main Upwork account.
Why we limit each person to one account
Fairness and trust
Allowing multiple accounts could lead to misuse, such as:
- Avoiding or hiding poor feedback by creating a new account
- 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 accounts 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 you need to separate different types of work?
Instead of creating a second account, we offer built-in options:
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Freelancer + client profiles in one account
If you both freelance and hire, you can switch between roles within the same account. Just go to your user menu and toggle between your freelancer and client profiles once you’ve created both.
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Create an agency
If you want to work as a team, you can set up an agency within your existing account. This lets you manage projects under an agency brand while keeping your freelancer profile separate.
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Business vs. personal hiring
If you’re a client hiring for multiple companies, you can create separate client accounts for different businesses.
Learn more: Adding new profiles to your main Upwork account.
What if you already have two accounts?
If you accidentally created a second account, don’t use both—this could lead to suspension. Instead: Close one of the accounts. Learn how here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.