This article explains how freelancers on Upwork can use the Availability Badge to signal they’re ready for new work. By spending Connects, users activate a blue “Available Now” badge visible in search results, profile pages, and recommendations, helping boost their chances of receiving client invites. Freelancers can set a weekly Connects limit, and Upwork automatically disables the badge if the cost exceeds that cap. This feature offers flexibility and control over one’s work schedule and client outreach visibility. - AI helped create this summary
We want to help you take more control over your services with the Availability Badge — an option designed to help you signal to clients that you are ready for new work now.
Freelancers can use Connects to add the blue “Available Now” badge.
By turning on your Availability Badge, you're offering clients a strong incentive to check out your profile and increasing your chances of receiving 70% more invites. It's a small but impactful step towards gaining more opportunities and showcasing your skills.
You have the option to turn the Availability Badge on and off as needed to signal when you're ready to take on new clients. As you begin to build a steady stream of work on your terms, you'll find that you can create your ideal work schedule. Clients will see your badge in search results, recommendations, and on your profile. They can also use an "Available now" filter to see who has the badge on when they’re inviting freelancers to submit a proposal, which can show you’re ready and eager for new work.
The Availability Badge works best for
- Freelancers who are available to work right now
- Freelancers who are ready to control the flow of opportunities
Use Connects to activate the Availability Badge
Turning on the Availability Badge is a way to use your Connects to control your workflow and manage your time.
- The weekly price of the badge may fluctuate, but you control how many Connects are used, by setting a maximum number you'd like to spend in a week
- If at any point the cost of the badge exceeds what you've set as your maximum, we will turn off the badge automatically. You will not be charged a weekly rate more than what you've set as your maximum
And remember, you can always turn the badge off at any time if you don’t need it, so you will only spend when you would like to take on more work.
Badge cost examples
- If the badge costs 14 Connects, 2 Connects will be deducted from your balance every 24 hours to add up to 14 Connects for the week
- If the badge costs 21 Connects, 1 Connect will be deducted from your balance every 8 hours
- If the badge cost changes while you are using it, you will be charged more Connects each day, however you will never be charged more than the maximum you set
Turn on the Availability Badge
- Go to Find Work and look at your profile banner on the right side of the screen. Select the pencil icon ✎ next to Availability Badge
- Set your maximum amount of Connects you want to spend in one week to keep the badge on. If the price changes to exceed this number, we will turn the badge off for you
- Select Turn On
You can also access the badge on your profile, under your name at the top of the page.
We will deduct your Connects in necessary increments to meet the set amount over the course of the week, as long as the badge is turned on and does not exceed your maximum.