To cancel a project order on Upwork, go to Manage work > Your contracts, select the contract, and click “Cancel Contract.” Submit a refund request; if the freelancer approves, your funds will be refunded within five business days. Refunds aren’t guaranteed, so consider discussing changes with your freelancer first.
This article is for clients looking to cancel a project they’ve purchased. If you’re a freelancer looking to learn how to cancel a project, click here.
We understand that plans change.
To cancel a project order:
- Find the contract you’d like to cancel under the Manage work > Your contracts
- Select Cancel Contract in the top right corner of the Contract Workroom
- Send a refund request to the freelancer
After canceling, if the freelancer approves your request, we will return the money you deposited to you in full (please allow up to five business days).
Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee a refund. Freelancers may have already begun work on your project or may have even finished it. We will ask the freelancer to refund your money, but the decision will be theirs.
Pro Tip:
In many cases, freelancers are more than happy to work with you if your approach to the project has changed. Rather than cancel the project, consider messaging your freelancer to discuss how to move forward.
If you can’t resolve the issue with your freelancer, you may be able to file a dispute. Learn more about our dispute process here and our refund process here.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the freelancer approves your refund request, we will return your money to you in full (please allow five business days).
We encourage you to work things out with your freelancer. However, if that is not possible, you can also file a dispute.
Freelancers can cancel a project within 24 hours of receiving your requirements. Sometimes, a freelancer becomes overbooked or can’t take on the work, or they may realize that they are not the right fit to help you. You may message the freelancer to see if they can take the project at a later time, or choose another project entirely.
Also, if you didn’t submit the project requirements within 48 hours after purchasing the project, we automatically cancel the project.
Either way, we will refund your money within five business days.