Note:
Upwork Now is currently being tested with a limited group of clients. If you don't see this feature on your account, it isn't available to you yet.
Upwork Now helps you hire the same day by showing you which freelancers are available to start right now. Filter your candidates to freelancers who are online and ready to begin, message them, and send an offer. Work starts the same day.
How Upwork Now works
Freelancers can turn on a Work Now session to signal they're available to begin work immediately. When you're reviewing candidates for your job, you can filter down to just those freelancers.
You'll find three availability filters:
- Can start now — freelancers in an active Work Now session, available to begin right away
- Currently online — freelancers active on Upwork at this moment
- Open for work — freelancers who have marked themselves open to new work
You can also turn on hire now early in the job post flow. It tells us you're looking to hire right away and applies the Can start now filter for you when you get to your proposals.
Freelancers browsing for work can see which jobs have a client who's actively hiring, and can filter to them. While you're reviewing candidates, your job carries that signal automatically.
Getting started with Upwork Now
- Log in to your Upwork account and create a job post as usual.
- Turn on hire now (optional). Early in the job post flow, you can indicate that you're looking to hire right away.
- Open Proposal Manager for your job to review candidates.
- Filter to Can start now to see freelancers who are available to begin immediately. If you turned on hire now when posting, this filter is already applied. Review their profiles and proposals, then invite or message the ones you want.
- Send an offer with the agreed scope, rate, and timeline. When the freelancer accepts, the contract starts immediately.
Best practices for Upwork Now
- Write a clear, specific job description. Clarity attracts better-fit applicants. Include what the work is, deliverables, timeline, and budget.
- Have a clear rate in mind. Know your budget before posting. When you send an offer, include a rate that's fair for the scope and timeline.
- Review profiles carefully. Even with a tight timeline, take a moment to check recent ratings, portfolio work, and relevant experience. Upwork Now is fast, but you still want to hire quality talent.
- Stay active while you're hiring. While you're reviewing candidates, freelancers can see that your job has a client who's hiring now — which makes them more likely to reach out or respond quickly.
- Send offers quickly. Once you've selected a freelancer, send an offer promptly. The faster you move, the more likely they'll accept before their session ends or they accept another job.
- Be clear about same-day start. In your job description and offer, be explicit that the freelancer should start work the same day and when (immediately, end of day, etc.).
- Have payment ready. Fund your escrow or confirm your payment method before posting. Don't let payment logistics delay hiring.
- Set clear expectations on scope and timeline. Be specific about what you need, deliverables, and deadlines. This helps freelancers make a confident decision to accept your offer.
Frequently asked questions
How is Upwork Now different from regular hiring?
Upwork Now adds a way to find freelancers who can start immediately. You post your job and hire the same way you always would — Upwork Now gives you the filters to narrow your candidates to people who are available right now. Use it when you need someone immediately; ignore it when you have more flexibility.
What does "Can start now" mean?
It means the freelancer has an active Work Now session, signalling they're available to begin work immediately. Freelancers in a Work Now session are held to responding quickly, and they show a distinct online indicator on their profile and in your candidate list.
Is Upwork Now available to all clients?
Upwork Now is currently in beta and available only to a limited set of clients and freelancers.
We also don't guarantee that your job will be filled same-day. If no freelancers with the right skills are available at the moment you're looking, you may not find anyone under the Can start now filter. Your job post stays live either way and continues to receive proposals as normal. We're continuously working to expand freelancer availability to make same-day hiring as reliable as possible.
Do freelancers know I'm hiring now?
Yes. Freelancers browsing for work can see which jobs have a client who's actively hiring, and can filter to them. While you're reviewing candidates, your job carries that signal automatically — you don't need to turn anything on.
What if no freelancers are available right now?
Availability varies by job type and time of day, and we're actively expanding it across more work categories. If the Can start now filter is returning few or no results, try widening it to include Currently online, or turning the filter off to see all of your candidates. Your job post is live and collecting proposals regardless.
Can I message freelancers after they apply?
Yes. You can message applicants through Upwork's messaging system to clarify scope, confirm availability, or discuss details before sending an offer.
Can I hire multiple freelancers for one job?
Yes. Keep the job open after your first hire and send additional offers as normal.
What if a freelancer accepts my offer but doesn't start work?
Contact the freelancer immediately through Upwork messaging. Confirm they're still available and ready to start. If they don't respond or can't deliver, you may need to cancel and hire someone else. Freelancers who accept work through Upwork Now are expected to start the same day.