01
Create a card for Upwork in Halocard
In your Halocard dashboard, create a new card, name it Upwork and set a limit that covers what you are about to pay.
Upwork payment methods
AcceptedHalocard is accepted*
Halocard is accepted at Upwork. Upwork accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club cards, including debit and prepaid cards, plus PayPal and Venmo for paying freelancers, Connects and Freelancer Plus. Eligible clients can also pay from a bank account (ACH). Add the card in Billing & Payments with the billing address your card issuer has on file.
Halocard has processed 1,000+ transactions at Upwork
What payment methods does Upwork accept?
Accepted
- AcceptedHalocard*
- AcceptedCredit Cards
- AcceptedDebit Cards
- AcceptedPrepaid Cards
- AcceptedPayPal
- AcceptedVenmo
- Accepted with conditionsBank Transfer (ACH)For clients with a qualifying Upwork billing history, who must also keep a card or PayPal on file as a backup.
Not accepted
- Not acceptedApple Pay
- Not acceptedGoogle Pay
- Not acceptedCryptocurrency
- Not acceptedStablecoins
How does Upwork appear on my statement?
UPWORK-xxxxxxxxxREF
What merchant category (MCC) is Upwork?
7361Employment agencies and temporary help services
*Halocard is unable to guarantee acceptance for your individual situation
While Halocard has successfully processed transactions at Upwork, merchant acceptance can change at any time. Merchants can apply fraud and risk-based rules that prevent customers from using US-issued cards at checkout which is outside of Halocard's control. We recommend using Halocard to first make a test payment with Upwork to confirm acceptance for your individual situation. Halocard does not provide refunds in the event your card is declined.
How to pay for Upwork with Halocard
02
Open Billing & Payments
On desktop, go to Account settings, then Billing & Payments. In the mobile app, go to Settings, then Billing & Payments.
03
Add the card as a payment card
Select Add a billing method and choose Payment card. Enter the card number, expiry, security code and billing address, then select Save.
04
Set the card as your primary billing method
In Billing & Payments, choose Set as Primary next to the card. Only one primary method is in use at a time, and you can switch between saved methods.
05
Freelancers: buy Connects or upgrade to Freelancer Plus
Go to Connects, then Buy Connects, pick a bundle or custom amount and select Buy Connects. For a membership, open Membership and Connects, choose Change Plan, then Upgrade and Pay.
Official payment guidance from Upwork
- Accepted billing methods: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211067988-How-to-set-up-a-billing-method-on-Upwork
- Add a credit or prepaid card: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211068038-How-to-add-a-credit-or-prepaid-card-to-pay-freelancers
- Failed payment help: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/38726168165011-How-to-troubleshoot-failed-payments-on-Upwork
Tips for successful payments at Upwork
- AcceptedKeep address lines 1 and 2 to 60 characters combined when you add the card. Shorten standard terms such as Street if the address is longer.
- AcceptedAdd a second billing method as a backup. Upwork limits the account when a charge fails, and a backup keeps contracts and renewals running.
- AcceptedBuying Connects needs a verified billing method on file, even if you plan to pay from your earnings balance.
- AcceptedConnects and Freelancer Plus come out of your earnings balance first. If it does not cover the full cost, Upwork charges the whole amount to your billing method, never a split.
Why do Upwork payments decline?
"Financial transactions for Account Name (8-Digit #) have been limited"
Upwork tried to charge your billing method and the charge failed. Add a new billing method and pay any outstanding balance to lift the hold.
A card type Upwork does not accept
JCB and Union cards are declined. Add a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover or Diners Club card instead.
Name, address or security code does not match the card
Select Edit next to the card in Billing & Payments, correct the details to match your card issuer's records, re-enter the security code and select Save changes.
Freelancer Plus renewal failed
Upwork retries the charge daily and moves you to Freelancer Basic on day 5. Update your billing method, then upgrade to Freelancer Plus again.
Upwork payment FAQ
What should I do if Upwork declines or doesn't support my card?
Pay with a Halocard instead. Upwork accepts it, and as a US-issued Visa credit card held in US dollars it is accepted at checkouts that are strict about card type or country. Halocard is available for customers in the US and 120+ countries, so check that your country is supported, then make a card for Upwork in minutes. See the countries Halocard supports.
Can I use a virtual card for Upwork?
Yes. Upwork accepts Halocard, a US-issued Visa credit card that works like a debit card. Halocard has already processed 1,000+ transactions at Upwork. Make a card just for Upwork and you are in full control: set a limit, lock it or cancel it whenever you like, without ever handing Upwork your bank card.
How do I stop Upwork charging me after I cancel?
The fastest way is to lock the Halocard you use for Upwork. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card that gives you a separate card for each merchant, and locking one takes a couple of clicks in your Halocard dashboard. Upwork can't charge that card again until you unlock it, so you stay in full control even when cancelling is slow or hard to find. To cancel with Upwork as well, sign in to your Upwork account and cancel the plan in its billing or subscription settings.
Can I keep my real card and address private from Upwork?
Yes, with Halocard. Halocard is a US-issued Visa credit card that gives you a separate card for each merchant, so Upwork only ever sees your Halocard, never your bank card. You choose the cardholder name and billing address on each card, so your home address stays out of Upwork's records. If Upwork is ever caught up in a data breach, cancel that one card and make a new one in seconds.
How do I buy Upwork Connects?
Connects cost $0.15 each and are sold in bundles. Go to Connects, then Buy Connects, choose an amount and confirm. You need a verified billing method on file even if you pay from earnings. Upwork uses your earnings balance first and, if it does not cover the full cost, charges your billing method for the whole amount.
How does billing work for Freelancer Plus?
Freelancer Plus is billed when you upgrade and then monthly on the same day. Upwork takes the cost from your earnings balance when it covers it, otherwise from your preferred billing method. If a renewal fails, Upwork retries once a day and moves you to Freelancer Basic on day 5. Cancel before midnight UTC on your renewal date to avoid the next charge.
What is the Upwork Client Marketplace Fee?
Clients on the free Basic plan pay a Client Marketplace Fee of up to 7.99% on payments to freelancers, including hourly and fixed-price contracts, bonuses and expenses. Eligible clients who pay from a bank account pay a reduced 3%. The fee is not refunded, even if a payment is reversed or refunded.
Can I pay on Upwork with PayPal?
Yes. Clients and freelancers can link a verified PayPal account as a billing method. Freelancers who use PayPal to buy Connects or pay for a membership must also add a credit card as a backup inside their PayPal account.
What does an unverified billing method mean on Upwork?
The client has not finished verifying a billing method, or the one on file has a problem such as an expired card. Upwork cannot release payments to the freelancer until verification is complete, and Hourly Protection does not apply in the meantime.
About Upwork
Upwork is a work marketplace where businesses hire independent freelancers and agencies for hourly and fixed-price projects. Clients pay a marketplace fee on payments to talent, while freelancers buy Connects to send proposals or subscribe to Freelancer Plus. Upwork Inc. is listed on Nasdaq as UPWK and is based in Palo Alto, California.
- Website
- upwork.com
- Support
- support.upwork.com
- Billing region
- United States ($USD)
- Products
- Connects, Freelancer Plus, Business Plus
- Users
- 763,000 active clients, June 2026
- Revenue
- $191.7 million, Q2 2026
