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Can You Be Anonymous on UpWork?

Last updated on September 30, 2022 @ 11:37 am

When you sign up for UpWork, you create a public profile that includes your real name, photo, title, and a summary of your skills and experience. This profile is visible to anyone who visits UpWork.com. If you’re concerned about staying anonymous, know that it is possible to create an alias for your profile.

You can choose to use your real name or a pseudonym (alias) on your public profile. We recommend using your real name so that clients can easily find and hire you based on your skills and experience.

PRO TIP: If you are considering using Upwork to find anonymous freelance work, be warned that it is possible for your profile to be linked to your real identity. There have been cases of employers requesting personal information from freelancers, such as a government ID or bank account number, in order to pay them. If you are not comfortable sharing this information, then Upwork is probably not the best platform for you.

If you decide to use a pseudonym, keep in mind that you’ll need to use the same name on all public communications on UpWork (including proposals, messages, and forum posts). Your pseudonym should also be professional sounding so that clients take you seriously.

If you decide to use a pseudonym, know that clients can still request to see your government-issued ID (for example, a passport or driver’s license) before hiring you. This is part of our security measures to protect both clients and freelancers. When clients request this information from freelancers, the request appears anonymously in the freelancer’s message thread with the client.

So if anonymity is important to you, using a pseudonym may not be the best option on UpWork. But if you decide to use one, know that you’ll need to be consistent with it across all public communications on the site.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.