Manage Freelancer

How to cancel your freelancer account and reclaim control of your finances

Understanding freelancer and why you might want to cancel

Freelancer is an online marketplace that connects clients with freelancers for short-term projects, ongoing work, and digital services. The platform offers tiered membership plans, in-app subscriptions through mobile stores, milestone payment holds, and customer support to manage billing and disputes.

You might be considering cancellation for many reasons: the membership fee no longer justifies the project opportunities, you've moved to a different platform, or you simply want to pause your subscription. Whatever your reason, Stopee is here to guide you through the process step-by-step so you avoid unnecessary delays and protect your interests as a Canadian consumer.

Is freelancer right for you

Freelancer works well if you're actively bidding on projects, building your portfolio, and valuing the verified badge and priority ranking that comes with paid membership. If you're not seeing return on investment, receiving fewer quality leads, or have found better platforms for your work, cancellation makes sense. The free tier lets you maintain an account without paying, so you don't have to delete your profile entirely if you want to take a break.

When cancellation is the right choice

You should cancel if the monthly fee (typically around C$5.99 for Pro membership) isn't generating enough project income to justify the cost. Similarly, if you're using a competing platform with better rates or project quality, or if you've stopped freelancing altogether, there's no reason to keep paying. Stopee empowers you to make this decision with confidence by showing you exactly how to exit without hidden fees or prolonged billing cycles.

Freelancer pricing and membership plans

Below is the current pricing structure for Freelancer.com membership tiers available to Canadian users.

Pricing may be dynamic and visible only after you log into your Freelancer.com account. If you hold an in-app subscription through Apple App Store or Google Play, your billing occurs through those stores and follows their pricing, not necessarily the web rates listed above.

Your consumer rights in canada

Canadian consumer protection law gives you important safeguards when cancelling digital subscriptions, and Stopee wants you to understand these rights before you act.

Consumer protection act provisions

Under Canada's federal and provincial consumer protection frameworks, you have the right to cancel most digital subscriptions and recurring charges. While digital services don't always qualify for the 14-day cooling-off period that applies to physical goods, many provinces enforce a withdrawal or cancellation right for "distance contracts" (online purchases). If Freelancer fails to clearly disclose the renewal date, cancellation process, or billing amount before you subscribe, you may have grounds to dispute charges or request a refund beyond their stated policy.

Additionally, if you paid by credit card, your card issuer's chargeback protection offers a safety net. If you paid via PayPal, PayPal's buyer protection and dispute resolution processes apply. Both of these options can help you recover funds if Freelancer's refund policy is unclear or if you're charged after cancellation.

Escalation pathways if cancellation is refused

If Freelancer refuses to cancel your subscription or continues billing after you've submitted a cancellation request, you can escalate to your provincial consumer protection authority. In Ontario, contact the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services; in British Columbia, reach out to the Consumer Protection BC office. These agencies can investigate unfair billing practices and compel refunds on your behalf. Stopee recommends keeping all proof of your cancellation request and any communication from Freelancer as evidence for any escalation.

How to cancel freelancer on the web

Cancelling your Freelancer membership from the website is the most straightforward method and gives you the clearest paper trail.

1. Visit Freelancer.com and log into your account using your email and password.
2. Navigate to your account settings by clicking the menu icon or your profile name in the top-right corner.
3. Select the Membership or Settings tab, depending on the current interface layout.
4. Locate the active plan you wish to cancel and click the Cancel button next to it.
5. Freelancer will prompt you to confirm your cancellation reason. Select the reason that best describes why you're leaving (e.g., "Not finding enough projects," "Using another platform," "Too expensive").
6. Review the cancellation summary, which will confirm that your paid benefits continue until the end of the current billing cycle.
7. Click Confirm cancellation to finalize the request.

Pro tip: Take a screenshot of the confirmation page after you click Confirm. This serves as your proof of cancellation if Freelancer's billing system malfunctions and charges you again.

Warning: Cancellation takes effect at the end of your paid period, not immediately. If you cancel on the 15th of the month but your billing cycle runs from the 1st to the 30th, you'll keep Pro features until the 30th and won't be charged again on the 1st of the next month.

How to cancel freelancer on mobile apps

If you subscribed to Freelancer Global through Google Play or Apple App Store, you must cancel through those stores, not through Freelancer's website.

Cancel via google play (Android)

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner and select Subscriptions.
3. Find Freelancer Global in your active subscriptions list.
4. Tap on it and select Cancel subscription.
5. Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation and, if prompted, select a cancellation reason.
6. You will see a confirmation message stating your subscription ends on a specific date. Save this date.

For additional help, visit Google Play's official subscription support page at support.google.com/googleplay/answer/7018481.

Cancel via apple app store (iOS)

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen to access your Apple Account.
3. Select Media & Purchases, then tap Subscriptions.
4. Find Freelancer or Freelancer Global in your active subscriptions.
5. Tap on the subscription and select Cancel subscription.
6. Confirm the cancellation. Apple will show you the date your access ends.

Freelancer does not provide a separate cancellation flow for Apple users; all in-app subscription management happens through Apple's ecosystem. Visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 for Apple's detailed subscription help centre.

Pro tip: After you cancel via Apple or Google, log into your Freelancer.com web account separately to verify that your membership is marked as cancelled. Sometimes the web platform and mobile stores don't sync instantly.

Requesting a formal cancellation letter

If you want documentary proof of your cancellation request for legal or accounting purposes, Stopee recommends sending a signed cancellation letter by registered mail to Freelancer's corporate address.

How to send a registered mail cancellation

1. Compose a brief, professional letter stating your full name, email address, and account username on Freelancer.
2. Write a single clear sentence: "I request cancellation of my Freelancer account effective immediately. Please confirm cancellation in writing within 7 business days."
3. Sign the letter by hand and include today's date.
4. Contact Freelancer's customer support to request their current mailing address, as this changes periodically. You can email support@freelancer.com or check your account settings for contact details.
5. Send the letter via Canada Post's Registered Mail with Proof of Delivery (Raccomandata A/R equivalent in Canada is "Signature Confirmation").
6. Keep your receipt and tracking number. Canada Post will confirm delivery, and you'll have proof that Freelancer received your request on a specific date.

Warning: Registered mail takes 5 to 10 business days to arrive. If you need immediate cancellation, complete the web or app cancellation first, then send the registered letter as a backup.

What happens to your account after cancellation

Cancelling your paid membership does not delete your account, and you're not left in the dark about what remains accessible.

Access and data retention after you cancel

Once your billing cycle ends, your Pro features disappear and you revert to the free tier. However, your profile remains active, your project history is preserved, your portfolio items stay visible, and all messages between you and clients are retained. You can still view completed projects and dispute history, which is important for your freelance reputation and future references.

Your account data is retained under Freelancer's privacy policy unless you separately request account deletion. If you want to remove your profile entirely from the platform, you'll need to submit a separate deletion request through the account settings or contact support.

Portfolio and profile visibility

Freelancer will not delete your past portfolio items, client reviews, or job history. This is actually beneficial: prospective clients on other platforms can still see evidence of your work. If you do want to hide specific portfolio items or remove your profile from search, log into the free account and adjust your privacy settings manually before you leave.

Refund and payment recovery after cancellation

Understanding your refund eligibility is essential, and Stopee breaks down the rules by payment type so you know exactly where you stand.

PayPal-funded account balance refunds

If you added money to your Freelancer account balance via PayPal and you have unused funds remaining, you can request a refund. Freelancer's policy allows you to refund PayPal-deposited amounts within one year of the deposit. The refund is processed back to your original PayPal account, not as cash.

1. Log into your Freelancer account and navigate to your wallet or account balance section.
2. Identify funds that were added via PayPal (these are often labelled with the payment method).
3. Contact Freelancer support at support@freelancer.com with your account details and the exact amount you wish to refund.
4. Provide the date you originally deposited the funds and confirm the refund destination PayPal account.
5. Freelancer will process the refund, which typically arrives in your PayPal account within 5 to 10 business days.

Milestone payments and platform fees

Money held in project milestones and platform fees charged for transactions are generally non-refundable through standard support channels. If you believe a milestone was incorrectly held or a fee was applied in error, you must use Freelancer's dispute resolution process. Submit a dispute claim within 30 days of the transaction, providing documentation of the project agreement and work completed.

Credit card and in-app subscription refunds

If you paid for membership with a credit card directly through Freelancer.com, refunds are not automatic. You must request a refund from Freelancer support and explain why you believe you're entitled to one. Unused membership time does not automatically trigger a refund; Freelancer keeps the full monthly fee.

If you subscribed through Apple App Store or Google Play, refund eligibility depends on each store's rules:

• Apple: You can request a refund for in-app subscriptions within 45 days of the charge date. Visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084 to initiate the request.
• Google Play: You can request a refund within 48 hours of purchase. After that window, refunds are rarely granted unless you can prove the subscription was fraudulent.

Pro tip: If you're unhappy with the value of your membership and want a refund shortly after purchase, contact the app store (not Freelancer) immediately. These stores are more generous with refunds than Freelancer itself.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancelling a subscription should be straightforward, but small errors can leave you paying longer than necessary or without proof you actually cancelled.

Deleting the app instead of cancelling the subscription

Simply deleting the Freelancer app from your phone does not cancel your subscription. The app is just software; your subscription renewal is tied to your account and the app store. You must cancel through Google Play, Apple, or the web to stop recurring charges. After you cancel, then delete the app.

Assuming cancellation is immediate

You'll often see confirmation that cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. Many users misread this and think they've been charged again when in fact the charge was scheduled before they cancelled. Mark the end date on your calendar and check your credit card or PayPal statement on that date to confirm no new charge appears 2 to 3 days later.

Forgetting to cancel through the correct channel

If you subscribed via the Google Play Store but try to cancel through Freelancer's website, the cancellation may not sync properly. Always cancel through the same channel where you subscribed. Stopee recommends cancelling through all channels if you're unsure where you signed up.

Not saving your cancellation confirmation

Freelancer's confirmation pages sometimes disappear after a few refreshes or if you log out. Screenshot the confirmation immediately and email it to yourself. This proof is invaluable if a dispute arises.

Ignoring unresolved disputes or pending payments

If you have an open dispute, pending milestone payment, or unpaid invoice, cancelling your membership does not resolve it. Freelancer can freeze your account or pursue payment through other means. Settle outstanding disputes before you cancel to avoid complications.

Cancellation checklist and next steps

Use this checklist to ensure you've completed every step of the cancellation process and have all documentation in place.

Why stopee helps you cancel with confidence

Cancelling an online subscription can feel risky when you don't know the exact steps or your consumer rights. That's where Stopee comes in. Stopee has helped thousands of Canadian consumers cancel subscriptions safely, recover refunds, and avoid billing traps through clear, actionable guidance tailored to each platform's quirks.

Whether you're cancelling Freelancer because the membership fee no longer makes sense or you've found a better platform, Stopee empowers you with the knowledge to exit without confusion, unnecessary delays, or hidden charges. You deserve transparency, and Stopee is committed to delivering exactly that.

If you encounter any resistance from Freelancer after following these steps, Stopee recommends documenting all communication and escalating to your provincial consumer protection authority. You have legal rights as a Canadian consumer, and Stopee stands beside you in exercising them.