Manage Freelancer

How to cancel your freelancer membership and stop unwanted charges

Understanding freelancer and why you might want to cancel

Freelancer is an online marketplace that connects clients with freelancers for project-based work across design, writing, programming, and dozens of other categories. The platform operates globally and in Singapore under Freelancer Limited, offering membership tiers that provide bidding allowances, visibility features, and project management tools billed monthly or annually in SGD.

Many users in Singapore subscribe to Freelancer memberships to unlock premium bidding capacity or gain visibility among potential clients. However, if you've finished your projects, found work elsewhere, or simply don't use the platform enough to justify the monthly cost, cancelling your subscription is straightforward once you know the steps.

When cancellation makes sense

You should cancel if you're no longer actively bidding on projects, you've secured long-term clients outside the platform, or you feel the monthly membership fee (ranging from S$7.95 to S$29.95) no longer delivers value. Cancellation stops automatic renewal, so you won't be charged after your current billing period ends.

What you need to know before you start

Cancelling your Freelancer membership is different from closing your entire account. When you cancel a subscription, you retain access to all paid features until your current billing period expires, but you won't be renewed. Your account profile, work history, and portfolio remain intact. If you want complete account deletion or data removal, that requires a separate request to Freelancer support.

How to cancel your freelancer membership

Freelancer offers multiple subscription entry points, and your cancellation method depends on where you purchased your membership. The most straightforward cancellations happen directly on the Freelancer.com website, but if you subscribed through Google Play or the Apple App Store, you'll cancel through those platforms instead.

Cancel a web subscription on freelancer.com

This is the fastest cancellation route if you subscribed directly on Freelancer's website using a credit card or PayPal. Here's exactly what to do:

1. Sign in to your Freelancer account at freelancer.sg using your email and password.
2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Navigate to the Membership tab on the left-hand menu.
4. Locate your active membership plan and click Cancel Membership or Manage Subscription.
5. Review the cancellation summary, which confirms your current plan and billing date.
6. Click Confirm Cancellation to finalize.

Pro tip: After cancelling, Freelancer sends a confirmation email to your registered address. Keep this email as proof of cancellation in case you're charged again by mistake.

Warning: Cancellation stops future renewals but does not instantly refund your current billing period. You keep all membership benefits (bids, visibility, features) until your paid period naturally expires.

Cancel subscriptions purchased through google play

If you subscribed to Freelancer via the Google Play Store on an Android device, you must cancel through Google Play itself. Freelancer cannot process this cancellation for you from their website.

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Payments and subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
4. Find and tap Freelancer in your active subscriptions list.
5. Tap Cancel subscription.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts and confirm the cancellation.

Pro tip: Google Play often offers a brief pause option before you cancel. If you're unsure, pausing for a month may be worth trying first.

Cancel subscriptions purchased through the apple app store

If you bought your Freelancer membership through Apple's App Store on iPhone or iPad, you'll cancel via your Apple ID settings. Freelancer.com does not manage App Store subscriptions.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top, then select Subscriptions.
3. Find Freelancer in your active subscriptions.
4. Tap Freelancer and select Cancel Subscription.
5. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.

Warning: Apple processes cancellations immediately, but your paid period remains active until its natural expiration date. You'll see the end date clearly displayed before you confirm cancellation.

What happens after you cancel your freelancer membership

Understanding the post-cancellation timeline helps you manage your account effectively and avoid confusion about access and charges.

Your access and benefits after cancellation

After you cancel, your paid membership benefits remain fully active until your current billing period ends. If you purchased a monthly plan on the 15th of the month, you keep your bids, visibility features, and all premium tools until the 14th of the next month. You can continue to use these features without restriction during this period.

Once your billing period expires, your account automatically downgrades to a free tier. At that point, you lose access to premium bidding allowances and visibility features, though you retain your profile, portfolio, and work history indefinitely.

Your data and account status

Cancelling a subscription does not delete your Freelancer account or remove any of your data. Your profile, completed projects, client ratings, and portfolio all remain visible and accessible. If you want to permanently close your account and request data removal, you'll need to contact Freelancer support separately and follow their account closure procedures.

Stopping unwanted charges

The single most important thing to verify is that cancellation stops future automatic renewals. Log back into your account 24 hours after cancellation and revisit the Membership section under Settings. It should now show No active membership or a clear statement that your subscription will not renew. If you see any indication of a future charge, contact Freelancer support immediately.

Refunds and your consumer rights in singapore

Refund rights for digital subscriptions are limited in Singapore, but you have important protections under consumer law that Freelancer must respect.

General refund policy for membership cancellations

Freelancer.com does not automatically offer a 14-day cooling-off period or money-back guarantee for digital subscription services like memberships. Once you pay for a monthly or annual plan, that payment is generally non-refundable unless you meet specific exceptions.

However, if Freelancer continues to charge you after you've cancelled, or if you can demonstrate that you were misled about the cancellation process, you have grounds to dispute the charge through your payment provider (credit card, PayPal, etc.) or escalate to Singapore's consumer authority.

Refunds for deposited funds and unused credits

Freelancer operates an internal wallet system where clients and freelancers can deposit funds for projects and payments. These deposits are treated differently from membership subscriptions and may be refundable under certain conditions:

• PayPal deposits: Typically refundable within one year of deposit if unused.
• Credit card deposits: Generally refundable within 6 to 12 months if you request a withdrawal.
• Skrill, bank wire, or WebMoney deposits: These are typically non-refundable and must be withdrawn as active funds on the platform.

If you have unused deposited funds and want a refund, contact Freelancer support and request a deposit refund. They'll guide you through their process and time windows. Pro tip: Always check your deposit balance before cancelling your membership to ensure you don't leave money stranded on the platform.

Your consumer protection rights under singapore law

Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act protects you against misleading cancellation processes, aggressive billing, and deceptive practices. Under this law, Freelancer must:

• Provide a clear, accessible cancellation mechanism (which they do via Settings > Membership).
• Honor cancellation requests within a reasonable timeframe (typically within 48 hours).
• Stop billing you after cancellation is confirmed.
• Not make continued charges without explicit consent.

If Freelancer continues to charge you after cancellation or refuses to process your request, you can escalate to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) or file a dispute with your payment provider. Stopee has helped thousands of consumers navigate these disputes and recover unwanted charges.

Freelancer pricing and membership plans

Understanding Freelancer's pricing structure helps you decide whether cancellation is the right move and which plan might suit you if you choose to stay.

Current membership plans in singapore (SGD)

Annual plans consistently offer better value than monthly subscriptions. If you're unsure whether to cancel or downgrade, consider switching to the Basic monthly plan at S$7.95 for a trial period rather than cancelling entirely. This keeps your profile active and visible without committing to a higher cost.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling freelancer

Cancelling can feel stressful, especially if you're concerned about lingering charges. Here are the traps that catch most users and how to sidestep them:

Mistake 1: confusing subscription cancellation with account deletion

You can cancel your membership subscription and keep your account intact. Many users think cancelling automatically deletes their profile, portfolio, and work history. It doesn't. If you want full account closure and data removal, contact Freelancer support and explicitly request account deletion in writing.

Mistake 2: cancelling through the wrong platform

If you subscribed via Google Play or Apple, attempting to cancel on Freelancer.com won't work. You must cancel through the app store where you purchased it. Stopee recommends double-checking your original invoice or email receipt to confirm which platform processed your payment, then cancelling there.

Mistake 3: not verifying the cancellation in your account settings

After cancelling, many users assume they're done and don't follow up. Log back into Freelancer 24 hours later and check your Membership settings. It should confirm no active membership and no future renewal date. If it still shows a pending charge or active renewal, contact support immediately.

Mistake 4: forgetting about deposited funds

Cancelling your membership does not automatically refund or withdraw any money you've deposited in your Freelancer wallet. If you have unused credits, withdraw them or request a refund before cancelling, or you risk losing access to those funds.

Mistake 5: ignoring the confirmation email

Freelancer sends a cancellation confirmation email within hours of processing your request. If you don't receive it, your cancellation may not have gone through. Check your spam folder, then contact support with your account email and billing date. Stopee advises keeping this email for at least 12 months as proof of cancellation.

Your cancellation checklist

Use this step-by-step checklist to ensure you cancel correctly and protect yourself against unwanted charges:

• Review your current membership plan and billing date in Freelancer Settings > Membership.
• Confirm you subscribed directly on Freelancer.com or via Google Play / Apple App Store.
• Check your Freelancer wallet balance and withdraw or request refund of any unused deposited funds.
• Complete the cancellation process on the correct platform (website or app store).
• Save the cancellation confirmation email for your records.
• Log back into your account 24 hours later and verify no active membership appears.
• Monitor your payment method (credit card or PayPal) for any unexpected charges in the following month.
• If you're charged after cancellation, dispute the charge with your bank or payment provider within 30 days.

Escalation and consumer support

If Freelancer refuses to process your cancellation, continues charging you after cancellation, or won't refund disputed charges, you have formal channels to escalate your complaint.

First: contact freelancer support directly

Visit Freelancer's official support page and submit a ticket explaining your issue. Reference your account email, billing date, and the exact date you attempted cancellation. Give them 5 to 7 business days to respond. Most billing disputes are resolved at this stage if you have clear documentation.

Second: dispute the charge with your payment provider

If Freelancer won't cooperate, contact your bank or PayPal directly and dispute the charge. You have up to 30 days from the transaction date (in some cases, up to 60 days for PayPal). Explain that you cancelled the subscription and were charged anyway. Your payment provider will investigate and may reverse the charge.

Third: escalate to singapore's consumer authority

If you've exhausted Freelancer's support and your payment provider cannot resolve it, file a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE). Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, CASE can investigate unfair billing practices and help you recover wrongful charges. Stopee has supported many consumers through this process and can guide you on the specific details CASE requires.

Contact information for freelancer limited

For formal correspondence or official complaints regarding your Freelancer subscription, use the following registered address:

Freelancer Limited
Registered office: Suite 2, 72 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia

You can also reach Freelancer support via their official website at freelancer.sg. When contacting them, always reference your account email address, membership plan name, and the specific date you cancelled. Keep copies of all correspondence for your records.

Pro tip: For Singapore-based inquiries, you may find faster support by noting Singapore as your country in your support ticket. This helps route your request to agents familiar with Singapore billing practices and consumer law.

Summary: taking control of your freelancer account

Cancelling your Freelancer membership is simple once you know the correct process for your subscription type. Whether you subscribed on the website, Google Play, or Apple App Store, the steps are straightforward and take just minutes to complete. Remember that cancellation stops future charges but preserves your access until your current billing period ends, and your account profile remains active indefinitely.

The most critical steps are verifying your cancellation in your account settings 24 hours later, watching for unwanted charges on your payment method, and saving your confirmation email as proof. If you encounter resistance from Freelancer or continue to be charged despite cancelling, don't hesitate to dispute the charge with your bank or escalate to CASE under Singapore's consumer protection laws.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers navigate subscription cancellations and recover wrongful charges. Whether you're cancelling Freelancer or any other service, our guides and consumer resources are here to empower you with clear, actionable steps. Take back control of your subscriptions today and stop paying for services you no longer use.