Manage Freelancer.Com

How to cancel freelancer.com and reclaim your subscription in singapore

What is freelancer.com and why you might cancel

Freelancer.com is an online marketplace that connects you with freelance professionals globally for projects spanning design, writing, programming, digital marketing and beyond. The platform operates through membership tiers, bidding systems, milestone payments and project contests, allowing you to hire talent or offer your own services to businesses worldwide.

The Singapore office at 1 Harbourfront Avenue is your local registered entity (Freelancer.com Pte. Ltd.), though the company's global headquarters sit in Australia. For cancellation disputes or escalations, knowing both addresses matters.

You might cancel for several legitimate reasons: your project is complete, you found a dedicated team, the platform fees no longer align with your budget, or you simply prefer a different freelancer marketplace. Whatever your reason, Stopee is here to guide you through the cancellation process step-by-step and help you understand your consumer rights in Singapore.

Core services and membership structure

Freelancer.com offers tiered membership plans (Basic, Plus, Premium and higher) that unlock additional bids per month, skill listings, contest entries and client engagement tools. You pay in Singapore Dollars (SGD), and memberships renew automatically unless you cancel before the billing cycle ends.

The platform also accepts deposits for employer projects, milestone payments held in escrow, and one-time verification badge fees. Each payment type carries different refund conditions, which we address in detail below.

When cancellation makes sense

Cancel your Freelancer.com membership if you no longer need the extra bids and features, if the subscription cost exceeds your project frequency, or if you've shifted to direct client relationships outside the platform. Stopee recommends reviewing your actual usage and ROI before cancelling - sometimes a downgrade to a lower plan is smarter than full cancellation.

Your consumer rights when cancelling in singapore

Singapore's Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act protects you when transacting with digital services, including subscription platforms.

What singapore law covers

Under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, you have the right to clear, accurate information about charges, billing cycles and cancellation terms before you subscribe. Freelancer.com must disclose its refund policy prominently, and you retain the right to dispute unauthorised or misleading charges through your payment provider or the PDPC (Personal Data Protection Commission).

Importantly, Singapore does not enforce an automatic 14-day cooling-off period for digital services once delivery begins - unlike some European jurisdictions. This means Freelancer.com's "no refund" policy on membership fees is legally enforceable, though you can always escalate disputed charges with your bank or credit card issuer.

Escalation routes if freelancer.com refuses to help

If Freelancer.com ignores your cancellation request or continues charging you after cancellation, contact the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) or escalate via your payment provider's dispute resolution process. Stopee advises documenting all cancellation attempts (screenshots, dates, email references) before escalating - evidence strengthens your case significantly.

For persistent billing errors, contact your bank's disputes team and file a chargeback if necessary. Most credit card issuers in Singapore reverse charges within 30-45 days if you provide proof of cancellation.

Pricing and membership plans

Understanding what you're paying for helps you decide whether cancellation or downgrade is the better choice for your situation.

Current membership pricing in singapore

If you're cancelling because the membership no longer suits your workload, consider downgrading to a lower tier instead - you'll keep your account active while cutting costs substantially.

How to cancel freelancer.com on the web

Cancelling your membership directly on the Freelancer.com website is the fastest and most transparent method; it takes approximately 3-5 minutes.

Step-by-step cancellation via desktop or mobile browser

1. Log in to your Freelancer.com account at freelancer.com using your email and password.
2. Navigate to your account settings by clicking the profile icon (top-right corner) and selecting "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
3. Click the "Membership" tab on the left sidebar.
4. Locate your current membership plan and click the "Cancel" button next to it.
   • The button may appear as "Cancel membership", "Downgrade" or "Change plan" depending on your current tier.
5. Select a reason for cancellation from the dropdown (optional but helpful for feedback).
6. Confirm your cancellation in the popup dialog.
   • You will receive an on-screen confirmation message immediately.
   • Check your email for a cancellation confirmation within 5-10 minutes.
7. Your membership benefits remain active until the end of your current billing period; no immediate loss of access occurs.
   • Pro tip: Cancel on the first day of your billing cycle if possible to minimise unused subscription days.

Stopee strongly recommends taking a screenshot of the confirmation page and saving the confirmation email - these act as proof if Freelancer.com continues billing after cancellation.

Accessing freelancer.com's official help article

For visual step-by-step screenshots, visit Freelancer.com's official help article: "How do I cancel or downgrade my membership plan?" on their support portal. This resource also covers downgrade options if you wish to retain a lower membership tier.

How to cancel through mobile app stores

If you subscribed to Freelancer.com via the Apple App Store or Google Play, you must cancel through those platforms, not through Freelancer.com directly.

Cancelling an iOS (Apple app store) subscription

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Select "Subscriptions".
4. Find and tap "Freelancer.com" in the list.
5. Tap "Cancel Subscription" (or "Edit Subscription" then "Cancel").
   • Apple may show a cancellation reason dialog; select any option that applies.
6. Confirm the cancellation when prompted.
   • You receive immediate on-screen confirmation.
   • Apple sends a confirmation email to your associated Apple ID address within minutes.
7. Your subscription benefits remain active until the renewal date; after that, they terminate automatically.

Warning: Deleting the Freelancer.com app from your phone does not cancel the subscription - you must cancel through Settings Subscriptions or the subscription will auto-renew on your next billing date.

Cancelling an android (Google play) subscription

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Tap your profile icon (top-right corner).
3. Select "Manage subscriptions".
4. Locate "Freelancer.com" and tap it.
5. Tap "Cancel subscription".
   • Google Play may ask for cancellation feedback; this is optional.
6. Confirm the cancellation on the next screen.
   • Google sends a confirmation email to your registered Google account within 5-10 minutes.
7. Your membership continues until the end of the current billing period; no immediate access loss occurs.

Pro tip: If you subscribed via both the app store and the web, you may have two separate active subscriptions. Check both your app store subscription settings and your Freelancer.com account Settings Membership tab to confirm - you'll need to cancel each independently.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation is not instantaneous; understanding the post-cancellation timeline helps you avoid unwanted surprises.

Your access and benefits during the grace period

Cancellation stops future recurring charges but does not immediately strip your membership benefits. You retain full access to all paid features (bids, skill slots, priority support, contest entries, etc.) until the end of your current billing period.

If you cancel mid-cycle on, say, the 15th of a monthly billing period, your membership remains active until the last day of that month. Freelancer.com does not offer pro-rata refunds for the unused portion of your cycle.

Your account, profile and data post-cancellation

Cancelling your membership does not delete your account. Your profile, project history, messages, ratings and portfolio remain on Freelancer.com unless you separately request full account deletion.

After your billing period ends, your membership reverts to the free/basic access level - you can still use the platform, but with severely limited bids, skill listings and contest entries. Stopee suggests reviewing the free tier features on Freelancer.com before cancelling if you wish to maintain minimal platform activity.

Auto-renewal halts after cancellation

Once your current billing cycle expires, Freelancer.com will not auto-renew your membership. You will not be charged again unless you manually reactivate or upgrade to a paid plan in the future.

Some users re-subscribe after months or years; Freelancer.com typically restores your old profile and history without penalty.

Refunds and unused fees

Refund eligibility depends on what you paid for - membership, deposits or verification badges carry different rules.

Membership fee refunds

Freelancer.com does not issue automatic refunds for membership fees once your subscription begins. Singapore law does not mandate a 14-day cooling-off period for digital services already delivered, so the company's no-refund stance is legally valid.

However, you can request a discretionary refund if you believe you were billed in error or if you cancelled within hours of subscription. Contact Freelancer.com support with proof (screenshots, transaction ID) and your reasoning - some agents approve partial refunds on a case-by-case basis, though there is no guarantee.

Project deposit refunds

Unused deposits (funds you loaded but did not allocate to freelancer payments or contests) may be refundable if you submit a formal request. Freelancer.com reviews each request individually.

• PayPal deposits: Generally refundable up to 12 months after the original transaction date.
• Credit card deposits: Usually refundable within 6-12 months, depending on your card issuer's policies.
• Verification badge fees (Freelancer Verified program): Entirely non-refundable under all circumstances - this is a one-time identity verification service with permanent platform value.

To request a deposit refund, navigate to Freelancer.com's help article "Refunding my deposit" on their support portal and follow the submission steps.

Refund timelines and payment method impact

If Freelancer.com approves a refund, processing timelines vary by payment method. PayPal refunds appear within 3-5 business days; credit card refunds post within 5-10 business days but may take longer to show in your statement depending on your bank.

Stopee advises checking your bank statement 10-14 days after approval to confirm the refund has posted. If it hasn't appeared, contact your bank's disputes team - they can trace the refund and apply manual credits if the merchant failed to process it.

Common mistakes when cancelling

Cancelling feels straightforward, but small oversights can lead to continued billing or missed refund opportunities - and that frustration is entirely avoidable.

Mistake 1: confusing app deletion with subscription cancellation

Deleting the Freelancer.com app from your phone or clearing your browser cookies does not cancel your subscription. Your membership will auto-renew on the next billing date, and you'll be charged the full amount to your original payment method.

Always cancel through Settings Subscriptions (iOS) or Manage Subscriptions (Android) before removing the app.

Mistake 2: cancelling only the web membership when you have an app store subscription

If you subscribed via the App Store or Google Play, cancelling your web account membership leaves your app subscription active and billing. You must cancel the app subscription independently through the respective app store.

Pro tip: Log into both your Freelancer.com account and your app store subscription settings to verify which subscriptions are active before cancelling.

Mistake 3: not capturing cancellation proof

Freelancer.com's servers are reliable, but disputes happen. Screenshot the cancellation confirmation page and save the confirmation email - these become essential evidence if the company continues charging you after cancellation.

Stopee recommends creating a dedicated folder on your computer or phone for all cancellation receipts, in case you need to file a chargeback or dispute with your bank.

Mistake 4: requesting a refund without knowing the refund policy

Many users cancel and immediately demand a full refund, unaware that membership fees are non-refundable in Singapore. Refund requests come across as uninformed and damage your credibility with support agents.

Before contacting support, read Freelancer.com's official refund policy and only request refunds for legitimately refundable items (unused deposits, verification errors). This approach yields far better outcomes.

Mistake 5: waiting until the last day to cancel

If you cancel on the final day of your billing cycle, you've paid for a full month and used nearly all of it - no refund applies. Cancel on the first day of your cycle whenever possible to maximise the active-benefit period you still need.

Comparing freelancer.com with alternatives

Before you cancel, consider whether a competing platform might serve you better, or whether downgrading to a lower Freelancer.com tier solves the problem more cheaply.

Key differences between freelancer platforms

If you're cancelling due to high costs, downgrading to Freelancer.com's Basic plan costs just S$7.95/month and preserves your account and rating. If the platform itself doesn't suit your workflow, Stopee recommends trialling a competitor's free tier before fully committing to cancellation.

Checklist before and after cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you've completed every critical step and won't face unwanted surprises post-cancellation.

Pre-cancellation checklist

• Review your Freelancer.com membership tier and pricing to confirm you understand the monthly charge.
• Check your project pipeline - ensure no active projects depend on your current bid allowance or membership features.
• Withdraw any unused deposits to your bank or PayPal account (or request a refund before cancellation).
• Resolve any open disputes or milestone payments with freelancers - cancelling does not affect active projects, but future bidding becomes limited.
• Decide whether downgrading to a lower tier makes more sense than full cancellation.
• Download or screenshot any project files, contracts or communications you may need later.

During-cancellation checklist

• Log in to your Freelancer.com account (web or app, depending on your subscription source).
• Navigate to the correct cancellation location (Settings Membership for web, app store Subscriptions for iOS/Android).
• Click "Cancel" and confirm the reason for cancellation.
• Take a screenshot of the on-screen confirmation message.
• Note the current date and exact time of cancellation.

Post-cancellation checklist

• Save the confirmation email from Freelancer.com (or Apple/Google) to a dedicated folder.
• Check your email 5-10 minutes after cancellation to confirm the confirmation message has arrived.
• Mark your calendar with your next would-be billing date (this is the last day your membership remains active).
• Wait 24 hours, then log back into your Freelancer.com account to confirm cancellation was processed.
• Monitor your bank or credit card statement on the next billing cycle to ensure no charge appears.
• If a charge does appear after cancellation, contact your bank immediately to file a dispute or chargeback.
• Contact Freelancer.com support if the charge persists, providing your cancellation confirmation as evidence.

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions safely and recover unauthorized charges through systematic documentation - following this checklist puts you in the strongest possible position if disputes arise.

Contact and escalation information

If Freelancer.com refuses to cancel your membership or continues billing after cancellation, you have several escalation routes.

Freelancer.com contact details

Singapore office (local entity): Freelancer.com Pte. Ltd., 1 Harbourfront Avenue, Keppel Bay Tower, Singapore 098633.

Global headquarters (escalation): Freelancer Pty Ltd, Unit 3, 72 O'Riordan Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015, Australia.

Support portal: Visit my.freelancer.com/support and submit a ticket under "Membership" for cancellation-related issues.

Email escalation: If your support ticket receives no response within 7 days, escalate to Freelancer.com's management via their main contact form or request the escalation email address in your initial ticket.

If freelancer.com does not resolve your issue

Contact the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) at case.org.sg or phone 6100 0315. CASE mediates disputes between consumers and merchants at no cost and can compel companies to respond formally.

Alternatively, file a chargeback through your credit card issuer or bank's disputes team - most will reverse charges within 30-45 days if you provide proof of cancellation and evidence that billing continued.

Stopee strongly encourages you to exhaust direct communication with Freelancer.com (7-10 days) before escalating to regulatory bodies - most companies resolve billing issues quickly once they understand your position is documented and serious.

Final checklist and summary

Cancelling Freelancer.com is straightforward if you follow the correct steps for your subscription source (web, iOS or Android), document your cancellation, and understand that membership fees are non-refundable in Singapore unless you meet rare exceptions.

Whether you're leaving because you've completed your projects, found a dedicated team, or simply prefer another platform, Stopee is here to support your cancellation journey. Our step-by-step guides and consumer protection insights empower you to cancel with confidence, protect your financial interests and escalate disputes if needed.

Visit Stopee at stopee.com to find cancellation guides for thousands of other subscriptions and services - we help you take control of your recurring charges and reclaim peace of mind every billing cycle.