Client rating

Upwork changed the form in 2026: freelancers now leave "a single overall 5-star rating" instead of rating the client across several categories, and any private note left for the client is now visible in the client's contract workroom. The job post shows the client's average and how many reviews it rests on. Upwork does not publish how the average is weighted.

The rules behind the number. A freelancer has 14 days from the contract end date to leave feedback, and the window closes at midnight UTC on the 14th day. Feedback is double-blind: the client cannot see it until both sides have submitted or the 14 days have passed. A freelancer who misses the window can only add feedback if the client reopens it. Offering or accepting anything in exchange for good feedback, or trading ratings with others, is against the Terms of Service.

Reading it. A rating built on a couple of reviews says little; one built on dozens says a lot. A client with no rating at all is usually new, or has contracts that ended without feedback. Read the written client reviews under the post for the reasons behind a low score, and remember the rating is about past freelancers' experience, not about whether this job is real; payment verified and hire rate answer that.

How Upsight uses it. A campaign's Reputation section sets a minimum rating and a minimum number of reviews, and decides whether clients with no reviews yet still pass. The suitability scorer is shown the rating and the review count with the rest of the client's record.