How to cancel your Freelancer.com account and reclaim unused credit

Understanding Freelancer.com and why you might cancel

Freelancer.com is a global marketplace where employers post projects and freelancers bid to win work. You can hire contractors for one-off tasks, run design contests, or manage ongoing team members. The platform charges membership fees for upgraded access, project promotion add-ons, and advanced bidding features.

Many New Zealand users subscribe to Freelancer.com to find contractors or secure freelance income. However, you might cancel if membership fees no longer justify your usage, if alternative platforms better suit your needs, or if you want to reduce recurring subscription costs. Whatever your reason, Yafee has helped thousands of consumers understand their cancellation rights and execute clean exits from digital services.

When cancellation makes financial sense

You should consider cancelling if you are not actively bidding or hiring, if you prefer competitor platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or if monthly fees erode your project margins without delivering qualified leads. Cancelling stops future charges immediately while preserving your account history, project records, and messages-a clean break without data loss.

What you retain after cancellation

Your profile, past projects, client feedback, and message history remain on Freelancer.com even after you cancel. You simply lose access to paid features like priority bidding, featured project listings, and contest upgrades. Any unused credits in your account balance may be withdrawn or refunded within specified timeframes, subject to Freelancer.com's terms.

Freelancer.com membership plans and pricing in NZD

Freelancer.com offers tiered memberships and à la carte upgrades with varying costs depending on your subscription plan and billing cycle.

Current membership and upgrade costs

How membership billing works

Membership costs accumulate quickly if you renew monthly. Annual plans typically offer better value but commit you to 12 months of charges. Before you cancel, check your account settings to understand exactly what you are being charged and when your next renewal date falls. This clarity protects you from surprise charges after cancellation.

Your consumer rights under new zealand law

Your right to cancel a digital service subscription is protected by the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and the Fair Trading Act 1986, which apply to all services supplied to New Zealand consumers.

What the law guarantees you

Under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, Freelancer.com must deliver services with due care and skill. If you have paid for a service you no longer use, you have the right to cancel future recurring charges. The platform must also act in good faith when processing refunds of unused credit. If Freelancer.com fails to honour your cancellation request or refuses to refund legitimate unused balance, the Commerce Commission is the enforcement body you can escalate to.

Your legal position on cancellation

You have an unambiguous right to cancel your membership at any time. Freelancer.com cannot force you to complete a billing cycle or impose unreasonable penalties for early termination. If the company charges you after you have submitted a valid cancellation request, you can dispute the charge with your bank or card issuer. Yafee recommends keeping screenshots of your cancellation confirmation and any subsequent billing records as evidence should you need to escalate a dispute.

How to cancel via the Freelancer.com website

The web platform offers the quickest and most reliable cancellation route, taking under five minutes to complete.

Step 1: log in to your account

Open Freelancer.com in your browser and enter your email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password" link on the login page to reset it via email.

Step 2: navigate to account settings

Once logged in, click your profile icon or avatar in the top right corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will appear. Select Settings from this menu.

Step 3: access your membership tab

In the left sidebar of your account settings, locate and click the Membership tab. This page displays all active subscriptions and upgrade services tied to your account.

Step 4: cancel your active membership

Locate your active membership plan on the Membership page. Next to it, you will see a Cancel button or Manage link. Click this button to initiate cancellation.

• If no cancel button appears, your membership may have already expired or you may hold a legacy plan. Contact Freelancer.com support directly at [email protected] to confirm your status.
• Freelancer.com will ask you to confirm your cancellation and may offer a retention discount. You can accept or decline this offer; accepting does not waive your cancellation request unless you explicitly re-subscribe.

Step 5: confirm cancellation

Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your cancellation. Freelancer.com will display a confirmation message and send an email to your registered address. Save this email for your records. Your membership will stop renewing at your next billing date; existing active projects or contests are unaffected if you are currently a project owner or contest runner.

Cancelling through apple app store or google play

If you subscribed via a mobile app, you must cancel through the app store where the subscription originated, not through Freelancer.com directly.

Cancel via apple app store (iOS)

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Navigate to Apple ID (your name at the top) and select Subscriptions. Find Freelancer.com in the list and tap it. Select Cancel Subscription and confirm your choice. Apple will send you a cancellation confirmation email. Your membership will stop renewing on your next billing date.

Cancel via google play (Android)

Open the Google Play Store app on your Android device. Tap your profile icon in the top right, then select Manage subscriptions. Find Freelancer.com and tap it. Select Cancel subscription and follow the prompts to confirm. Google will email you a confirmation. Your membership will cease at your next renewal date.

Understanding refunds and unused credit

Freelancer.com's refund policy depends on how much of your current billing cycle remains and the specific terms attached to your account tier.

Refund eligibility and timelines

If you cancel mid-cycle, Freelancer.com typically does not issue pro-rata refunds for the unused portion of your membership subscription. However, you may request a one-time courtesy refund within 14 days of cancellation by emailing [email protected]. Include your account email, cancellation date, and the amount you wish to reclaim. Freelancer.com will review your request and respond within 5 to 7 working days.

Unused project credits (such as featured listing upgrade balances) are handled separately. You can withdraw these credits to your registered payment method or request conversion to account balance. Navigate to your Billing section in account settings to manage credit withdrawal.

If Freelancer.com refuses your refund

If Freelancer.com declines your refund request and you believe you have a legitimate claim, contact the Commerce Commission. The Commission enforces consumer rights across New Zealand and can compel the company to honour valid refund claims if it determines the company has breached the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Yafee recommends submitting your claim with supporting evidence: emails from Freelancer.com support, screenshots of your account balance, and a record of cancellation confirmation.

What happens after you cancel

Cancellation is not instantaneous; your membership will remain active until the end of your current billing cycle, then stop renewing automatically. Your account and all historical data remain accessible for reference and dispute resolution.

Access and data after cancellation

You retain full read-only access to your profile, messages, project history, and client feedback indefinitely after cancellation. You cannot post new projects or bid on work without reactivating a membership, but you can still download your project files, export messages, and review past ratings. If you need to preserve specific account data before cancellation, download any contracts, invoices, or correspondence from your Messages and Projects sections.

Reactivation and returning to the platform

You can resubscribe to Freelancer.com at any time by logging into your existing account and selecting a membership plan from the Membership tab. Your old profile and history will be restored; no new account is required. Pricing may have changed since your previous subscription, so review current rates before reactivating.

Common mistakes to avoid when cancelling

Cancellation is straightforward, but a few common missteps can delay your exit or create billing disputes. Yafee has guided hundreds of New Zealand users through these pitfalls, and we want to help you avoid them too.

Not confirming cancellation in writing

After you cancel via the website or app store, Freelancer.com sends a confirmation email. Do not delete or archive this email. Store it in a dedicated folder or print it; you will need it if a charge appears on your account after cancellation. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 2 hours of cancelling, contact support to verify the cancellation was processed.

Cancelling via the app store but not updating payment information

If you subscribed via Apple App Store or Google Play, cancelling on the web platform will not stop app store charges. You must cancel through the app store itself. Conversely, if you initially subscribed on the web and later added an app store payment method, ensure you cancel the web subscription; app store and web subscriptions are separate billing streams.

Overlooking project credits and account balance

Before you cancel, check whether you have unused project upgrade credits or account balance. These do not automatically refund when your membership ends. You must manually request withdrawal or conversion in your Billing section. Any unclaimed credit may be forfeited after 12 months of account inactivity.

Failing to capture cancellation proof before account issues arise

Screenshot your confirmation email, the date and time of cancellation, and your current account status. If you later dispute a charge with your bank, this evidence strengthens your claim and accelerates resolution. Yafee advises storing these documents for at least 6 months after cancellation.

Comparing Freelancer.com with alternative platforms

Before you cancel, consider whether an alternative platform better suits your freelancing or hiring needs.

Platform comparison

Making the switch

If you are moving to a new platform, complete all active projects on Freelancer.com before your membership expires. Notify clients of your new contact details in your final messages; transfer any ongoing relationships off-platform to avoid losing future work. Export your portfolio and client testimonials from Freelancer.com and upload them to your new profile on your chosen platform to maintain credibility and past performance ratings.

Escalation steps if cancellation is refused

If Freelancer.com fails to process your cancellation request or continues charging after you have submitted a valid cancellation, escalate your complaint through formal channels.

Step 1: request written confirmation from support

Email [email protected] with the subject line "Cancellation Confirmation Request." State your account email, the date you submitted your cancellation request, and ask for written confirmation that your membership has been cancelled and no future charges will occur. Request a response within 5 working days.

Step 2: dispute the charge with your bank

If Freelancer.com charges you after your cancellation date, contact your bank or card issuer immediately. Report the charge as unauthorized and provide your cancellation confirmation email and correspondence with Freelancer.com support. Your bank can reverse the charge and investigate whether Freelancer.com violated your cancellation request. This process typically takes 10 to 15 working days.

Step 3: lodge a complaint with the commerce commission

If your bank dispute is unsuccessful and Freelancer.com refuses to refund the erroneous charge, file a formal complaint with the Commerce Commission. Visit www.comcom.govt.nz and select "Make a complaint." Provide your account details, cancellation date, evidence of cancellation requests, and copies of all correspondence with Freelancer.com support. The Commission will investigate at no cost to you. Include a statement explaining the financial impact and whether you believe the company breached the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

Checklist for a safe and complete cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you have addressed every step before finalizing your exit from Freelancer.com.

• Log into your Freelancer.com account and verify your current membership plan and next renewal date
• Check your account balance and project credits; withdraw or convert unused balance to your payment method
• Download or screenshot any important project files, contracts, or correspondence before cancelling
• Complete or formally close all active projects and notify clients of your departure
• Cancel your membership via the web platform (Settings > Membership > Cancel) or via the app store where you subscribed
• Save the cancellation confirmation email to a secure folder; do not delete it for at least 6 months
• Monitor your bank or credit card statement for the next 30 days to ensure no charges appear after your cancellation date
• If a post-cancellation charge appears, dispute it with your bank within 60 days of the transaction
• If your bank dispute fails, lodge a complaint with the Commerce Commission within 1 year of the erroneous charge
• Export your profile summary and client testimonials for use on alternative platforms

Contacting Freelancer.com and escalation details

Freelancer.com does not maintain a dedicated postal address in New Zealand; all correspondence is handled through its Sydney, Australia registered office. Direct all cancellation and refund inquiries to the support email listed below. Yafee recommends sending emails via registered mail (with read receipt enabled) to create a verifiable record of your communication attempt.

Support contact information

Email: [email protected]

Response timeframe: Freelancer.com typically responds to support inquiries within 5 to 7 working days. If you do not receive a response within 10 working days, escalate to the Commerce Commission.

Commerce Commission complaint portal: www.comcom.govt.nz

Commerce Commission contact: The Commission accepts complaints via its online portal or by post at 44 The Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. Complaints submitted online are processed faster.

Final steps and next actions

Cancelling your Freelancer.com membership is a straightforward process that takes fewer than 5 minutes to initiate. Your account data remains intact, and you retain access to your project history and client feedback indefinitely. If you are moving to a competing platform, use the comparison table above to identify which service aligns with your freelancing or hiring goals.

Remember that your right to cancel is protected by New Zealand consumer law. Freelancer.com cannot impose penalties or withhold refunds of unused credit without breaching the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. If the company refuses to honour your cancellation or continues charging you after you have submitted a valid request, escalate immediately to the Commerce Commission.

Yafee has helped thousands of New Zealand consumers navigate digital service cancellations, dispute unauthorized charges, and recover unused balances. Our step-by-step guides and legal resources are designed to simplify the process and ensure you understand your rights every step of the way. For additional guidance on cancelling other digital services or disputing billing issues, visit Yafee.com today and take control of your subscriptions with confidence.