Understanding How Upwork Tracks Hours

Introduction

Upwork provides a simple and effective way of tracking time for hourly contracts through an application called the Upwork Desktop App. The application takes screenshots randomly, approximately every 10 minutes, and uploads them to your work diary. This allows tracking of logged hours and builds trust by providing visual proof of work done.

Key Highlights

• Random Screenshots: The app takes screenshots in 10 minutes slots six times an hour which gives you and your client a visual record of what you were doing.
• Activity Levels: It measures keystroke and click activity during billing segments to indicate activity level. The activity levels do not necessarily relate to productivity, but it provides a ballpark indication of your involvement during the period.
• Manual Time: Upwork also allows freelancers to manually log time if the client agrees. Manual time is not protected by Upwork Hourly Protection.
• Detailed Work Diary: It maintains a detailed work diary for transparency, showing a breakdown of hours, activity level, and work accomplished.

Important Note

Using the Upwork Desktop App is not a requirement for all hourly contracts; however, it is needed for those contracts that include Upwork Hourly Protection. Remember to discuss this with your client ahead of time to ensure a crystal-clear understanding of how hours tracking will occur.