When did Upwork discontinue RSS feeds?

Upwork officially discontinued RSS and Atom feed functionality on August 20, 2024. Users received email notification on August 6, 2024, giving approximately two weeks to adjust their workflows.

Will Upwork ever bring back RSS feeds?

As of February 2026, there is no indication that Upwork plans to restore RSS feeds. The company has committed to this direction as part of a broader modernization strategy, with any future notification systems likely being proprietary and controlled entirely by Upwork.

What did Upwork recommend as an alternative to RSS feeds?

Upwork's only official recommendation was to use its native 'saved searches' feature. However, this lacks the automation and real-time notification capabilities that RSS provided, making it inadequate for freelancers who relied on automated job discovery.

Can I still use web scraping to get Upwork jobs?

While some community members have developed workarounds using web scraping tools like Apify combined with Make.com, these approaches carry significant risk. They often violate Upwork's terms of service and can result in account suspension.

What are the best Upwork RSS feed alternatives in 2026?

Several third-party services have emerged to fill the gap, including FreelanceFilter (AI-powered matching with webhooks), Boostlancer, UpHunt, UpNotify, and Vollna. These tools offer real-time job alerts and advanced filtering, though they typically require a subscription.

Why did Upwork remove RSS feeds?

Upwork cited multiple reasons: modernization strategy (classifying RSS as 'outdated'), platform fairness concerns (automated users gained unfair advantages), reducing automated spam proposals, and maintaining stricter control over data access and platform governance.

How did RSS feeds give freelancers an advantage?

RSS feeds allowed freelancers to integrate with automation tools like Zapier and receive instant notifications about new jobs. This enabled some users to apply within minutes of a job posting—often before other freelancers even saw the listing—creating a significant competitive advantage.

Are there any benefits to Upwork removing RSS feeds?

Ironically, yes. With fewer automated bot proposals flooding job postings, skilled freelancers who submit thoughtful, personalized proposals now face less competition. Clients see less spam, and quality proposals get better visibility. It encourages a more human-centered approach to job hunting.

Home/Upwork RSS Feed Discontinued

Official Discontinuation: August 20, 2024

Upwork Discontinued RSS/Atom Feeds: What Happened & What to Do Now

Upwork officially discontinued RSS and Atom feed functionality on August 20, 2024. The company announced the change on August 6, 2024, characterizing RSS feeds as "outdated functionality" and directing users to its native "saved searches" feature as a replacement.

This guide covers why Upwork made this decision, how it impacted the freelancer community, and the best alternatives available in 2026 for freelancers who relied on automated job discovery.

Aug 2024

Discontinued

~2 Weeks

Notice Given

Never

Restoration Expected

5+ Tools

Alternatives

Timeline: How the Discontinuation Unfolded

August 6, 2024

Upwork sends email notification to users about RSS discontinuation

August 20, 2024

RSS and Atom feeds officially discontinued

Late 2024

Third-party alternatives rapidly emerge to fill the gap

2025-2026

Ecosystem of paid tools matures; no restoration of RSS expected

Why Did Upwork Discontinue RSS Feeds?

Modernization Strategy

Upwork characterized RSS as 'outdated functionality' that lacks modern features like multimedia support and personalization.

Platform Fairness

RSS feeds gave automated users an unfair competitive advantage, allowing them to apply within minutes of job postings.

Reducing Automated Spam

Clients reported being inundated with low-quality, AI-generated proposals from bots leveraging RSS feeds.

Platform Control

Discontinuation allows Upwork to maintain stricter control over how data is accessed, preventing unauthorized integrations.

"Beginning August 20, Upwork would no longer support RSS feeds. Users were encouraged to migrate to Upwork's native 'saved searches' job feed feature."

— Upwork Official Email, August 6, 2024

Who Was Most Affected?

Freelancers relying on automation

Lost real-time job notifications without constantly visiting the platform

SaaS companies built around RSS

Services like Pouncer.AI and Leapfrog Leads had to pivot their entire business models

Agencies and teams

Lost centralized job tracking via Trello boards, Discord bots, and Zapier automations

Power users

Those who had optimized their job search through advanced filtering and custom notifications lost years of workflow investment

Upwork RSS Feed Alternatives Compared (2026)

A robust ecosystem of third-party alternatives has emerged since the discontinuation. Here's how they compare:

Solution	Pricing	Best For
FreelanceFilterRecommended	Free Starter / $37/mo	Serious freelancers wanting a stable RSS feed with good filters
Upwork Saved Searches	Free	Casual users with no automation needs
Vollna	$20/mo	Pure RSS feed replacement
UpHunt	$9/mo	Basic notifications
Web Scraping (DIY)	Variable	Technical users (risky—may violate ToS)

The Silver Lining for Freelancers

Interestingly, some in the freelance community have identified unexpected benefits from the RSS discontinuation:

Fewer automated bot proposals = less competition for skilled freelancers
Clients see less spam, giving quality proposals better visibility
Encourages a more human-centered approach to job hunting
Thoughtful, personalized proposals now stand out more than ever

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for an Upwork RSS Feed Alternative?

FreelanceFilter delivers everything RSS feeds offered—and more. Get real-time job alerts with AI matching, webhook integrations, and advanced filtering. No more manual searching.

Last updated: February 2026 • Written by the FreelanceFilter Team