What is Lancer?
Lancer connects to your Upwork account and bids for you automatically. It watches new jobs around the clock, decides which ones actually fit you, writes a tailored cover letter, answers the client's screening questions, and submits the proposal — boosting it when that makes sense. The result: qualified replies land in your inbox without you manually searching and applying all day.
You stay in control the whole time. You can preview exactly what Lancer would send using Test Mode, approve bids before they go out, and fine-tune your targeting as you learn what works.
Launch your first campaign in 6 steps
1. Connect your Upwork account
Go to Connected Accounts and connect the Upwork account you want Lancer to bid from. Two quick prerequisites on the Upwork side:
Turn off "Log in with Google" in your Upwork settings — Lancer signs in with an email and password, so Google-only login will block the connection.
If you use two-factor authentication, use an Authenticator app rather than SMS. SMS codes can't be re-entered automatically, so the connection can drop. See How to find your Authenticator setup key.
Connecting is safe — your credentials are encrypted and Lancer is built to behave like normal human activity. More on that in How does Lancer ensure account safety?
2. Set up your Knowledge Base
Your Knowledge Base tells Lancer who you are, what services you offer, who your ideal clients are, and which jobs to avoid. It's what powers accurate job suitability — a precise Knowledge Base is the single biggest lever on your results. Full guide: Knowledge Base.
3. Choose your cover letter template & question handling
Pick (or edit) a cover letter template and set how Lancer answers client screening questions. Templates support dynamic instructions, so each proposal is tailored to the specific job. See The Cover Letter & Question Handling.
4. Create your campaign
A campaign is a saved job search plus the automation around it. In the campaign you'll:
Set filters and keywords to target the right jobs — see Campaign Overview & Filters.
In the Configuration tab, link your connected Upwork account, your Knowledge Base profile, and your cover letter template — see Campaign Configuration.
5. Test before you bid
Turn on Test Mode to see exactly how Lancer rates real jobs and what cover letter it would write — without spending a single connect or sending anything to Upwork. Use it to tune your Knowledge Base until suitability looks right. Guide: How to Use Test Mode.
6. Start your campaign
When you're happy, start the campaign. Lancer begins bidding on new matching jobs, and replies show up in your Leads Overview and your notifications. Tip: keep a short bid delay so you're early to new jobs, and turn on boosting to stay competitive.
That's it — you're live. As campaigns run, keep your Knowledge Base updated based on which jobs get qualified or skipped, and you'll steadily improve your reply and win rates.