Practical examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples you can actually use

Real-world examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples

Let’s skip the theory and start with what people actually sign. The best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples are short, specific, and tailored to the type of work. Below are realistic clauses and mini-scenarios you can adapt, not generic legal wallpaper.

Example of NDA language for a freelance product designer

Scenario: You’re designing UI/UX for a startup’s unreleased mobile app. They’re worried you’ll reuse layouts or leak screenshots to a competitor.

Sample clause:

Confidential Information includes, without limitation, all user interface designs, wireframes, prototypes, product roadmaps, feature lists, specifications, and screenshots of the Company’s unreleased products disclosed to Freelancer in any form.

Non-Use and Non-Disclosure. Freelancer shall not disclose Confidential Information to any third party or use Confidential Information for any purpose other than providing design services under this Agreement. This obligation continues for three (3) years after the termination of this Agreement.

Why this works:

• It names concrete items: wireframes, prototypes, screenshots.
• It limits your use to the project itself.
• It sets a clear end date, which many freelancers overlook.

This is one of the best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples for creative work because it strikes a balance: the client’s product is protected, but you’re not gagged forever.

Example of NDA for a freelance developer handling source code

Scenario: You’re building a custom integration and have full access to private repos, APIs, and internal tools.

Sample clause:

Confidential Information includes all source code, object code, algorithms, database schemas, API keys, access tokens, system architecture diagrams, and technical documentation disclosed by Company or accessed by Freelancer.

Freelancer shall implement commercially reasonable security measures to protect Confidential Information, including using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and not storing access credentials in plain text.

Why this matters in 2024–2025:

• Clients expect explicit security behavior, especially with rising data breaches.
• You’re not promising military-grade security, just reasonable, documented practices.

For developers, good examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples almost always include some reference to security practices, not just secrecy.

Example of NDA for a freelance copywriter or marketer

Scenario: You’re writing launch copy for a stealth product and get access to customer research, pricing strategy, and A/B test results.

Sample clause:

Confidential Information includes marketing strategies, campaign performance data, customer personas, survey results, pricing plans, and non-public product positioning statements.

Freelancer may include generalized descriptions of services provided to Company in Freelancer’s portfolio (for example, “conversion copy for a B2B SaaS launch”) provided that such descriptions do not disclose any Confidential Information or identify Company by name without prior written consent.

Why this is one of the best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples for marketers:

• It protects sensitive strategy and data.
• It carves out a narrow, realistic right to talk about the type of work you did.
• It forces both sides to think about portfolio use before the launch.

Example of NDA for a freelance data or research consultant

Scenario: You’re analyzing internal metrics, customer data, or survey responses. You might be handling personal information, which carries legal risk.

Sample clause:

Confidential Information includes all non-public business data, analytics, financial information, and any dataset containing personal information about Company’s customers, employees, or users.

Freelancer agrees to process any personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws and only as instructed by Company. Freelancer shall promptly notify Company of any unauthorized access to Confidential Information that Freelancer becomes aware of.

This mirrors expectations seen in privacy guidance from regulators and universities. For example, U.S. government and academic resources on data privacy practices emphasize defined responsibilities and prompt breach notification (see general guidance from the Federal Trade Commission and research ethics discussions at Harvard University).

Here, the NDA is doing double duty: confidentiality plus basic data-protection behavior.

Example of mutual NDA between freelancer and client

Most freelancers sign one-way NDAs drafted by the client. But sometimes you share confidential methods, pricing models, or subcontractor info. That’s where a mutual NDA comes in.

Sample clause:

Each party (the Disclosing Party) may disclose certain confidential and proprietary information to the other party (the Receiving Party). Confidential Information of each party includes non-public business plans, pricing, processes, and trade secrets.

The Receiving Party shall not disclose the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information to any third party and shall use it only to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

Why this matters:

• Your pricing structure, lead sources, and processes can be as sensitive as the client’s roadmap.
• Mutual NDAs are common in higher-value consulting and agency work.

If you’re looking for balanced examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples, mutual NDAs are a good model to study.

Example of NDA carve-outs and exceptions

A red flag in many templates: they label everything as confidential with no exceptions. Reasonable NDAs include carve-outs.

Sample clause:

Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the Receiving Party; (b) was lawfully known to the Receiving Party before disclosure by the Disclosing Party; (c) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without use of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information; or (d) is rightfully received from a third party without restriction.

Why this helps freelancers:

• You’re not liable for facts that are already public.
• You can still use your general skills and knowledge on future projects.

You’ll see similar carve-out concepts in many legal education resources, including contract law primers from universities such as Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute.

Example of NDA term and survival period

Watch out for NDAs that last forever with no clear limit.

Sample clause:

This Agreement begins on the Effective Date and continues until terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days’ written notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Receiving Party’s duty to protect Confidential Information disclosed under this Agreement shall survive for five (5) years from the date of disclosure, except for trade secrets, which shall be protected for so long as they remain trade secrets under applicable law.

Why this is practical:

• It sets a reasonable time frame for most information.
• It respects that true trade secrets (like formulas or algorithms) may deserve longer protection.

This is one of the more nuanced examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples because it separates ordinary confidential info from trade secrets.

How these examples fit into freelance work-for-hire agreements

Non-disclosure agreements rarely stand alone for freelancers. They usually sit inside or alongside a broader independent contractor or work-for-hire agreement that also covers:

• Who owns the intellectual property
• Payment terms and milestones
• Revisions and scope
• Indemnity and limitation of liability

In many strong examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples, the NDA section is just one heading in a larger contract. A typical structure might look like this:

• Services and scope
• Compensation
• Ownership and IP assignment
• Confidentiality and non-disclosure
• Term and termination
• Dispute resolution and governing law

The NDA clauses you saw above can be dropped into that “Confidentiality and non-disclosure” section with minimal editing.

For freelancers working with health or medical-related projects, you may also run into HIPAA-related confidentiality requirements. While an NDA is not the same thing as HIPAA compliance, you’ll see overlapping expectations around protecting protected health information (PHI). For general background on PHI and confidentiality, resources from NIH and Mayo Clinic are useful context.

Key trends shaping freelancer NDAs in 2024–2025

The best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples today look different from the boilerplate contracts floating around a decade ago. A few trends are worth noting:

1. More attention to AI and training data

Clients increasingly add language that bars you from feeding their confidential info into AI tools for training or prompts. You might see language like:

Freelancer shall not input Company’s Confidential Information into any machine learning, artificial intelligence, or similar system in a manner that allows such system or its provider to train on, reuse, or disclose such information to third parties.

If you rely on AI tools, you need to understand whether and how you can use them under the NDA.

2. Stronger data security expectations

With cyber incidents rising, clients want more than a promise not to talk. They want specific behavior: password managers, MFA, encrypted storage, secure file transfer. That’s why many modern examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples now spell out minimum security practices.

3. Portfolio and case study carve-outs

Freelancers have pushed back on NDAs that effectively erase their work history. As a result, more contracts include narrow, negotiated rights to:

• Show redacted screenshots after a public launch
• Mention the client’s name only with approval
• Describe the type of work in generic terms

If a client refuses any portfolio use forever, at least make that decision consciously and price accordingly.

4. Shorter, clearer language

Clients and freelancers alike are tired of unreadable contracts. Many newer templates favor:

• Plain-English definitions
• Short paragraphs
• Fewer cross-references

This benefits everyone: fewer misunderstandings, fewer disputes.

How to adapt these examples without hurting yourself

You can absolutely use the examples above as a starting point, but treat them as draft language, not legal gospel. When you customize examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples, keep an eye on a few pressure points.

Scope: what exactly is confidential?

Push for specific categories that make sense for the project instead of “everything we ever tell you.” The more tailored the definition, the easier it is to comply.

Ask yourself:

• Could I accidentally violate this just by doing normal freelance work?
• Does it try to cover information that’s already public?

Duration: how long do obligations last?

Indefinite NDAs aren’t automatically bad, but they should be limited to true trade secrets. For most business info, a few years is typical. If the agreement says “in perpetuity,” see if you can negotiate a defined period.

Use of general skills and knowledge

Good examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples explicitly or implicitly let you keep using what you learned (skills, patterns, industry knowledge) as long as you don’t copy confidential materials.

If a clause seems to say you can’t do similar work for anyone else ever again, that’s a red flag. That’s closer to a non-compete than a simple NDA.

Portfolio rights and testimonials

If your work is visual or public-facing, bring this up early. Options include:

• Allowing portfolio use after a public launch
• Allowing anonymized case studies
• Requiring written approval before naming the client

Whatever you agree to, bake it into the NDA or the main contract.

Get real legal review when the stakes are high

For a small one-off blog post, you might accept a fairly standard NDA with minor tweaks. For a multi-year contract, equity deal, or deep access to sensitive data, invest in an attorney who understands freelance and IP law in your jurisdiction. Even the best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples online can’t replace targeted legal advice.

FAQ: examples, risks, and practical questions

What is a simple example of a freelancer non-disclosure clause?
A very simple example of a freelancer non-disclosure clause might read: “Freelancer agrees not to disclose or use any non-public information about Company’s business, customers, or products except as necessary to perform the services under this Agreement.” You would then add a short definition of what counts as confidential and how long the obligation lasts.

Do I really need an NDA for every freelance project?
Not always. If you’re working with information that’s already public or easily observable (like editing a public blog post), an NDA may be overkill. But if you’re seeing unreleased products, customer data, or internal strategy, an NDA is standard. Many of the best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples are built into the client’s standard contractor agreement, so you may be signing one without a separate document.

Can an NDA stop me from showing my work in my portfolio?
Yes, if it’s written broadly enough. That’s why many modern examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples add explicit portfolio carve-outs. If you care about showcasing the work, negotiate specific rights up front—especially around timing (for example, only after public launch) and redaction.

Are NDAs enforceable internationally?
Often yes, but enforcement depends on the governing law in the contract and where each party is located. For cross-border work, the NDA should clearly state which country’s law applies and where disputes will be handled. If you regularly work with foreign clients, it’s worth asking a lawyer how your standard NDA language holds up.

What happens if I accidentally break an NDA?
It depends on the contract and the damage. In minor cases, the client might just demand that you stop and destroy any copies. In serious cases, they could seek damages or an injunction. This is another reason to favor NDAs with clear definitions, reasonable terms, and realistic obligations, like the examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples we walked through above.

Can I reuse NDA templates I find online?
You can use them as inspiration, but don’t rely on them blindly. Laws differ by state and country, and many templates are written for large corporations, not solo freelancers. Treat online templates and the best examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples as starting points, then adapt and, when the stakes are high, have a lawyer review your final version.

Bottom line: NDAs don’t have to be mysterious. When you look at real, concrete examples of freelancer non-disclosure agreement examples, you start to see patterns—what’s reasonable, what’s overreaching, and what you can confidently negotiate. Use that knowledge to protect your clients’ information and your own ability to work, earn, and build a visible career.