Practical examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples for freelancers

Real-world examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples

Let’s skip the theory and get straight into how freelancers actually use NDAs. These examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples are written in plain English so you can see the logic behind each clause, not just the legalese.

You’ll notice a pattern: most NDAs cover who’s involved, what’s confidential, how long it stays confidential, and what happens if someone slips up. The differences come from the type of work and the level of risk.

Example 1: One-way NDA for a freelance UX designer on a stealth app

This is the classic client → freelancer NDA. The client is sharing sensitive information; you’re agreeing not to leak it.

Use case: You’re a UX/UI designer hired to work on a pre-launch mobile app in a competitive market. The client will share user research, product roadmap, and unreleased interface concepts.

Key clauses you’d see in this example of a non-disclosure agreement template:

• Parties: The startup ("Disclosing Party") and you as the designer ("Receiving Party").
• Purpose: Evaluation, design, and development of the client’s mobile application.
• Confidential Information definition: Wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user research, product roadmap, pricing plans, internal metrics, and any non-public technical details.
• Exclusions: Anything already public, already known to you without obligation, independently developed by you without using their info, or rightfully obtained from another source.
• Obligations: You agree to use the information only for the project and not share it with third parties (except your own contractors who are bound by equal or stronger confidentiality terms).
• Term: Confidentiality lasts for 3–5 years after the project ends, even if the working relationship ends earlier.
• Portfolio carve-out: You may show non-sensitive, publicly released screens in your portfolio after the app is launched, with the client’s written approval.

This is one of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples for creatives who need limited portfolio rights without exposing sensitive details.

Example 2: Mutual NDA for a marketing consultant and a SaaS company

Sometimes both sides share sensitive information. That’s where a mutual NDA makes more sense.

Use case: You’re a marketing strategist pitching long-term work to a SaaS company. They’ll share churn data and acquisition costs; you’ll share proprietary frameworks and pricing structures.

What makes this a strong example of a non-disclosure agreement template:

• Mutual obligations: Both parties are “Disclosing” and “Receiving” Parties. Each side must protect the other’s confidential information.
• Balanced definition of confidential information: Covers business plans, customer lists, pricing, marketing strategies, and proprietary methodologies.
• Limited use: Information can only be used to evaluate and carry out the marketing engagement.
• Reasonable protection standard: Each party agrees to protect the other’s information with at least the same care they use for their own confidential information.
• Return or destruction: On request or at the end of the relationship, each side must return or destroy confidential materials.
• Survival: Obligations survive for a set period (often 2–3 years) after termination.

If you’re sharing your own systems and frameworks, this is one of the most realistic examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples to adapt.

Example 3: NDA for a freelance developer with access to proprietary code

Developers often touch the most sensitive assets a company has: source code and infrastructure.

Use case: You’re a contract developer hired to build new features on a proprietary platform.

Key elements in this real example of an NDA template:

• Technical scope: Explicitly includes source code, architecture diagrams, database schemas, API keys, deployment scripts, and security configurations.
• Security obligations: You agree to use secure devices, avoid public Wi-Fi for production access, and follow the client’s security policies.
• IP and confidentiality split: The NDA focuses on secrecy; a separate contract (or section) handles who owns the code. Both should align.
• Injunctive relief: States that unauthorized disclosure of code may cause irreparable harm, allowing the client to seek court orders to stop further disclosure.
• Longer term: Confidentiality may last 5+ years, or indefinitely for trade secrets.

Because software often contains trade secrets, this is one of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples where time limits are longer and security clauses are tighter.

For background on how U.S. law treats trade secrets, see the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office overview of trade secret protection: https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/trade-secret-protection

Example 4: NDA for a copywriter handling sensitive financial or health data

If you write for financial services, health, or insurance, the data you see can be highly sensitive.

Use case: You’re a freelance copywriter working on email campaigns for a fintech app or a health-tech startup.

What this example of a non-disclosure agreement template typically covers:

• Sensitive data categories: Customer financial data, transaction history, non-public product launches, or in health contexts, de-identified patient data and outcomes.
• Compliance reference: The NDA may reference broader privacy laws (like HIPAA in the U.S. for health data) and require you to follow the client’s compliance policies.
• Storage rules: Limits on storing data locally, printing documents, or forwarding emails with sensitive attachments.
• Third-party tools: Restrictions on uploading content or data to AI tools, grammar checkers, or cloud services without written permission.

For health-related work, clients may pair an NDA with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) under HIPAA. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services explains this relationship here: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/business-associates/index.html

This is one of the clearest examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples where your software stack and workflows are part of the risk.

Example 5: Short-form NDA for discovery calls and early pitches

You don’t always need a 10-page document. For early conversations, a short NDA can be enough.

Use case: A potential client wants to share internal metrics and product ideas before deciding whether to hire you.

Typical structure in this short example of an NDA template:

• Narrow purpose: Information is shared solely to evaluate a potential business relationship.
• Simple definition: Confidential information is anything marked confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential.
• Short term: Often 1–2 years of confidentiality.
• Lightweight obligations: No copying, no sharing, and prompt notice if disclosure is legally required.

This is one of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples when you need speed more than complexity.

Example 6: NDA for agencies and subcontractors

If you run a small studio and bring in subcontractors, you’re in the middle: you’re bound by the client’s NDA and you need your subs to be bound too.

Use case: A design agency signs a master NDA with a corporate client, then hires freelance illustrators and developers.

How this example of a non-disclosure agreement template is structured:

• Master NDA with the client: The agency commits that its employees and contractors will follow the same confidentiality obligations.
• Back-to-back NDAs with contractors: Each subcontractor signs an NDA that mirrors or exceeds the client’s requirements.
• Flow-down clauses: The subcontractor agrees that the client is a third-party beneficiary who can enforce confidentiality.
• Onboarding process: The NDA is integrated into the contractor onboarding packet, not handled ad hoc.

This is one of the most practical examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples for anyone scaling beyond solo freelancing.

Example 7: NDA for creative work with strict launch dates (product, film, or campaign)

In entertainment, advertising, and product launches, timing is everything.

Use case: You’re a photographer, video editor, or designer working on a global campaign that can’t leak before the launch date.

Key clauses in this real-world example of an NDA template:

• Time-based restrictions: You may not share or reference the project in any way before a specific launch date.
• Publicity and social media: Explicit ban on behind-the-scenes posts, portfolio updates, or casual mentions on social media until allowed.
• Event-related secrecy: If you attend shoots, fittings, or internal meetings, everything you see or hear is covered.
• Post-launch rights: After the campaign is public, you may use selected materials with written approval.

Because leaks can damage stock prices, brand reputation, or regulatory filings, this is one of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples where timing is as important as the content itself.

Example 8: NDA for research, data analysis, and academic collaborations

Freelancers increasingly support universities, think tanks, and non-profits with data work.

Use case: You’re a data analyst cleaning and visualizing survey results for a research lab.

What this example of a non-disclosure agreement template often includes:

• Research data scope: Raw survey responses, interview transcripts, unpublished manuscripts, and drafts.
• Publication rules: You cannot publish, present, or reuse any findings without written permission.
• Anonymization: You must preserve participant anonymity and follow the institution’s IRB or ethics guidelines.
• Long-term confidentiality: Data may be considered confidential indefinitely, especially if it relates to ongoing studies.

For context on research ethics and confidentiality, see guidance from the Office for Human Research Protections: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/guidance/index.html

This is one of the most relevant examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples for analysts and writers working with sensitive but non-commercial information.

2024–2025 NDA trends freelancers should know

Recent years have shifted how NDAs are written and negotiated, especially for independent professionals:

• AI and machine learning clauses: Many clients now ban uploading confidential information to AI tools or require written consent first. Expect explicit language about “automated tools” and “machine learning models.”
• Remote work security: NDAs increasingly reference remote work practices: device encryption, password managers, VPNs, and restrictions on shared home computers.
• Shorter, clearer language: There’s growing pressure to use plainer English so non-lawyers can actually understand what they’re signing. You’ll see more readable examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples compared to the dense documents of a decade ago.
• Balanced portfolio rights: Creative professionals are pushing back on total bans, negotiating narrow exceptions for case studies and portfolios once information is public.
• Global clients: With cross-border work, NDAs may specify governing law and jurisdiction clearly, which matters if parties are in different countries.

If you’re working with U.S.-based companies, you’ll often see NDAs referencing state trade secret laws and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, which align with best practices described by agencies like the USPTO.

How to adapt these examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples to your work

Treat these real examples as starting points, not copy-paste solutions. Here’s how to make them work for you without playing amateur lawyer.

First, match the template to the relationship. If only the client is sharing sensitive information, a one-way NDA (like the UX designer example) is usually enough. If you’re also sharing proprietary frameworks or code, lean toward a mutual NDA.

Second, tighten the definition of “Confidential Information.” Overly broad definitions can be unrealistic. Make sure the NDA doesn’t accidentally cover:

• Skills and knowledge you already had
• Information that’s public or becomes public without your involvement
• General industry know-how you need for future work

Most fair examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples include clear exclusions.

Third, negotiate the term. For many freelance projects, 2–3 years of confidentiality is reasonable, unless you’re dealing with long-term trade secrets or research data. If the NDA says “forever,” ask whether that’s really needed for the type of information you’ll see.

Fourth, handle portfolio rights early. If your livelihood depends on a visible body of work, don’t treat this as an afterthought. Use the designer or campaign launch examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples as models to:

• Allow portfolio use only after public launch
• Require written approval for specific samples
• Avoid revealing internal metrics, strategies, or raw files

Fifth, align your tools and workflows. If the NDA bans certain cloud tools or AI platforms, you either need to:

• Adjust your workflow, or
• Negotiate exceptions in writing

Many of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples now call out third-party services explicitly, so read that part carefully.

And finally: if you’re unsure, invest in a short consultation with a licensed attorney in your state or country. A lawyer can review your go-to NDA template and customize it to your typical work, so you’re not renegotiating from scratch every time.

FAQ: examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples for freelancers

What is a simple example of a non-disclosure agreement for a freelance designer?
A simple example would be a one-page NDA stating that the client will share non-public product designs and business information, and you agree not to disclose or use that information for any purpose other than the project. It defines “Confidential Information,” lists exclusions (like public information), sets a 2–3 year term, and may allow limited portfolio use after the client’s public launch.

What are common examples of information covered by an NDA?
Common examples include pricing models, customer lists, marketing strategies, unreleased product designs, source code, internal analytics, financial projections, and in some cases, health or research data. The better examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples spell these categories out instead of relying on vague language.

Can I use one NDA template for all my freelance clients?
You can maintain a base template and adjust it, but it shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. A developer handling proprietary code, a copywriter working with health data, and a strategist reviewing pitch decks all face different risks. Use the real examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples above as models to tweak definitions, terms, and portfolio clauses.

Is an NDA legally binding without a lawyer?
An NDA can be legally binding if it meets your jurisdiction’s contract requirements (offer, acceptance, consideration, and lawful purpose), even if a lawyer didn’t draft it. That said, having a lawyer review your standard NDA can reduce the chance of unenforceable or confusing language.

What are red flags in NDA templates freelancers should watch for?
Red flags include: unlimited liability for any breach, lifetime confidentiality on low-risk information, bans on working with entire industries or broad categories of clients, and clauses that conflict with your local law. If an NDA looks extreme, compare it to the more balanced examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples in this guide and ask the client to explain or narrow the language.

Used thoughtfully, NDAs don’t have to be scary or one-sided. They’re just another tool to protect trust in a working relationship. With these examples of non-disclosure agreement template examples as reference points, you’ll be in a much better position to read, negotiate, and sign NDAs that protect both your client’s information—and your career.