The best examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers in 2025

Real examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers

Let’s start where freelancers actually live: in the inbox, staring at an NDA and wondering, “Is this normal?” Below are several real-world style examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers, adapted from common contract patterns you’ll see in 2024–2025.

These are illustrative samples, not legal advice. Always have a licensed attorney review any contract that will materially affect your income or rights.

Example of a simple one-page NDA for small freelance projects

This is the kind of NDA a solo founder might send a freelance designer, copywriter, or developer for a short project.

Purpose
The Parties intend to explore a potential business relationship in which Freelancer will provide design services to Client (the “Project”). In connection with the Project, Client may disclose certain confidential information.

Definition of Confidential Information
“Confidential Information” means non-public information disclosed by Client to Freelancer, whether oral, written, or electronic, including business plans, product concepts, customer information, and technical data. Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of Freelancer; (b) is already in Freelancer’s possession without obligation of confidentiality; (c) is independently developed by Freelancer without use of Client’s information; or (d) is rightfully received from a third party without duty of confidentiality.

Obligations
Freelancer will use Confidential Information only for the Project and will not disclose it to any third party, except subcontractors who need to know and are bound by similar obligations.

Term
This Agreement applies to information disclosed during the Project and for 2 years after the last disclosure.

This kind of short form is one of the best examples of a freelancer-friendly NDA: clear definition, limited use, and a reasonable time limit. If a client wants a simple agreement, you can propose something like this instead of signing a 10-page corporate form.

Examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers in tech and software

Tech NDAs tend to be more intense because they cover code, architecture, and sometimes trade secrets. Here’s an example of language you’ll often see in software or product work:

Scope of Use
Freelancer will use Client’s Confidential Information solely to perform software development services under the Statement of Work dated [date]. Freelancer will not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any prototypes, software, or other tangible objects provided by Client.

Residual Knowledge
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Client acknowledges that Freelancer may use general knowledge, skills, and experience retained in the unaided memory of Freelancer’s personnel, provided that such use does not result in disclosure of Client’s trade secrets.

That residual knowledge sentence is one of the best examples of a clause that protects freelancers. It makes clear you’re allowed to keep learning from your work and use your skills elsewhere, as long as you’re not copying code or trade secrets.

If an NDA says you can’t use any knowledge gained from the project ever again, that’s a red flag. You’re a freelancer, not a full-time employee.

Example of a mutual NDA for ongoing freelance consulting

If you’re a consultant or strategist, you may share your own frameworks, pricing models, or methods that you don’t want clients reusing without you. That’s where a mutual NDA comes in.

Mutual Confidentiality
Each Party (the “Disclosing Party”) may disclose Confidential Information to the other Party (the “Receiving Party”). Each Receiving Party agrees to: (a) use the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information only to evaluate or perform the consulting relationship; and (b) protect such information with at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but not less than reasonable care.

Freelancer Materials
Client acknowledges that Freelancer’s processes, templates, pricing methodologies, and strategy frameworks constitute Freelancer’s Confidential Information.

This is one of the clearest examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers who bring proprietary methods to the table. You’re not just protecting the client; you’re protecting your own intellectual property.

Example of NDA language for creative freelancers (design, writing, marketing)

Creative freelancers often deal with product launches, campaigns, and unreleased branding. Here’s how NDA language typically looks in that world:

Marketing and Launch Information
Confidential Information includes, without limitation, unreleased product names, branding concepts, campaign strategies, advertising copy, pricing strategies, and launch timelines.

Portfolio Use
Notwithstanding the above, Freelancer may display final, publicly released work product in Freelancer’s portfolio and marketing materials, provided that: (a) the work has been made public by Client; and (b) no non-public performance data, financial information, or strategic details are disclosed.

That portfolio use carve-out is one of the best examples of language freelancers should try to negotiate. Without it, the NDA might technically bar you from ever showing the work, which can hurt your ability to get future clients.

Example of strict corporate NDA language (and how to soften it)

Big companies often send long NDAs written entirely in their favor. Here’s an example of a clause you might see—and how a freelancer might ask to revise it.

Original version (problematic for freelancers)
Freelancer agrees not to perform services for, or engage in any business with, any competitor of Client for a period of 3 years following the termination of this Agreement.

This reads more like a non-compete than a non-disclosure agreement. For a freelancer, it can be unworkable. A more reasonable version looks like this:

Revised version (more balanced)
Freelancer agrees not to use or disclose Client’s Confidential Information in performing services for any competitor of Client for a period of 1 year following the termination of this Agreement.

The second version focuses on how you use information, not who you’re allowed to work for. That’s one of the clearest examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers that still let you earn a living.

Example of NDA for subcontractors and remote teams

Many freelancers hire subcontractors or collaborate with remote teammates. If your NDA doesn’t address that, you could be in breach the moment you send a file to your trusted developer.

Subcontractors and Assistants
Freelancer may disclose Confidential Information to its employees, contractors, or agents who need to know such information to perform services under this Agreement, provided that such parties are bound by written obligations of confidentiality no less protective than those contained herein. Freelancer remains responsible for any breach by such parties.

This kind of clause is one of the best examples of realistic NDA language for modern freelance work, where teams are distributed and collaboration is standard.

Example of NDA carve-outs for legal and regulatory disclosures

If you work with health, finance, or government clients, you’ll see more formal language around legal compliance.

Required Disclosures
If the Receiving Party is required by law, regulation, or court order to disclose any Confidential Information, the Receiving Party may do so, provided that, to the extent legally permitted, it gives the Disclosing Party prompt written notice of the requirement and cooperates, at the Disclosing Party’s expense, in any effort to obtain a protective order.

This is fairly standard and appears in many real examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers working in regulated industries.

For background on how regulators think about confidentiality and data, you can look at general federal guidance on privacy and information sharing from sources like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and federal privacy and confidentiality resources on USA.gov.

Key patterns in the best examples of NDAs for freelancers

When you look across all these examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers, the same patterns keep showing up. As you review NDAs in 2024–2025, pay attention to:

1. Definition of Confidential Information
Good examples include clear exclusions: information that’s public, already known to you, independently developed, or received from someone else without a duty of confidentiality. If those exclusions are missing, ask for them.

2. Term (how long it lasts)
For most freelance work, 1–3 years after the project ends is common. If you see “in perpetuity” for ordinary marketing or design work, that’s aggressive. For true trade secrets (like a secret formula), longer terms are more typical.

3. Use restrictions
Reasonable NDAs say you can use the information only for the project. Overreaching examples try to control who you can work for, even when you’re not using their information. That’s where you push back.

4. Portfolio and case study rights
More clients in 2024–2025 are open to portfolio carve-outs, especially in creative and product work, as long as you wait until launch and don’t share sensitive metrics. Make that explicit.

5. Mutual vs. one-way
If you’re sharing your own frameworks or code, a mutual NDA is often more appropriate. Many of the best examples for consultants and senior freelancers are mutual by default.

For a deeper grounding in how contracts allocate risk and obligations, it can be helpful to review plain-language contract resources from law schools, such as the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation (not NDA-specific, but very good on negotiation strategy).

2024–2025 trends affecting NDA terms for freelancers

Several shifts in the last few years are changing how NDAs show up in freelance work:

Remote and global teams
Clients are more likely to include cross-border data language and specify where disputes are handled. If you work internationally, pay attention to jurisdiction and venue sections.

AI and data usage
Some of the most current examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers now include language like:

Freelancer will not use Client’s Confidential Information as training data for any machine learning or artificial intelligence system, except as expressly authorized in writing by Client.

If you use AI tools, this matters. You may need to choose tools that offer private, non-training modes or on-device processing so you’re not feeding client data into public models.

Security expectations
Larger clients may require specific security practices, such as encrypted storage or password managers. This lines up with general federal cybersecurity guidance for small businesses from agencies like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). NDAs increasingly reference “reasonable security measures,” which is where those best-practice guidelines become relevant.

How to use these examples without copying bad habits

Seeing real examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers is helpful, but copying them blindly is not. Here’s how to use them wisely:

Spot patterns, then customize
Use the examples above to recognize the structure: definition, obligations, term, exclusions, and carve-outs. Then adapt language to your specific project and industry.

Know your non-negotiables
For most freelancers, the big sticking points are:

• Ability to show work in a portfolio after launch
• Reasonable time limits
• Freedom to work with other clients in the same industry, as long as you don’t reuse confidential information

Get a lawyer to review your “base” NDA
Instead of reviewing every new NDA from scratch, invest once in having an attorney review a freelancer-friendly template you can propose when clients don’t already have one. Many bar associations and legal clinics list low-cost or pro bono contract review options; you can find local legal aid through directories linked from USA.gov’s legal help page.

Negotiate, don’t just sign
Most corporate NDAs are written to be one-sided by default. That doesn’t mean they’re sacred. Redlining a few clauses—term, portfolio rights, non-compete style language—can make the difference between a fair deal and a trap.

FAQ: examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers

What is a realistic example of an NDA term for a freelance project?
For a typical design, writing, or marketing project, many real examples use 2 years after the end of the project. For software or consulting around sensitive strategy, you’ll often see 3–5 years. For true trade secrets, some NDAs use longer terms, but those should be tied to clearly defined trade secret information.

Can I show work covered by an NDA in my portfolio?
It depends on the contract. Some of the best examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers include a specific portfolio clause that allows you to show work after it’s publicly released and without revealing confidential details like performance metrics or internal strategy. If your NDA is silent on this, ask to add a short portfolio section.

Are mutual NDAs better for freelancers?
They can be. Mutual NDAs are better examples when you’re sharing your own methods, templates, or code, or when you’re collaborating at a strategic level. If you’re only receiving confidential information (for example, you’re just implementing a client’s existing plan), a one-way NDA may be fine.

What are some examples of NDA red flags for freelancers?
Common red flags include: no time limit at all, broad language that stops you from working with competitors even if you don’t use confidential information, bans on using general skills or knowledge you gain, and no exclusions for information that’s already public or independently developed.

Do I really need a lawyer to review every NDA?
Not every single one, but having a lawyer help you create or refine a solid baseline NDA—and review unusually aggressive contracts—is smart. Once you understand the structure and have seen enough examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers, you’ll get faster at spotting which NDAs are normal and which need professional review.

Used thoughtfully, these examples of non-disclosure agreement examples for freelancers can help you move from “I just sign whatever they send” to “I know exactly what I’m agreeing to—and what I’m not.” That confidence is worth as much as the project fee.