Is an NDA from a generator enough?

For most freelance work it is. This one sets out what is confidential, how long the agreement runs and which country's law applies, which is what an NDA is for. It gives you a starting point in plain language rather than legal advice, so for a high-value engagement or an unusual arrangement it is worth having a lawyer read it before you send it.

How long should the agreement run?

One to three years covers most project work. Set it against how long the information actually stays sensitive: an unreleased product matters until launch, a customer list for much longer. An open-ended term is a commitment you cannot see the end of, so pick a number you would still be comfortable with in five years.

Ruul tools - NDA generator

Free NDA generator

Set the parties, the governing country and how long confidentiality lasts, then download the agreement as PDF or Word.

Client

Project

Jurisdiction

Effective Date

Contract Duration

Termination Notice

After the document

What Ruul actually does, in four sentences.

Take any line to see that part of the picture.

About this tool

What an NDA does, and when a freelancer actually needs one

A non-disclosure agreement is the shortest useful contract in freelance work. It says what you are being told in confidence, and what you may not do with it.

When to send one

Most freelance work does not need an NDA. It earns its place at the two moments where the client is about to hand over something they would not want repeated.

Before a pitch. The client wants to describe an unreleased product, a funding round or a customer list so you can scope the work properly.
Before access. You are about to get a login, a codebase, a subscriber file or a set of financials.
When the client asks first. Larger companies often send their own. Reading theirs carefully is usually faster than insisting on yours.

Who sends one, and what they are protecting

The document is the same whatever you do. What changes is which sentence in it matters, because the thing at risk is different.

Writers and editors. The client's unannounced story, product or hire, told to you weeks before anyone else hears it.
Designers. Brand work, packaging and campaign concepts that lose their value the moment they leak early.
Consultants and strategists. The client's numbers, pricing and internal problems, which is usually the first thing they hand over.
Developers. Credentials, a private codebase and how the system is actually put together.

What to check before you sign

The generator fills in the usual structure, but three fields are the ones worth thinking about rather than accepting.

How long it runs. A confidentiality term of one to three years is normal for project work. An indefinite term is a commitment you cannot see the end of.
Which country's law applies. Pick one you could realistically act in. A clause pointing at a court on the other side of the world is, in practice, no clause at all.
Whether it is mutual. If you will also share your own methods, rates or client names, both sides should be bound, not just you.

What an NDA does not cover

An NDA protects information. It says nothing about who owns the work you produce, when you get paid, or what happens if the project stops halfway. Those belong in a service agreement, and leaving them out is the most common gap in freelance paperwork.

It is also worth being clear about the limits of any generated document. This tool produces a starting point in plain language. It is not legal advice, and for a high-value engagement or an unusual arrangement it is worth having a lawyer read it.

After the NDA

Confidentiality agreed, the next two questions are what the work is and how the money moves. The first belongs in a service agreement, which sets out the deliverables, the payment terms and the notice period.

For the second, Ruul is the legal counterparty on the invoice, so you can invoice clients without registering a company in 190 countries and get paid in 140+ currencies, usually within one business day of the client's payment clearing.

Free tools from Ruul

Other free tools

See all tools

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Not on the list? Just ask.

For most freelance work it is. This one sets out what is confidential, how long the agreement runs and which country's law applies, which is what an NDA is for. It gives you a starting point in plain language rather than legal advice, so for a high-value engagement or an unusual arrangement it is worth having a lawyer read it before you send it.
One to three years covers most project work. Set it against how long the information actually stays sensitive: an unreleased product matters until launch, a customer list for much longer. An open-ended term is a commitment you cannot see the end of, so pick a number you would still be comfortable with in five years.
With a registered company you invoice the client directly. Without one, Ruul can: Ruul becomes the legal counterparty on the invoice, so you can invoice clients in 190 countries without registering a company. The payout reaches you within 1 business day.