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How buyer protection works on freelance marketplaces

Escrow, auto-acceptance, disputes and refunds explained — what protects a buyer's payment on Fiverr and its alternatives.

  • Figures checked on
  • Platforms compared: 12
contra.com · zinnhub.com · legiit.com ·

  1. The money is held first

    On most marketplaces your payment is held by the platform — in escrow or as a held balance — until the work is delivered and accepted. That is the protection you give up if you pay off-platform.

  2. Acceptance can happen without you

    Platforms accept a delivery automatically after a few days if you do nothing: 3 days on Fiverr and 5 on Zinn Hub®, for example. Review promptly.

  3. Disputes need evidence

    Keep the brief, messages and files on the platform. A dispute is decided on what the platform can see.

  4. Refunds are not always cash

    Some platforms return a refund to your card; others credit it as platform balance. Check before you buy — the comparison table shows each policy.

How to choose a freelance marketplaceSix questions that decide which freelance marketplace suits you — fees on both sides, payouts, protection, how work is found and what it costs to start.How to move from Fiverr to another marketplaceA step-by-step plan for sellers moving from Fiverr to another freelance marketplace without losing income, reviews or clients.How to write a brief for a freelancerWhat to put in a freelance brief so you get what you need the first time — goal, audience, examples, deliverables, deadline and budget.How to place your first freelance orderBuying a freelance service for the first time — how to pick a seller, check the package, pay safely and accept the delivery.Freelance marketplace payouts explainedClearance periods, withdrawal methods, fees and minimums — how and when freelance marketplaces pay sellers.How to price freelance servicesSetting prices for fixed-price freelance services — work out your hourly floor, include the platform's fees, and design packages buyers understand.How to avoid freelance marketplace scamsThe common scams on freelance marketplaces and how buyers and sellers avoid them — off-platform payments, fake checks, and work taken without payment.

Keep reading

How we compare the platforms, the questions people ask most, and practical guides for buyers and sellers.