← All comparisons
Fiverr vs Upwork Refund Process
Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-03-19
Refund Conditions
Fiverr
- The order must be canceled and the funds credited to your Fiverr Balance first
- Refund request must be made within 180 days of the original payment
- The original payment method must still be active and able to receive the refund
Upwork
- Refund request must be made within 180 days of the payment to request directly from the freelancer
- Freelancer or agency must approve the refund; they can issue full, partial, or no refund at their discretion
- If the freelancer declines or does not respond within 7 days, you may seek mediation assistance from Upwork Support (applicable when the last payment was made within the prior 30 days)
- Refunds are only for payments released on the platform; the one‑time contract initiation fee is non‑refundable
Refund Steps
Fiverr
- Cancel the order (or have the cancellation approved by the other party)
- Navigate to **Billing & Payments** → **Available balances**
- Click the **Request a Refund** button and confirm the request
- Wait for the refund to be processed (usually within 10 business days)
- Check the **Refund history** tab for status updates
Upwork
- Navigate to **All Contracts**, locate the relevant contract, and open the options menu (…)
- Select **End contract** and choose **Pay nothing and request a refund** (or specify a reduced amount)
- Submit the refund request; the freelancer or agency has 7 days to approve, deny, or ignore it
- If approved (or no response), Upwork automatically credits the amount back to your billing method; if disputed, Upwork mediates and may issue a non‑binding resolution within 2 business days
- Check the **Transactions** page to confirm the refund credit
Refund Methods
Fiverr
- Original payment provider (credit card, PayPal, etc.)
- Fiverr Balance (credit for future purchases)
Upwork
- Credit returned to the original billing method used for the payment (typically 3‑5 business days)
- Account credit applied to your Upwork balance for future invoices (optional if multiple billing methods were used)
Partial Refunds
Fiverr
- Freelancers can offer a partial refund via the Resolution Center
- Partial refunds apply only to the primary order amount, not to any extras added later
- The buyer must accept the partial‑refund offer within 3 days, otherwise the offer expires
Upwork
- Freelancers can issue a partial refund instead of a full amount, based on agreement
- For fixed‑price contracts, you can release a partial milestone payment and request a refund for the remaining escrowed funds
Dispute Process
Fiverr
- Open a dispute through the Resolution Center within 48 hours of the cancellation request
- Both parties have up to 48 hours to accept or decline the dispute
- For chargebacks, Fiverr reviews the case with the payment provider and may hold the disputed amount while investigating
Upwork
- If the freelancer refuses a refund, you may request mediation assistance from Upwork Support (eligible when the last payment was within 30 days)
- For fixed‑price contracts, you have a 7‑day window after a milestone is released to file a formal dispute; if missed, the funds are automatically returned to the client
- Upwork provides a non‑binding resolution after reviewing both parties; each side has 2 calendar days to accept or reject the recommendation
Additional Notes
Fiverr
- Refunds are not automatic; cancelled order funds are first deposited to your Fiverr Balance
- Refunds are processed in the same currency as the original payment
- If a refund fails, it may be because the payment is older than 180 days or the payment method is no longer active
Upwork
- All refunds must be processed through the Upwork platform; issuing refunds outside Upwork violates the Terms of Service
- Once funds have been withdrawn from your Upwork account and transferred to a bank or card, they cannot be recovered through Upwork; only the original payment method can receive a credit
- The contract initiation fee is a one‑time charge and is never refunded, even if the freelancer issues a full refund