Payment protection for freelancers
Escrow for Freelancers: Get Paid for the Work You Deliver
Every freelancer knows the risk: you do the work, send the files, and the client goes quiet. Asking for full payment upfront doesn't work either -- new clients won't take that risk on you.
With XcrowPay, the client pays into escrow before you start. You can see the money is there, the client knows you can't run off with it, and it is released to you when the work is delivered and confirmed.
Why freelancers lose money to clients
Unpaid invoices, clients who disappear after delivery, endless 'one more revision' before payment, and payment promises that never arrive -- for freelancers paid by direct transfer, there is no protection once the work is handed over.
Clients have the opposite fear: paying a freelancer they found online and receiving nothing. That mutual distrust slows down every new project.
Escrow removes the standoff. The money is committed before work starts, and released only when the agreed work is delivered.
How escrow works for a freelance project
- 1
Agree the scope and price
Agree what you'll deliver and for how much. For bigger projects, split the work into stages and agree a price for each.
- 2
Create a transaction for the work
Create a transaction on XcrowPay for the project -- or for the first stage -- and send the client the payment link.
- 3
The client pays into escrow
The client pays by bank transfer and the money is held in escrow. You're notified that payment is confirmed, so you can start with confidence.
- 4
Deliver and get paid
Deliver the work. When the client confirms, the money is released to your bank account. If the client goes quiet, both of you are notified and our team releases the funds within 2-3 days, unless a dispute is raised. Then create the transaction for the next stage.
Why your money is safe with XcrowPay
Funds held by a CBN-licensed partner
Escrowed money is held through our payment partner Korapay, which is licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria -- not in the seller's account, and not in the buyer's.
A real dispute process
Either side can open a dispute before funds are released. The money stays locked while our team reviews evidence from both parties -- screenshots, delivery proof, chat records.
Verified identities
Payouts are checked against the seller's verified (BVN/KYC) name, and transaction limits scale with each user's verification tier.
A registered Nigerian company
XcrowPay is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, RC 1913302.
Freelance work XcrowPay protects
- Design, branding and video editing
- Web and app development
- Writing, copywriting and translation
- Social media management and marketing
- Any project with clients you haven't worked with before
What it costs
One escrow fee per transaction, paid by the buyer at checkout: 7% up to ₦100,000, falling step by step to 0.19% on large amounts, plus a flat ₦100 service fee. No subscription and no setup cost. See the full fee table.
Frequently asked questions
How can freelancers in Nigeria protect their payments?
Ask the client to pay into escrow before you start. On XcrowPay the money is held until the work is delivered and confirmed, so a client can't take the work and disappear without paying.
Can I get paid in stages for a big project?
Yes -- create a separate protected transaction for each stage. Each one is paid into escrow before that stage starts and released when that stage is delivered.
What if the client refuses to confirm the work?
If the client doesn't respond, both of you are notified, and if no dispute is raised our team reviews the transaction and releases the money to you within 2-3 days. If the client opens a dispute, the money stays locked while our team reviews the evidence from both sides, such as the agreed scope, delivered files and chat records.
How do I receive the money?
Funds are released to your registered Nigerian bank account. Payouts are checked against your verified name, so make sure your bank account name matches your XcrowPay profile.
Who pays the fee?
The client pays the escrow fee and the ₦100 service fee at checkout, on top of your price. You receive the amount you agreed.
Stop chasing payments
Send your next client an XcrowPay link and start the work knowing the money is already there.
Protect Your Next Payment