How the marketplace works, in plain English
This page explains the structure of Indeelancer: what we do, what developers do, and what you as a buyer are responsible for. No legal jargon—just clarity.
The essentials
Four things to understand about how Indeelancer works.
Indeelancer is a marketplace
We connect buyers with freelance developers. We are not an employer, staffing agency, or service provider.
Developers are independent contractors
Freelancers on the platform are not Indeelancer employees. The contract for work is between you and the developer.
We facilitate, not deliver
Indeelancer provides matching, communication tools, and payment infrastructure. Developers deliver the actual work.
Payment protection through milestones
Funds are held by Stripe and released based on milestone approvals. This protects both parties but doesn't make us party to the contract.
Who does what
Clear responsibilities for each party in the marketplace.
Indeelancer (Platform)
Responsible for:
- Facilitating discovery between buyers and freelancers
- Orchestrating milestone payment workflows
- Integrating with Stripe for payment processing
- Coordinating structured dispute review processes
- Enforcing platform policies
Not responsible for:
- Quality of delivered work
- Meeting project deadlines
- Developer employment matters
- Tax obligations of either party
- Custody of funds (held by Stripe)
Freelance Developer
Responsible for:
- Delivers agreed work
- Meets milestone requirements
- Communicates project status
- Maintains professional standards
- Handles own taxes/business
Not responsible for:
- Platform availability
- Other developers' work
- Buyer payment processing
Buyer
Responsible for:
- Funds milestones as agreed
- Provides clear requirements
- Reviews and approves work
- Communicates feedback
- Respects contract terms
Not responsible for:
- Developer employment matters
- Platform functionality
- Other buyers' experiences
Important: Payment processing and fund custody
Stripe processes payments and holds milestone funds under Stripe's regulatory framework.
Indeelancer does not take custody of funds and is not an escrow or trust service.
Liability boundaries
What the platform handles vs. what falls outside our scope.
Work Quality
The developer is responsible for the quality of work delivered. Indeelancer vets developers and monitors performance, but we don't guarantee specific outcomes.
Platform role: Vet developers, track metrics, enforce removal for poor performance
Payment Processing
Stripe processes payments and holds milestone funds under Stripe's regulatory framework. Indeelancer orchestrates milestone workflows and notifications but does not take custody of funds and is not an escrow or trust service.
Platform role: Orchestrate milestone payment workflow, integrate with Stripe, coordinate dispute review
Contract Terms
The work agreement is between buyer and developer. Indeelancer provides templates and enforces platform rules, but specific terms are your agreement.
Platform role: Provide contract templates, enforce platform policies
Disputes
We provide a structured dispute review process. Outcomes depend on evidence provided by both parties. The dispute outcome determines milestone fund release.
Platform role: Review evidence, determine outcomes, coordinate fund release accordingly
“Indeelancer facilitates contracts and payments; freelancers deliver services.”
This is the core distinction. We provide infrastructure, vetting, and protection mechanisms. But the actual work relationship is between you and the developer you hire.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about how the marketplace works.
No. Developers on Indeelancer are independent contractors, not Indeelancer employees. The contract for work is between you (the buyer) and the developer. Indeelancer facilitates the connection, communication, and payment—but we're not party to your work agreement.
The developer is responsible for the quality of work they deliver. Indeelancer vets developers before they join, tracks performance metrics, and removes underperformers. However, milestone funding is your primary protection—you don't release funds until work meets your acceptance criteria.
No. We provide tools to reduce risk (vetting, milestone payments, disputes) but can't guarantee specific outcomes. Every project depends on clear communication between buyer and developer. We aim to create conditions for success, not guarantee it.
We aim for high availability and monitor performance continuously. Brief outages don't affect your contract with the developer. Communication can continue via email if needed. Funded milestones remain secure regardless of platform status.
No. Developers are independent contractors, not our employees or agents. We vet them, set platform rules, and can remove them for violations—but we're not liable for their individual actions or work quality. Your recourse is through milestone payments and dispute resolution.
Our complete Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy contain the full legal details. This page provides a plain-English summary of how the marketplace works.
Ready to get started?
Post your project brief and start working with vetted developers on Indeelancer.