Freelancing platforms have opened doors to endless opportunities, but what happens when the platform itself becomes a stumbling block? After spending several successful years on Fiverr, I began noticing something troubling — competition was skyrocketing. It became harder to stand out, and I was ready for a fresh start. That’s when I stumbled upon Kwork.
Kwork seemed like a smaller platform where I could offer my niche services — Haitian Creole translation and content creation — and fill a gap I didn’t see anyone else filling on that platform. But little did I know that this choice would lead to a frustrating experience that cost me not only my time, but also my earnings. Here’s my story and a warning to anyone considering signing up on this platform.
1. Payment Method – The First Red Flag
The first thing I noticed when signing up for Kwork was the restriction on payment methods. Unlike established platforms like Fiverr, and Upwork, which offer a variety of options such as PayPal, Payoneer, or bank transfers, Kwork only provides two options: WebMoney or entering a debit/credit card number. That’s it.
Being accustomed to using Payoneer or PayPal on Fiverr, I was baffled by Kwork’s limitations. Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try. I landed my first order — a project to write pregnancy announcement texts in Haitian Creole for a client who had been looking for this service on Amazon but couldn’t find such cards in Haitian Creole.
He wanted me to create the words he would put on these cards. I delivered the work, the client was satisfied, he completed the order, and I happily received the payment.
However, when it came time to withdraw my earnings, I hit a wall. My Payoneer debit card, which had worked flawlessly for years on Fiverr, was useless here. I tried to withdraw my earnings through my debit card, but it was in vain, as the system wouldn’t allow me to do so.
I, who could withdraw my money from Fiverr in just two clicks, got trapped by this scam platform, which only has two withdrawal methods: “WebMoney,” which is also a scam, and “a card number.” And without other familiar payment methods like PayPal, Payoneer, or bank transfers, I had no way to retrieve my money.
2. Withdrawal of Your Winnings – A Nightmare Unfolds
After several unsuccessful attempts to withdraw my funds via my Payoneer debit card, I received a message from Kwork’s support team that said:
“Dear Kwork user,
Our automated security system has flagged some of your account’s behavior as suspicious. We are now conducting an internal investigation, during which withdrawals from your account will be temporarily blocked. We do not disclose the reasons for or details of these investigations.
We ask that you patiently await the results of the investigation. This usually takes 3-5 business days. In rare cases, this may take up to 2 weeks. We will inform you when our investigation is complete and then provide guidance for the next steps.
We apologize for the inconvenience.”
I waited, hoping they would help me resolve the issue. They responded that my account’s behavior was flagged as suspicious and that they were conducting an internal investigation, during which withdrawals from my account would be temporarily blocked. At this point, I started to doubt the legitimacy of this so-called ‘suspicion’ regarding my account’s behavior! To me, it was a scam message, and I suspected they wouldn’t give me anything — they’d keep it all for themselves. So, I waited patiently for their verdict…
And here’s what they replied:
“Hi sjbenaud,
We noticed activity in your account inconsistent with our Terms of Service. Your account has been suspended indefinitely!” 🙁
3. It’s a Scam – Beware of Kwork
The situation highlighted one key thing: Kwork operates like a fox facing the crow. It’s not just the restrictive payment methods that are an issue—it’s also their ability to refund clients even after orders have been completed. Even though the client was satisfied with my work, completed the order, and they dared to tell me they refunded the money to the client! The money I worked hard for hours to earn vanished in the blink of an eye. In my case, the client got free work, and I ended up losing both my time and my money.
Kwork’s payment process seems designed to benefit the platform while leaving freelancers like me stranded. Their lack of transparency makes it a risky option for anyone looking to earn legitimate income online.
Freelancing can be an incredible way to make a living, but it comes with risks — especially when dealing with platforms like Kwork. After my experience, I can confidently say that Kwork is not worth your time or effort. While Fiverr has its challenges, at least you can count on it to protect your earnings once the work is completed.
Stay away from this platform. If you’re considering expanding your freelance services beyond Fiverr, do your research and avoid Kwork at all costs, before you end up losing time, money, and trust as I did.
