Use shorter windows for simple assets.
Freelance Review Guide
A freelance client review period must protect inspection without turning silence into permanent payment control.
Freelance client review period rules define how long a client has after recorded delivery to approve work or request an allowed revision. In an escrow agreement, the deadline prevents completed work from remaining locked merely because the buyer stops responding.
Match the deliverable
Review time should reflect complexity and availability.
A small image may need less time than a working website or long video. The client should reserve time to test the actual deliverable rather than opening it at the end of the window.
Allow testing time for technical work.
Consider weekends and team approval.
State the duration before funding.
Define client actions
The review period should end in a recognizable decision.
The client may approve, request an included revision tied to acceptance criteria or use another action allowed by the agreement. General dissatisfaction is not a substitute for specific feedback.
Approve completed work.
Identify the failed criterion.
Submit consolidated revision feedback.
Request an extension only through the defined process.
Handle silence
A contract needs an outcome when the client does nothing.
An automatic-release or ready-for-release rule prevents endless waiting after delivery. The client should understand the consequence before funding and receive clear notice of the review deadline.
Record the delivery time.
Display the remaining review clock.
Do not hide automatic outcomes.
Keep material communication attached to the contract.
Trustless defaults
Trustless Network commonly uses a 48-hour review window.
The platform’s contract logic records delivery and review timing, supports defined revisions and can move silent-buyer milestones toward release according to the agreement. Users should inspect the exact contract before funding.
Review hours are contract data.
Timing starts from recorded contract events.
Extensions should be limited and visible.
Platform rules do not replace careful inspection.
Choosing duration
Match review time to the evidence the client must inspect.
A simple image may need a day or two; a website, integration or long video may require testing across devices and stakeholders. Reserve review time before delivery and consider weekends or scheduled absences. A freelance client review period should be long enough for competent inspection but finite enough to preserve the provider’s cash flow.
Scale time with complexity.
Plan stakeholder availability.
State hours or days unambiguously.
Agree before escrow funding.
Starting the clock
The deadline needs one recorded delivery event.
Define where delivery occurs, what package must be present and which timestamp controls. A chat message saying ‘done’ should not start review if required files or access are missing. The contract should display the start, end and remaining time using a consistent clock so neither party relies on memory.
Use one authoritative delivery channel.
Require the complete promised package.
Record the controlling timestamp.
Display the deadline to both parties.
Valid review
Rejection should identify evidence—not merely preserve leverage.
The client compares delivery with written freelance acceptance criteria. A valid revision request names the failed criterion and supplies consolidated feedback within scope. New preferences or features can be priced separately; they should not block release of work that already passed the funded test.
Approve work that meets the test.
Tie revision requests to failed criteria.
Consolidate feedback.
Separate additions from defects.
Silence rules
A deadline without a consequence is only a suggestion.
Disclose whether silence triggers automatic release, a ready-for-release state or another recorded action. Send reminders without resetting the clock. Trustless Network commonly uses a 48-hour review window, but users must inspect the exact agreement. The goal is not surprise automation; it is a settlement path understood before funding.
Disclose the default outcome.
Notify before the deadline.
Do not restart clocks invisibly.
Verify the resulting contract state.
Extensions
Allow real problems without making deadlines optional.
Define who may request an extension, the maximum length and how many are permitted. Record approval or denial before the existing deadline. An extension should move the review boundary visibly without altering scope or acceptance criteria. Limited extensions preserve fairness while preventing repeated delay from recreating indefinite payment control.
Limit count and duration.
Require a recorded request.
Preserve scope and criteria.
Show the revised deadline to both parties.
Frequently asked questions
Freelance Client Review Period: Enough Time to Inspect—Not Enough Time to Hold Payment Hostage
What is a client review period?
It is the defined time after delivery during which the client inspects work and approves it or requests an allowed revision.
Is 48 hours enough to review freelance work?
It can be appropriate for many digital deliverables, but complex work may require a longer agreed window.
What happens if the client stays silent?
The contract should define the result, such as automatic release or movement toward a releasable state.
Can the review period be extended?
Yes, when the agreement permits an extension and the decision is recorded before the deadline.
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Rules before risk
Structure the agreement before money or work changes hands.
Create a wallet-based contract with defined milestones, deadlines, review rules and XRP settlement instructions.