PayPal is easy for clients, and that is a real strength. But if your clients are in other countries, its fees on cross-border payments and currency conversion can take a large share of an invoice. The alternatives below each fix a different part of the problem. Fees are as of October 2026, from each company's own pages.
First, know what PayPal costs you
From PayPal's US fee page, for a US business:
- Card payment: 2.99% + 49¢. PayPal Checkout payment: 3.49% + 49¢.
- Payment from a client in another country: 1.5% more.
- Currency conversion: a spread of 3% or 4% added to the exchange rate.
So a client abroad paying you in another currency can cost you the payment fee, plus 1.5%, plus the conversion spread. Fees differ outside the US, so check the page for your country.
The alternatives
Wise
Best for clients who pay by bank transfer, and for converting currency at a low cost. Wise Business gives you account details to receive money in 22 currencies. Receiving local payments that are not wires is free. Conversion starts at 0.23%, at the mid-market rate. The US business account has a 31 dollar set-up fee. Wise also offers invoices, payment links and card payments. See Wise pricing.
Suits: freelancers with clients who can pay by bank transfer in their own currency.
Payoneer
Best if a marketplace or platform you work with pays out to Payoneer. Receiving into a receiving account in your local currency is free, and 1% in another currency. Clients can also pay by card, up to 3.99% + 49¢. There is a 29.95 dollar annual fee if you receive under 6,000 dollars in 12 months. See Payoneer pricing.
Suits: freelancers paid through platforms, and those whose clients already use Payoneer.
Stripe
Best for card payments on your own invoices or website. In the US, an online card payment costs 2.9% + 30¢, plus 1.5% for an international card and 1% if a conversion is needed. Stripe Invoicing adds 0.4% per paid invoice on its Starter plan. A US client can also pay by ACH Direct Debit at 0.8%, capped at 5 dollars. See Stripe pricing and its list of supported countries, which does not include every country.
Suits: freelancers in a supported country who want card payments with lower fixed fees than PayPal.
Square Invoices
A simple option for US freelancers who want to send invoices clients can pay by card or bank. On Square's free plan, an invoice paid by card costs 3.3% + 30¢, and an ACH bank payment on an invoice costs 1%, with a 1 dollar minimum. International cards cost 1.5% more. See Square's fee guide.
Suits: US freelancers, especially those who already use Square.
Plain bank transfer
For clients in your own country, a normal bank transfer has no card fee. Ask your bank what it charges to receive a local transfer and an international wire. Then put your bank details on the invoice.
Suits: local clients, and larger invoices where card fees would hurt.
How to choose
- List where your clients are and how they like to pay.
- Pick one low-cost option for bank transfers, such as Wise or your own bank.
- Keep one card option for clients who need it, such as Stripe, Square or PayPal.
- Write the payment options and the currency on every invoice.
- Check each provider works in your country before you send clients new details.
Offering two options is often enough: one cheap bank option and one card option. For what to put on the invoice itself, see how to write an invoice and the best invoicing software for freelancers. For side-by-side detail, read Wise vs PayPal and Payoneer vs Wise. This is not tax or financial advice. Ask an accountant in your country how to report foreign income and fees.