What to Look for in a PayPal Alternative
Before diving into the options, let's define what a great payout platform looks like for a digital nomad or online entrepreneur. The best systems share these key features:
Global Reach: The ability to send and receive money across borders with ease.
Multi-Currency Support: Hold balances in multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.) to avoid forced, expensive conversions.
Low & Transparent Fees: Clear pricing and fair exchange rates (ideally, the real mid-market rate).
Multiple Payout Methods: Options to transfer to local bank accounts, debit cards, or other wallets.
Integration & Automation: Connects with your accounting software or other tools to streamline your workflow.
Security & Compliance: Robust security measures to protect your funds and built-in tools for compliance (like KYC/AML).
Top 9 PayPal Alternatives for Global Payouts
1. Wise (formerly Transferwise)
Best for: Low-cost international transfers and holding multiple currencies.
Wise has become the gold standard for many digital nomads and international businesses. It's built on a foundation of transparency, offering the real mid-market exchange rate with a small, clear fee. Its multi-currency account allows you to get local bank details in numerous countries (including the US, UK, Eurozone, and Australia), making it incredibly easy to get paid like a local and move money out of your US LLC to your home country bank account.
Pricing:
Business Account Setup: Small one-time fee (around $31).
Transfers: A small, variable fee based on the currency and amount sent. A fee calculator on their site provides full transparency before you commit.
Strengths:
Uses the real mid-market exchange rate, saving you a fortune on hidden markups.
Extremely fast and reliable international transfers.
Multi-currency account with local bank details in 9+ currencies.
Seamless API integrations with accounting software like Xero.
Weaknesses:
Customer support can be slow at times.
No physical branches or cash pickup options.
Primarily a transfer service, not a full-service payment processor for clients.
2. Revolut
Best for: An all-in-one financial app with banking, cards, and international transfers.
Revolut is a powerful, app-based digital banking alternative that's especially popular in Europe. It combines multi-currency accounts, prepaid debit cards, easy peer-to-peer payments, and competitive currency exchange into one slick interface. It's an excellent tool for managing day-to-day business spending while traveling.
Pricing:
Standard: Free plan with basic features.
Premium: $9.99/month for perks like discounted international transfers.
Metal: $16.99/month for more discounts, cashback, and a metal card.
Strengths:
User-friendly mobile app for managing everything on the go.
Competitive exchange rates (though watch out for weekend markups).
Fast global transfers and broad digital banking features.
Weaknesses:
Customer service is primarily app-based and can be slow.
Fees can apply for weekend currency exchanges and some international transfers.
Better suited for smaller businesses and freelancers than high-volume enterprises.
3. Deel
Best for: Paying international contractors and managing global team compliance.
Deel started as an HR and payroll platform for remote teams but has evolved into a powerhouse for global payments. If your business involves hiring and paying contractors around the world, Deel is a game-changer. It automates invoicing, ensures local compliance, and allows you to pay your team in over 120 currencies. Contractors can withdraw their funds via bank transfer, Wise, Revolut, Payoneer, and even crypto.
Pricing:
Contractors: Starts at $49/month.
Global Payroll: Starts at $29/employee/month.
Strengths:
Streamlines paying a global team of contractors.
Handles localized contracts and tax compliance (e.g., W-8BEN forms).
Extensive payout options for recipients in 150+ countries.
Automates the entire process from onboarding to payment.
Weaknesses:
Pricing can be complex and may be overkill if you only need simple payment processing.
Some users report slow customer support responses.
4. Payoneer
Best for: Freelancers and e-commerce sellers working with international marketplaces.
Payoneer functions like a virtual merchant account, making it popular with freelancers and sellers on platforms like Amazon, Upwork, and Airbnb. It allows you to receive payments in multiple currencies and offers a Mastercard for spending or ATM withdrawals. It's a solid, well-established player in the global payment space.
Pricing:
Receiving Payments: Free from other Payoneer users; 3% via credit card, 1% via ACH bank debit.
Withdrawing Funds: Up to 2% fee when withdrawing to a bank account in a different currency. $1.50 flat fee for same-currency transfers.
Inactivity Fee: $29.95 after 12 months of no activity.
Strengths:
Strong integration with major online marketplaces.
Provides local receiving accounts in several currencies.
Offers working capital solutions to eligible businesses.
Weaknesses:
Customer support has a reputation for being slow.
ATM withdrawal fees can be relatively high.
Fee structure can be less transparent than Wise's.
5. Stripe
Best for: Receiving client payments and integrated payouts.
Stripe is primarily a payment _processor_—the best in the business for accepting payments from clients on your website or app. However, through its Stripe Connect and Payouts products, it's also a powerful tool for sending money. It's ideal for platforms or marketplaces that need to pay out to sellers or service providers. For a solo nomad, you'd use Stripe to charge clients and then another service (like Wise) to pay yourself, but it's important to understand its capabilities.
Pricing:
Standard Processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per successful card charge.
Payouts: Custom pricing, but generally very competitive.
Strengths:
Incredibly powerful and developer-friendly API.
Supports 135+ currencies and countless payment methods.
Trusted by millions of businesses worldwide.
Instant Payouts available for an extra fee.
Weaknesses:
Can be overkill and require a developer for simple use cases.
Not designed as a primary tool for a freelancer to pay themselves.
Does not support high-risk industries.
6. Trolley (formerly Payment Rails)
Best for: Businesses needing to automate mass payouts to contractors or suppliers.
Trolley is a serious global payout platform designed to streamline and automate mass payments. If you're running an agency or business that pays dozens or hundreds of freelancers, Trolley is built for you. It includes tax compliance features, KYC/AML checks, and integrates with accounting tools to create a seamless workflow.
Pricing:
Standard Pay: Starts at $49/month.
Plus Pay: Custom pricing with volume discounts.
Strengths:
Excellent for high-volume, automated payouts in 135+ currencies.
Strong focus on tax and regulatory compliance (SOC 2).
Integrates with major ERP and accounting systems.
Weaknesses:
Pricing can be steep for businesses with low transaction volumes.
Has a steeper learning curve for setup and onboarding.
7. Skrill
Best for: Online payments and money transfers, particularly popular in Europe and for gaming/trading.
Skrill is a digital wallet provider that has been around since 2001. It operates in over 120 countries and supports 40 currencies, making it a viable option for international transfers. It's particularly well-regarded in the online gaming and trading communities.
Pricing:
Sending/Receiving Money: Free if no currency conversion is involved.
Withdrawal Fee: $5.50 flat fee.
Credit Card Transfer: 2.99% fee.
Inactivity Fee: $5.00/month.
Strengths:
Fast and secure payments with a virtual wallet.
Widely accepted on European websites.
Offers a prepaid Visa card for easy spending.
Weaknesses:
Strict security protocols can lead to accounts being frozen without warning.
Customer support is often reported as being overwhelmed.
The fee structure can be less favorable than competitors like Wise.
8. Remitly
Best for: Remittances and mobile-first international money transfers.
Remitly focuses on making international money transfers faster and cheaper, primarily through its mobile app. It's more geared towards personal remittances than business payouts but can be a useful tool for specific corridors due to its competitive exchange rates and speed.
Pricing: Varies based on transfer speed (Express vs. Economy), amount, and destination country.
Strengths:
Highly competitive transfer rates for many routes.
Easy-to-use mobile interface.
Offers multiple delivery options, including cash pickup in some countries.
Weaknesses:
Has limits on transfer amounts.
Not designed as a primary business payout solution.
Cash pickup is not available everywhere.
9. Hyperwallet
Best for: Enterprises and marketplaces needing high-volume, global fund distribution.
Hyperwallet, a PayPal service, is a global payout platform focused on providing a frictionless payment experience for marketplaces, e-commerce platforms, and large enterprises. It's designed to distribute earnings, royalties, and commissions to a global network of payees.
Pricing: Not transparent; you must contact their sales team for a quote. It's generally considered more expensive than competitors.
Strengths:
Full-stack payout capabilities for localized, multi-currency payments.
Excellent for very high-volume cross-border payments.
Trusted by large enterprises for global fund distribution.
Weaknesses:
Non-transparent pricing is a major drawback.
The backend user experience can feel dated.
Setup process can be lengthy and complex.
