Best Payoneer Alternatives for Freelancers & Cross-Border Payments

Payoneer offers a suite of digital payment services that freelancers and businesses can use to send and receive cross-border payments. But many users, especially professionals and SMEs in India, are now looking for Payoneer alternatives to avoid its high fees, slow withdrawal time, and limited support options.

With a growing demand for cost-effective, fast, and flexible payment solutions, we see several Payoneer competitors in the market today. In this article, we'll explore the best Payoneer alternatives for your international payment needs.

There are several drawbacks that have pushed freelancers and small businesses in India to explore Payoneer alternatives. These include:

• High currency conversion fees, often a 3% markup over mid-market rates.
• An annual inactivity fee of 29.95 USD.
• A lack of support for the Payoneer prepaid Mastercard.
• Delays in compliance documentation.
• Customer support delays.
• Account freezes and cash flow disruptions.

Payoneer works best with freelancing marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr. But it tends to present challenges like complex invoicing and payment disputes when dealing directly with clients. On top of that, many users lose a significant portion of their revenue to hidden fees and administrative hurdles.

That's why Payoneer competitors like Xflow, Wise and Karbon Forex are now becoming a popular choice for businesses and freelancers to manage their international payments.

With the right global payment platform, your business can effortlessly optimize costs, speed, and compliance in international transactions. Here are the essential factors you must consider when evaluating Payoneer alternatives:

1. Speed of settlement

Look for platforms that offer next-day or same-day settlements. This reduces waiting time compared to traditional banking or SWIFT transfers.

2. Cost and fee transparency

For any Payoneer alternative, evaluate the total cost that includes:

• Transaction fees
• Currency conversion charges
• Monthly or annual fees 
• Hidden costs

3. Multi-currency support

A reliable cross-border payment platform should let you work with different currencies. You should be able to hold money, convert it when needed, and receive payments in your own currency. This is necessary to reduce conversion losses and attract clients across the globe.

4. Global coverage

Check if your payment partner supports the countries you generally transact in, particularly if you are from India. You can also explore some providers like Xflow that specialize in niche markets and offer better rates and localized bank integrations.

5. Compliance and security

Choose a platform that follows all the required rules, including RBI guidelines and global standards like PCI DSS. It should also use strong encryption and have solid fraud checks in place. These safety measures are essential when you’re handling international payments. 

6. Ease in integration and user experience

See if the platform integrates well with your existing workflows and tools - invoicing software, e-commerce systems, CRM, etc. Also check the interface. Is it easy to use? Does it offer good customer support? These questions are necessary so you can avoid operational issues later.  

7. Scalability features

Consider your current payment volume, and revisit your growth plan for the business when looking for a global payments platform. Opt for platforms that provide scalable solutions, automation, and mass payout capabilities so your payment processing can go hand in hand with your growing business.

Choosing the best alternative from Payoneer depends on which feature you prioritize. Some popular options include Xflow, Wise, PayPal, Stripe, Skrill, Airwallex, Neteller, Trolley, DSGPay, and Karbon Forex.

1. Xflow

Xflow is a modern cross-border payments receiving platform for Indian freelancers, businesses, and startups that deal with international payment collections. It leverages automation to avoid manual errors and ensures settlements in 24 hours.

Key features:

• RBI-compliant international payments receiving platform for India.
• Zero FX markup.
• e-FIRA/FIRC issuance.
• Named virtual accounts for faster reconciliations.
• Multi-currency wallet support.

Pros: 

• Compliance-friendly for India.
• Fast INR settlements.
• Clear fee structure.
• E-FIRC support.

Cons

• Transaction can be frozen if regulatory requirements don't meet the user's risk profile.
• Can only be used for receiving payments.

Pricing:

• Starter (for invoices under 3,500 USD).
• Growth (for invoices ranging from 2,00 USD to 10,000 USD).
• Scale for invoices above 10,000 USD and custom pricing.

G2 ratings: 4.9/5 

To explore more of Xflow’s features, visit the official website. 

2. Wise

Wise offers clear pricing and uses the mid-market exchange rate, which makes international payments more affordable. It's a great choice for freelancers and small businesses that need low-cost multi-currency accounts and quick transfers.

Key features:

• Multi-currency borderless account.
• Real-time currency conversion with no markup.
• Easy integration with popular accounting tools.

Pros

• Low fees.
• Faster settlements.
• Transparent pricing.

Cons

• Limited credit facilities. 
• Not suitable for high-risk industries.

Pricing:

The pricing depends on the feature you opt for. Generally, Wise applies a low flat fee plus a small % of the transferred amount.

G2 ratings: 3.9/5

3. PayPal

PayPal is a globally popular platform that is suitable for freelancers. It integrates well with freelancing and e-commerce marketplaces that involve international transactions.

Key features:

• Instant peer-to-peer transfers.
• Supports invoicing and subscriptions.
• Widely accepted on e-commerce platforms.

Pros

• Trusted global brand.
• Easy to set up.
• Buyer-seller protection ensured.

Cons

• Transaction and currency conversion fees are high. 
• Limited multi-currency flexibility. 

Pricing:

PayPal’s rate is 2.29% + 0.09 USD per transaction.

G2 ratings: 4.4/5

4. Stripe

Stripe offers a developer-friendly API, which makes it a great option for tech-savvy businesses. You can build your own custom payment flow to support customers across different countries.

Key features:

• Supports 135+ currencies.
• Offers recurring billing and invoicing options.
• Fraud detection and compliance tools.

Pros

• Scalable and programmable.
• Comes with a strong set of features, like developer-friendly APIs.

Cons

• Technical setup is required. 
• Not ideal for non-technical freelancers or businesses.

Pricing:

Stripe has a pay-as-you-go pricing. For domestic online card transactions, charges are: 2.9% + 0.30 USD.

G2 ratings: 4.3/5 

5. Skrill

Skrill is a fast, flexible wallet. It is favoured by freelancers, affiliate marketers, and people from gaming and high-risk sectors.

Key features:

• Instant worldwide transfers.
• High-risk merchant support.

Pros

• Quick to set up.
• Instant payments. 

Cons

• Higher fees.
• Limited business tools. 
• Prepaid Mastercard linked wallet restricted to residents of the UK and EEA.

Pricing:

• Free bank transfers. 
• Charges up to 1% fee if you transfer money by debit card/PaysafeCash/bank transfer via Klarna. 
• For credit cards, the fee goes up to 2.99%.
• For international transfers in the same currency (USD to USD), it is up to 4.99% per transaction.

G2 ratings: 3.4/5

6. Airwallex

Airwallex is another payments platform that is API driven and offers low foreign exchange fees. It also provides automation options for scaling businesses.

Key features:

• Local currency collection accounts.
• Offers batch payments and virtual cards.
• Real-time FX and compliance automation.

Pros

• Low FX fees.
• Automation-friendly.

Cons

• Only for businesses.
• Tedious onboarding time.

Pricing:

1. Explore (0 or 29 USD /month) for small businesses.

2. Grow (99 USD /month) for growing businesses.

3. Accelerate (From 999 USD /month) for large enterprises.

G2 ratings: 4.5/5

7. Neteller

This Payoneer competitor is a digital wallet that is quite popular in the gaming and high-risk industries. It offers instant transfers and prepaid Mastercard options, too.

Key features:

• Fast peer-to-peer payments.
• Multi-currency wallet.

Pros

• Instant payments.
• Broad acceptance in risky sectors.

Cons

• High FX rates and withdrawal fees. 
• Prepaid Mastercard for spending is only restricted to residents of European Economic Area (EEA) countries. 
• A five USD inactivity fee (if not used for six months).

Pricing:

• Transfers to another Neteller user: 2.99% fee with a $0.50 minimum.
• Bank transfers: 10 USD
• 1.45% for mobile wallets, and up to 7.5% for card withdrawals.

Trustpilot ratings: 2.6/5

8. Trolley

Trolly is a global payout platform that deals with global payroll and mass payments. It comes with integrated compliance.

Key features:

• Compliance and tax automation.
• Supports multi-currency mass payouts.
• API-first design.

Pros

• Perfect for large volume payouts.
• Easy tax compliance.

Cons

• Not for individuals/freelancing professionals. 
• Has custom pricing.

Pricing:

Standard: 

• Pay (49.00 USD/ month)
• Tax (149.00 USD / month)
• Trust (49.00 USD/ month)
• Sync (35.00 USD/ month)

Trolley plus: Custom pricing.

G2 ratings: 4.7/5 

9. DSGPay

DSGpay is a payments platform that is focused on Indian freelancers and SMEs. It offers settlements, low fees, and multi-currency features too.

Key features:

• Named virtual accounts.
• Fast INR settlements.
• Transparent pricing.

Pros

• Low cost. 
• Tailored for the Indian market.

Cons

• Limited global network.

Pricing: 

Customized based on the service required.

Trustpilot ratings: 3.7/5

 10. Karbon Forex

Karbon Forex is a part of Karbon Business (earlier called Karbon Card) that handles cross-border payments for Indian freelancers and companies. It focuses on fast INR payouts and follows all RBI rules to keep transactions smooth and compliant. 

Key features:

• RBI-compliant payments.
• Offers multi-currency accounts.
• Efficient currency conversion.

Pros

• Fast INR withdrawals.
• Local compliance.

Cons

• Limited global payment corridors.

Pricing:

A flat 1% fee on inward remittances and up to 1% on outward remittances.

G2 ratings: 4.8/5

Choosing the right global payment platform depends on what your business needs - payment volume, currencies, compliance rules, etc. You should also consider other factors, such as:

• Cost transparency
• Speed of withdrawals
• Multi-currency support
• Integration compatibility with your current business tools

Follow these steps to choose a Payoneer alternative for your business:

1. Identify your business model

Different business models will have different expectations from the platform:

• A freelancer will prioritize a simple, low-cost platform that provides quick INR withdrawals and invoicing support. 
• A small business may seek multiple payment options, automation, and integration features. 
• Large enterprises may look at scalable solutions that meet compliance. 

2. Assess your transaction volume and frequency

Platforms that offer bulk payout facilities, lower fees, and faster settlement times are perfect for high transaction volumes. But if you have a lower volume of transactions, you should consider ease of use and cost per transaction to avoid any unnecessary fixed fee. 

3. Consider currency and country coverage

Select platforms that support the currencies you deal with. Check if these platforms offer local bank deposits in INR for businesses in India. Multi-currency accounts offered by Xflow can save costs on currency conversions as zero FX markup is guaranteed.

4. Evaluate necessary compliance and security

Make sure the platform follows global rules like PCI DSS and local regulations such as RBI guidelines. Also look for strong security features like two-factor authentication. These steps help keep your international payments safe.

5. Test integration and user experience

Factor in the ease with which the payment platform integrates with your existing financial system. Look for a clean user interface and accessible customer support to improve the process of invoicing and deal with payment issues quickly. 

6. Pilot and compare costs

Run pilot transactions to compare the total cost, which includes fees, FX spreads, and the withdrawal time. Opt for Payoneer competitors like Xflow, which provides transparent fee structures and helps you avoid any hidden charges that reduce your profits.

There are many Payoneer alternatives offering diverse and tailored solutions to meet the various needs of businesses and niche industries. But if you want one platform that ticks all the right boxes, consider Xflow. 

It offers fast 24-hour settlements, automated e-FIRA/FIRC issuance, and mid-market-linked rates for your international payments, so you can focus on growing your business.

Sign up today to simplify international payments.