How much do you keep? Wise vs Payoneer vs PayPal
Enter what a client pays you in US dollars. The calculator estimates what each service takes, using the fees published on their official pricing pages, and shows which ones work in your country.
| Service | Receiving fee | Conversion fee | You keep (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiseLowest fees Check first | Free | from 0.23% | up to $997.70 |
| Payoneer Check first | $10.00 | $11.88 – $39.60 | $950.40 – $978.12 |
| PayPal Check first | $44.90 | $28.65 – $38.20 | $916.90 – $926.45 |
- Wise publishes only its lowest conversion fee (from 0.23%); the real fee depends on your currency, and Wise may not convert to every currency. To get a Wise Business account's USD details there is a one-time 31 USD fee.
- Receiving USD as a non-US resident: 1% (minimum 1 USD). Withdrawing in another currency: 1.2% to 4%. Some countries have a minimum withdrawal fee. Payoneer also charges 29.95 USD a year if the account receives less than 6,000 USD in 12 months.
- Assumes the client pays you through PayPal (goods and services, 2.99% + 1.5% international). These are the US fee rates; PayPal's fees depend on your account's country.
Affiliate link: if you sign up, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates only, not a quote. Fees change and depend on your country, currency and account. Always check the exact fee in the provider's app before you get paid.
How we calculate
- Wise: receiving USD by ACH is free; a USD wire or Swift payment costs 6.11 USD. Converting starts at 0.23% and varies by currency, so we show the best case.
- Payoneer: receiving USD into a receiving account that isn't in your local currency costs 1% (minimum 1 USD). Withdrawing with a currency conversion costs 1.2% to 4%, so we show a range.
- PayPal: receiving a payment for goods and services costs 2.99%, plus 1.5% for an international payment; converting costs 3% to 4%.
- Availability comes from the same official country lists as the rest of this site. A service marked “not available” is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Which is cheapest to receive money from a US client?
When Wise serves your country, receiving USD by ACH into Wise is free, so it is usually the cheapest. Payoneer takes 1% on arrival, and PayPal around 4.5% before any conversion.
Why is PayPal often the most expensive?
A client paying through PayPal triggers a goods-and-services fee and an international fee, and converting the balance adds a 3–4% spread.
Is keeping the money in USD cheaper?
Yes, you skip the conversion fee. It helps if you pay for things in dollars, or wait for a better moment to convert.
Sources
- Wise — fees for receiving money
- Wise — pricing (converting money)
- Wise Business — receiving fees
- Payoneer — pricing
- PayPal — business fees (United States)
Fees checked November 9, 2026. Tell us.