Best Payment Methods for Freelancers: Fees, Speed, and Security Compared (2026)

Getting paid shouldn't be complicated, but choosing the right payment method can feel overwhelming. PayPal? Stripe? Bank transfer? Each has different fees, processing times, and hassles.

I've tested them all over years of freelancing. Here's everything you need to know to get paid faster with lower fees.

Quick Comparison: The Major Payment Methods

Now let's dig into the details.

Bank Transfers (ACH)

How It Works

Client sends money directly from their bank to yours using your routing and account numbers.

Fees

• For you: Usually free or $0-5 per transfer
• For client: Usually free
• Total cost: Near zero

Speed

• Domestic US: 3-5 business days
• Some banks offer same-day ACH: 1 business day

Pros

• Lowest cost option
• No intermediary
• Works for any amount
• Funds go directly to your bank

Cons

• Requires sharing bank details
• Slower than cards
• Client has to manually initiate
• No buyer protection for them

Best For

• Large payments ($5,000+)
• Recurring monthly retainers
• Domestic US clients
• Clients who prefer bank transfers

Set Up Tips

Create a professional payment sheet to share:

Bank: First National Bank
Account Name: Your Business Name
Routing Number: XXXXXXXXX
Account Number: XXXXXXXXX
Reference: [Invoice Number]

Credit/Debit Cards via Stripe

How It Works

Client pays through a payment link or embedded form. Stripe processes the card and deposits to your bank.

Fees

• Standard: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• International cards: +1.5%
• Currency conversion: +1%
• Disputes/chargebacks: $15

Speed

• Standard payout: 2 business days (US)
• First payout: 7-14 days (new accounts)
• International: 3-7 days

Pros

• Professional payment links
• Works with all major cards
• Automatic currency conversion
• Excellent documentation
• Integrates with invoicing software

Cons

• Higher fees than bank transfer
• Chargebacks possible (rare for services)
• Funds held briefly before payout

Best For

• All-purpose invoicing
• Clients who want to pay by card
• International payments
• One-time project payments

Fee Example

$1,000 invoice:

• Fee: $29 + $0.30 = $29.30
• You receive: $970.70

PayPal

How It Works

Client pays via PayPal balance, bank, or card. Money goes to your PayPal account, then transfers to your bank.

Fees

• Domestic (card/PayPal): 2.89% + $0.49
• International: 4.4% + fixed fee
• PayPal balance: 2.89% + $0.49

Speed

• PayPal balance: Instant
• Transfer to bank: 1-3 business days
• Instant transfer to bank: 1.75% fee

Pros

• Very widely used
• Clients often have accounts already
• Buyer and seller protection
• Invoice directly through PayPal

Cons

• Higher fees than competitors
• Account freezes (more common than other platforms)
• Poor customer service reputation
• Withdrawal to bank isn't instant (free option)

Best For

• Small payments (under $500)
• Clients who specifically prefer PayPal
• International clients familiar with PayPal
• Quick one-off transactions

Fee Example

$1,000 invoice:

• Fee: $28.90 + $0.49 = $29.39
• You receive: $970.61

Wise (formerly TransferWise)

How It Works

Client transfers to Wise using local payment methods. Wise converts and sends to your bank.

Fees

• Transfer fee: 0.4-1% (varies by currency pair)
• Conversion: Real exchange rate (no markup)
• Receiving: Usually free

Speed

• Within Wise accounts: Instant
• To bank: 1-2 business days
• Some currencies: Same day

Pros

• Best rates for international
• True mid-market exchange rate
• Multi-currency account available
• Transparent fees shown upfront

Cons

• Less known than PayPal
• Client needs to set up Wise or use bank
• Not designed for card payments

Best For

• International clients (best option)
• Clients in Europe, UK, Australia
• Large international payments
• Regular payments from foreign clients

Fee Example

$1,000 USD from European client:

• Fee: ~$4-8 (depending on payment method)
• You receive: ~$992-996

Wire Transfers

How It Works

Client instructs their bank to send money directly to your bank using SWIFT codes.

Fees

• Sending: $15-35 (client pays)
• Receiving: $10-25 (you pay)
• Intermediary banks: May deduct $15-30

Speed

• Domestic: 1 business day
• International: 1-5 business days

Pros

• Good for very large amounts
• Direct bank-to-bank
• Widely accepted internationally
• Secure and irreversible

Cons

• Expensive for smaller amounts
• Hidden intermediary fees
• Tracking can be difficult
• Requires SWIFT details

Best For

• Large payments ($10,000+)
• Enterprise clients
• Situations requiring immediate finality
• When other methods aren't available

Fee Example

$10,000 international wire:

• Client pays: ~$35
• You pay: ~$15-20
• Net cost: ~$50-55

Checks

How It Works

Client mails a paper check. You deposit it at your bank or via mobile app.

Fees

• For you: Free (usually)
• For client: Cost of check and stamp

Speed

• Delivery: 3-7 days
• Check clearing: 2-5 business days
• Total: 5-14 days typically

Pros

• No transaction fees
• Familiar to traditional businesses
• Paper trail for both parties
• Good for local clients

Cons

• Slowest option by far
• Can bounce
• Physical mail delays
• Need to physically deposit

Best For

• Older/traditional clients
• Local businesses who prefer checks
• Avoiding transaction fees on larger amounts
• Clients with payment systems built around checks

Reality Check

If a client insists on checks for every payment, consider adding a fee or requiring faster payment methods. Checks slow down your cash flow significantly.

Cryptocurrency

How It Works

Client sends Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other crypto to your wallet address.

Fees

• Network fees: $0.50-50 (varies by network congestion)
• Conversion to USD: 0-1.5% (via exchange)

Speed

• Bitcoin: 10-60 minutes
• Ethereum: 1-5 minutes
• Stablecoins (USDC): 1-5 minutes

Pros

• Very fast for international
• No chargebacks
• Works 24/7
• Low fees for large amounts

Cons

• Price volatility (unless using stablecoins)
• Tax complexity
• Not widely adopted
• Technical knowledge required

Best For

• Tech-savvy clients
• International payments where banking is difficult
• Clients who specifically want crypto
• When avoiding bank delays

Tax Note

Cryptocurrency is taxable. Any crypto you receive is taxable as income at fair market value. Converting to USD is also a taxable event.

Payment Method Decision Tree

Start here: Where is your client located?

Same country (US):

• Under $1,000: Stripe or PayPal
• $1,000-$10,000: ACH bank transfer or Stripe
• Over $10,000: ACH or wire transfer
• Traditional/corporate: Check or ACH

International:

• Client in UK/EU/Australia: Wise
• Large amount ($10,000+): Wire transfer
• Tech-savvy client: Crypto (stablecoins)
• Default: PayPal or Wise

Client preference:

• "Do you take cards?": Stripe
• "Can I pay via PayPal?": PayPal
• "What's your bank info?": ACH details
• No preference: Offer Stripe link

Setting Up Payment Methods: Checklist

Minimum Setup (Start Here)

• Stripe account connected to invoicing
• Business bank account for ACH
• PayPal Business account (optional but useful)

International Clients

• Wise multi-currency account
• Understand currency conversion options
• Have SWIFT/BIC codes ready

Enterprise/Large Clients

• Wire transfer details documented
• ACH information on letterhead
• Ability to accept checks if required

Fee Comparison on Common Invoice Amounts

$500 Invoice

$2,500 Invoice

$10,000 Invoice

Tips for Getting Paid Faster

Offer Multiple Options

Include on every invoice:

• Primary: Card payment (Stripe link)
• Alternative: ACH details
• If needed: PayPal

Make It One-Click

Payment links are faster than sending bank details. Include a clickable payment link in every invoice.

Match Client Preferences

Ask new clients: "What's your preferred payment method?" Then accommodate if reasonable.

Automate Recurring Payments

For retainer clients, set up automatic monthly charges (with permission). Stripe and PayPal both support this.

Accept Higher Fees for Speed

Sometimes paying 2.9% to get paid in 2 days beats waiting 14 days for a free check. Your time and cash flow have value.

The Bottom Line

For most freelancers, here's the ideal setup:

Primary: Stripe for card payments

• Works with invoicing software
• Professional payment links
• Reasonable fees

Secondary: ACH bank transfer

• For clients who prefer it
• Zero fees
• Good for large payments

International: Wise

• Best exchange rates
• Low, transparent fees
• Fast transfers

Backup: PayPal

• When clients specifically want it
• Quick and easy
• Widely trusted

Don't overthink it. Start with Stripe for most invoices, offer ACH for larger amounts, and add Wise when you get international clients.

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