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Payoneer Vs Paypal: Which is the Best Pick for You?

anoosh-kotak
Anoosh Kotak29 August 2024
Find an Affordable Alternative to PayPal & Payoneer

Founded in New York in 2005, Payoneer is a leading global payments platform that facilitates international money transfers in over 70 currencies. It offers virtual local accounts, multiple payment options, along with digital FIRA to ease compliance for Indian businesses. 

While Payoneer is a go-to for many, its fees and customer support have not met everyone's expectations. If you're looking for an international payment solution, it’s wise to consider a few alternatives that might better suit your needs. Let's start with Payoneer Vs PayPal. 

Looking for an Affordable Alternative to PayPal & Payoneer?

Payoneer Vs Paypal: Understanding the Differences

Payoneer

In our discussion on Payoneer Vs PayPal, let's start with PayPal. As we’ve discussed, Payoneer payment Gateway is a leading platform for businesses to send and receive international payments. Let’s take a quick look at some of its key features, pricing and areas of concern.

Key Features

  • Multiple Integrations: Payoneer has integrated with marketplaces like Airbnb, Getty Images, and Fiverr, helping businesses expand globally and receive payments seamlessly.
  • Enterprise solution: The platform also offers enterprise solution which includes mass payments and API support for automating and managing payments. 
  • Multi-currency accounts: Payoneer provides multi-currency virtual accounts in the US, EU, UK, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and China, allowing you to receive local bank transfers from these regions easily.
  • Digital FIRA: To ease compliance for Indian businesses, Payoneer issues FIRA for every international payment. 

Pricing

Opening a Payoneer account is free, but there are charges associated with receiving and withdrawing payments. Let's understand their fee structure:

Account Setup: Opening a Payoneer account is free, but fees apply for transactions and withdrawals.

Receiving Payments:

Payoneer-to-Payoneer payments: Free

Via credit card: 3.2% + $0.49 per transaction

Via ACH Bank Debit (US): 1% fee

Payments through virtual accounts: Free for EUR and GBP, up to 1% for USD

Withdrawing Payments:

Withdrawals to a local bank account will incur up to a 3% fee if the currency differs. For example, if you get paid in USD and you want to withdraw it in your INR account in India, a fee of upto 3% will apply

Additional Costs:

Extra charges like bank processing or intermediary fees may apply.

Annual Fee: $29.95 annually if you receive less than $2,000 in total payments over 12 months.

In a nutshell, as an exporter, if you are receiving and withdrawing international payments via Payoneer, the following fees will apply:

Credit Card Payment: 3.2% + $0.49 per transaction + 3% withdrawal fee

ACH Bank Debit: 1% Transaction Fee + 3% withdrawal fee

Virtual Bank Account: 1% for USD + 3% Forex withdrawal fee

Concerns

Businesses often choose Payoneer for its convenience and platform integrations, though some users have noted challenges with customer support and currency conversion rates

PayPal

Next on the debate on Payoneer Vs PayPal, let's now talk about Paypal. It is a leading financial services company, and its credibility, coupled with global reach, makes it a top choice for receiving international payments in India. The platform supports over 100 currencies and offers various payment methods, including credit and debit card payments and subscription models. 

Key Features:

  • Buyer Protection: PayPal offers buyer protection program which reimburses buyers for purchases that either do not arrive or do not match the seller's description.
  • Seller Protection: PayPal also provides seller protection for businesses in cases of unauthorized transactions or undelivered shipments. Sellers must provide proof of shipment to qualify for this protection.
  • Monthly FIRA: The platform offers monthly digital FIRAs to Indian businesses and freelancers, which acts as proof of receiving international payment.
  • Robust Security: PayPal enforces strict security measures, including 24/7 account monitoring, to ensure the safety of funds.

Pricing

The following are the PayPal fees associated with receiving international payments in India via Paypal

Transaction Fee: PayPal charges a 4.40% transfer fee on international business payments. For instance, receiving USD 1000 from a US client results in a USD 44 deduction.

Fixed Fee: A fixed fee, depending on the currency, is also applied alongside the transaction fee. 

Currency Conversion Fee: PayPal adds a 4% currency conversion fee to the prevailing exchange rate when converting foreign currency to local currency, which means you'll receive a lower exchange rate than the market rate.

In summary, as an exporter, you'll need to pay the following fees to receive international payments through PayPal:

4.40% transaction fee+ Fixed fee (approx 0.30 USD)+ 4% currency conversion fee. 

Concerns

PayPal’s ease of use and credibility make it a crowd favourite for managing cross-border payments, but its significantly pricing can make it an expensive option for many, especially for smaller businesses. 

Find an Affordable Alternative to PayPal & Payoneer

Payoneer Vs Paypal: A Quick Rundown

Here’s a quick snapshot of Payoneer Vs Paypal along with Skydo, for a better understanding:

PayoneerPayPalSkydo
Fees0-3.2% for payments4.40% + fixed fee depending on the currencyFixed fee of USD 19 for payments below USD 2000 and USD 29 for payments between USD 2001 and USD 10000
Forex markup/Currency conversion fee/withdrawal feeUpto 3% forex markup4% currency conversion feeLive forex rate without any forex markup or currency conversion fee
Virtual multicurrency accounts YesNoYes
ComplianceFree digital FIRA for every transactionFree monthly FIRA Free digital FIRA for every transaction

Payoneer Vs PayPal: Which one is better?

Deciding which platform is better isn’t straightforward, as both have distinct strengths. Payoneer offers lower fees for receiving international payments, while PayPal is renowned for its global credibility and widespread acceptance. Assess your specific needs to determine which platform aligns best with your business requirements.

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Frequently asked questions

How much Payoneer charges for $ 1000?

When you receive and withdraw payments through Payoneer, fees apply at both stages. For example, if you receive USD 1,000 via Payoneer's global bank account and withdraw it in INR, a 2% forex markup is applied. Instead of receiving INR 84,000 (assuming an exchange rate of INR 84 per USD), you'll end up with INR 82,320.

What are the disadvantages of Payoneer?

Which one is better, Payoneer or PayPal?

About the author
anoosh-kotak
Anoosh, an IIT graduate with a background in engineering, now leads growth initiatives at Skydo. Sports, Travel & Binge-watching
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