Free calculator
International Payment Fees Calculator
See exactly how much PayPal, Wise, and Payoneer take out of an international payment — and which one actually leaves you with the most money.
Fee estimates — actual rates vary by country and currency route. Check each provider's current pricing page before relying on this for a real decision.
Why fee comparisons matter
A 3% difference on a $2,000 client invoice is $60 gone — every month, that adds up. PayPal, Wise, and Payoneer all structure fees differently: some charge a flat percentage, others add fixed fees plus conversion spreads. The cheapest option depends on your payment size and currency route.
What you care about is net received — not the headline fee on a marketing page. A provider with a low percentage but a bad exchange rate can cost more than one with a higher listed fee and fair conversion.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your invoice amount — use your typical client payment size
- Review default fee assumptions for PayPal, Wise, and Payoneer
- Edit fees to match your country pair — check each provider's current pricing page
- Compare net received side by side — the highest net number wins for that amount
- Slide the amount up and down — the winner can change between $200 and $5,000 invoices
Fee types explained
- Transaction fee — percentage or fixed charge on the payment
- Currency conversion — explicit conversion fee and/or markup hidden in the exchange rate (often 2–4%)
- Withdrawal fee — cost to move money from the platform to your local bank
Worked examples
$1,500 invoice (typical retainer): PayPal at ~5% all-in ≈ $75 in fees ($1,425 net). Wise at ~1.2% ≈ $18 ($1,482 net). Difference: $57 per payment — ten invoices a year ≈ $570 left on the table.
$300 small invoice: Fixed fees matter more. Wise's $5–7 fixed component is a larger share of the total. Still compare — don't assume one provider always wins.
$8,000 large project: PayPal at 5% = $400. Wise near 1% = ~$80. At scale, percentage-based fees dominate.
When to use each provider
- Wise — often best for direct client invoices $500+ on common currency routes
- PayPal — when clients insist on it; factor fees into your rate
- Payoneer — common for marketplace payouts (Upwork, Fiverr) where platform rules apply
Common mistakes
- Comparing headline percentages without checking exchange rate markup
- Using one provider's fees from a blog post instead of your route today
- Ignoring withdrawal fees to your local bank
- Assuming the cheapest provider at $500 is still cheapest at $5,000
- Setting rates too low and letting fees eat an already thin margin
For a full provider comparison, read PayPal vs Wise vs Payoneer for Freelancers and Why International Payments Cost More Than You Think. If your rate doesn't account for fees yet, start with the Freelance Rate Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- Why isn't PayPal usually the cheapest option?
- PayPal combines a percentage fee with a currency conversion markup hidden in the exchange rate. On many routes the total cost lands around 4–6%, especially on larger payments.
- Does the cheapest option change based on payment size?
- Yes. Fixed fees hurt more on small payments; percentage fees hurt more on large ones. That's why this tool recalculates live as you change the payment amount.
- Are these exact fees?
- No — they're editable estimates. Always check each provider's current pricing page for your specific country and currency route before a real payment.
- What is a hidden currency conversion fee?
- When a provider offers an exchange rate worse than the mid-market rate, the gap is profit to them — often 2–4% on top of any listed transaction fee.
- Should I pass payment fees to clients?
- Many freelancers absorb fees or bake an average 2–3% into their base rate rather than adding a per-invoice processing line. Choose what fits your client relationships and local norms.
- Do withdrawal fees to my bank matter?
- Yes. A provider cheap to receive from but expensive to withdraw to your local bank can lose its advantage. Factor in the full path from client to your spending account.
Set aside tax on each payment
Once you know what you actually receive, move the tax portion to a separate account.
Learn moreIs your rate high enough?
Payment fees silently reduce effective income — make sure your hourly rate covers them.
Learn moreSign up with the provider that fits
Compared the fees above? Open an account with whichever service leaves you with the most on your typical payment size.
Affiliate disclosure: Links below are affiliate links — if you buy or sign up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Wise
Low-cost international transfers with transparent mid-market exchange rates — often strong on larger payments.
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