PayPal vs Payoneer Checkout Calculator
Choosing between PayPal and Payoneer isn’t just about preference; it is about your bottom line. How you pay your team or get paid by clients directly impacts your cash flow, timing, and how much money you actually keep after fees.
Both platforms are giants in the fintech space, but they serve very different masters. PayPal is the ubiquitous wallet everyone knows, while Payoneer is the specialized engine for international business.
To help you make the instant decision, we built this live calculator. Enter your transaction details below to see exactly which platform puts more money in your pocket.
Checkout Fee Calculator
Compare PayPal and Payoneer fees instantly
PayPal PayoneerThe Core Differences
At a high level, PayPal is a digital wallet designed for everyone—consumers buying shoes, friends splitting dinner, and businesses processing payments. Payoneer, on the other hand, is strictly B2B (Business to Business). It is designed for freelancers, marketplaces, and companies that need to move money across borders without opening local bank accounts in every country.
What is Payoneer Best For?
Payoneer shines when you need to act like a local business globally. It allows you to receive funds in multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, and CNH) as if you had a bank account in those countries.
It is the go-to choice for:
- Freelancers on Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal.
- Amazon and Walmart marketplace sellers.
- Agencies paying remote teams in 200+ countries.
What is PayPal Best For?
PayPal is the king of convenience and consumer trust. It combines a payment gateway with a digital wallet. You don’t need a bank account to start, and it is incredibly easy to integrate into an online store to accept payments from customers who trust the PayPal brand.
It is ideal for:
- E-commerce stores (Shopify, WooCommerce).
- Occasional transactions or sending money to friends.
- Businesses that need instant brand recognition at checkout.
Detailed Feature Comparison
If you are looking for a quick breakdown of how they stack up against each other, here is the data:
Other Tools To Try
| Feature | Payoneer | PayPal |
| Primary Audience | Freelancers, B2B, Marketplaces | E-commerce, B2C, P2P |
| Mass Payments | Batch pay up to 1,000 recipients | Payouts up to 100,000 (Enterprise) |
| Speed | 1-3 Business Days | Instant to 1 Business Day |
| Transaction Fees | Lower for B2B & International | Higher fixed fees + % |
| Global Reach | 200+ countries, 70 currencies | 200+ countries, 25 currencies |
| Working Capital | Merchant cash advance (Amazon/Walmart sellers) | Business loans based on sales history |
The Cost of Doing Business
Fees are usually the deciding factor. While our calculator above gives you the exact numbers for your specific amount, here is how the fee structures work behind the scenes.
Payoneer Fees
Payoneer is generally more cost-effective for high-volume international transactions.
- Receiving Money: It is often free if another Payoneer user pays you. If you are receiving via credit card, expect a 3% fee. ACH bank debits are around 1%.
- Withdrawing Funds: This is where Payoneer is unique. If you withdraw to a bank account in the same currency (e.g., USD to USD), it’s a flat fee of $1.50. If you withdraw to a local currency (e.g., USD to INR), they charge about 2% above the market rate.
- Account Fees: There is an annual fee of $29.95, but here is the catch—it only applies if your account is inactive for 12 months. If you are using the account, it’s free.
See our Payoneer Fee Calculator
PayPal Fees
PayPal is transparent but can get expensive, especially with cross-border fees.
- Domestic Transactions: The standard rate is roughly 3.49% + a fixed fee (usually $0.49).
- International Transactions: This is where it hurts. You pay the standard rate plus an additional 1.50% international fee. On top of that, PayPal’s currency conversion spread can be 3-4% above the base exchange rate.
- Mass Payouts: If you use PayPal Payouts to pay contractors, you are looking at 2% per transaction, capped at a specific amount.
See our PayPal Fee Calculator
Sending and Receiving
Getting Paid
Payoneer allows you to send “payment requests” to clients. They can pay you via credit card or bank transfer. The standout feature is the Global Payment Service, which gives you local bank details (like a routing number in the US or an IBAN in Europe). You put these details on your invoice, and the client pays you via local transfer.
PayPal makes it incredibly easy to create invoices directly within the app. You can also create “Buy Now” buttons or shareable payment links for social media. The friction for your customer is very low because they likely already have a PayPal account.
Accessing Your Funds
Both platforms offer a Mastercard to access your funds instantly.
- Payoneer Commercial Mastercard: Use it online or in stores. The limit is high ($2,500 daily), but keep an eye on ATM fees and foreign transaction fees if you travel.
- PayPal Business Debit Mastercard: Gives you instant access to your PayPal balance and offers cash back on eligible purchases.
Security and Trust
Is your money safe? Yes, both platforms are heavily regulated, but they handle disputes differently.
PayPal is famous for its Buyer and Seller Protection. If a customer claims they didn’t receive an item, PayPal freezes the funds and mediates the dispute. This is great for buyers but can be a headache for sellers if funds are held unexpectedly.
Payoneer is a regulated financial institution (licensed as Payoneer Europe Limited). They focus heavily on security encryption and compliance. Since they deal mostly with B2B, you face fewer “chargeback scam” issues than you might with consumer-facing PayPal transactions
Which One Wins?
It rarely makes sense to use just one. However, if you have to choose a primary processor, follow this rule of thumb:
Choose Payoneer if:
- You are a freelancer or agency working with international clients.
- You receive payments from marketplaces like Amazon, Upwork, or Airbnb.
- You want to save money on currency conversion and withdrawal fees.
- You need to pay remote staff in multiple countries efficiently.
Choose PayPal if:
- You run an e-commerce store and need a checkout button customers trust.
- Most of your clients are domestic (in the same country as you).
- You need access to funds instantly (Instant Transfer).
- You are processing low-volume transactions where a simple fixed fee is easier to manage.
Subscribe for alerts on new scams and real opportunities.
Have you been scammed?
If you have lost money or suspect a website is fake, report it to us immediately to warn others.
REPORT A SCAM NOW