How to get paid by international clients
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If you invoice clients in other countries, the way they pay you can cost anything from nothing to 5% or more of every invoice. The cheapest route is usually a local account in the client's currency.
Why international transfers cost so much
A traditional international transfer passes through the SWIFT network. You can lose money three ways: a fixed fee at each end, fees taken by intermediary banks along the way, and an exchange rate worse than the real (mid-market) rate. The exchange-rate markup is often the biggest cost and the least visible. Our guide how to cut international payment fees explains each one.
Use local receiving accounts
Multi-currency accounts give you local account details in other countries: a US routing and account number, a UK sort code, a European IBAN. Your client pays you with a normal domestic transfer, which is usually free for them, and you choose when to convert.
| Product | Price today | Free plan | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | Free plan, then USD 12 per user per month + platform fee | Yes | Pricing |
| Payoneer | Free plan, then USD 29.95 per year if under USD 6,000 | Yes | Pricing |
| Mercury | Free plan, then USD 29.90 per month | Yes | Pricing |
| Revolut Business | From GBP 10 per month (≈ USD 13.23) | No | Pricing |
| Wise Business | From USD 31 one-time | No | Pricing |
Prices from vendor websites, checked 2026-10-12; they update automatically.
Popular comparisons: Wise Business vs Payoneer, Payoneer vs Grey and Airwallex vs Payoneer.
Work out what you would really receive
Put your invoice amount into the international payment calculator to see what arrives after fees and conversion with each provider.
Send professional invoices
State the currency, the payment details and the due date on every invoice. The free invoice generator makes a PDF in any currency; once you send invoices every month, an invoicing app adds reminders and online payment. Freelancers can set a rate that covers fees and taxes with the freelance rate calculator.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to receive USD from abroad?
Usually a local USD receiving account, so your client pays by a domestic US transfer, then converting at a rate close to the mid-market rate. Compare the providers above with our calculator.