Payout fee comparison
Enter today's rand per dollar rate to see what you keep.
Who it is for
It is for South African freelancers, remote contractors and online sellers who are paid in US dollars by overseas clients or platforms. It covers the two routes most people use, PayPal withdrawn through FNB's PayPal service (to FNB or another South African bank) and Payoneer to any South African bank, and shows the effect of Fiverr and Upwork fees.
If you have a registered South African business with a Wise Business account, you can add Wise for direct client payments too. If you are paid in rand by local clients, you do not need it.
How it works
Enter what the client pays in US dollars and the rand rate you are being offered today. We do not fetch exchange rates: banks and Payoneer each use their own rate, so use the one on your screen.
If the client pays through Fiverr or Upwork, their fee comes off first.
For PayPal we take off PayPal's fee for receiving an international commercial payment (a percentage plus a fixed fee in dollars), then FNB's withdrawal fee. For Payoneer we take off the fee for receiving into a US dollar account (for direct clients) and the withdrawal fee to a South African bank, which Payoneer shows before you confirm.
For Wise Business, local US dollar payments in are free (a wire costs a fixed fee in dollars) and we take off the conversion fee you enter from Wise's own quote. Each fee comes from the provider's own page, dated below, and can be updated in our admin when providers change them.
Worked example
A client in the US pays you 500 dollars directly. You are offered R18 per dollar, so before any fees that is R9,000.
Payoneer shows a 2% withdrawal fee, and FNB charges its maximum PayPal withdrawal fee.
Client pays your Payoneer USD account, withdraw to SA bank: you keep about R8 732 (fees R268, 3%).
Client pays PayPal, withdraw through FNB: you keep about R8 469 (fees R531, 5.9%).
The rate you are offered matters as much as the fees: a rate 50 cents worse costs you R250 on the same payment.
Tips before you rely on it
- Check the exchange rate on the screen before you confirm a withdrawal. It can move several percent in a week.
- Withdrawing less often in bigger amounts can save on fixed fees, but do not leave large balances sitting on a platform.
- Keep each payout statement. SARS taxes worldwide income, and your bank may ask where foreign money came from.
- Ask regular direct clients if they can pay by international bank transfer, and compare the bank's fee too.
Not sure what to try yet?
The free test takes about 6 minutes. It matches ways to earn, from freelancing to selling and local services, to your skills, time, data and budget, and shows you what to try first.
Take the free testQuestions people ask
Is PayPal or Payoneer cheaper in South Africa?
For direct client payments Payoneer usually leaves more in your pocket on these published fees, but it depends on the withdrawal fee and exchange rate you are shown. Run your own numbers above.
Can I use Wise to receive money in South Africa?
If you have a registered South African business, yes, through a Wise Business account. Wise's South African business pricing page lists a one-time 21 GBP fee for account details in 22 currencies, including USD, and local USD payments in are free. Add the conversion fee Wise shows you to see it in the comparison above. For individuals, Wise's own South African pages were unclear when we checked in October 2026, so check wise.com for your own situation.
Why don't you show the exchange rate?
Each provider sets its own rate and changes it during the day. Enter the rate you see so the result matches what you will actually get.
Do I pay tax on money from overseas clients?
Yes. South African residents are taxed on worldwide income. See the side income tax calculator.
Sources
- PayPal ZA: seller fees (receiving international commercial transactions, fixed fee by currency) (checked 24 October 2026)
- FNB: PayPal withdraw service (tiered pricing, maximum 1.51%) (checked 24 October 2026)
- Payoneer: pricing (receiving accounts, withdrawals, annual fee) (checked 24 October 2026)
- Fiverr Help Center: how Fiverr works for freelancers (sellers keep 80%) (checked 24 October 2026)
- Upwork: freelancer plans and fees (variable fee 0% to 15%) (checked 24 October 2026)
- Wise ZA: Wise Business receiving fees for businesses in South Africa (21 GBP one-time for account details, USD wire or Swift 6.11 USD) (checked 24 October 2026)
- Wise ZA: Wise Business pricing (conversion and sending fees vary by currency, from 0.35%) (checked 24 October 2026)
We update fees and rates when providers change them. If you spot one that is out of date, tell us.
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Earn Path is not a financial services provider and does not give financial advice. This tool gives estimates for your own planning.