The growing African freelance economy has created an increasing need for reliable, fast, cost-effective payment platforms. Freelancers often work with international clients and require systems that support cross-border transactions with minimal fees and timely processing.
Interestingly, several platforms have emerged to meet this demand. This article explores the best payment platforms for freelancers in Africa right now.
To ensure we selected the most relevant and valuable platforms for freelancers in Africa, here are the factors we considered.
Some platforms are available only in a handful of countries, while others have a broader reach. We prioritised platforms accessible to freelancers in major African freelancing hubs.
Read also: Top digital nomad cities for long-term rentals in Africa
Freelancers often have to receive payment in other currencies. Hence, we considered platforms supporting payments in major global currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP. This could be through virtual accounts or direct integration with freelance platforms.
Freelancers should maximise their earnings. We looked at the cost of receiving, withdrawing, and converting payments. Hidden fees and poor exchange rates reduce freelancers’ earnings. So, platforms with transparent pricing and favourable rates ranked higher.
The ability to access funds quickly via local bank accounts, ATMs, or mobile money is crucial. We assessed how fast users could withdraw money and how flexible the options were (e.g., local banks, cards, mobile money).
Read also: Navigating forex regulations as a freelancer in Africa
Trust is vital when it comes to finances. We only included platforms with a proven track record of security, user satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.
Integration can make receiving payments much easier for freelancers using Upwork, Fiverr, or similar platforms. We favoured platforms that support these integrations.
We considered the user interface, ease of registration, and availability of customer support all played a role. Freelancers deserve a smooth experience from start to finish.
Read also: Top digital nomad cities for long-term rentals in Africa
With these factors in mind, here is a list of the best payment platforms for freelancers in Africa right now in no particular order.
Payoneer remains one of the most popular choices for African freelancers. It is an excellent option for freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, as well as for international clients. It allows users to receive payments in multiple currencies (USD, EUR, and GBP) through virtual bank accounts and withdraw them into local bank accounts or ATMs via a Payoneer Mastercard. Users, however, have to pay annual card maintenance fees.
Wise is widely used for receiving payments due to its transparent fee structure and real exchange rate conversion. Freelancers can generate local bank details in several countries and receive payments. Unfortunately, Wise doesn’t offer debit cards to users in Africa.
Deel has grown in popularity among freelancers who work with startups and companies that require contract compliance. It combines contract management with payment services. The platform allows payments in multiple currencies, which can be withdrawn via platforms like Payoneer, Wise, or local bank transfers. Deel is especially suited for freelancers with structured remote work rather than one-off gigs.
Skrill is a viable option if you are looking for simplicity and fast payments. The platform supports several local African currencies. Users can send and receive payments with just an email address and enjoy instant payments between Skrill accounts. There is a prepaid Mastercard option to simplify online payments.
Grey is an emerging fintech solution and one of the best payment platforms for freelancers in Africa right now. It offers virtual foreign accounts – USD, GBP, and EUR. Users can receive international payments and convert them to local currency for withdrawal at competitive conversion rates. Grey’s invoicing tool helps freelancers automate their invoicing and streamline their earnings. Users can also get an instant virtual USD debit card for online payments.
PayPal has traditionally been a challenge in many African countries due to restrictions. It is, however, usable in places like South Africa and Kenya. It is widely accepted by international clients, easy to use and globally recognised.
Choosing the best payment platform depends on a number of factors, including your location and the clients you work with. Grey stands out as a reliable payment platform for freelancers with transparent fees and competitive exchange rates. It offers financial flexibility with a versatile instant virtual USD debit card.
Sign up on Grey today or download the mobile app to manage your earnings seamlessly.
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