Payoneer vs Wise Comparison – What Are Important Differences?

Payoneer and Wise (formerly known as Transferwise) make it simple to transfer and receive money internationally. But when comparing Payoneer vs. Wise, which one is more suitable for your needs?

In this comparison, you’ll learn about their features, costs, exchange rates, and more.

 

Payoneer vs Wise

Payoneer or Wise? They both offer similar services but are distinct in their own way. I highly suggest you read the below content for an in-depth description of features, limits, and fees.

 

I have also compared Wise vs Paypal, Wise vs Revolut, and Payoneer vs Paypal.

 

Payoneer Summary

In 2005, Payoneer was launched as a financial services startup. In addition to providing customers with working capital, they are also used to make digital payments and to send money online.

Fiverr, Google and Airbnb are just some of the many companies that use their services. You can even receive Amazon affiliate payments using Payoneer.

 

 

Be noted Payoneer doesn’t provide a payment gateway. However, there are workarounds. You can check useful WooCommerce Payoneer plugins that you can use for Payoneer as a payment gateway.

Payoneer supports over 200 countries and 150 currencies. You can receive and send money and even use a card provided by Payoneer to pay and withdraw funds.

Payoneer offers MasterCard (no Visa cards are currently offered) that can be used to make purchases online or in physical stores.

No matter where you are, you can withdraw cash from any ATM with your card. Just remember that you can only withdraw $2,500 each day. On average, you’ll be charged a 1% exchange fee.

MasterCard is available for a yearly charge of $29.95, and you can monitor all transactions from Payoneer’s mobile app, which is available for Android and iOS.

For more info, be sure to check my Payoneer review, and if Payoneer is not what you need, then I suggest you check Payoneer competitors, and you might find the perfect solution.

 

Wise Summary

Wise, formerly TransferWise, launched in 2011. Founded in England, the firm has its headquarters in London. You can transfer, receive, and spend money from anywhere worldwide by using an online Wise account.

You can use the Wise debit card to spend money in various currencies and withdraw via ATM.

 

 

With the Wise money transfer service, customers can move money between bank accounts at a minimal cost. Despite the company’s expansion, bank-to-bank payments have remained reasonable and convenient for clients. A borderless account is an attractive choice for people who need local bank account information in many countries.

Once you’ve signed up for a Wise multi-currency account, you’ll have full access to all accessible services. As a result, you will be able to:

• Hold money in 56 different currencies.
• Perform currency conversion that is quick and inexpensive.
• Receive bank details (balances with account details) in 10 currencies (US dollars, British pounds, Euro, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and Singapore dollar, Hungarian forint, Romanian leu, and Turkish lira).
• You can set USD, GBP, AUD, and EUR direct debits.
• A Wise debit card is available in the US, Europe, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia (as of this writing).
• You can spend in any currency using a debit card.

Wise multi-currency accounts differ from traditional bank accounts because:

1. You can’t receive loans or overdrafts.
2. Your account will not generate any interest.
3. The bank accounts that are offered are only “addresses” for electronic money accounts. These accounts are not genuine bank accounts but are still used in the same way.
4. Your money is protected and safeguarded but not guaranteed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

People use Wise because they don’t have to worry about getting charged high currency rates or transaction costs when they make foreign payments.

Different currencies are all supported via the usage of the same account. You’ll always receive the latest exchange rate, and currency exchange costs are among the lowest in the industry.

For more info, you can check my Wise review, or if you feel that Wise is not the right choice for you, then you can check the best Wise alternatives.

 

In Which Countries Are Available?

Payoneer and Wise are available in many countries. Let’s check the details of their availability.

 

PAYONEER

You can use Payoneer in most countries. The Payoneer Debit MasterCard is not available in India at this moment.

 

WISE

Wise is available in 230 countries, including the United States and many Asian countries.

 

 

The countries where a Wise account is not available are Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Crimea (sub-territory), Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, North Korea, Sevastopol (city), Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, State of Libya, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Territories of the United States, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The Wise card is available for people and businesses in the UK, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, most of the EEA, and the US. There are a few exceptions, so check the list of eligible countries.

 

WINNER: Both support a vast number of countries.

 

Money Transfers

Whether a freelancer, business owner, or sole trader, you need an easy way to send and receive money.

 

PAYONEER

Payoneer’s seamless payment services allow sending and receiving payments across borders globally, making it easy for freelancers, retailers, and organizations. Money is put into your bank account immediately. More than 150 different currencies from over 200 countries can be transferred to your account in a matter of minutes.

 

 

Your Payoneer account can receive bank transfers from marketplaces and companies in Canada, Mexico, the United States, Japan, the EU, and the UK. Your Payoneer account operates much like traditional bank accounts.

Once you’ve provided them with your account details, anyone worldwide can send you money.

You can even use the Make a Payment feature to pay contractors, vendors, and team members. Your Payoneer funds will be sent from your Payoneer account. Recipients aren’t required to have their own Payoneer account.

 

WISE

The time it takes to process a money transfer varies depending on country and currency. Some transfers are processed within two business days, although most transactions are completed in minutes. Depending on the nation from where you’re transferring money, the procedure might take longer or shorter.

While bank transfers might take hours, most credit card payments are completed in just a few minutes. It’s possible to view how long each method normally takes after you’ve set up the transfer.

 

 

Check the list of countries that you can use with Wise to send funds. Payment methods and currency will determine the maximum amount that can be sent. You can check the limits for each currency in the Currencies articles. You will see a notification if you attempt to transfer too much at once.

It is free to transfer money across Wise accounts. You will be charged a fee if you’re transferring money from your account to a bank outside of Wise.

A conversion charge is added when money is transferred from one currency to another. To check how much the fee is, use the pricing page.

There are 56 currencies in which you can store and exchange money. Opening a new account in the currency you need just takes a few seconds. Your multi-currency account can be used to send money to more than 70 countries.

 

WINNER: Wise has faster and easier money transfers than Payoneer.

 

Receiving Money

Another critical component is the ability to receive funds into your account. Ideally, you’d want the procedure to be fast and simple.

 

PAYONEER

Payoneer provides a variety of options to get paid. Payoneers’ receiving accounts can be used to receive payments from users in the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Direct billing and payment requests can also be sent to your customers. If you’re dealing with a user that has a direct agreement with Payoneer, you can easily link your Payoneer account with them. Using a receiving account is like having a local bank account.

 

 

If you have a Payoneer account, you can transfer money to your Payoneer balance, a Payoneer card, or straight to your bank account.

 

WISE

Recipients can deposit funds into their Wise accounts in the same way they would a traditional bank account. All you need to do is give the sender your Wise bank account information for the currency in which you want to receive the payment.

You can hold and convert money in 56 currencies, but you can only get local bank account details in 10 currencies.

 

 

You can get bank details for United States dollars (not available in all countries), Romanian leu (only available to Switzerland and EEA residents), Turkish lira, Euros, Australian dollars, Polish zloty, Singapore dollars, New Zealand dollars, British pounds, Canadian dollars, and Hungarian forints.

 

WINNER: Wise offers far more currencies in which you can receive payments and has everything that Payoneer offers in this aspect and more.

 

Money Transfer Speed

Receiving money in a timely matter is important.

 

PAYONEER

Most transfers from Payoneer to a bank account take 2-3 business days. However, during holidays (local and international), transfers may be delayed. Transfers from one Payoneer account to another are instant.

 

WISE

The fastest way to send money depends on your method of choice. Instant transfers can be made via Wise to Wise account, balance transfers, SEPA transfers, and debit or credit card payments.

The Wise app also performs an excellent job of letting you know whether or not a money transfer has been delivered to the receiver or if it has been held up. SWIFT bank transfers can take 2-5 business days.

 

WINNER: Despite Payoneer’s remarkable delivery speeds, Wise’s Instant Transfer capabilities give it the edge when compared to Payoneer.

 

What Card Options Are Offered?

Cards can be used to withdraw money at ATMs, and they can also be used to make purchases in brick-and-mortar establishments as well as online retailers’ websites.

 

PAYONEER

Payoneer offers MasterCard virtual and physical cards. You can use these cards everywhere MasterCard is accepted. To be eligible for the card, you must have received at least $100 in Payoneer payments in the previous six months.

 

 

Due to recent legislative developments, Payoneer can no longer issue cards to customers with a Russian shipping or billing address. Payoneer clients who are qualified for the Order Card option will see it in their Payoneer account menu.

There are two options for requesting a card. You can either do so from your online account after completing your application or during the application process. Your location will determine which of these possibilities you have. Only one card can be connected to a single currency.

Payoneer cards are subject to the following daily use restrictions:

• You can make up to 30 ATM withdrawals for a total of $5000.
• You can make up to 30 point-of-sale transactions for a total of $2500.
• The total daily spending limit of your Payoneer card is $5000, and these daily limits cannot be increased.

 

WISE

Wise provides Visa and Mastercard cards. Which one you will get will depend on your country. You can make purchases with any currency using your credit card balance. Transaction fees are waived while using the card, and conversion costs are reasonable.

 

 

The card is available to the US, UK, Switzerland, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Malaysia, and EEA country residents.

The amount of money you can withdraw using an ATM for free depends on where your card is registered. You can monitor all of your restrictions using the Wise app.

Here are the card limits:

• If you use a card issued in the UK or Europe, you are eligible for two free withdrawals per month, up to a maximum of 200 GBP or EUR. After that, the fee for withdrawals over 200 GBP/EUR is 1.75%. In addition, there is a charge of fifty cents for any ATM withdrawal that exceeds two times.
• If you have a card issued in Singapore, Australia, or New Zealand, you are entitled to two free withdrawals of up to 350 SGD/NZD/AUD per month. After that, you will be charged an additional 1.50 SGD/NZD/AUD and 1.75% for each amount above 350 SGD/NZD/AUD.
• Cards issued in the United States allow you to make two free withdrawals of up to one hundred dollars per month. After that, there is a fee of $1.50 plus 2% of the amount withdrawn for any withdrawals that are above $100.
• If you’re using a different currency, the sum will be equivalent to the currency in which your card was issued.

 

 

You can use a Wise card for purchases online and in physical stores and withdraw money using ATM. In certain situations, you will be required to use the Wise app to verify the transaction while making an online payment.

If you need to replace your Wise debit card, you will need to pay a fee to receive a new one. There are different card limits depending on which country the card was issued, and the spending limitations can be changed using the app or Wise website.

Virtual cards are also available. Before you can get a virtual card, you must first order a physical card. You can have up to three virtual cards and instantly replace these card details if needed or delete them.

Ordering a Wise card costs 5 GBP, and a replacement card is charged 3 GBP. For more info about the Wise card, you can check my in-depth Wise debit card review.

 

WINNER: Wise offers a single card to manage and make payments in all currencies, while with Payoneer, you have to have a separate card for each currency.

 

Which Currencies Are Available?

Paying and receiving money in several currencies necessitates using services that allow all that with affordable fees and currency exchange rates. Let’s see how Wise and Payoneer compare in that field.

 

PAYONEER

Among the currencies that Payoneer allows to have balance in include AUD, CAD, CNH, EUR, GBP, JPY, and USD. But you can perform transactions in over 150 currencies.

If you use Global Payment Service, you can accept USD from US firms through ACH, EUR from EU companies via SEPA, GBP from the UK via BACS and FPS, and JPY from Japanese companies via Zengin. All of these currencies are supported by Global Payment Service.

 

WISE

 

 

You can transfer money from your Wise account to a bank account at any moment. When transferring money between currencies, there is a small conversion fee.

WINNER: Payoneer has a worldwide disbursing network with more available currencies than Wise, but Wise allows you to hold funds in more currencies than Payoneer and has lower fees.

 

Exchange Rates

The value of one country’s currency in relation to the currency of another economic zone or country is known as the exchange rate. When you’re on the road for business or pleasure, it’s helpful to have a service that offers affordable conversion.

 

PAYONEER

Transfers made via Payoneer will add a 2% fee on top of the mid-market rate. With Payoneer, you can convert currencies from inside your account. Because of the 0.5% markup, converting the money before sending it is a good idea.

 

 

WISE

Wise is always transparent when it comes to costs in the exchange rate. They give you the real rate, independently provided by Reuters. To see how much your money is worth in different currencies, use Wise’s currency converter. You can simply and rapidly convert more than 140 foreign currencies.

A conversion charge is added when money is moved from one currency to another. To check how much the fee is, use the pricing page.

 

WINNER: Wise is the clear winner of this category, considering they have much lower fees than Payoneer when it comes to currency conversion.

 

Costs & Fees

Fees and other charges are essential considerations when comparing services. It’s good to know which options are free and which are paid.

 

PAYONEER

Sending Funds

• There’s a 1% fee on funds sent by ACH.
• There’s a 3% fee for funds sent by credit card.
• There’s a 1% fee if sending money via bank transfer.
• Sending money to another Payoneer account is free.
• A fee of up to 2% may be added to transfers made from a Payoneer account to a receipt’s bank account.
• A fixed 1.5 GBP, EUR, or USD fee will be applied to transactions made in the same currency in certain situations.

• A fixed 1.50 EUR, USD, or GBP fee is applied to withdrawals made when withdrawing money from a bank account in the same currency.
• To withdraw money from a bank account, the country where the account is located must have an official currency that is the same as the currency used by the bank account. For instance, withdrawing United States dollars from a bank in the United States will not cause issues. On the other hand, you cannot do the same thing if you have a US Dollar account in Germany.
• Customers with billing addresses registered in the EU or the UK are eligible to withdraw GBP or EUR in those respective countries. People living in the UK who have an interest in withdrawing US dollars to a bank account in the US are unable to do so. In addition, an additional charge of up to 2% can be applied to the transaction.

Other Fees

• Payoneer will charge a $29.95 fee if you don’t make any transactions on their card or account during 12 months.
• Currency exchange rates will have a 0,5% fee added on transfer amounts.

Payoneer Prepaid Card Fees

• An annual card fee of 24.95 GBP, 29.95 USD, or 24.95 EUR.
• You can get a replacement card for 9.95 GBP, 9.95 EUR, or 12.95 USD.
• There are no fees for purchases online or at physical locations.
• You can be charged a currency conversion fee of up to 3.5% on GPB, EUR, and USD cards.
• ATM withdrawal fees are 1.95 GBP per transaction, 2.50 EUR per transaction, or 3.50 USD per transaction.
• ATM decline fees are 0.65 GBP per transaction, 0.80 EUR per transaction, or 1.00 USD per transaction.
• ATM balance inquiry fees are 0.65 GBP per inquiry, 0.80 EUR per inquiry, or 1.00 USD per inquiry.

 

WISE

You don’t have to pay anything to open an account with Wise. It is standard practice for Wise to use mid-market exchange rates.

Fees will vary depending on what currency you want the receiver to receive and where you send it. Wise is very open and honest about all of the costs she charges, and you’ll know in advance how much the transfer costs will be.

If you use your Wise card to make a transaction and the currency is one that you have in your account, you will not be charged a fee.

A charge of 0.24–3.69% will be applied if you don’t have enough money in the currency you’re sending to cover the exchange rate.

ATM withdrawals up to £200 are free of charge the first two times a month (or currency equivalent). After that, a fee will be charged according to where your Wise card was issued from. That fee is usually 1.75%.

Over 2 ATM withdrawals/month, there is also a 50p/withdrawal fee (or currency equivalent). You may want to visit their fee section for multi-currency accounts to learn more.

Wise offers a guaranteed exchange rate. This rate is the exchange rate that’s guaranteed for a specified period.

Depending on the currency being sent, the exchange rate is guaranteed for a period ranging from two to seventy-two hours. When you make the transfer, Wise will let you know how long your specific exchange rate will be guaranteed. You’ll get the live rate at the moment your money arrives if your guaranteed rate lock has ended.

They can choose to be notified when the exchange rate hits a certain threshold that you have set. Requesting a daily email with the current exchange rate is also an option.

No matter how much money you transfer, Wise will always use the actual exchange rate. You may be eligible for a bulk discount if you often transfer big sums.

 

WINNER: Bank and card transfers are more expensive with Payoneer than Wise, making Wise a cheaper option with way lower and fewer fees.

 

Is Business Account Available?

Business accounts are essential if you deal with other businesses or have a company.

 

PAYONEER

Payoneer makes it simple to perform business transactions. For example, you can sell internationally, invoice globally, pay business expenses and receive payments in several currencies.

Local currency accounts can be opened in MXN, SGD, JPY, AUD, EUR, SGD, CNH, EUR, GBP, and USD and get paid as quickly as having a local bank account.

Local bank transfer payments in USD will incur a fee of 0-1% charge. You will not be charged extra costs if you accept payments in a different currency.

Payoneer will automatically utilize the current market rate for currency conversions. Additionally, the 0.5% charge will be immediately deducted from the transfer amount.

 

WISE

Creating a Wise for Business account is entirely free. Use real exchange rates to send and receive money and make payments in more than 70 countries. You can use it to manage payroll, pay bills, and purchase inventory.

 

 

Whether a major corporation or a small company owner, Wise business accounts are the perfect fit for you. Transferring money is permitted in all places where Wise is authorized to do business legally. There may be certain limits or restrictions on specific business transfers. You can review the business transfer restrictions section page for additional details.

With your Wise business card, you can buy goods and services at physical and online stores and pay for your business’s costs. Check in which countries is the Wise card for businesses currently available.

There is a little setup charge to have your own foreign bank details. This is a one-time fee. The charge ranges between 16 and 21 GBP (or currency equivalent). After the verification process is complete, you’ll get your bank information. If Wise cannot authenticate your company, the cost will be reimbursed to you.

In addition, currency conversions incur a small cost. The fee applies when using your Wise debit card to spend money in a currency not currently available in your account.

 

WINNER: Wise offers far more convenient options for businesses with lower fees.

 

Other Services

Besides mentioned features, each service offers some additional useful options.

 

PAYONEER

Payoneer contains some features that are specifically designed to fulfill the requirements of different customers:

• Accounts in the Local Currency – You can sign up for local currency accounts in countries such as Canada, Europe, the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Japan, which allow you to get paid like a local.
• Clients Billing – On the Payoneer platform, you can generate invoices to send to your customers and set it up so that they pay you straight into your Payoneer account.
• Markets and Networks – Payments from marketplaces like Upwork and Airbnb can be deposited into your Payoneer account.
• Pay Your VAT – Pay your UK and EU VAT from Payoneer.
• Mass Payout Service – Payoneer enables businesses, organizations, and marketplaces to send payments to suppliers, contractors, workers, and other recipients in bulk straight from their Payoneer accounts.

 

WISE

Concerning money transfers, Wise focuses on affordable transfers between Wise accounts and bank accounts. They offer an Android app and an iPhone app. Using the apps, you can manage your account, send money, set limits, make currency conversions, etc.

Wise provides jars where you can hold funds separated from your Wise account balances. Money in jars cannot be used to pay direct debits and can’t be spent with your debit card. Jars are a common way for individuals to save money for rainy days.

Your Wise account can be integrated with your FreeAgent, Quickbooks (check how to connect WooCommerce with Quickbooks), or Xero account (see WooCommerce Xero integration). It’s also compatible with both Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Wise has the following:

• Borderless account – This account support 50+ currencies, with bank accounts in GBP, EUR, ESD, and AUD.
• Mastercard debit card – This card allows for online and offline shopping, or you can also use it to withdraw money from an ATM.

 

WINNER: Payoneer has more features targeting businesses and individual users compared to Wise.

 

Wise vs Payoneer Conclusion

For enterprises and people, particularly freelancers, Payoneer has a lot to offer. On the other hand, Wise has positioned itself as a participant payment alternative for both consumers and companies. As a whole, Wise is more popular and preferred than Payoneer.

For travelers, freelancers, and small businesses from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe’s Economic Area (EEA) who seek an easy way to manage multiple currencies at low cost, Wise is a great choice.

SMBs and bigger companies looking for an all-in-one solution should check out PayoneerThey’rere both safe, legally compliant, and have excellent customer service. Which one is best for you comes down to your location and specific preferences.