PayPal is a popular payment platform, but many people are searching for better options.
There are several alternatives to PayPal that offer lower fees, better security, or faster transfers.
Services like Stripe, Wise, Square, and Skrill provide unique features for businesses and individuals. Choosing the right payment service depends on your specific needs and preferences.
To find the best option, go through this list of 10 PayPal competitors for 2025.
Worldwide Rank and SEO Metrics of PayPal
- Domain Authority: 95
- SEMrush Global Rank: 150
- SimilarWeb Global Rank: 89
- SimilarWeb Country Rank: #32 in the U.S.
- Total Traffic: More than 500 million visits per month
- Bounce Rate: 32%
- Average Visit Duration: Around 4 minutes
What Can You Do With PayPal?
- Send and receive money across 200+ countries
- Make online purchases from millions of merchants
- Set up a business account for invoicing and transactions
- Accept payments on websites via PayPal checkout
- Withdraw funds to a bank account or debit card
- Convert currencies with automatic exchange rates
- Send money internationally (with fees based on location and currency)
- Use PayPal credit for financing purchases
Why Do You Need Alternatives to PayPal?
- High transaction fees, especially for international payments
- Strict account limitations and sudden freezes without warning
- Long withdrawal times for bank transfers in some regions
- Limited customer support and dispute resolution issues
- Not available in certain countries (e.g., Pakistan, Iran)
- Currency exchange fees are often higher than competitors
- Restricted access for high-risk businesses such as gambling or cryptocurrency
10 Alternatives & Competitors to PayPal
Stripe
- Website: https://stripe.com
- Launched: 2011
- Services: Online payments, invoicing, and subscription billing
- Is it free? No, transaction fees start at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Stripe is one of the best PayPal alternatives for businesses and online stores. It provides a highly customizable API, allowing merchants to integrate seamless payment solutions. Stripe supports multiple currencies, subscription billing, and fraud prevention tools. Unlike PayPal, it doesn’t require users to leave the merchant’s website for payment, improving conversion rates.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
- Website: https://wise.com
- Launched: 2011
- Services: International money transfers, multi-currency accounts
- Is it free? No, fees vary based on transfer amount and currency
Wise is a top alternative to PayPal for international money transfers. It offers transparent fees and real exchange rates, unlike PayPal, which adds hidden currency conversion costs. With a Wise account, users can hold and convert over 50 currencies at lower rates than traditional banks.
Skrill
- Website: https://www.skrill.com
- Launched: 2001
- Services: Online payments, digital wallets, cryptocurrency transactions
- Is it free? Sending money between Skrill accounts is free, but withdrawals and deposits have fees
Skrill is a PayPal alternative that caters to online gaming, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency users. It offers a prepaid Mastercard, allowing users to spend their funds easily. While Skrill has lower fees for peer-to-peer transfers, its withdrawal fees can be higher than PayPal’s.
Payoneer
- Website: https://www.payoneer.com
- Launched: 2005
- Services: Cross-border payments, freelancer and business payments
- Is it free? No, receiving payments from clients incurs a fee (usually around 2%)
Payoneer is one of the best PayPal alternatives for freelancers and businesses receiving international payments. It allows users to receive funds in USD, EUR, GBP, and other currencies. Payoneer also provides a prepaid debit card for direct spending.
Square
- Website: https://squareup.com
- Launched: 2009
- Services: Point-of-sale payments, online transactions, invoicing
- Is it free? No, transaction fees start at 2.6% + $0.10 per transaction
Square is a great alternative to PayPal for businesses needing in-person and online payment solutions. It provides free point-of-sale (POS) software, making it ideal for small businesses. Square’s transparent pricing and easy setup make it a popular choice among merchants.
2Checkout (now Verifone)
- Website: https://www.2checkout.com
- Launched: 2006
- Services: Global payment processing, subscription billing, e-commerce payments
- Is it free? No, transaction fees start at 3.5% + $0.35 per sale
2Checkout (now part of Verifone) is a great PayPal replacement for global businesses. It supports payments in over 200 countries and 45 currencies, making it ideal for international e-commerce. Unlike PayPal, 2Checkout offers customized checkout experiences, subscription billing, and robust fraud prevention tools.
Google Pay
- Website: https://pay.google.com
- Launched: 2015
- Services: Contactless payments, online transactions, peer-to-peer transfers
- Is it free? Yes, for personal transactions
Google Pay is a secure PayPal competitor for contactless and online payments. It integrates with Google services and allows users to send money directly from their bank account.
Apple Pay
- Website: https://www.apple.com/apple-pay/
- Launched: 2014
- Services: Mobile payments, in-app purchases, peer-to-peer transactions
- Is it free? Yes, for personal use
Apple Pay is a fast and secure alternative to PayPal for Apple users. It supports in-store and online purchases, making it a great option for iPhone and Mac users.
Alipay
- Website: https://global.alipay.com
- Launched: 2004
- Services: Digital payments, mobile wallets, business transactions
- Is it free? Yes for personal use, but business payments incur fees
Alipay is China’s leading digital payment platform and a great PayPal substitute for businesses targeting the Chinese market. It supports QR code payments, mobile transactions, and online shopping with low fees and a massive user base.
Revolut
- Website: https://www.revolut.com
- Launched: 2015
- Services: Multi-currency accounts, business payments, cryptocurrency trading
- Is it free? Basic accounts are free, but premium plans have fees
Revolut is a strong alternative to PayPal for international payments and currency exchange. It offers low fees, a multi-currency wallet, and even cryptocurrency transactions.
Conclusion
PayPal is a popular payment platform, but it’s not always the best choice due to high fees, account limitations, and slow transfers. Luckily, several excellent alternatives offer lower costs, better international payment options, and enhanced security.
FAQs
1. What is the best PayPal alternative for businesses?
Stripe and Square are the best alternatives for businesses. Stripe offers custom payment integration, while Square provides both online and in-person payment options.
2. Which PayPal alternative is best for freelancers?
Payoneer and Skrill are great for freelancers. Payoneer allows you to receive payments globally, while Skrill offers low-cost money transfers.
3. What is the cheapest way to send money internationally?
Wise (formerly TransferWise) and Revolut offer real exchange rates with low transfer fees, making them cheaper than PayPal for international transactions.
4. Can I use Venmo instead of PayPal?
Yes, but Venmo is mainly for peer-to-peer payments within the U.S. If you need business payments or international transactions, other PayPal alternatives like Wise, Stripe, or Payoneer are better options.
5. Is Google Pay or Apple Pay better than PayPal?
Both Google Pay and Apple Pay offer faster and more secure transactions than PayPal. However, they are mostly used for contactless payments and do not support international transfers like PayPal.
