How you get paid affects how fast you get paid and how much you keep. Offering a payment method that’s inconvenient for the client delays payment. Defaulting to a high-fee method costs you hundreds per year on large invoices. Here’s how the main options compare and which to use for different client situations.
The fee comparison at a glance
Before diving into each method, here’s the math at three invoice sizes:
| Method | $500 invoice | $2,000 invoice | $10,000 invoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACH bank transfer | ~$0 | ~$0 | ~$0 |
| Stripe (card) | $14.80 | $58.30 | $290.30 |
| PayPal (invoice) | $17.94 | $70.29 | $349.49 |
| Wise (USD to USD) | $1.50 | $4.10 | ~$16.00 |
| Wire transfer | $15–30 flat | $15–30 flat | $15–30 flat |
| Check | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30. PayPal invoice: 3.49% + $0.49. Wise international transfer: variable, typically 0.3–0.6%. Wire varies by bank.
For a freelancer invoicing $5,000/month, switching from PayPal to ACH saves roughly $175/month — $2,100/year.
ACH bank transfer
What it is: A direct transfer between bank accounts within the US banking network. Also called electronic funds transfer (EFT) or direct deposit.
Fees: Free or near-free. Some banks charge $0 for incoming transfers. Invoicing software that handles ACH may charge $0–1.50 per transaction.
Speed: 1–3 business days typically. Same-day ACH is available through some platforms (small fee).
How to set it up: Include your routing and account number on your invoice. Or use invoicing software (Wave, Waco, FreshBooks, QuickBooks) that connects your bank and lets clients initiate the transfer directly from an invoice link.
Best for: US-based clients, invoices over $500, corporate accounts payable departments (they often prefer ACH because it integrates with their systems), and any situation where you want to minimize fees.
Downsides: US-only (not for international clients without a US account). Takes a few days to arrive. For very small invoices ($50–100), the setup effort may not be worth it vs. a card link.
Stripe payment links
What it is: Stripe is a payment processor. You generate a payment link (or embed a “Pay Now” button in your invoice) and clients pay with a debit or credit card.
Fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. ACH through Stripe is 0.8% (capped at $5).
Speed: Card payments are available next business day. Stripe Instant Payouts (small extra fee) can get money to your account in minutes.
How to set it up: Create a Stripe account, connect your bank, generate a payment link. Or use invoicing software with Stripe built in.
Best for: Clients who want to pay by card (convenient, familiar), one-off client relationships where you don’t want to share bank account numbers, design-forward invoices where you want a “Pay Now” button.
Downsides: 2.9% adds up on large invoices. International cards carry additional fees (1.5% currency conversion surcharge). Not the right choice for a $10,000 invoice if you can offer ACH instead.
Offer both ACH and a card payment option on every invoice. Some clients have corporate card programs that generate rewards points and prefer to pay by card. Some clients prefer the speed of card over bank transfer. Giving both options removes friction and lets the client choose what works for their process.
PayPal
What it is: PayPal is one of the oldest online payment platforms, widely recognized by clients globally.
Fees: 3.49% + $0.49 for invoiced business payments. Friends & Family payments have no fee to receive, but using them for business transactions violates PayPal’s terms of service and you lose buyer/seller protection.
Speed: Instant to your PayPal balance. Transfer to bank account: 1–5 business days (free) or minutes for instant transfer (1.75% fee).
How to set it up: Create a Business PayPal account. Add your PayPal email to your invoice.
Best for: Clients who already use PayPal, international clients in countries where PayPal is well-established, small invoices where convenience outweighs fee cost.
Downsides: High fees. Account holds — PayPal is known for temporarily freezing accounts when payment patterns change suddenly, which can hold funds for 21 days. Poor customer service when disputes arise. Not ideal as your primary method for consistent high-volume billing.
Wise (formerly TransferWise)
What it is: Wise is a money transfer service that specializes in international transfers with transparent, low fees. It uses mid-market exchange rates instead of marked-up rates.
Fees: Typically 0.3–0.6% for currency conversions. Fixed fees for bank transfers vary by corridor. USD-to-USD transfers within Wise are typically under $2.
Speed: 1–2 business days for most international transfers. Same-day for some corridors.
How to set it up: Create a Wise account. You get a multi-currency account with local bank details in multiple countries — clients can send you USD, EUR, GBP, etc. as if they were paying a local bank account.
Best for: International clients paying in foreign currency, clients in the UK, EU, Canada, Australia. Freelancers who work with multiple international clients regularly.
Downsides: Less familiar to some US clients than PayPal or bank transfer. Wise-to-Wise transfers are fastest; cross-platform timing varies.
Comparison to PayPal for international: On a €2,000 invoice, PayPal’s currency conversion fee (2.5%) plus transaction fee can cost €55–70. Wise’s equivalent might cost €8–12. The difference is significant for anyone doing consistent international work.
Wire transfers
What it is: A direct bank-to-bank transfer, typically used for large amounts or international payments.
Fees: $15–45 flat fee, usually charged to the sender. Some banks charge the recipient too.
Speed: 1–5 business days domestically, 3–7 internationally.
How to set it up: Provide your bank name, routing number, account number, SWIFT code (for international), and IBAN (for EU). Usually done over the phone or through the client’s bank portal.
Best for: Large invoices ($10,000+) where a flat $30 fee is trivial compared to a percentage-based fee. International transfers where Wise isn’t an option. Enterprise clients with corporate wire processes.
Downsides: Flat fee hurts on small invoices. Setup requires sharing bank account details. Not reversible — once sent, a wire is gone.
Checks
What it is: A paper check mailed to you.
Fees: None.
Speed: Mail time plus bank processing. Expect 1–2 weeks from the date the client writes the check to funds clearing in your account.
How to set it up: Include “Check payable to: [Your Name or Business Name]” on your invoice with your mailing address.
Best for: Clients who insist on check (you’ll encounter this, especially with small businesses and older B2B relationships). Situations where you want to avoid payment processing fees on large invoices and the client won’t do ACH.
Downsides: Slow. Checks can bounce (NSF). Handling paper creates administrative work. Can get lost in the mail.
Tip: If a client pays by check regularly, ask if their bank offers bill pay or ACH — most business accounts do, and it’s the same cost (free) without the paper.
Venmo and Zelle
Venmo: Fine for small personal payments, not appropriate for professional freelance work over $500. Business Venmo accounts charge 1.9% + $0.10. Venmo’s terms require business accounts for business payments; personal accounts can be flagged and frozen.
Zelle: Bank-to-bank transfers through the Zelle network, no fees. Available in most major US bank apps. Limit typically $500–2,500/day for personal accounts; business limits vary. Good for small, fast payments with established US clients. Not available to all banks and no international capability.
Invoicing software with built-in payment processing
The best way to offer multiple payment options without managing each separately: use invoicing software that connects ACH and card payment directly to the invoice.
Platforms like Waco, FreshBooks, Wave, HoneyBook, and QuickBooks let clients click “Pay Now” directly from the invoice link and choose bank transfer or card. You see real-time payment status. Funds go directly to your connected bank account.
This matters because the number of steps between “client decides to pay” and “payment initiated” directly affects how fast invoices get paid. An online payment button = 1 click. A PDF with bank details = 5 steps (find bank app, navigate to transfers, enter routing/account numbers, enter amount, submit). Reducing friction accelerates payment.
Which method to recommend on your invoice
For most US-based clients: Lead with ACH bank transfer or your invoicing software’s payment link. These are low-cost and professional.
For corporate/enterprise clients: ACH is their preferred method — it integrates with their AP systems.
For international clients: Wise for any client paying in non-USD, or ACH if they have a US bank account.
For client-convenience situations: Stripe payment link or PayPal as a backup option.
Order on your invoice: List your preferred method first, followed by alternatives. Most clients pay via whichever method is listed first that they recognize.
What to do if a client insists on a high-fee method
Sometimes a client wants to pay by PayPal or card and you’d prefer ACH. You have two options:
-
Accept it and absorb the fee. On a $500 invoice, the PayPal fee ($18) is a minor inconvenience. On a $10,000 invoice, $350 is worth pushing back on.
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Add a processing surcharge. You can legally pass on card or PayPal fees to clients in most US states, provided you disclose it before they pay. Add a line to your invoice: “Card payments: 3% processing fee applies.” Some clients will switch to ACH; others will pay the surcharge.
Related reading
- How to write an invoice for freelance work — what to put on the invoice before payment options
- Invoice for services rendered template — complete invoice template with payment method section
- What happens if an invoice is not paid after 30 days — when payment doesn’t come through
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