How to Get Paid as a Freelancer

It's the question everyone asks when they leave a salaried job: how do I actually get paid now?

A paycheck just shows up. As a freelancer, you have to ask for the money, give the client a way to pay, and make sure it lands in your account without losing a chunk to fees. When I started freelancing back in 2006, the options were basically bank transfer or PayPal. Today there are more ways to get paid than any one freelancer needs.

This guide compares the main options by fees and speed as of October 2026, and shows how to set up your invoicing so clients pay on time.

Key takeaways

• The best payment method is the one that's easiest for your client. Offer two or three options, not ten.

• For most US freelancers: a card payment link (Stripe, PayPal or Square) plus bank details for ACH covers nearly every client.

• For international clients: add a multi-currency account like Wise or Payoneer, and watch international-card and conversion fees.

• Take work payments in business mode. Using "friends and family" or a personal profile to dodge fees can break the app's terms and leaves you without protection.

• Getting paid on time comes down to the invoice: clear terms, a due date, a deposit for new clients, and a one-click way to pay.

The best payment method: the one your client prefers

Here's the honest answer: the best way to get paid is whatever makes paying you easiest for your client. A corporate finance team will want to pay by ACH or check. A small business owner will happily tap "Pay with card." A client in Germany may prefer a euro bank transfer.

That's why it's worth setting up a couple of methods so you're ready for any client, and then steering clients toward the one that costs you least when they don't have a preference.

Option 1: Freelance marketplaces

If you're just starting, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr handle a lot for you: finding clients, contracts, payment protection and getting paid. The cost is a cut of everything you earn.

• Upwork charges freelancers a variable service fee of 0–15% per contract. You see the rate before you submit a proposal, and it stays the same for that contract.

• Fiverr takes 20% of each order.

Marketplaces are a reasonable place to start. Once you have direct clients, though, those fees add up, and you'll want your own way to invoice and get paid.

Option 2: US payment apps (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle)

Payment apps are quick to set up and familiar to most US clients. The key rule: payments for work are business payments. Each app charges a fee for them, and using personal or "friends and family" payments for client work can violate the app's terms and costs you buyer and seller protection.

To see how much of a given invoice PayPal will keep, use the PayPal fee calculator.

Option 3: Card payments (Stripe, Square, PayPal)

Lots of clients simply want to pay by credit or debit card. They don't need to sign up for anything; they click a link, enter their card or use Apple Pay or Google Pay, and they're done. For you, card payments are fast and easy to track.

To accept cards, you need a payment processor:

• Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 for US cards on a US account. International cards add 1.5%, and currency conversion adds 1%. Stripe has no monthly fee, and businesses in dozens of countries can open an account; check Stripe's country list for yours. Many invoicing tools and website builders connect to Stripe, so you only set it up once.

• Square's Free plan charges 3.3% + 30¢ when a client pays an invoice by card. Square is strong if you also take payments in person.

• PayPal can also process cards (2.99% + $0.49 on invoices, as above).

On a $1,000 invoice paid with a US card, Stripe's standard fee is $29.30 and you receive $970.70. The Stripe fee calculator does this math for any amount, including what to charge if you want to receive a set figure.

Option 4: International payments (Wise, Payoneer, PayPal)

Clients abroad add two costs: cross-border fees and currency conversion. Your options:

• Wise gives you local bank details in several currencies, so a UK client can pay you in GBP to a UK account, and a European client in EUR. Receiving local (non-SWIFT) transfers is free; an incoming USD SWIFT wire costs $6.11. You pay a conversion fee, which depends on the currency pair, when you convert. There's no monthly fee.

• Payoneer is free to receive in your local currency through a receiving account, 1% (minimum $1) in another currency, and up to 3.99% + $0.49 if the client pays by card. Many marketplaces pay out through it.

• PayPal works in many countries, but international payments add 1.5%, and if PayPal converts currency it adds a spread of 3–4% above its base rate.

• Stripe works for international clients paying by card, with the extra 1.5% and 1% noted above.

Providers change these fees regularly, so check their pricing pages before you commit. For a full walkthrough of currencies, VAT and tax forms, see our guide on how to invoice international clients.

Option 5: Bank transfer

Old, but still gold. The money goes from your client's bank account to yours.

• ACH (US): cheap or free for the client, and usually arrives in one to three business days. Many business clients prefer it for larger invoices. If you want ACH collected through a payment link instead of asking clients to push it from their bank, Stripe's ACH Direct Debit costs 0.8%, capped at $5, and Square's invoice ACH costs 1% with a $1 minimum.

• International wires: slower and often costly. Both banks may charge, and intermediary banks can deduct fees along the way, so you may receive less than the invoice total. Ask clients to choose the "sender pays all fees" option, or use a Wise or Payoneer account to receive locally.

Bank transfers are reliable, and for big invoices they're often the cheapest option. Just put clear bank details on every invoice, and ask the client to include the invoice number as the payment reference.

Option 6: Paper checks

Old, and not so gold. Some large US companies still pay vendors by check. It works, but it's slow, and checks can get lost in the mail. If a client insists, ask whether they can pay by ACH instead; many accounts payable teams can, they just default to checks. If not, mobile check deposit through your bank app at least saves you a trip.

How to make sure you actually get paid

Picking a payment method is half the job. The other half is making it easy and expected for your client to pay on time.

1. Agree on terms before you start. Put your rate, payment schedule, due dates and accepted payment methods in your proposal or contract.

2. Ask new clients for a deposit. Taking part of the fee up front is common for project work and protects you if a client disappears. Here's more on why deposits protect your time.

3. Invoice promptly. Send the invoice as soon as the work is delivered or the milestone is hit. Late invoices get paid late.

4. Make paying one click. A "Pay now" link on the invoice gets you paid faster than bank details alone, because the client can pay the moment they open it.

5. Decide who covers fees. Either build typical fees into your rate or state on the invoice if any fee is passed on. Don't surprise clients.

6. Follow up politely. If a due date passes, send a short, friendly reminder. Here's a friendly reminder email example you can adapt.

7. Know your late fee. If your contract allows a late fee, the late fee calculator shows what to charge.

If you don't have an invoice template yet, start with the freelance invoice template or the free invoice generator.

A quick note on taxes (US)

Every dollar you earn freelancing is taxable, no matter how you're paid.

• Form 1099-K: payment platforms like PayPal, Venmo and Stripe send you a 1099-K only if you received more than $20,000 across more than 200 transactions in the year.

• Form 1099-NEC: US business clients generally send one if they paid you $2,000 or more in 2026 (up from $600 in earlier years), but not for payments made by card or through PayPal-type platforms, which fall under the 1099-K.

Either way, you report all your income, and you'll likely owe self-employment tax on top of income tax. The self-employment tax calculator gives you a quick estimate, and our freelancer's guide for tax season covers the rest.

Getting paid with Onigiri

Onigiri is built around this exact problem. You create an invoice, send it by email, as a link or as a PDF, and see when it's sent, overdue or paid. Connect your own Stripe account and clients can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay right from the invoice; the money goes straight to your Stripe account, and the invoice is marked Paid automatically. You can also add bank transfer details for clients who prefer ACH or a wire.

The Free plan includes 3 invoices a month. PRO is $9/month (billed $108/year) and adds unlimited invoices and online payments with a 0% Onigiri platform fee on Stripe payments. Start for free, no credit card required.