Invoice Payment Methods Compared: ACH, Wire, Card, PayPal, Crypto
Every invoice payment method compared: fees, speed, reliability, and international support. Learn which to accept for your business and which to avoid.
ACH / bank transfer (US) and SEPA (EU)
Cheapest to receive (usually free or under $1 per transfer). Slowest for the client to set up but almost frictionless after the first transaction. Settlement takes 1–3 business days. Best default for B2B invoices above $500 in the US and EU.
International wire transfers
Reliable and universally accepted, but expensive: $15–$45 per transfer plus a hidden FX spread that can cost 2–4% of the invoice value. Use for large international invoices where the fees are proportionally small. Consider Wise or Revolut Business for smaller international invoices — they cost a fraction of a traditional wire.
Credit and debit cards (Stripe, Square)
Convenient for the client, immediate for you (within 1–2 business days). Processing fees are 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction in the US, and higher for international cards. Best for invoices under $500 where the convenience justifies the fee, and for consumer-facing businesses where cards are expected.
PayPal and Wise
Fast to set up, works across most countries. PayPal fees are high (3.49% + fixed fee for goods and services) and disputes can freeze funds. Wise is cheaper for currency conversion and cleaner for freelancers billing international clients. Neither is a good primary method for regular B2B invoicing.
Cryptocurrency (USDC, BTC)
Nearly instant settlement and low fees on stablecoin rails, but comes with compliance and volatility considerations. Reasonable for tech-native clients who explicitly request it; not appropriate as a default option because most clients cannot pay it and most accountants do not want to reconcile it.
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