Dealing with international payments by yourself can be complicated and time-consuming. Luckily, there are platforms that can make it far easier, supporting your freelance earnings and growth along the way.
Fiverr and Upwork vs. Useme for freelance payments
Let’s imagine you have a client from the US. You completed the work and now want to get paid legally. Here’s how it works on three different platforms (this comparison is based on publicly available information as of Feb. 10, 2025):
| Fiverr | Upwork | Useme | |
| Service fee | 20% for freelancers
+$3 for deals under $100. |
10% with some exceptions, or 5% if you bring your client to Upwork. | 4.99% (but never more than $99 monthly) |
| Payout methods | PayPal,
Payoneer, bank transfer. Withdrawal options may vary depending on the freelancer’s country. |
Bank account,
PayPal, Payoneer (Additional options available only to US freelancers). Withdrawal options may vary depending on the freelancer’s country. |
Wise,
Payoneer, PayPal, bank transfer. Withdrawal options may vary depending on the freelancer’s country. |
| Client account | Your client needs to sign up. | Your client needs to sign up. | Your client doesn’t need to sign up. |
| Payment security | The client pays before getting work files from the freelancer, and the money is kept safe until the payout. | The client pays upfront for “milestones, ” keeping the money safe until the payout. | The client pays before getting work files from the freelancer, and the money is kept safe until the payout. |
| Payout waiting time | 14 days after the client’s approval.
Faster payouts, 7 days after the approval, are available for top-rated and Fiverr Pro users. |
Depending on the contract type, from 5 (fixed-price, project catalog, bonus payments) to 10 (hourly) days after the client’s approval.
Faster payouts are available for top-rated freelancers and agencies on hourly contracts. |
In most cases, up to 24 hours after the client’s approval. Express transfers are available for an extra fee. |
| Income tax support | Freelancers must comply with the tax laws in their own jurisdiction (handle and pay taxes themselves). | Upwork deducts and pays 1% ISR to the SAT. | Useme deducts and pays 1% ISR to the SAT. |
| Age policy | Users aged 13–17 can use their parent or legal guardian’s account | The age of majority in your country but not under 18 years old. | Users aged 13–17 can have their own account if their parent/legal guardian agrees. |
The information presented in the table above is sourced directly from the official websites of the compared platforms and is accurate as of 10.02.2025. While every effort has been made to ensure the reliability of the data, it may be subject to change over time. Useme is not responsible for any discrepancies and is not obligated to update this information. We recommend verifying details directly on the providers’ websites.
4 reasons for choosing Useme for deals with foreign clients
Freelancers might work in different industries, countries, tax schemes, or time zones, but they all share two main goals: earn as much as possible and make the payment process as smooth as possible.
That’s exactly why Useme is the right choice for handling payments from international clients.
- Useme charges a small fee (4.99%). Moreover, if you freelance regularly, you can pay even less.
- Useme helps you manage your income tax (ISR). 1% ISR is deducted from your earnings and paid to the SAT.
- You can invite your clients to Useme, offering them a smooth and simple experience. Your clients don’t need to open an account or even visit Useme. They get an email with transaction details and a payment link, and that’s it!
- You can get your payment really fast. Once your client pays for your work, we send it to you, usually within 24 hours on business days.
We know that Useme is not a cure-all for every freelance case. However, if you already have a client, and they want you to work for them, close the deal through Useme – it’s fast, easy, and legally compliant.
