Freelancing continues to grow rapidly in 2025, with millions of professionals across the globe using freelancing websites to work with clients from different industries.
As a freelancer, one of the most important aspects of your business is receiving payments promptly, securely, and without excessive fees. Managing cross-border payments can often be a pain point for freelancers working with international clients.
Fortunately, many freelancing platforms now offer built-in solutions to make receiving payments as seamless as possible.
In this post, we will highlight the top freelancing websites in 2025 and explain how they handle international payments to ensure that freelancers get paid quickly and securely.
10 Best Freelancing Websites in 2025
Freelancing is a thriving industry in 2025, with millions of professionals offering services globally. One of the biggest challenges freelancers face is handling international payments. In this article, we’ll cover the top freelancing websites in 2025 and how they manage payments to help freelancers work smoothly with clients worldwide.
1. Upwork
Best For: Freelancers looking for a wide range of job opportunities and clients.
Upwork is one of the largest freelancing websites globally, offering a vast number of job categories across various industries.
It supports international payments through PayPal, direct deposit, and wire transfer, and offers multi-currency support. Freelancers can receive payments in their local currency, ensuring they are paid without facing high exchange rates or complicated fees.
Why Upwork is Fast:
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can receive payments in their preferred currency from clients around the world.
- Secure Escrow System: Payments are held in escrow until the work is approved, ensuring that freelancers are paid as agreed.
- Fast Transfers: Upwork ensures that payments are processed quickly and safely.
Key Features:
- Accept payments via PayPal, wire transfer, or direct deposit.
- Secure escrow system for both freelancers and clients.
- Support for multi-currency payments.
- Flexible payment methods to suit different freelancers.
2. Fiverr
Best For: Freelancers offering services at various price points in industries such as design, writing, and tech.
Fiverr is a widely popular platform for freelancers offering services in various niches. Payments are processed via PayPal, Payoneer, or Fiverr Revenue Card. It supports multi-currency payments, making it easy for freelancers to receive payments from clients worldwide.
Why Fiverr is Fast:
- Multiple Payment Methods: Fiverr supports multiple payment options, including PayPal, Payoneer, and its own Fiverr Revenue Card.
- Real-Time Payment Updates: Freelancers can track their payments and receive notifications instantly when payments are made.
- Global Reach: Fiverr’s international network ensures freelancers can connect and work with clients from all corners of the world.
Key Features:
- Accept payments in multiple currencies.
- Real-time updates for payment status.
- Transparent fee structure, with no hidden charges.
3. Freelancer.com
Best For: Freelancers working on a wide range of projects, from tech to creative industries.
Freelancer.com allows freelancers to receive payments via PayPal, Skrill, and bank transfers, supporting payments in multiple currencies. It offers a milestone payment system to ensure that funds are only released after the client approves the work.
Why Freelancer.com is Fast:
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can accept payments in various currencies, eliminating the need for currency exchange hassles.
- Secure Milestone Payments: Funds are held in escrow and only released when the work is completed to the client’s satisfaction.
- Fast Transfer Options: Freelancer.com offers multiple withdrawal methods for faster access to funds.
Key Features:
- Accept payments through PayPal, Skrill, and bank transfer.
- Support for multi-currency transactions.
- Milestone payments for secure transactions.
4. Toptal
Best For: High-end freelancers specializing in fields like software development, finance, and design.
Toptal connects freelancers with high-end clients and offers payment options like Payoneer and wire transfer. It supports multi-currency payments, allowing freelancers to get paid in their local currency without high exchange fees.
Why Toptal is Fast:
- Global Payment Support: Freelancers can get paid in multiple currencies, making it easier to manage international payments.
- Efficient Payment System: Payments are processed swiftly, ensuring that freelancers can access their earnings quickly.
- Security and Reliability: Toptal ensures that payments are secure, giving freelancers confidence in the process.
Key Features:
- Support for Payoneer and wire transfer payments.
- Multi-currency payment options.
- Fast processing of payments for freelancers.
5. Guru
Best For: Freelancers working on long-term projects and ongoing contracts.
Guru supports payments via PayPal, wire transfer, and Direct Deposit, with multi-currency support. It offers a SafePay system, which ensures that funds are only released once the work is completed to the client’s satisfaction.
Why Guru is Fast:
- Multiple Payment Methods: Freelancers can choose from various payment methods, including PayPal and wire transfers.
- SafePay System: Guru’s escrow system ensures that funds are held securely until the work is finished.
- Global Payment Support: Freelancers can accept payments in various currencies, making it easier to handle international clients.
Key Features:
- Multi-currency payment options for global freelancers.
- SafePay system for secure transactions.
- Real-time payment updates.
6. PeoplePerHour
Best For: Freelancers specializing in creative industries such as design, marketing, and writing.
PeoplePerHour allows freelancers to receive payments via PayPal, Payoneer, and bank transfer, with support for multi-currency payments. It offers a Secure Payment System to ensure timely payments after client approval.
Why PeoplePerHour is Fast:
- Multiple Payment Options: Freelancers can select from various payment methods, including PayPal and Payoneer.
- Multi-Currency Support: PeoplePerHour enables freelancers to accept payments in multiple currencies, ensuring smoother international transactions.
- Secure Payment System: Freelancers can trust that they’ll receive payments once the work is completed, thanks to the platform’s secure payment system.
Key Features:
- Multi-currency payment options.
- Secure, reliable payment system.
- Real-time payment updates.
7. We Work Remotely
Best For: Freelancers seeking long-term job opportunities with full-time remote employers.
We Work Remotely connects freelancers with long-term job opportunities and allows them to negotiate payment terms with clients. While the platform does not handle payments directly, freelancers commonly arrange for payments through platforms like PayPal or bank transfers.
Why We Work Remotely is Fast:
- Freelancer Control: Freelancers can negotiate payment terms directly with clients.
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can accept payments in their local currency, making it easier to manage cross-border transactions.
- Flexibility: Freelancers can choose the best payment method that suits their needs.
Key Features:
- Freelancers can negotiate payment terms with clients.
- Supports popular payment methods like PayPal and bank transfers.
- Flexible, freelancer-driven payment arrangements.
8. 99designs
Best For: Designers working on custom design projects.
99designs allows freelancers to receive payments via PayPal and bank transfers, with multi-currency support. It uses a milestone payment system, ensuring that freelancers are paid promptly once the client approves the work.
Why 99designs is Fast:
- Multiple Payment Methods: PayPal and wire transfers make it easy to handle international payments.
- Milestone Payment System: Funds are held in escrow until the work is approved, ensuring secure payments.
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can get paid in different currencies, making it easier to handle international transactions.
Key Features:
- Milestone payments for secure transactions.
- Support for multi-currency payments.
- Easy access to funds through PayPal or bank transfer.
9. SimplyHired
Best For: Freelancers seeking job opportunities from multiple platforms.
SimplyHired aggregates freelance job listings from across the web. While it does not handle payments directly, freelancers typically arrange for payments through PayPal, bank transfers, or other platforms. This flexibility makes SimplyHired an attractive choice for freelancers looking for jobs across different platforms.
Why SimplyHired is Fast:
- Freelancer Flexibility: Freelancers can negotiate payment terms and methods directly with clients.
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can accept payments in their preferred currency through platforms like PayPal or bank transfer.
Key Features:
- Payment terms are negotiated between freelancers and clients.
- Supports popular payment methods like PayPal and bank transfers.
10. Upwork
Best For: Freelancers working across various job categories and industries.
Upwork allows freelancers to receive payments via PayPal, direct deposit, and wire transfer. It supports multi-currency payments and offers a secure escrow system, ensuring that freelancers are paid once the work is approved.
Why Upwork is Fast:
- Multi-Currency Support: Freelancers can receive payments in their local currency from clients worldwide.
- Escrow System: Upwork holds funds in escrow until the client approves the work, ensuring payment security.
Key Features:
- Multi-currency support.
- Secure escrow system.
- Fast payment processing.
Upwork is ideal for freelancers who need flexibility and security in managing payments from global clients.
Conclusion
Sending international payments efficiently is crucial for freelancers today. The platforms discussed above each have unique features, such as low fees, speed, and global reach. From established services like PayPal and Fiverr to newer options, freelancers now have several ways to handle cross-border payments.
For freelancers who need a smooth and reliable way to manage global payments, PayGlocal stands out. With support for over 33 currencies, clear fees, and real-time payment updates, PayGlocal makes it easy for freelancers to manage payments from international clients. Its competitive exchange rates and dynamic currency conversion offer a solid solution for those handling payments across borders.
