Best Online Payment Tools Freelancers

What to check
The tools

An online payment tool lets a client pay you by card, bank transfer or another method from an invoice or a payment link, instead of mailing a check. For freelancing, check which methods your clients use, whether the tool sends invoices or only takes payments, how it reminds clients about unpaid invoices, and what each method costs in your country.

Billed publishes this page, and Billed is listed first. The other tools are listed alphabetically and aren't ranked. Each description quotes the vendor's own pages, opened on October 30, 2026, and we didn't test the products. Fees change and vary by country and payment method, so check each provider's pricing page before you choose.

What to check

Invoices or links: whether you send a full invoice, a payment link, or both.
Payment methods your clients use, such as cards, bank transfers (ACH in the US) or PayPal.
Reminders for unpaid invoices.
Recurring billing, if you have retainer clients.
Fees for each method in your country, from the provider's own pricing page.

The tools

Billed

From Billed's own pages:

Payments on invoices: "Connect your Stripe account and every invoice you send gets a pay button, so clients can pay by card. Connect PayPal to add a PayPal option as well." (invoice software)
PayPal: "Add your Paypal account to Billed to start accepting payments via Paypal on your invoices." (accept payments)
Reminders: "Invoice reports show which invoices are paid, partially paid or past due, and you can see who owes you money and send them a payment reminder."
Currencies: "Invoice customers in multiple currencies, choosing a different currency for each invoice or customer."
Retainers: "Your clients can also link their credit cards which makes it easier for them to pay." (recurring invoices)

For plans, see Billed's pricing page.

PayPal

From PayPal's accept payments page (US):

"Send an online invoice that customers can pay instantly using their preferred payment method. Even if they don't have an account with PayPal."
"Swiftly create a Payment Link to share on your website, via email, on social media, or through text."

Square

From Square's invoices page (US):

"Send digital invoices in seconds via email, SMS, or a shareable link"
"Your customers can pay an online invoice through their computer, in person, or from their mobile device with their credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH bank transfer."
"You can also set up automatic reminders before, on, or after a payment due date."

Stripe

From Stripe's Payment Links page:

"Use payment links to sell online without a website."
"You can use payment links to sell a product or service, start a subscription, or collect a donation."

From Stripe's Invoicing page:

"With just a few clicks, email your customers a PDF invoice or a link to a Stripe-hosted invoice page where you can accept payment online."
"Customers can pay immediately with a credit card, ACH Direct Debit, bank transfer, or other global payment method, such as EPS, WeChat Pay, and stablecoins."
"Automatically send email reminders when invoices are due or past due"

Worked example: card or bank payment on one invoice

The invoice and both fee rates here are a sample, invented for this example. They aren't any provider's prices; check your provider's pricing page for its actual fees in your country.

A freelance writer sends a $2,000.00 invoice. Suppose an invented card fee of 3% plus $0.25, and an invented bank-transfer fee of 1% capped at $10.00.

Card: 3% × $2,000.00 = $60.00, plus $0.25 = $60.25 fee, so you receive $2,000.00 − $60.25 = $1,939.75.
Bank transfer: 1% × $2,000.00 = $20.00, capped at $10.00, so you receive $2,000.00 − $10.00 = $1,990.00.
Difference: $1,990.00 − $1,939.75 = $50.25 on this invoice.

With your provider's real rates, the same three steps show what each method costs on the invoice amounts you send. If you want to add a fee for card payments, check local rules first.

Getting paid on time

Put the terms on the invoice: due date, accepted methods and any late-fee terms in your contract. Late-fee rules vary by place, so check local rules.
Follow up: see how to follow up on unpaid invoices.
Retainers: see Billed's recurring invoices page.
Price with fees in mind: see how to set freelance rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an online payment tool for freelancers?

A tool that lets clients pay you online, by card, bank transfer or another method, from an invoice or a payment link.

Do these tools send invoices or only take payments?

On the pages quoted here, Billed, PayPal, Square and Stripe each describe sending invoices that clients can pay online. PayPal and Stripe also describe payment links you can share without an invoice.

Which payment methods do these tools describe?

On the pages quoted here, Billed describes card payments through Stripe and payments through PayPal. Square and Stripe each describe cards and ACH bank payments, and Square lists Apple Pay and Google Pay. PayPal describes customers paying with their preferred payment method. Check each provider's page for your country.

How much do online payments cost freelancers?

Each provider publishes its own fees, and they can differ by payment method and country. This page doesn't list fees. In the sample, invented rates on a $2,000.00 invoice cost $60.25 by card and $10.00 by bank transfer.

Which of these tools should a freelancer choose?

This page doesn't rank them. Compare the methods your clients use, the fees in your country, and whether you need full invoices, payment links or both.

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Best Online Payment Tools for Freelancers in 2026