If you do online work, freelance for clients or offer digital services, you may consider a variety of payment options. Some platforms for online work have their own payment options built-in, but if you are working with clients on your own, you may need to decide how to request payment. The method you choose may differ depending on who your clients are, where they are located and the type of work that you do. Here are some of the leading online money transfer services that you might consider for remote or digital work.

PayPal or Venmo

PayPal and Venmo offer quick, efficient options for many online transfers. You can create an invoice within the app or website and send it off for immediate fulfillment. For PayPal, clients can choose to pay with a "Goods and Services" option that gives them more rights. However, you may be concerned about their ability to seek a chargeback, especially if you do not know your customers. You will also pay fees to receive funds through this option. Venmo, unlike PayPal, warns against using its online transfer system for payments for goods or services, noting that it is designed for personal money transfers rather than payments. In addition, your choice may depend on where your clients are located. PayPal is often a better option for domestic transfers but may be complicated or unavailable internationally.

Wire transfers

Bank wire transfers are another option for online payment. In some countries, bank-to-bank transfers are cheap and common, and they can be used for sending money to friends and family or receiving payment for goods and services. Depending on the service you use, bank-to-bank transfers can be instant or take around a day to process, so long as you are sending and receiving domestically or within a defined area like the European economic zone. However, wire transfers get more complicated when international transfers are involved. Customers may have to go to the bank in person to send an international transfer, and there may be delays in receiving the funds.

Western Union

Western Union can be used for domestic money transfers, and often presents attractive fees and quick options for an in-country payment. However, Western Union particularly shines for international payments. No matter where your clients or employees are located, it is easy to pay online or via one of thousands of agent locations, often found in convenient locations like grocery shops and corner stores as well as banks or government buildings. The "money in minutes" service allows you to receive cash in hand almost instantly, while the bank transfer option offers lower fees. Customers can send their payments online, using a mobile app or in-person at a location. Western Union is a great payment method for work that is already completed or for customers that know you well, especially if they are located in another country and need to make a quick international transfer. Fees and costs vary depending on the type of transfer involved and the sending and receiving countries.

There are many great options to ensure you get paid when doing work online. You could even offer customers different choices to send money online when producing your invoices, making it easier and faster for clients to complete their payments.