This blog contains financial information that is publicly available, this is not financial advice. Please double check information from relevant entities before proceeding.
You did it, you landed the client, finished the project, and sent the invoice. You get that magic email: “Payment sent!” And you eagerly wait to receive international payment.
But for a Pakistani freelancer, that’s only half the battle. The next, agonizing part is figuring out how much money will actually land in your account. Between hidden “correspondent bank fees,” terrible currency exchange rates, and days of processing time, it often feels like you’re losing 10-15% of your hard-earned money just to get it home.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The game has changed in 2025. Your old HBL or Meezan bank account is no longer your only (or best) option.
This is your definitive guide to receiving international payments in Pakistan. We’ll compare the big four: Payoneer, the new fintechs (SadaPay/NayaPay), and traditional banks.
The 4 Contenders: A Quick Overview
- Payoneer (The Global Standard): The most well-known platform for freelancers. It gives you virtual bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, etc., allowing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Amazon to pay you like a local.
- SadaPay / NayaPay (The Fintech Challengers): These digital-first banks have revolutionized local payments and are now aggressively targeting freelancers. They give you a real Pakistani IBAN that is optimized for international wire transfers.
- Traditional Banks (The Old Guard): This is your standard HBL, UBL, Meezan, Alfalah, etc., account. This is the old-school SWIFT/IBAN wire transfer method.
- Remittance Services (Western Union, etc.): Good for one-off payments from a relative, but not a professional solution for receiving regular client payments. We’ll be focusing on the other three.
Checkout our other blogs that can help Freelancers.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Fees, Speed, & Rates
Here’s the simple breakdown of what you really care about.
| Method | Best For | Receiving Fee | Withdrawal/Conversion Fee | Exchange Rate | Speed |
| Payoneer | Platform Freelancers (Upwork, Fiverr) | Free (from platforms) | ~2% to withdraw to PK bank | Average (Often 2-3 PKR below market) | 2-5 hours to bank |
| SadaPay | Direct Clients (Wire Transfers) | Free | No fee | Excellent (Near-market rate) | 1-2 business days |
| NayaPay | Direct Clients & Remittances | Free | No fee | Excellent (Near-market rate) | 1-2 business days |
| Traditional Bank | Large Corporations (that require it) | $15 – $50+ (Hidden fees) | ~1-1.5% (Hidden in rate) | TERRIBLE (Often 5-10 PKR below market) | 3-7 business days |
Deep Dive: Pros & Cons of Each Method
1. Payoneer
Payoneer is an essential tool, but you must know how to use it. Its main purpose is to “catch” payments from big marketplaces.
- Pros:
- Direct Integration: The only way to get paid from Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, and other major platforms without massive fees.
- Multi-Currency: You can hold USD, EUR, GBP, etc., in your Payoneer account. This is perfect if you also need to pay for international services (like hosting or software) in USD, so you avoid converting currencies twice.
- Cons:
- The 2% Withdrawal Fee: This is their main “gotcha.” When you move money from Payoneer to your Pakistani bank, they charge a 2% fee.
- Average Exchange Rate: Their conversion rate from USD to PKR is notoriously average. You’ll lose a few rupees on every dollar.
- New Fees: Payoneer has become more expensive, adding a 1% fee for incoming USD payments under $100 and other small charges.
2. SadaPay & NayaPay (The Challengers)
These fintech apps are the heroes of the modern Pakistani freelancer. They are simple, fast, and, most importantly, transparent.
- Pros:
- Zero Receiving Fees: This is revolutionary. A $1,000 wire transfer arrives as $1,000. No $25 “correspondent bank fee” mysteriously deducted.
- The Best Exchange Rates: This is their biggest advantage. Their exchange rates are often very close to the open market rate. You will get more rupees for your dollars than with any other method.
- Speed & Convenience: The apps are flawless. You get a notification, and the money is there. No calls to the bank, no filling out forms.
- Cons:
- Wire Transfer Only: This is for direct wire transfers (SWIFT) from a client’s bank account. You cannot link SadaPay or NayaPay directly to Upwork or Fiverr (that’s what Payoneer is for).
- Client Confusion: Some old-school clients might be confused about sending money to a “digital bank” and may prefer a “big name” bank.
3. Traditional Banks (HBL, UBL, Meezan, etc.)
This is the method you should avoid unless you have absolutely no other choice.
- Pros:
- “Looks Professional”: Some large corporations feel more comfortable sending a $10,000+ wire to a major bank.
- Cons:
- Horrific Hidden Fees: They will charge you a “processing fee” and a “correspondent bank fee” that can be $15, $25, or even $50 per transaction. This fee is taken before the money even hits your account.
- The Worst Exchange Rates: This is the real scam. Banks will easily give you 5-10 PKR less per dollar than the market rate. On a $1,000 payment, that’s an instant loss of PKR 5,000-10,000.
- Painfully Slow: A wire can take 3 to 7 business days.
- The “Source of Funds” Nightmare: Get ready for phone calls and branch visits to fill out forms explaining where every payment came from, delaying your access to your own money.
The Razarants.com Verdict: Your 2025 Freelancer Playbook
Stop choosing just one. The smart freelancer uses a combination of these tools to create the most efficient “money pipeline.”
Playbook 1: The Platform Freelancer (Upwork/Fiverr)
- Receive: Client pays you on Upwork/Fiverr.
- Withdraw: Withdraw your USD from the platform to your Payoneer USD account. (This is usually free).
- Transfer: Do NOT withdraw from Payoneer to your traditional bank. Instead, link your SadaPay or NayaPay IBAN to your Payoneer account.
- Cash Out: Withdraw from Payoneer to SadaPay/NayaPay. You will still pay the 2% Payoneer fee, but you will get the excellent exchange rate from the fintech bank, saving you thousands.
Playbook 2: The Direct Client Specialist
- Invoice: Send your client an invoice with your SadaPay or NayaPay IBAN and SWIFT code.
- Receive: The client sends a wire transfer.
- Get Paid: The full amount (minus any fees from the sender’s bank) lands in your account in 1-2 days at the best exchange rate in Pakistan.
The only time you should ever use a traditional bank is if a massive, old-school corporate client’s finance department refuses to use anything else.
Your money is yours. Stop letting outdated banks steal 10% of it.