In digital marketing, working with freelancers is commonplace. Thisd often means using a payment service such as PayPal to transfer funds when work has been completed. Though the well-established platform is generally very reliable and user friendly, it can be a good idea to have a few back up options in case you do run in to problems. Cyber-attacks, server problems and other issues can mean that payments can be unexpectedly delayed, which means you will need to find other means of paying your staff. Here are Probella’s best alternatives to PayPal in 2019.
Square
This relatively new software is becoming very popular with online sellers as it includes a free domain and online store as standard. Even if you don’t use these features, it is one of the better alternatives to PayPal that are currently available. Transaction fees are generally similar to what you would expect from other providers and card payments that customers make in a physical store will typically incur a fee of 2.75%. There are no monthly subscription fees, like some payment providers and for small businesses who are looking for a simple and effective online payment solution, this is a great option. There are a couple of things to be aware of, though. Only people in the U.S, Japan, Canada, the UK and Australia can currently use this technology and some customers have reported one or two instability issues with this platform. For newer or smaller businesses, this can be a sensible option but high-volume traders or those who deal with large amounts of money may want to look elsewhere.
WePay
WePay was created to challenge the online payment giants directly. It is very quick to set up and features one of the simplest and most user-friendly interfaces of all of the software on our list. Compatible with android devices as well as apple products, WePay offers its users a hassle-free experience and good level of security protection. It is also suitable for businesses of all sizes, offering variable APIs. Judging by most of the feedback online, their customer service is generally pretty good and though there’s no free option, it is definitely a heavyweight contender for PayPal.
Amazon Pay
The ecommerce giants have their own payment system which can be integrated into your customer relationship management platform. This requires customers to log in to their amazon account in order to send or receive funds. For many, this will be something of an advantage as large, visible companies like this often create a sense of trust and security for people. On the flip side, Amazon isn’t especially popular amongst some more ethical shoppers, so if you are marketing to people who may object to this platform on moral grounds, it’s probably not the best option. In terms of functionality, Amazon pay does everything you would expect from a payment portal and is globally recognised as a legitimate alternative to PayPal.
Shopify Payments
For smaller online businesses, Shopify payments allows you to accept payments from credit cards without having to use any third-party applications. Their rates are relatively low at around 2 to 3% per transaction and the software allows you to monitor payments, account balances and also offers the option of receiving real time updates whenever money is transferred to your account. For those who already use Shopify to sell their products online, using this option can be one of the simplest ways to accept payments without having to deal with external providers. When setting up your Shopify store, you are given the option to add their payment software, which means you can potentially manage both stock and payments from one place.
2checkout
Aimed at global business and available in no less than 15 languages, this versatile but relatively simple payment software allows you to accept payments in 80 different currencies. Though this is probably totally unnecessary for businesses who only deal with local customers, for those with an international audience, 2checkout offers a user-friendly service, complete with fraud protection and mobile integrated software. Rates are a little higher than some of the other options on our list, so this is may is not the best option for those who are trying to save money.
Authorize.net
This company have been established for more than 20 years, offering businesses the option to receive payments in physical stores as well as online. Owned by Visa, this lesser known payment platform offers 24-hour customer support and a range of packages to suit different levels of business. Aimed at people in the USA, Australia, Canada, Europe and the UK, this payment platform can actually be integrated with PayPal itself, meaning that you can accept transactions from practically anywhere in the world. It also allows you to accept payments that are made over the phone, which is a feature only the most secure payment management software can deal with securely.
Google Pay
The search kings have their own dedicated payment service and as you may expect, it is universally accepted, free and overall, very effective. They even allow businesses to integrate things like special offers, voucher schemes and discounts into their stores, which is great news for anybody who works in industries such as take out food or retail. Compatible with all devices and very secure, this option may not offer some of the more esoteric features that are available from other providers, but it is a reliable and easy to use piece of software that is simple to set up.
How to select the right payment platform for your business
Consider your budget, your security needs, the volume of customers you currently deal with and your plans for expansion. If you are a small business with limited funds, something like Google pay would be a good option as it’s free and very simple to use. If you’re dealing with large volumes of high value transactions and international payments, something like Authorize.net may offer a little more flexibility.
