Why is paying South African freelancers from the US so difficult
US clients love working with South African freelancers, but paying them is often expensive and slow. Traditional methods like PayPal and bank wires come with high fees and long delays, making it harder for freelancers to actually receive what they earned.
What are the common ways to pay freelancers in South Africa
- PayPal: Easy to use, but expensive with fees up to 5 percent
- Wise: Transparent FX, lower fees, but still slow
- Bank Wire: Secure, but costly and takes 3–5 days
- Stripe: Not always available for direct payouts in South Africa
What is the cheapest way to pay South African freelancers
If you invoice for $1000:
- PayPal: freelancer receives around $940
- Wise: freelancer receives around $970
- Bank Wire: freelancer receives around $960
- Rafiki OS: freelancer receives around $998 instantly
How does Rafiki OS simplify payments from the US to South Africa
- Instant settlement wallet to wallet
- Fees starting at 0.2 percent
- Support for USD, EUR, ZAR, and stablecoins
- Automated invoicing and compliance built in
FAQs
What is the fastest way to pay freelancers in South Africa
- Rafiki OS enables instant wallet to wallet transfers.
Which payment method has the lowest fees
- Rafiki OS starts at 0.2 percent, compared to PayPal and Wise at 3–5 percent.
Can US clients pay in USD while freelancers receive ZAR
- Yes, Rafiki OS automatically converts payments at low rates.
