Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CurrencyFair VS PayPal

Compare CurrencyFair VS PayPal and see what are their differences

CurrencyFair logo CurrencyFair

No bank rip-offs transferring money internationally

PayPal logo PayPal

PayPal is the faster, safer way to pay online without sharing financial details, send and receive money or accept credit and debit cards as a seller
  • CurrencyFair Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-22
  • PayPal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

CurrencyFair features and specs

  • Competitive Exchange Rates
    CurrencyFair offers exchange rates that are often more favorable than those provided by traditional banks, helping users save money on international transfers.
  • Low Fees
    The platform typically charges lower fees compared to conventional banking methods, making it a cost-effective option for transferring money internationally.
  • Peer-to-Peer Marketplace
    CurrencyFair offers a unique peer-to-peer currency exchange marketplace, allowing users to set their own rates and potentially achieve better deals.
  • Regulated and Secure
    CurrencyFair is regulated by financial authorities in multiple jurisdictions and implements strong security measures to protect user funds and data.
  • Fast Transfers
    The service aims to complete transfers quickly, often within one to two business days, depending on the countries and currencies involved.

Possible disadvantages of CurrencyFair

  • Limited Currency Availability
    CurrencyFair may not support all currencies, which can be a limitation if you need to transact in less common denominations.
  • No Cash Payouts
    CurrencyFair does not offer cash payout options for recipients, meaning they must have a bank account to receive funds.
  • Exchange Rate Re-Quotation
    While CurrencyFair offers competitive rates, there may be instances where the rate initially provided is adjusted, depending on market fluctuations before the transaction completes.
  • Geographical Limitations
    CurrencyFair services may not be available in all countries, limiting access for potential users in restricted regions.
  • User Interface
    Some users might find CurrencyFair's user interface less intuitive compared to other modern financial service platforms.

PayPal features and specs

  • Widely Accepted
    PayPal is accepted by millions of merchants around the globe, making it easy to make transactions almost anywhere.
  • User-Friendly
    The platform has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, simplifying the process of sending and receiving money.
  • Security Features
    PayPal offers robust security features such as encryption, fraud prevention, and two-factor authentication to protect users' financial information.
  • Buyer Protection
    PayPal offers buyer protection for eligible purchases, providing a safety net in case items are not as described or not received.
  • Global Transactions
    PayPal supports multiple currencies and allows for international transactions, which is beneficial for global business.
  • Integration with eBay
    PayPal integrates seamlessly with eBay, making it convenient for users who frequently buy and sell on the platform.

Possible disadvantages of PayPal

  • Fees
    PayPal charges fees for certain transactions, including receiving payments for goods and services, which can add up for frequent users.
  • Account Freezing
    PayPal has been known to freeze accounts if there is suspicious activity, which can be inconvenient and problematic for users.
  • Customer Service
    Some users report issues with PayPal's customer service, citing long response times and difficulty resolving disputes.
  • Exchange Rates
    PayPal's currency conversion rates are often less favorable compared to what you might get at a bank or through a dedicated currency exchange service.
  • Transaction Limits
    PayPal imposes limits on transaction amounts for unverified accounts, which can restrict the ability to send or receive large sums of money.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Some users have raised concerns about PayPal's data privacy practices and how their information is shared with third parties.

Analysis of PayPal

Overall verdict

  • PayPal is generally considered a good option for online transactions due to its established reputation, security features, and ease of use. However, some users may experience issues related to customer service, account freezes, or fees, which can impact their experience.

Why this product is good

  • PayPal is a widely recognized and used online payment platform, offering a secure and convenient way to send and receive money. It provides numerous features such as buyer protection, fraud detection, and ease of integration for businesses. Its wide acceptance by online merchants and compatibility with numerous currencies enhance its appeal.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking for a secure way to make online purchases.
  • Freelancers or small businesses needing a simple payment solution.
  • Online merchants who wish to offer their customers a popular and trusted payment method.
  • International users who need to transact in multiple currencies.

CurrencyFair videos

Transferwise vs CurrencyFair - Which One Is Better

More videos:

  • Review - Foreign Currency Exchange Easier, and CHEAPER?! [CurrencyFair] (2020) | Expats Everywhere
  • Review - CurrencyFair Review

PayPal videos

STOP Using PayPal - 5 Reasons You Should Stop Using PayPal in Your Business or On Your Website!

More videos:

  • Review - Why I No Longer Use PayPal · Selling AND Buying
  • Review - is PayPal Credit a Scam | 6 Month Interest Free

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CurrencyFair and PayPal)
Online Payments
2 2%
98% 98
Money Transfer
100 100%
0% 0
Payment Platform
2 2%
98% 98
Recurring Billing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using CurrencyFair and PayPal. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CurrencyFair and PayPal

CurrencyFair Reviews

Top 7 Wise Alternatives
Another cost you should be aware of is the receiving bank charges in countries where CurrencyFair doesn’t have a local bank account (they don’t have local bank accounts in Canada and New Zealand yet, so receiving CAD and NZD can be relatively expensive for smaller amounts as the receiving banks charge a fee usually $15 – $30).
Source: transumo.com

PayPal Reviews

  1. PayPal is cool

    I like PayPal, it has a high security standard. Except when I am the one suffering a chargeback for some flimsy reasons.


Top 5 Payoneer Alternatives [2024]
The best payment method for freelancers varies based on individual needs. Wise and Revolut are excellent for their multi-currency account features and using the mid-market exchange rate, while PayPal is globally accepted and offers instant transfers to other PayPal accounts. Freelancers should consider factors such as transfer speed, fees and currency support when choosing a...
Source: www.exiap.com
Top 5 Payoneer Alternatives for Seamless Online Transactions
PayPal excels in user familiarity and widespread acceptance, making it convenient for both businesses and customers. It offers buyer and seller protection, but comes with potentially higher fees and account limitations compared to Payoneer. Choose PayPal for convenience and buyer trust, Payoneer for potentially lower fees and specialized features.
Source: www.doola.com
What to Use Instead of PayPal? 10 Best PayPal Alternatives
Braintree is a PayPal service, but it is still one of the PayPal alternative payment methods worth considering. There is no monthly fee for using this payment service. Accepting payments from credit or debit cards or digital wallets costs 2.59% + $0.49 per transaction. You can also use Braintree to accept Venmo payments in the United States, but this costs 3.49% + $0.49....
9 Best Cryptocurrency Payment Gateways Reviewed [January 2023]
PayPal provides 24/7 secure transactions of both fiat and cryptocurrencies to its users. Even though it was initially an online payment platform, PayPal added a crypto payment feature in 2020. Its crypto wallet also allows users to directly buy and store cryptocurrencies. PayPal doesn’t charge extra fees for making crypto payments.
Source: coingape.com
The 6 best online payment processing services in 2024
What happens on the customer side? When they visit your website, they'll see the button you've configured. They can then choose to pay with their PayPal balance or any saved payment method on their PayPal account. If they don't have PayPal, they can check out by entering their credit card details (all data is handled securely by PayPal in both cases). Added security measures...
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CurrencyFair should be more popular than PayPal. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CurrencyFair mentions (7)

  • How to buy US based ETFs from outside of the US (SCHD, JEPI etc)
    They only support bank wire transfers or transfers via currencyfair which is cheaper and quicker than a bank transfer. Their conversion rate is really nice (at least for EUR/ USD) but you will be charged an extra 20$ per transaction because of a 3rd party bank that comes into play. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Foreign conversion rates
    Use either Currencyfair https://currencyfair.com/ or Wise https://wise.com/. I have used both and I have a slight preference for Currencyfair for one-off transfer. Source: over 2 years ago
  • $$$ TOP AFFILIATE PROGRAMS 2022 $$$
    CurrencyFair -- Earn €20-200 Per Transfer -- https://currencyfair.com -- Finance. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Multi currency account ING
    I should be much cheaper for you if you use sites like wise.com or currencyfair.com or other similar. Also change rate in ING might be different for others. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Soon to be US-expat for the first time. Looking for any and all advice.
    In the Netherlands, many places do not accept credit cards. They accept Dutch debit cards, or cash. Cash is not commonly accepted either. It's weird, it's annoying, but I recommend applying for a debit card ASAP upon arrival. ING or ABNAMRO are the primary options, both suck, but it is what it is. The best rate for transferring money has been https://currencyfair.com/ imo. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

PayPal mentions (1)

  • Trying to activate PayPal just brings me to PayPal's website.
    (I live in USA) When I go to payments under my shopify account to add paypal as a payment method I am having trouble doing so. I first click activate paypal > activate paypal express checkout which directs me to a "security challenge" (confirm I am not a robot). Then it just brings me to paypals website (paypal.com/us/home). When I sign in nothing happens, I am just on my paypal homescreen. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CurrencyFair and PayPal, you can also consider the following products

Wise - Currency exchange Banks and other providers could charge you up to 5% in hidden costs when sending ...

Stripe - Online payment processing for internet businesses. Stripe is a suite of payment APIs that powers commerce for online businesses of all sizes. Use Stripe’s payment platform to accept and process payments online for easy-to-use commerce solutions.

Valora - Send money like a text message to anyone worldwide

Payoneer - Whether making international payments, receiving funds, managing your digital business, or accessing capital, Payoneer opens your business up to the world.

CurrencyTransfer - Expedia for business money transfers

PayPal Braintree - An all-in-one solution to accept, process, and split payments in your mobile app or online - from small business to large enterprise.