How To Quickly Get Paid Online As A Freelancer

Simple tool to help you receive your money safely and easily.

Working from home or anywhere in the world is now more common than ever. You don’t need to commute, dress up for the office, or deal with the usual 9-to-5 setup. But as you make that switch to remote work or freelancing, one of the first things you'll need to figure out is how do you actually get paid?

Some companies pay directly to your bank account. That works well if you’re in the same country as the business, but it becomes tricky when you're working with international clients. There are delays, high fees, and complicated cross-border processes. You might even get paid late, or worse, lose a chunk of your earnings to hidden charges.

This is where platforms like Wise (formerly known as TransferWise) can be a game-changer for freelancers.

What is Wise?

Wise is an online financial service that lets you send and receive money internationally with lower fees and better exchange rates than traditional banks. It works like a digital wallet but is focused on making global transactions smoother and cheaper. It’s especially useful for freelancers, remote workers, and small business owners who work with clients from other countries.

Why Use Wise as a Freelancer?

If you’re just starting out or been freelancing for a while now, Wise gives you flexibility and control over your money. Here's why it’s a smart choice:

Low fees: You don’t get charged the ridiculous fees that traditional banks often take from your payment.
Better exchange rates: You receive more of your actual earnings because Wise uses the real exchange rate, not inflated rates with hidden margins.
Multiple currency accounts: You can get paid in USD, EUR, GBP, and more—all in one place.
Speed: Payments can arrive in a few hours or the next day, depending on the currency.

It’s made for people like us, the freelancers, creatives, remote workers who deal with international clients and need a reliable way to receive payments.

How to Set Up Your Wise Account

Getting started with Wise is pretty straightforward. Here’s a simple guide:

Sign up for a free account

Go to wise.com or download the Wise app and create an account using your email address or Google/Facebook login.
Verify your identity

To keep your account secure, Wise will ask for a valid ID like your passport or national ID. Sometimes they’ll also ask for a quick selfie to make sure it’s really you.
Set up your receiving accounts

You can generate your own account numbers for different currencies, like a US routing and account number (even if you don’t live in the US). This allows clients to pay you just like they would pay someone locally.
Link your local bank (optional)

If you want to transfer your Wise balance to your local bank account, you can link it and move money anytime you need. This is great if you want to cash out your funds to use them locally.

Share your Wise account details with clients

Once your account is ready, you can give your clients the right currency details (for example, your Wise USD account number) and start receiving payments.

Final Thoughts

Freelancing is full of freedom, but it also comes with new responsibilities like making sure your payments arrive safely.

Platforms like Wise make that easier so you can focus on your work instead of worrying about how you'll get paid. Whether you're just starting out or growing your freelance business, it’s always worth setting yourself up with the right tools. Getting paid should be simple. With Wise, it actually is.

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