Freelancers and service providers in Pakistan have long faced a critical question:
“How do I get paid by international clients if I don’t have PayPal or Stripe?”
PayPal is not available in Pakistan, and Stripe requires a registered business in a supported country — making both inaccessible for most Pakistani freelancers, agencies, and solo entrepreneurs.
Yet, every day, thousands of people in Pakistan collect payments from clients in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe. So how do they do it?
In this article, we’ll explore reliable, legal, and efficient alternatives to PayPal and Stripe – including platforms, services, and new solutions like Forhopp that enable frictionless international payments for Pakistani freelancers.
Why PayPal and Stripe Don’t Work in Pakistan
❌ PayPal
PayPal is still not available in Pakistan due to:
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Regulatory and compliance issues
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Lack of direct agreements with the State Bank of Pakistan
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Concerns about money laundering frameworks and risk exposure
❌ Stripe
Stripe doesn’t support Pakistani individuals or businesses directly. It only operates in countries with mature banking and compliance infrastructure.
To use Stripe legally, you need:
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A registered business in a Stripe-supported country
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A foreign bank account
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Local tax registration in that country
That’s a high barrier to entry for solo freelancers.
Alternatives to PayPal and Stripe for Freelancers in Pakistan
Let’s look at trusted, functional, and accessible alternatives that are commonly used and accepted by global clients.
1. Forhopp – The Most Integrated Solution for Freelancers
Best For: Freelancers and service providers who want all-in-one project handling, payment collection, and local withdrawals.
How it works:
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You create a profile on Forhopp
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Go to dashboard and find the tab “Collect Payments”. By using this features, you will be able to collect payments from your exisitng clients even staying outside the Forhopp Marketplace. Then, create invoice for the amount you want to collect.
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Forhopp collects the payment and sends it directly to your Pakistani bank account via local gateway
Benefits:
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No need for PayPal or Stripe
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Local currency withdrawal
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Built-in contract, dispute resolution, and tax handling
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Faster and safer than negotiating off-platform deals
Bonus: Clients don’t need to do anything special – they pay just like they would on Upwork or Fiverr. Because of this Forhopp is the best freelaning website in Pakistan.
2. Payoneer
Best For: Freelancers using platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or receiving payments directly from companies.
How it works:
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You create a Payoneer account (free)
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You get virtual bank accounts in USD, GBP, and EUR
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Clients can pay you using bank transfers, ACH, or credit cards
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You withdraw to your Pakistani bank account
Pros:
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Widely accepted by businesses
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Supports direct client invoicing
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Linked to major freelance platforms
Cons:
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Charges high FX and withdrawal fees
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Payment delays are common
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Limited dispute protection
3. Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Best For: Registered freelancers or companies with clients in Europe or the US.
How it works:
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You open a Wise account and get multi-currency bank details
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Your client pays you via bank transfer (e.g., USD to your Wise account)
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You withdraw to your Pakistani bank at a favorable exchange rate
Pros:
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Transparent FX fees
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Very low cost
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Regulated and safe
Cons:
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Sometimes requires foreign tax verification
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Not designed for gig economy or one-off clients
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Payouts can take 1–3 days
4. Skrill / Neteller
Best For: Freelancers doing small tasks or gaming/gambling-related work (niche use cases)
These e-wallets allow you to receive international payments, but:
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Their FX fees are high
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Not all clients are comfortable using them
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Limited support for invoicing and taxes
Not recommended for professional freelancers or agency owners.
5. Bank Wire Transfers (SWIFT)
Best For: High-ticket services or B2B work
How it works:
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Your client sends an international bank transfer using your SWIFT code
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The money arrives in your local bank account (in PKR or USD)
Pros:
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Fully legal and regulated
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High trust factor for business clients
Cons:
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Expensive (~$25–50 per transaction)
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Slow (3–7 business days)
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Requires manual invoice creation and email follow-up
Comparing the Options
Method | Setup Time | Client Friendly | Local Bank Withdrawals | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
Forhopp | Very Easy | ✅ | ✅ | Freelancers & small teams |
Payoneer | Moderate | ✅ | ✅ | Platform-based freelancers |
Wise | Moderate | ✅ | ✅ | Registered freelancers/SMBs |
Bank Transfers | Complex | ✅ | ✅ | High-value projects |
Skrill/Neteller | Easy | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ | Niche/low-volume transactions |
Why Forhopp Stands Out for Freelancers in Pakistan
While platforms like Payoneer and Wise are useful, they’re not designed specifically for freelancers.
Forhopp is different:
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You don’t need to invoice separately
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You don’t need to convince clients to use a third-party tool
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You get all-in-one project, payment, and dispute resolution tools
In short, Forhopp lets you focus on your work while handling the money and compliance for you.
Final Thoughts
Not having access to PayPal or Stripe used to be a disadvantage.
Today, it’s just an outdated narrative.
With platforms like Forhopp,, Pakistani freelancers can:
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Work with clients from around the world
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Collect payments in USD, GBP, or EUR
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Withdraw funds legally to their bank accounts
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Build a long-term, tax-compliant freelancing career
The key is to stop waiting for global tech to catch up — and start using tools made for your market.
So if you’re still asking,
“How do I collect international payments without PayPal?”
Here’s your answer:
Use Forhopp. You won’t need anything else.