PayPal Alternatives in Egypt: 2026 Guide for Freelancers

Last Updated: February 2026

This guide covers what PayPal can and cannot do in Egypt, the real fee breakdown, and the alternatives that offer lower costs and fewer restrictions.

PayPal works in Egypt but with serious limitations. You cannot link an Egyptian bank account, you can only withdraw to a Visa card, and the total fees reach 8.5% on every payment. For freelancers receiving regular international income, these restrictions cost hundreds of dollars per year.

What works and what does not work with PayPal in Egypt

What Egyptian users can do:

• Open a PayPal account

• Receive payments from international clients (Goods and Services only)

• Withdraw to an Egyptian Visa card

• Send payments for online purchases

• Hold a USD balance temporarily

What Egyptian users cannot do:

• Link an Egyptian bank account for withdrawals

• Withdraw to a Mastercard or Meeza card

• Use Friends and Family payments (only Goods and Services)

• Keep money in the account indefinitely (auto-transfers on the 1st of every month)

• Top up the PayPal balance manually

• Withdraw in foreign currency (EGP only)

The inability to link a bank account is the biggest limitation. Every withdrawal goes through a Visa card, which limits your options and adds processing time.

PayPal fees for Egyptian freelancers

According to Cenoa's fee comparison, PayPal charges 8.5% in total fees on international payments received in Egypt.

The breakdown:

• Receiving international payments: 1%

• Withdrawing funds: 3%

• Currency conversion (USD to EGP): 4.5% markup above mid-market rate

• Total cost: 8.5%

For a $1,000 payment, PayPal charges approximately $85 in combined fees. You keep $915.

Additional costs to consider:

• Manual (on-demand) withdrawal fee: 79 EGP per withdrawal

• Automatic monthly transfer (1st of each month): Free

• Upwork charges an extra $2 per PayPal withdrawal from their platform

The 4.5% currency conversion markup is where PayPal makes most of its money. PayPal does not use the mid-market exchange rate. It applies its own rate with a markup, and you cannot opt out of this conversion when withdrawing to an Egyptian card.

The monthly auto-transfer problem

PayPal in Egypt automatically transfers your entire balance to your linked Visa card on the 1st of every month. You cannot turn this off.

This creates a timing problem. If a client pays you on the 2nd of the month, that money sits in PayPal until the 1st of the following month. You can request a manual withdrawal, but that costs 79 EGP each time.

For freelancers with irregular payment schedules, this means either waiting up to 30 days for your money or paying the manual withdrawal fee repeatedly.

PayPal alternatives for Egyptian freelancers

Cenoa

Cenoa provides a free US bank account with the lowest total fees among available options.

How it works:

• Sign up and verify your identity with an Egyptian ID or passport

• Receive a US bank account number and routing number

• Add these details to Upwork, Fiverr, or share with clients

• Receive USD payments via ACH or wire transfer

• Convert to EGP and withdraw to your Egyptian bank account

Fee structure:

• Receiving payments: 0.5%

• Converting to EGP: 0.49%

• Withdrawing to Egyptian bank: Free

• Account opening: Free

• Monthly fees: None

• Total cost: 0.99%

For a $1,000 payment, Cenoa charges $9.90. You keep $990.10.

Cenoa uses the mid-market exchange rate with no markup. The platform is built on Stripe infrastructure and partners with Lead Bank, an FDIC-insured US bank.

Grey

Grey provides US, UK, and EU bank accounts to Egyptian freelancers, plus a USD virtual card.

Fee structure:

• Receiving via ACH (USD): 0.8% (minimum $2, maximum $10)

• Receiving via SEPA (EUR): 0.8% (minimum 2 EUR, maximum 10 EUR)

• Currency conversion: 1% (capped at $6)

• Cross-border card payments: 2% + $0.50

• Monthly fees: None

• Total cost for $1,000: Approximately 1.4%

For a $1,000 payment with conversion, Grey charges approximately $14. You keep approximately $986.

Grey offers a USD virtual card that works in Egypt. This is useful if you want to spend your balance directly without converting to EGP first.

Limitations: Daily deposit limit of $5,000, monthly limit of $30,000.

Payoneer

Payoneer is the most established option with the widest platform compatibility.

Fee structure (according to Payoneer pricing):

• Receiving payments: 1%

• Withdrawing to bank: 2% to 3%

• Currency conversion: Up to 4.5% markup

• Total cost for USD to EGP: Approximately 8.5%

For a $1,000 payment converted to EGP, Payoneer charges approximately $85. You keep $915.

Payoneer works with Amazon, Etsy, Upwork, Fiverr, and most major platforms. Despite having similar total fees to PayPal, Payoneer has two advantages: you can withdraw directly to an Egyptian bank account, and there is no monthly auto-transfer or fund hold.

Wise

Wise works in Egypt but with restrictions. Egyptian residents cannot get a Wise card and cannot send money from EGP.

Fee structure:

• Sending $1,000 to Egypt: $21.77 in fees

• No card available in Egypt

• Total cost: Approximately 2.2%

For a $1,000 payment, Wise charges $21.77. You keep $978.23.

Wise is cheaper than PayPal but lacks a debit card in Egypt and does not support EGP sending.

Fee comparison: $1,000 USD payment

What you keep after all fees when receiving $1,000 and converting to EGP:

Cenoa (0.99% total):

• Fees: $9.90

• You keep: $990.10

Grey (approximately 1.4% total):

• Fees: $14

• You keep: $986

Wise (approximately 2.2% total):

• Fees: $21.77

• You keep: $978.23

• Note: No card available in Egypt

PayPal (8.5% total):

• Fees: $85

• You keep: $915

• Note: Withdrawals only to Visa card, monthly auto-transfer

Payoneer (8.5% total):

• Fees: $85

• You keep: $915

• Note: Can withdraw to Egyptian bank account directly

Fee comparison: $2,000 USD monthly income

Annual costs by platform for a freelancer earning $2,000 per month:

• Cenoa: $237.60 in annual fees. You keep $23,762.40.

• Grey: Approximately $336 in annual fees. You keep $23,664.

• Wise: Approximately $523 in annual fees. You keep $23,477.

• PayPal: $2,040 in annual fees. You keep $21,960.

• Payoneer: $2,040 in annual fees. You keep $21,960.

Switching from PayPal to Cenoa saves $1,802.40 per year. Switching from PayPal to Grey saves approximately $1,704 per year.

Why Egyptian freelancers are leaving PayPal?

The 8.5% total fee is the primary reason, but it is not the only one.

No bank account withdrawal. Every other platform on this list lets you withdraw to an Egyptian bank account. PayPal only supports Visa card withdrawals, which limits flexibility and can cause issues with certain cards.

Monthly auto-transfer. PayPal forces a withdrawal on the 1st of every month. You cannot choose when to convert your USD to EGP, which means you cannot wait for a better exchange rate.

Manual withdrawal fee. If you need your money before the monthly auto-transfer, each manual withdrawal costs 79 EGP.

No Meeza support. Egypt's national payment card is not supported by PayPal.

No Friends and family. You can only receive payments through Goods and Services, which means every transaction carries the full commercial fee.

Which platform should you use?

If you want the lowest fees: Cenoa at 0.99% total offers the lowest cost for receiving and withdrawing international payments in Egypt.

If you need a USD card: Grey provides a virtual USD card that works in Egypt. This lets you spend your balance directly on international websites without converting to EGP.

If you need maximum platform compatibility: Payoneer works with nearly every freelance platform and marketplace. Despite higher fees, it may be necessary for specific platforms that do not support bank transfers.

If you need occasional PayPal: Keep your PayPal account active for clients who insist on PayPal, but route all other payments through Cenoa.

Recommended Setup

Primary account: Cenoa for lowest total fees

Secondary account: Payoneer for platforms that require it

Keep PayPal only for clients who will not use alternatives.

This combination gives you flexibility while minimizing fees on direct payments and platform payouts that support bank transfers.

How to switch from PayPal to Cenoa

1. Create a Cenoa account at cenoa.com

2. Complete identity verification with your Egyptian ID or passport

3. Receive your US bank account details

4. Update payment settings on Upwork, Fiverr, or other platforms

5. Share bank details with direct clients

6. New payments will be deposited to your Cenoa account

7. Withdraw existing PayPal balance before fully switching

The switch takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Platform payments typically update within one payment cycle.

Frequently asked questions

Can I link my Egyptian bank account to PayPal?

No. PayPal in Egypt only supports withdrawals to Egyptian Visa cards. You cannot link a bank account directly.

Does PayPal support Meeza cards?

No. Meeza, Egypt's national card network, is not supported by PayPal for withdrawals or payments.

How long does a PayPal withdrawal take in Egypt?

Automatic monthly transfers process on the 1st of each month. Manual withdrawals take up to 7 business days to reach your linked Visa card.

Can I avoid PayPal's currency conversion fee?

No. When withdrawing to an Egyptian Visa card, PayPal automatically converts to EGP using its own exchange rate with a 4.5% markup. There is no option to withdraw in USD.

Is it safe to use PayPal in Egypt?

PayPal itself is a secure platform. The issue is not safety but cost and functionality. At 8.5% total fees with limited withdrawal options, better alternatives exist for regular freelance income.

Which platforms work with Cenoa?

Any platform that pays via ACH or US bank transfer works with Cenoa. This includes all platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Appen, Toptal, Amazon, Etsy and Shopify and direct client payments.

What documents do I need to sign up for Cenoa’s US bank accounts?

A valid Egyptian ID or passport, proof of address and proof of payment.

Conclusion

PayPal works in Egypt but charges 8.5% in total fees, only supports Visa card withdrawals, and forces monthly auto-transfers. For a freelancer earning $2,000 per month, that is $2,040 per year in fees.

Better alternatives exist:

• Cenoa: 0.99% total, lowest fees, direct bank withdrawal

• Grey: Approximately 1.4% total, includes USD virtual card

• Wise: Approximately 2.2% total, no card in Egypt

• Payoneer: 8.5% total, widest platform compatibility

Switching from PayPal to Cenoa saves $1,802 per year on a $2,000 monthly income.

Sign up for Cenoa to start keeping more of what you earn.