Top PayPal alternatives in Africa
- Last update:
Pick the right PayPal alternative by comparing account access, business features, card options, and cross-border payment capabilities
Key takeaways
- PayPal supports sending and receiving payments across 200+ countries in 25+ currencies, with 4.40% plus a fixed fee on incoming transactions
- PayPal alternatives for African businesses include WorldFirst, Wise, Grey, Chipper Cash, nSave, Remitly, WorldRemit and Payoneer
- WorldFirst provides 15+ currency accounts, marketplace integrations, and up to 20 free virtual cards
Grey offers USD accounts and cards, but business access is in Nigeria only with other regions limited to personal accounts - Chipper Cash supports USD accounts and cards in Nigeria and Ghana, but cards come at an issuance and maintenance cost starting at US$1
- Remitly and WorldRemit enable transfers only via bank, cash, or mobile money, with no accounts, cards, or multi-currency holding features
PayPal enables international payments for individuals and businesses across 200+ countries and supports checkout integrations and online payment processing in 25+ currencies.1 Business accounts include tools for invoicing, sales tracking, payment links, and basic reporting, making it widely used for global digital commerce.2 But, its functionality varies significantly across African markets:
- In Nigeria, only personal PayPal accounts are available and they support sending payments only3
- In Kenya and Morocco, businesses can open PayPal business accounts, but these accounts are limited to receiving payments4,5
- Ghana is not currently supported
Across all four markets, PayPal does not offer business cards and does not even clearly disclose full currency support for sending, receiving, or holding funds. As a result, businesses that want to hold multiple currencies, spend via cards, or manage end-to-end cross-border workflows need to consider alternative providers. Here are top 8 PayPal alternatives.
1. WorldFirst
WorldFirst is a global payments provider that enables businesses to send, receive, hold, and convert funds across multiple currencies through its World Account. The multi-currency account supports 15 currencies, including USD, EUR, and GBP, with no fees for account setup or receiving payments.
The World Card, a Mastercard-powered business card linked to the World Account, supports spending in 150+ currencies and allows businesses to issue up to 20 virtual cards at no additional cost. Businesses can also collect payouts from major marketplaces and make direct supplier payments in CNH without needing a local Chinese bank account.
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Fees checked in June 2026. Terms and Conditions Apply
2. Wise
Wise is a global payments provider that supports transfers in 50+ currencies to 140+ countries.6 However, its availability in Africa is limited:
- Personal accounts are available in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Morocco but are limited to sending payments only6
- Wise Business is available in Kenya and also remains send-focused, but come with features like batch payments, volume discounts, accounting integrations, and team controls7
Pricing8: Account opening cost is zero. Transfer fees vary by region starting from 0.29%
3. Grey
Grey is an international payments provider offering both personal and business accounts for cross-border payments.9 Personal USD accounts support receiving international payments, currency exchange, sending money, and spending globally via a virtual card.10 Business accounts also provide USD account details along with bulk payouts to 170+ countries, team spending controls, and APIs to automate payments.9
Incoming bank transfers via Fedwire, BACS, and CHAPS attract fixed receiving fees, and virtual cards come with an issuance cost starting at US$4.11,12 Business accounts are only available in Nigeria9, while Kenya, Ghana, and Morocco only have access to personal accounts.13,14,15
→ Learn more in our Grey review and know about Grey alternatives
Pricing: No monthly fee.9 Receiving payments via ACH, SEPA, and FPS incurs a fee of 0.8% depending on the transaction type11
4. Chipper Cash
Chipper Cash is a cross-border payments provider operating in 21+ countries, offering USD virtual accounts and USD virtual cards for global spending.16,18
Personal accounts are limited to sending payments only16, while business accounts support both sending and receiving funds, along with higher transaction limits and dedicated support.17 USD virtual cards come with issuance and maintenance fees starting from US$1.19 Business accounts are only available in Nigeria and Ghana, which limits access for companies operating in other regions like Kenya and Ghana.17
→ Learn more in our Chipper Cash review
Pricing: Both business and personal accounts come at zero cost20, but USD virtual accounts require a setup fee of NGN 5,000 / GHS 60 and a US$1.50 monthly fee18
5. nSave
nSave is an international payments provider that supports multi-currency accounts allowing businesses to receive international payments in USD, EUR, and GBP, hold balances, convert currencies, and send funds globally.21 It also offers virtual debit cards for business spending.22
GBP accounts for users in Nigeria cannot receive incoming funds, which limits full multi-currency usability.24 Business accounts are available in Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco.23
Pricing: One-time business account setup fee of US$10.25 GBP transfers cost US$1, while USD and EUR SWIFT payments cost 0.3% subject to minimum and maximum fees25
6. Remitly
Remitly is an international money transfer service rather than a multi-currency account provider.26 It focuses on enabling users to receive payments, but does not support sending.26
Its business account is available in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Morocco, where payments can be received through bank deposits, cash pickup, or mobile money, depending on the country.27,28,29,30 Remitly does not support features such as holding funds in multiple currencies, issuing virtual cards, or managing foreign currency accounts.
Pricing: No monthly/set up fee31
7. WorldRemit
WorldRemit focuses on international money transfers and does not provide personal/business accounts.32 In Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Morocco, users can receive transfers through different methods.33,34,35,36
- In Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, transfers can be received directly into bank accounts33,34,35
- In Morocco, bank account transfers are not supported; users can only receive funds via mobile money, and transfer limits apply36
Since WorldRemit does not provide local account details, balance holding functionality, virtual cards, or business spending tools, businesses looking for multi-currency management may therefore need to consider alternatives.
Pricing: Not specified.
8. Payoneer
Payoneer is a global payment provider that enables freelancers, online sellers, and businesses to receive international payments and marketplace payouts, as well as send money overseas. It supports collections from global clients and major marketplaces, making it a widely used option for cross-border earnings.
Its features vary by market, with some regions offering additional tools such as business accounts, cards, and balance-holding capabilities, depending on local availability.
→ Learn more in our Payoneer review and know about Payoneer alternatives
Pricing: No monthly fee. Other transaction, withdrawal, currency conversion, and payment fees may apply depending on usage.
Choose the right PayPal alternative
The right PayPal alternative depends on what your business actually needs. Some businesses may prioritise a multi-currency account, while others may require virtual cards, marketplace integrations, broader regional availability, or simply a way to receive international payments. However, most businesses require all of these functionalities under one single account. Hence, before choosing a provider, you must compare account availability, payment capabilities, currency support, and card functionality across the markets where your business operates.
FAQ
Can you send funds using a PayPal business account?
Yes. PayPal supports sending payments globally but only in Nigeria through a personal account.
Is PayPal available for businesses in Africa?
Availability depends on the market. PayPal Business accounts are currently available in Kenya and Morocco. Nigeria supports personal accounts only, while Ghana is not currently supported.
What are the main fees for using PayPal in Africa?
PayPal does not charge a monthly fee for business accounts.37 Businesses receiving payments typically pay a transaction fee of 4.40% plus a fixed fee.37
Which PayPal alternatives offer a multi-currency account?
WorldFirst offers a multi-currency business account that allows businesses to receive, hold, convert, and send funds in more than 15 currencies. Businesses can also access local account details and virtual Mastercard cards through the platform.
Sources
- https://www.paypal.com/c2/webapps/mpp/country-worldwide?locale.x=en_C2
- https://www.paypal.com/business
- https://www.paypal.com/ng/home
- https://www.paypal.com/ke/business
- https://www.paypal.com/ma/business
- https://wise.com
- https://wise.com/ke/business/
- https://wise.com/ng/pricing/
- https://grey.co/business
- https://grey.co
- https://support.grey.co/en/articles/10265140-faq-new-pricing-update
- https://support.grey.co/en/articles/7915648-card-spend-limits-and-fees
- https://grey.co/en-ke
- https://grey.co/en-gh
- https://grey.co/en-ma
- https://www.chippercash.com
- https://business.chippercash.com
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/8415928-africa-usd-virtual-account-faqs
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/5194944-how-to-claim-your-chipper-card
- https://support.chippercash.com/en/articles/5698220-business-account-documents-faqs
- https://www.nsave.com/products/business
- https://www.nsave.com/products/cards
- https://intercom.help/nsave_help_center/en/articles/10667646-supported-countries-for-opening-an-nsave-account
- https://intercom.help/nsave_help_center/en/articles/13572268-gbp-accounts-on-nsave-what-you-can-and-can-t-do
- https://www.nsave.com/pricing-business
- https://www.remitly.com
- https://www.remitly.com/us/en/help/article/how-to-send-a-transfer-to-nigeria
- https://www.remitly.com/us/en/help/article/receiving-money-kenya
- https://www.remitly.com/us/en/help/article/receiving-money-morocco
- https://www.remitly.com/us/en/help/article/how-to-send-a-transfer-to-ghana
- https://www.remitly.com/us/en/landing/business
- https://www.worldremit.com/en
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/nigeria/bank-transfer
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/kenya/bank-transfer
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/ghana/bank-transfer
- https://www.worldremit.com/en/morocco/faq/mobile-money
- https://www.paypal.com/ma/business/paypal-business-fees
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.
Hu Wenzhan is the Emerging Markets Country Manager at WorldFirst. He brings expertise across Fintech, Payments, Banking, New Markets Growth to help clients grow their global business.
Hu Wenzhan
Author
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