Top online payment platforms in South Asia

Online payment platforms let you move money digitally. Take a look at how seven options in South Asia stack up

Key takeaways

• An online payment platform is a digital service that enables individuals or businesses to send, receive, transfer or manage money electronically through a website or app
• WorldFirst offers multi-currency business accounts, and supports marketplace collections and international payments
• Elevate Pay and nSave focus on receiving international income, while SadaPay provides local digital payment and card services
• Payoneer supports cross-border business payments, while Remitly and MoneyGram focus on international money transfers

Freelancers, remote workers and businesses in South Asia can use online payment platforms to receive international earnings, pay overseas recipients or move money into local accounts. But, platforms differ in what they offer: some provide accounts for holding and receiving multiple currencies, while others focus on providing local wallets or international remittances only.

This guide covers seven payment platforms with different use cases across Pakistan and Bangladesh, and also explores a multi-currency account by WorldFirst that enables users to send, receive, convert and hold foreign currencies.

What is an online payment platform?

An online business payment platform is a digital service that allows users to send, convert, hold and receive payments through a website or mobile application. The category includes several types of services such as:

• Multi-currency accounts: These allow businesses to hold balances in different currencies and use local receiving details for international payments
• Digital wallets and payment accounts: These provide digital transfers, card payments and local financial services through an app
• Global payment processing platforms: These support international receiving and sending, often with local withdrawal options
• Remittance providers: These primarily facilitate international money transfers to bank accounts, mobile wallets or cash-pickup locations

Top online payment platforms in South Asia

1. WorldFirst

WorldFirst is an international payments provider offering the World Account, a multi-currency account for businesses sending, converting, receiving and holding cross-border payments. It supports local receiving accounts in 15+ currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR, CNH and AUD. Businesses can send payments in across 200+ countries and regions and collect funds from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways.

The World account is linked to a virtual card, the World Card that enables users to make business payments globally. When payments are made in the 15 supported currencies, no fees apply.

Key features of the World Account:

• Receive international payments and hold in 15+ currencies
• Get marketplace and payment gateway payouts from Amazon, Stripe and more
• No cost and instant transfers between World Account holders
• Get up to 20 World Cards, a Mastercard-powered multi-currency card at no additional cost
• Get integrations with Xero, NetSuite and more
• Use World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com, to pay Chinese suppliers when sourcing from 1688.com

Pricing for the World Account

*Fees checked in September 2026

→ You can have a look at the top virtual cards for freelancers here

2. Elevate Pay

Elevate Pay is designed to receive USD payments from overseas clients and platforms, with funds then withdrawn via supported local payment methods.^1,2 In Pakistan, users can withdraw to Pakistani bank accounts and supported mobile wallets such as JazzCash, Easypaisa and NayaPay.²  In Bangladesh, USD can be converted to BDT and sent to supported local channels including bKash.¹

Pricing: Elevate Pay charges zero monthly and registration fees, with transaction fees starting at US$1 for
outbound ACH³

*Fees checked in September 2026

→ Go through this Elevate Pay review to know more

3. SadaPay

SadaPay is a digital payment provider focused on users in Pakistan, providing local money transfers, remittance receiving, bill payments, mobile top-ups and Mastercard card payments.⁴ Users can send money to Pakistani bank accounts and wallets, while the Mastercard can be used for local, online and international transactions.⁴

Pricing: Account opening, annual charges and incoming remittances are zero, while international ATM withdrawals cost PKR 250 per transaction⁵

*Fees checked in September 2026

4. nSave

nSave provides digital accounts for receiving, holding, converting and sending international funds.⁶ Users can access USD, GBP and EUR account details, including ACH and wire details for USD, FPS Payments for GBP and SEPA receiving details for EUR.⁶

Funds can be sent to bank accounts and mobile wallets in supported destinations, including PKR and BDT payouts.⁶ nSave also allows users to convert between USD, GBP and EUR.6 The platform supports account access through its mobile application and provides virtual card functionality.⁶

Pricing: Account opening costs nothing for personal accounts and US$15 for business accounts.⁷ Conversion fees are 0.6%⁷

*Fees checked in September 2026

→ Go through this nSave review to know more

5. Payoneer

Payoneer is a cross-border payments provider offering business and personal accounts for receiving and sending international payments.⁸ Users can receive funds from international clients, marketplaces and other businesses through supported receiving accounts and payment methods, then withdraw funds to eligible local bank accounts.⁸

Payoneer supports international transfers to 190+ countries in 70+ countries and offers invoicing and payment-request functionality.⁸ Its payment options include bank transfers, marketplace payouts, invoices and payment links, while Payoneer-to-Payoneer transfers can be made between users as well.⁸

Pricing: Monthly fee is zero and currency conversion costs 1%-4% + exchange rate⁹

*Fees checked in September 2026

→ Go through this Payoneer review to know more

6. Remitly

Remitly is an international money transfer provider that lets users send funds through bank deposits, mobile wallets and cash pickup.^10,11,12 In Bangladesh, supported options include banks such as Islami Bank Bangladesh, Dutch-Bangla Bank and Agrani Bank, and mobile wallets including bKash, Nagad and Rocket.^10,11

In Pakistan, Remitly supports bank deposits, mobile wallets and cash pickup, with USD-to-PKR transfers available through providers such as Meezan Bank, UBL, Allied Bank and Easypaisa.^12,13 It also lets users track the status of their transfers.¹⁰

Pricing: Receiving costs nothing, sending fees not specified^10,13

*Fees checked in September 2026.

7. MoneyGram

MoneyGram is an international money transfer provider that supports online and in-person transactions.^14,15 In Bangladesh, recipients can only receive money.¹⁴ They can do so via bank accounts, cash pickup and mobile wallets.¹⁴

In Pakistan, available receiving methods include cash pickup and bank-account transfers through MoneyGram’s local network.¹⁵  Senders can initiate transfers online or through participating MoneyGram locations, while recipients can receive funds through the delivery method selected for the transaction.¹⁵

Pricing: Not specified

*Fees checked in September 2026.

FAQs

1. What is the best online payment platform for South Asian businesses?

The appropriate platform depends on the payment requirement. WorldFirst and Payoneer provide broader business payment functionality, while Elevate Pay and nSave focus on receiving international earnings.^1,6,8 Remitly and MoneyGram are primarily designed for international transfers, while SadaPay focuses on digital payments and local financial services.^4,10,14

2. What is the best payment platform for freelancers in Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Freelancers can compare platforms based on whether they need USD receiving details, local withdrawals, currency conversion or marketplace compatibility. Elevate Pay, nSave, Payoneer and WorldFirst provide international receiving functionality, while the availability of specific currencies, withdrawal methods and fees varies by country and account type.^1,6,8

Sources

1. https://www.elevatepay.co/bkash
2. https://www.elevatepay.co/pakistan
3. https://help.elevatepay.co/hc/en-us/articles/18040869186833-How-does-Elevate-Pay-s-pricing-work
4. https://sadapay.pk
5. https://sadapay.pk/soc
6. https://www.nsave.com
7. https://www.nsave.com/pricing
8. https://www.payoneer.com/
9. https://www.payoneer.com/about/pricing/
10. https://www.remitly.com/us/en/money-transfer/send-money-to-bangladesh
11. https://www.remitly.com/bd/en/receive-money
12. https://www.remitly.com/pk/en/receive-money
13. https://www.remitly.com/us/en/currency-converter/usd-to-pkr-rate
14. https://www.moneygram.com/r/bd/en
15. https://www.moneygram.com/r/pk/en

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.