Once you become an established affiliate marketer, getting excited about finding affiliate programs and networks or partnering with the best traffic sources is normal. However, remember that the main goal is always to make money. That’s why you have to find the best payment solutions for you.
Believe it or not, some payment solutions charge an arm and a leg for processing payments or withdrawing funds. Others have complicated regulations that you have to follow.
Below, we’ll go over the top payment solutions for affiliate marketing professionals, explain each in detail, and let you know when these work best.
Table of Contents
The Best Payment Solutions for Affiliate Marketers
Before delving into the best payment solutions that affiliate marketers finance, you will use these payment solutions in the affiliate marketing industry to get paid by affiliate networks and individual programs, purchase traffic, pay for services, or pay your affiliates.
That said, to help you choose the payment method that suits your particular needs, I’ve created a comprehensive guide to the best payment methods for affiliate marketing, pointing out the main pros and cons and the best use:
Considering the above, let’s review the best affiliate payment methods available today.
Paxum
Paxum is a payment solution designed by web admins to fill several gaps in the affiliate industry’s payment structure. The platform is based in Canada but is available to marketers worldwide. Paxum has earned a reputation for being among the top affiliate payment methods, especially in the adult industry, because it’s popular, affordable, and easy to work with.
One of the best things about Paxum is its easy-to-understand flat fees, so you’ll always know where you stand before completing a transaction. This affiliate payments solution also offers a prepaid Mastercard, which gives affiliates easy access to their funds. At the time of writing, Paxum’s ATM withdrawals to prepaid cards are only $2, among the lowest in the industry.
Paxum PROs
- Trendy affiliate payments solution that’s suitable with dozens of platforms;
- Explicitly designed for affiliates, especially those in adult verticals;
- Great referral program;
- The low-cost, flat-fee pricing scheme;
- Prepaid MasterCard available worldwide;
- Has a referral program;
- A flat fee of 0.25$ from an instant transfer to the PPrepaidcard;
- A flat fee of 2$ for withdrawing from an ATM;
- Base in a trusted jurisdiction – Canada.
Paxum CONs
- There is a fee of 44.95$ for the Paxum Prepaid Card/Annual Fee;
- The prepaid card takes time to arrive (same for the replacement card);
- High fees for wire prepaid and credit card with prepaid
- The relual cost forofepaid Mastercard.
Paxum is the Best for prepaid. It’s perfect for marketers who want to use the same account to receive funds, make withdrawals, and submit payments through POS or online at no cost.
With the above in mind, Paxum does charge users for access to the prepaid Mastercard. You also have to pay a relatively high fee for wire transfers through this affiliate payment solution, which may not be an excellent alternative for up-and-coming marketers.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial about creating a Paxum account:
Open a Paxum accountWire Transfers
Many different forms of wire payments are available today, but the basic process is the same. Money is moved from the sender’s to the receiver’s possession electronically or physically. The different types of wire transfers include bank transactions and physical money withdrawals at cash offices.
For instance, wire transfers are subject to more stringent KYC (Know Your Client) procedures to reduce possible money laundering or otherwise KYC-related risks for all parties involved in affiliate marketing transactions.
However, KYC procedures often take time; therefore, this payment method takes around 1-3 days to complete. Another drawback is that bank charges on wire transfers can vary depending on the withdrawn amount and the financial connections of each financial institution.
Wire Transfers PROs
- A most popular and common type of affiliate payment solution;
- It is highly convenient;
- Compatible with most banks in most countries;
- Local wire transfers tend to be more affordable and take less time.
Wire Transfers CONs
- It may have excessively high fees depending on your location.
- Requires you to provide detailed KYC information.
- If receiving international transfers, your local bank may delay the process.
Wire Transfers are Best For
Wire transfers are safe, relatively fast, and accepted in most parts of the world. But it’s important to remember that these may also carry hefty fees depending on the country or financial institution in question. The processing time, costs, and other characteristics vary depending on each affiliate. That said, this solution offers a lot of flexibility compared to others.
This payment method is ideal for affiliates based in the US, EU, UK, and other regions with slightly more advanced banking systems. These tend to have lower commissions and shorter turnarounds.
PayPal
PayPal is perhaps the most well-known payment solution worldwide. It started over a decade ago and is available in 200+ countries worldwide. Today, it’s among the most popular alternatives for online merchants, commercial users, and affiliate marketing experts worldwide.
In simple terms, PayPal is safe, reliable, and flexible. Users can send or receive payments in more than two dozen currencies. PayPal’s fees are relatively high, and the bank transfer withdrawal option is available in developed regions and a few middle-income countries.
PayPal PROs
- Well-established company with top-notch security features.
- Available in 200+ countries and regions.
- Allows affiliates to receive funds in 56 different currencies (and counting!).
- Free transfers between PayPal accounts.
- Available at all major affiliate networks and accepted by most providers.
- Free bank transfer deposits and withdrawals. Check the fees here.
PayPal CONs
- Prepaid cards are only available in a few countries.
- It has strict rules to which affiliates need to adhere.
- Relatively high commission costs.
- Requires a credit/debit card and a bank account.
- If anything is suspicious, your funds may be blocked for 180 days.
PayPal is Best For
PayPal’s team has developed a series of great benefits for affiliates. Marketers can withdraw money directly to their bank accounts at no additional cost. Affiliates can also purchase new traffic and pay their providers directly from their balance.
In most cases, PayPal is ideal for established affiliates that work with traffic from all over the world. The payment platform allows you to receive funds in different currencies. It offers fixed fees, so you can project your costs accurately even if your campaigns double their production.
Below is a step-by-step video tutorial about creating a PayPal account:
Open a PayPal accountDebit & Credit Cards
Credit cards can be a quick and easy way to receive affiliate marketing payments. Visa tends to work better than Mastercard, but not all issuing banks allow deposits to online casinos.
The bottom line is that card payment is still one of the most common ways to pay to receive payments. However, not all affiliate marketing networks accept this payment, and independent affiliate programs rarely accept it.
Debit & Credit Cards PROs
- Money goes directly into your bank.
- Credit cards allow you to pay money in many different currencies.
Debit & Credit Cards CONs
- Most of the affiliate networks require proof of identity to use a credit card to send you payments;
- You may get charged high fees for currency conversion if your card is in your local currency;
- It might take several days to see your winnings in your bank account.
Debit cards and credit cards are best for:
This payment method is the most popular worldwide, particularly in Europe and the United States. It is the leading payment method in France (52%), the UK (49%), Belgium (47%), and Spain (36%).
If you want to receive payments fast and don’t care about the local conversion rates, you should go for debit or credit card payments. However, as I said, not many affiliate networks accept them.
Payoneer
Payoneer is another reliable cross-border payment solution for bloggers and affiliates. With Payoneer, you can receive affiliate payments from any country as long as your company is listed on its allowlist.
Many advertising networks directly integrate with Payoneer, making them one of the most popular solutions for getting paid online.
Users who have an online account also receive a debit card that allows them to withdraw funds from banks or ATMs worldwide.
Payoneer PROs
- Payoneer offers three international bank accounts, in the USA, the UK, and Canada, that accept money in different currencies.
- Provide a free Mastercard (prepaid) to withdraw cash from different places.
- Vprepaidy to use and trustworthy.
- Currency exchange is easy, and the rate is affordable.
- Excellent customer support.
Payoneer CONs
- There is a limited number of withdrawal methods;
- There is a pretty long withdrawal period;
- Payoneer account may be blocked due to incorrect data entry or due to the need to verify identity;
- There are several countries, including the Russian Federation, where you can not use it.
Payoneer is Best For
With Payoneer, receiving payments from companies like Amazon, iStock, Freelancer.com, Upwork, Fiverr, etc, is easy.
In most cases, PayPal is ideal for established affiliates that work with traffic from all over the world. The payment platform allows you to receive funds in different currencies. It offers fixed fees, so you can project your costs accurately even if your campaigns double their production.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial about creating a Payoneer account:
Open a Payoneer accountBitcoin & Cryptocurrencies
There is a high chance you already know what Bitcoin is. If you don’t, it’s a new type of online currency—cryptocurrency—created in 2009. This payment method has several unique features. To name a few, the transfers are fast, nonrefundable, have no interference from any middleman, and are anonymous as they don’t require any identification.
More and more online businesses in industries like gambling, adult, hosting, or cryptocurrency services prefer using Bitcoins due to their low fees and because online investors want cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin PROs
- Allows anonymous transactions;
- The transactions are fast – it takes minutes to receive a payment.
- Reasonably low fees when paying with Bitcoins;
- It can be used as an investment.
Bitcoin CONs
- Bitcoin doesn’t provide chargebacks or refunds
- HasIt has a high volatility rate
- Topping up the account can be expensive (depending on the exchange platforms)
Bitcoin is best for:
Suppose you affiliate marketing in niches like cryptocurrency services, trading forex, or adult. In that case, your affiliate marketing network or indie program may send you money in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
Skrill
Skrill, formerly known as Moneybookers, is another payment processor used often by affiliate programs, especially those that deal with gambling, games, and financial services.
The good thing about Skrill is that affiliate payouts can also automatically convert the currency, so no matter where the affiliate is located worldwide, they can get solid payouts without issues.
Skrill is available in about 190 countries and supports 40 currencies. If you see that other e-wallets are not available, you can use Skill. Skrill will charge you a percentage of your transaction for other integrated methods (Bitcoin, Neteller, etc.).
Skrill is free to join and offers free maintenance for as long as you use it every 12 months. Otherwise, you will pay a monthly fee of $3.
Skrill PROs
- The interface is intuitive and very easy to use;
- Skrill provides the highest level of security and transparency for each transaction;
- It can be used either for free or for a meager price;
- Skrill credit card allows payment even at merchants that do not support Skrill payment.
Skrill CONs
- Support is sometimes slow or not very helpful;
- High payout fees to force cards;
- Prepaid cards only available in Europe (EEA)
Prepaidis best for:
If you do affiliate marketing in niches like gambling, trading forex, or adu, your affiliate marketing network or indie program may send you money in Skrill.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial about creating a Skrill account:
Open a Skrill accountNeteller
Neteller is among the most common e-wallets available in over 190 countries and 22 currencies across various businesses and industries. It is commonly seen in affiliate programs, especially in the gambling industry.
Receiving money to your account is free, but if you want to transfer money to a peer, you will pay 1.9% of the transaction (a maximum of $20 per transaction).
If you want to pay your affiliates, you can send money to Neteller using different methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, or a Psafe Carcardstc.
Neteller PROs
- The interface is intuitive and very easy to use;
- The fees are low and convenient;
Neteller CONs
- Support is sometimes slow or not very helpful;
- High payout fees for Visa cards;
Neteller is best for:
If you do affiliate marketing in niches like gambling, your affiliate marketing network or indie program may send you money using Neteller.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial about opening a Neteller account:
Open a Neteller accountWebMoney
WebMoney is an online payment settlement system established in Russia in 1998. It is one of Russia’s most prominent electronic payment processors and is popular in former Soviet Union countries.
WebMoney is the perfect choice if you want to use your funds to purchase traffic, web hosting, or a domain in that area. This payment system operates in 91 countries, using local currencies for national transactions and USD or EUR for global/international payments.
WebMoney Transfer also offers online banking services, P2P payment, internet-based trading sites, merchant services, and online billing systems.
One of the main benefits of using WebMoney is the fees. The fee for a P2P transaction – cha—d by the sender – is —of the amount sent, with a limit of $50 per transaction.
WebMoney PROs
- Very popular in Rusthe sian Federation and former Soviet Union countries;
- The fees are low and convenient;
WebMoney CONs
- It isn’t easy to sign and verify an account;
- You need an exchanger to withdraw funds
WebMoney is best for:
If you run an affiliate network and have many affiliates in Eastern Europe, consider offering this option to enable those who cannot use PayPal to be still able to withdraw funds easily.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial about creating a WebMoney account:
Open a WebMoney accountAffiliate Marketing Payments FAQ
What is important when selecting a payment method?
How to withdraw your earnings from affiliate networks
It might seem small at the time if they charge 1-2% on a withdrawal, but it can add up over time. The best affiliate marketing networks do not do this, so choose one that offers fee-free transactions.
Another area to look at is the withdrawal timeframe. Typically, a withdrawal will be pending for 24 hours or so, after which you will get your money instantly if using an e-wallet a few days later if it’s a traditional bank card.
Should I choose an eWallet like Neteller over the card?
Payment Methods Takeaways
To summarise the analysis regarding the best affiliate marketing payment method, you can choose from many good payment solutions. Each of these has its advantages and pitfalls.
While some were designed specifically for affiliate marketing (such as Paxum), others provide a broader range of services (Bitcoin, PayPal, Webmoney, Skrill) and can offer the lowest fees (Skrill, Neteller).
Choosing the best payment systems can be challenging, and many popular payment providers ping, like mushrooms.
We encourage you to weigh the pros and cons of each payment solution and check your needs before understanding which payment solution best fits your style.
Another piece of advice? Pick affiliate networks that provide a broad choice of payment methods.
The more payment options you find in an affiliate network, the more confident you’ll feel because you know you can withdraw your revenue quickly/safely.
We hope you take advantage of fast payments and low fees!