PayPal does not offer its services in Pakistan. Users cannot open a PayPal account with their Pakistani details. Payoneer and Wise are some of the best alternatives to PayPal in the country.
PayPal is one of the most popular digital banking apps in the world, and it is one of the leading money transfer wallets providing various services to its users. However, besides being a little more expensive than other alternatives, the payment giant is unavailable in some countries and territories.
This article discusses whether PayPal is available in Pakistan and what alternatives are in the market for Pakistani users.
PayPal in Pakistan
Non-resident Pakistanis can open a PayPal account in their respective countries and transfer their amount via PayPal’s Xoom service. Users who have Pakistani credentials have to use other modes of money transfer.
PayPal is one of the largest digital wallets in the world. Though it is available in over 200 countries, the residents of Pakistan are denied access to it.
Can Pakistanis use PayPal at all?
Yes and no. While Pakistanis living in Pakistan cannot register an account with PayPal, non-resident Pakistanis can transfer money from their account to their local Pakistani bank account via Xoom.
Using Xoom
Xoom is a payment gateway for PayPal that allows online money transfers globally. Users residing outside Pakistan can use Xoom to send money to their families in the country. With Xoom, money transfers arrive within minutes and can be collected in cash from designated bank branches.
To send money from Xoom, follow these steps:
- Visit the Xoom websites.
- Log in with your PayPal credentials.
- Enter the amount you wish to send from your PayPal wallet.
- Enter the recipient’s bank account details.
- You can choose whether the recipient receives cash or credit via bank transfer.
- Complete the transaction.
What Are the Alternatives to PayPal in Pakistan?
Wise is a great option for Pakistanis to transfer money. Payoneer is especially famous among the Pakistani freelancer community due to its integration with JazzCash and freelancing platforms.
With the absence of PayPal in Pakistan, users must rely on other mobile wallets for their international banking needs. Some of these platforms provide lower transaction fees and faster transaction times than PayPal, which is why I use them all the time.
Here are the top five alternatives to PayPal in Pakistan.
1. Payoneer
Payoneer is an American company founded in 2005 to provide bank accounts to its users in various currencies. It has become one of the most preferred alternatives to PayPal among Pakistanis.
The popularity of Payoneer is mainly due to its ability to link with major freelancing platforms such as Fiverr and Upwork. Most Pakistanis that use Payoneer are freelancers who receive their earnings in their Payoneer account.
Another reason why Payoneer is a great choice for Pakistanis is its integration with JazzCash. The latter is a local digital wallet that provides basic banking services to users. Users can instantly withdraw funds with low fees by connecting their JazzCash account with their Payoneer wallet.
2. Skrill
Skrill is a money transfer app that allows users to deposit and send money to other bank accounts. Pakistanis who want to transfer money from their bank accounts to international bank accounts via Skrill or IBAN.
Users can also receive payments by generating a payment request from the Skrill app. Send the request to the sender, and once the payment is made, you will receive the money in your Skrill wallet. You can also withdraw this amount from your Skrill wallet to your bank account.
You can also store your card details for faster transfers on your next transactions.
3. Wise
Wise, formerly Transferwise, is a virtual banking service that allows users to open various currency accounts. It offers one of the lowest transaction fees among all digital banks. I have used Wise for receiving payments in different currencies from clients across the globe.
Users can easily create an account on Wise and verify their details to get started. Recipients do not have to be Wise members to receive payments from Wise accounts. With Wise, senders can send money directly to the receiver’s bank account via their IBAN.
I have always found Wise to provide the best mid-market rate compared to any other platform. The transfers usually take less than a few minutes but can take up to three days, depending on your local bank account.
4. Remitly
Like Skrill, Remitly allows users to remit payments back to their families. This platform lets users outside Pakistan send money to their local bank account.
Pakistani users can also receive payment from their clients across the globe via Remitly. Users have to enter the recipient’s bank account details, the transfer amount, and the payment method.
Once the transfer is made, it can take up to three to five days for the amount to be credited to your bank account.
5. Local Payment Apps (JazzCash, Easypaisa)
With the rise of digital banking in Pakistan, several mobile banks have risen to prominence in the past few years. Easypaisa and JazzCash have made their mark on the Pakistani banking industry by providing users with simple banking solutions for their everyday needs.
These payment apps can now be converted into full-fledged digital accounts that can receive payments from clients globally via bank transfer.
JazzCash became the first Pakistani digital bank to sign an agreement with Payoneer, which allows JazzCash users to link their account with Payoneer to receive payments with a single tap.
A few more digital wallets have recently started allowing international payments via IBAN. Some of these emerging mobile banks are:
- Nayapay
- Sadapay
- SimSim
- Konnect
- Zindagi
- Alfa Wallet
Conclusion
Although PayPal is one of the most popular virtual banks in the world, its unavailability in Pakistan makes it difficult for the growing banking industry to carry out international transactions. Freelancers in Pakistan prefer using Payoneer as it can be directly linked to the major freelancing platforms.
Users can also withdraw funds from Payoneer directly to their JazzCash account, making it easier to receive and spend their earnings. Though Pakistanis have shifted to other digital wallets for their transaction needs, the introduction of PayPal will most likely enhance the freelancing landscape for the country.
