Working remotely as a freelancer in Albania is becoming more and more popular, but getting paid efficiently and avoiding high fees is still a challenge for many.
Whether you work on Upwork, Fiverr, direct with clients, or via agencies, here’s a simple guide to help you receive payments while keeping as much of your earnings as possible.
1. Wise (Best Overall for Low Fees & Transparency
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is one of the best tools for freelancers in Albania. It gives you local bank details in EUR, USD, GBP, and other currencies, which means clients can pay you like they would anyone else in their country.
- Fees: Very low (~0.35% – 0.45%) with real mid-market exchange rates
- Speed: Usually 1 day or less
- Pros: Multi-currency account, low fees, transparent, easy to use
- Cons: No physical card unless you register from a supported country
Use it for: Direct client payments, receiving USD or EUR internationally
2. Payoneer (Best for Platforms Like Upwork & Fiverr)
If you’re working on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, Payoneer is often integrated directly.
- Fees: $1–2 for transfers to local banks, higher for currency conversion (2%)
- Speed: Instant to 2 days
- Pros: Works well with freelance platforms, provides global receiving accounts
- Cons: Currency conversion fees can add up; less transparent than Wise
Use it for: Freelance platform withdrawals, especially USD payments
3. Revolut (Good for Managing Money & Transfers in Europe)
Revolut is increasingly popular in Albania. It’s great for managing your money, saving in multiple currencies, and even investing or budgeting.
- Fees: Free transfers on weekdays; ~1% markup on weekends
- Speed: Same-day or next-day
- Pros: Great app, virtual cards, multi-currency support
- Cons: Account setup can be tricky for Albania-based users; not ideal for USD
Use it for: Managing money after receiving payments, paying bills, or saving
4. Direct Bank Transfers (Use With Caution)
While you can receive international payments directly to an Albanian bank account (like Credins, BKT, or Raiffeisen), this is often the most expensive route.
- Fees: $10–$30+ per transfer, poor exchange rates
- Speed: 2–5 days
- Pros: Secure, direct to your local account
- Cons: High fees, poor transparency
Use it for: High-value transfers where other options aren’t available
Tips To Keep Fees Low
- Use Wise or Payoneer whenever possible for client payments or platform withdrawals
- Avoid weekend transfers on Revolut
- Bundle payments into larger amounts to reduce fees
- Bill clients in EUR or USD when possible to avoid double conversions
- If using Payoneer, withdraw to your bank in the same currency to skip conversion fees
To Summarise…
For most freelancers in Albania, Wise offers the best balance of low fees, speed, and reliability especially for direct clients. Payoneer is the go-to for platform work. Revolut is excellent for managing your money once it’s in your hands.
Always double-check the total fee (including exchange rate!) before choosing your method, and don’t let high fees eat into your hard-earned income.
If you’re freelancing from Albania, your payment setup matters. Get it right once, and you’ll save hundreds per year.
