How can you use it? 

• You can receive credit/debit card payments from anyone with Visa or MasterCard, from anywhere in the world. This service comes with a small processing fee per payment, and the maximum amount you can receive from a single credit card payment is $1000.

• You can receive Direct Deposit payments from US-based companies such as Amazon and PayPal through Payoneer’s US Payment Service. The transaction fee for using the US Payment Service is 1% of the total amount transferred. You’ll then get paid directly onto your card, rather than having to wait for an international check and paying exorbitant clearing fees on your earnings. 

• You can receive online payments in USD from Payoneer-approved partners (for example: Elance, Fiverr, MediaWhiz, Media Shakers, and dozens more). Receiving payments this way is free for most partners and takes two days to load, although you can also pay an extra $2.50 if you need the cash within 1-2 hours of requesting it. 

• You can pay for goods and services online as well as in brick-and-mortar stores. It has the convenience of a credit card for online payments, with the beauty of a prepaid debit card since you cannot spend more money than you have in your account - i.e. you can't get into debt! There is no extra charge added to your purchases when you use the Payoneer card directly at a point-of-sale machine. 

• You can withdraw cash in your local currency from any ATM with the MasterCard logo visible on it somewhere – there are more than 1 million of these ATMs worldwide. The fee for a standard ATM cash withdrawal is around $3. This fee might sting a bit, but it helps me keep disciplined with my spending habits so I don't mind it too much.

If you don’t already have an account with one of Payoneer’s partners, you will want to sign up for your Payoneer card directly from the Payoneer website. The yearly card fee is $29.95, which is deducted from your balance automatically so you don’t have to worry about renewing it. There are no monthly maintenance fees when you sign up for your card via Payoneer's website.

Please note that Payoneer does provide a few other services such as Global Bank Transfers and the US Payment Service; however, I will not be covering these in this review as I do not use the Global Bank Transfer Service and have only recently been approved for the US Payment Service.

Once I have more experience with the US Payment Service I may write another review detailing how I have found it. [UPDATE: I just received my first Direct Deposit payment from Amazon Associates using Payoneer's US Payment Service - everything came through without a hitch and I'm smiling from ear to ear!]

My payoneer experience - One year and counting 

If you’re still reading this far, you probably want to know if Payoneer is any good, or maybe you would just like to know “how legit” they are. Before I get to that, allow me to give you a short explanation of how and why I started using Payoneer.

A little over a year ago, I was unemployed and having no luck finding a job in my local area in South Africa. I mused about the possibility of using my skills online as a freelance writer – but my main obstacle, of course, was getting paid. PayPal wasn’t an option because until recently there was no way to withdraw PayPal funds in my country due to confusing regulations. Nevertheless, I was sure there had to be a way, and after many weeks of hitting dead-ends, I finally found Payoneer.

Fast forward through a fruitful year of freelancing and some dabbling in affiliate marketing... Well, I’m still using my Payoneer card, and not a day goes by where I’m not thankful for the freedom it gives me to earn money no matter where I am. Although I mainly use it for receiving my freelance earnings on Elance and some affiliate commissions (e.g. Amazon, ClickBank, LinkShare), I have been thoroughly impressed by both Payoneer as a company and the Payoneer prepaid debit card itself.

My major concern when signing up with Payoneer was how long the payments would take to clear, but as it turns out I was worrying for no reason. I have never had a problem with my payments coming through; they have been processed and loaded into my account within the promised two-day waiting period each and every time.

As for paying for things with my Payoneer card, so far I’ve yet to come across a checkout method that prevented me from purchasing – i.e. it just works. I’ve bought goods online at both local and online retailers with no problems, and it's as easy as a credit card transaction. I have even managed to get my PayPal account verified by using Payoneer’s highly useful US Payment Service. That should tell you a lot about the legitimacy of this card.

Whenever I have a question regarding the service or my account, I simply search the Payoneer forum and usually find that my question has already been answered, straightforwardly and in sufficient detail, by one of their community managers or support representatives. I can't vouch for the live support because I've never used them, as I prefer email correspondence when dealing with official matters.

With that said (I mean, what more can I say?), if you’re an online freelancer, content producer, or affiliate marketer looking for a better alternative to PayPal for getting paid over the internet… This is it.
Verdict: 100% legit and highly recommended. 

Here's how to get your own Payoneer card + $25 bonus 

Both Payoneer and PayPal have their own individual set of fees that set them apart from each other. This can be a good thing and a bad thing in different ways. It all depends on your unique payment needs and circumstances. Nonetheless, fees are what they are and you have to pay them if you want to use your money.

PayPal transactions are always free whenever you buy something or send money to someone in the United States. PayPal is also free of charge when it comes to transferring money in the United States whenever it is done from a bank account or existing Paypal balance.

Now if money needs to be sent abroad to family, friends, or businesses, PayPal will charge 2.9% of the total balance that is sent plus 0.30 cents per transaction that is sent. PayPal Merchant Fees do vary and are usually charged on a monthly basis. If you get a PayPal Standard Account, there are no monthly fees. PayPal Payments Advanced charges $5 per month and PayPal Payments Pro charges $30 per month in fees.

Payoneer is also fee-based and the fees do vary between certain countries (non-standard and slightly higher fees apply to countries such as India). An ATM cash withdrawal charge is $3, no matter where in the world you are withdrawing from. If an ATM withdrawal or Point-of-Sale transaction is declined, the charge is $0.90.

If you sign up with Payoneer directly - that is, not through a partner such as Elance or oDesk - there is an annual fee of $29.95 for use of the card, with no monthly fees attached.

When paying for goods or services with your Payoneer prepaid MasterCard debit, there is no charge or fee - it simply deducts the amount you paid from your card balance.

If you are using Payoneer in conjunction with a Payoneer Partner (Elance, oDesk, MediaWhiz, and many more), you will be able to receive payments from that partner with no extra charge (note: this applies to most, although not all partner programs).

Interested in learning more about Payoneer's prepaid card for getting paid online? Check out this Payoneer review to find out if it's for you.

You can also sign up with Payoneer directly to get your free Payoneer prepaid debit card (MasterCard).

Get Your Free Payoneer Card

• Free Reloadable MasterCard Debit Card by Payoneer: Details & Fees + $25 Bonus
  Discover what Payoneer's prepaid MasterCard debit card can do for you - easily receive earnings from Amazon, PayPal, ClickBank, and 60+ US corporations. Sign up here for your free card and $25 bonus.

Why Payoneer?

Before knowing why people, particularly those who love to engage in online transactions, should use Payoneer, it is only fitting to know first what Payoneer is. Payoneer is similar to PayPal and Moneybookers in the sense that it is a payment processor used internationally. The service guarantees secure, safe, fast, and convenient online payment transactions for less. This service is a hit among international freelancers and even for local netizens who get their income online.

Click here to sign up for your Payoneer card and get your $25 referral bonus (after you reach $100 in received payments).

How does Payoneer work?

Payoneer account holders automatically get a prepaid MasterCard, which functions like any other prepaid debit card with the MasterCard branding. Moreover, an account holder also gets an online card account connected to the MasterCard. The online account can be used by account holders to view their account balance and the history of their transactions. They can also manage their account and personal details on the online account.

So, how can account holders use the Payoneer MasterCard debit card? They can receive payments from anyone who also has a Visa or MasterCard account, and that includes anyone from any part of the world. This service does come with a processing fee, though. This should not be surprising since other payment processors also charge fees for their services. With Payoneer, a single credit card payment has a maximum load amount of $1,000.

Payoneer and PayPal verification

Payoneer works as well for those who want to verify their PayPal accounts, but do not have a bank account or credit card. Since PayPal does not issue cards to users outside the US, but at the same time requires all account holders to verify their account, having a Payoneer account (with the MasterCard debit card) is a very convenient option.

ACH/Direct Deposits for commissions, royalties, and online payouts from US companies

Payoneer also provides convenience as account holders can receive direct deposit payments from companies like Amazon and PayPal. This has been made possible through the US Payment Service feature of Payoneer.

As with the other services, Payoneer charges a reasonable transfer fee of 1% of the total amount received. On the other hand, account holders can also get online payments from partners of Payoneer like oDesk and Elance. This transfer can be done for free and takes at most a couple of days to execute. Payoneer account holders who want to expedite the transfer and receive their money within three hours maximum after the request will be charged $2.50.

Spending and withdrawals with Payoneer

As for the Payoneer card, as great as it is for online transactions, it can also be used in brick-and-mortar shops that accept MasterCard. Cash withdrawals can be done anywhere and account holders can receive amounts in local currency through ATMs, with a $3 ATM cash withdrawal transaction fee.

The global acceptance of the Payoneer MasterCard card and the flexibility of the currency (either US dollar or local currency with automatic exchange) are plus points for Payoneer. Moreover, the convenience and security of transfers from PayPal and other major US partners make it a must-have for anyone earning money online.

Get your Payoneer card + free $25 signup bonus

Payoneer is offering new cardholders $25 added to their account for free when they sign up through the Refer-a-Friend promotion. Apply for your card via the link below to qualify for your bonus.

Sign up with Payoneer now.

Useful information on Payoneer

• Payoneer Review: MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card - Scam or Legit?
  In this Payoneer review I will be explaining how the Payoneer MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card works and how I know that Payoneer is most certainly not a scam, based on my own personal experience with Payoneer over the course of one year and counting.
• Payoneer Versus Paypal Fees In Comparison
  Payoneer's prepaid debit card has long been an alternative for PayPal for online payments, but how exactly do the fees compare? This article takes a brief look at the two options.
• Popular Companies That Use Payoneer - US Payment Service Whitelist
  Payoneer's US Payment Service allows you to receive ACH / Direct Deposit payments from over 50 US corporations. Here are the most popular companies that use Payoneer via Direct Deposit.

Update:  Payoneer's latest new feature allows you to send a Payment Request to any US company, meaning all US companies can now pay you straight to your Payoneer card.Read about the new US Payment feature and don't forget to come back for your $25 signup bonus link given below.

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How do you get paid with a Payoneer prepaid MasterCard debit card?

Payoneer is a global payment gateway that provides an affordable way for online freelancers, affiliate marketers, and internet entrepreneurs to get paid from anywhere in the world.

Signing up at Payoneer.com 
gets you a free MasterCard-branded prepaid debit card and online account which you can use to receive quick, hassle-free payments from over 60 major US companies including Amazon, Google, PayPal, eBay, 2CheckOut, and Elance.

To get access to receiving payments this way, you will first need to sign up for your Payoneer debit card and then opt in to the US Payment Service feature by applying directly online via Payoneer's website. The application for adding the US Payment Service to your Payoneer debit card account requires you to submit brief personal details, including a government-issued ID photo or driver's license.

Once your US Payment Service application has been approved, you will be given your new virtual US bank account details, which you can then use to withdraw funds via Direct Deposit straight to your Payoneer card, from any of the US corporations mentioned below.

What are the companies that use Payoneer?

Here are a few of the most popular US companies approved by Payoneer's US Payment Service:

• Amazon (including the Associates Program and Kindle Direct Publishing / CreateSpace)
• PayPal
• eBay
• Google
• 2CheckOut
• Elance
• oDesk
• ClickBank
• LinkShare
• ShareASale
• GoDaddy
• Digital River (OneNetworkDirect)
• AvantLink
• BuySellAds
• Kontera
• ... And over 30 more

To the see the full list of companies that accept Payoneer as an option to receive money via ACH / Direct Deposit, refer to the US Payment Service Whitelist (it's the table listing all the different companies on that page).

Thinking about signing up with Payoneer? You can check out this great Payoneer review to give you an idea of what you can expect.

If you act now and sign up for your free Payoneer debit card through this link, you will have a complimentary $25 added to your account once you reach $100 in payments (subject to Payoneer's Refer-a-Friend promotion).

Other good resources on Payoneer

• Payoneer Review: MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card
• In this Payoneer review I will be explaining how the Payoneer MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card works and how I know that Payoneer is most certainly not a scam, based on my own personal experience with Payoneer over the course of one year and counting.
• Free Reloadable MasterCard Debit Card by Payoneer: Details & Fees + $25 Bonus
  Discover what Payoneer's prepaid MasterCard debit card can do for you - easily receive earnings from Amazon, PayPal, ClickBank, and 60+ US corporations. Sign up here for your free card and $25 bonus.
• Payoneer Versus Paypal Fees In Comparison
  Payoneer's prepaid debit card has long been an alternative for PayPal for online payments, but how exactly do the fees compare? This article takes a brief look at the two options.