Sigma vs PayPal: Flat Fees, Global Reach, No PayPal Markup
No merchant fees. No forced conversions. Just flat-fee USD payouts built for global contractors.
Side-by-Side on What Really Matters
Compare real costs, speed, and experience between PayPal and Sigma.
Buyers often pay 2.99%-3.49% + fixed fee; +1.5% for international. Mass Payouts cost 2% of payment.
$18/month per active contractor - reduced rates for teams of 20+
PayPal adds 3-4% FX spread on top of mid-market rate; currency conversion fees up to 4.5%
0% FX with USD wallets; ~1% FX only if converting to local currency
Receiving USD internationally costs 1.5% + fixed fee, plus conversion if currency differs.
$0 with USD wallet (no forced conversions)
Payouts take 1-3 business days depending on region and bank; mass payouts align with batch schedule.
1-2 business days, or instant with USDC. Optimized infrastructure
No contractor-centric wallet flow. Recipients must accept funds and convert-no autonomy.
Contractors hold USD wallet, choose when and how to convert
Designed for merchants. Set up flows center on buyers and compliance, not contractor payouts.
<15 min mobile onboarding
Support optimized for conflict resolution in sales and payments-contractor payout issues are deprioritized.
Fast, human-first support optimized for contractor payouts
Pain Points with PayPal
What frustrates fast-moving teams and global contractors when using PayPal:
High seller fees: International commercial transactions often cost up to ~5%: 3.49% + 1.5% + fixed currency surcharge.
Steep FX margins: Contractors lose an additional 3-4% to PayPal's currency conversion spread.
Mass Payout costs: Paying multiple contractors via PayPal Payouts costs ~2% per payout, capped per currency.
Slow and cumbersome for contractors: Recipients must confirm payments, convert currencies manually, or wait for transfers to local bank accounts.
Clunky UX for contractor payments: PayPal is optimized for consumer checkout-not repeated contractor payouts or wallet control.
Limited support for contractor flows: Support is centered on refunds, disputes, and account holds-not global contractor needs.
Why Sigma Wins
Key advantages that make Sigma the smarter choice for global payroll.
Flat Fees, No Surprises: $18/month per active contractor - reduced rates for teams of 20+. 0% FX on USD wallet payments; ~1% FX when currency conversion is required.
USD Wallets Built In: Contractors keep 100% of what you send - no forced conversion.
Faster Payouts, Globally: 1-2 business day transfers or instant stablecoin delivery via USDC/USDT.
Better for LATAM, Africa, Asia: Mobile-first onboarding, crypto-native infrastructure, and wallet support.
No Shutdown Surprises: Real human support helps your team stay paid - fast.
FAQ
See Common Question and Answer
Everything you need to know before switching to Sigma.
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