Every payment method has different fees, speeds, and tradeoffs. Here is a plain-English breakdown so you can offer clients the options that work best for your business.
Try Nvoyce free — all payment options included →The professional default
Fee
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Transfer speed
2–7 business days to bank
Best for
Clients paying by card or bank transfer. Higher-value invoices where card is expected.
Watch out for
Fees add up on high volume. $500 invoice → ~$14.80 to Stripe.
Instant, zero fees, US banks only
Fee
Free — no fees for sender or receiver
Transfer speed
Instant (minutes)
Best for
US-based clients with a bank account. Best for trusted repeat clients.
Watch out for
No payment protection — once sent it is final. US only. Sending limits are set by the client's bank, not Zelle.
Fee-free for bank transfers
Fee
Free (bank/balance) · 3% for credit card
Transfer speed
1–3 business days (instant transfer costs 1.75%)
Best for
Younger clients already on Venmo. Casual / creative work.
Watch out for
Transactions are semi-public by default. Business accounts available.
Simple P2P with a $cashtag
Fee
Free (bank/balance) · 3% for credit card
Transfer speed
1–3 business days (instant costs 0.5–1.75%)
Best for
Tech-forward clients. Works well for small-to-mid invoices.
Watch out for
No buyer/seller protections. US and UK only.
Global reach, buyer protection
Fee
3.49% + fixed fee (goods & services)
Transfer speed
Instant to PayPal balance · 1–3 days to bank
Best for
International clients. When a client insists on PayPal.
Watch out for
Fees are high for freelance. Dispute risk if client opens a claim.
Add your handles once in Settings. Every invoice you send automatically shows Stripe (if connected) as the primary option and lists your fee-free alternatives below. The client picks what works — you get paid either way.
Add your handles
Set your Zelle email, Venmo @, Cash App $tag, and PayPal link in Settings once.
Send any invoice
Client sees Stripe + all your fee-free options in the same email. No extra setup.
Client confirms
After sending via Zelle/Venmo/etc., client clicks "Confirm I've Paid" — you get notified instantly.
Record & done
Verify in your payment app, click Record in your dashboard. Invoice marked Paid.
Does Nvoyce automatically detect when a client pays via Zelle or Venmo?
No — Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal don't expose APIs that let apps read your balance. Nvoyce's approach: the invoice email shows your handle plus a "Confirm I've Paid" button. When the client clicks it, you get an email notification instantly. You then verify in your app and record the payment in your dashboard with one click.
Can I show multiple payment options on the same invoice?
Yes — that's the whole point. Add all your handles in Settings → Payments. When you send an invoice, Nvoyce shows Stripe (if connected) as the primary option and lists all your configured alt-payment handles as fee-free alternatives. The client picks whatever works for them.
What if I only want to offer fee-free options and skip Stripe entirely?
Just don't connect a Stripe account. If you have no Stripe account linked, the invoice will only show your alt-payment handles. You keep 100% of every payment.
Is Zelle safe for freelancers?
Zelle is safe in the sense that transfers are bank-authenticated. The risk is that Zelle has no payment disputes — once money is sent, it cannot be clawed back. Use it with clients you trust. For new clients or large projects, Stripe's charge dispute window gives you more protection.
Why might a client's Zelle payment fail or be limited on a large invoice?
Zelle limits are set by the client's bank, not by Zelle itself. Clients using the standalone Zelle app (not through a bank) are capped at $500/day and $1,500/month — well under most project invoices. Clients using Zelle inside their bank app get higher limits, but many banks enforce lower caps for first transfers to a new recipient. Chase, for example, starts new payees at $2,000/day even if the account normally allows $5,000/day. If your invoice exceeds $1,000–$2,000, ask your client to confirm their Zelle limit before you send, or offer Stripe as a fallback to avoid a delayed payment.
Do alt-payment invoices still get tracked as paid in my dashboard?
Yes, with one step — and it works with deposits and installments too. After the client confirms via the email button and you verify the payment arrived, you record it in your dashboard (enter amount, optional notes, save). If you record a partial amount (a deposit or one installment), nvoyce marks the invoice as Partially Paid and keeps it active for the next payment. Record the final amount and it flips to Fully Paid. Every recording is logged in your activity timeline.
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