Skrill vs PayPal

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PayPal is the best-known online checkout wallet, while Skrill focuses on online payments, international transfers and prepaid cards, with a VIP programme for frequent users. Compare their fees and features below.

Skrill Open account	PayPal Open account
Availability
139 countries and territories	About 200 markets
Currencies
37 currencies	24 currencies
Deposit options
Bank transfer free; cards up to 1.25% (EEA) Rapid Transfer 1%, Trustly 1.25%, Paysafecard up to 5%. Card deposits cost 1% in the UK and 2.5% in e.g. Canada, India, Nigeria and Brazil.	Pay from a linked card or bank account
Withdrawal options
Bank transfer / SWIFT (1.75%, min. EUR 3.50) Visa card (up to 3.99%, min. EUR 0.99) To NETELLER (3.49%) To a crypto wallet (2%) Free bank withdrawals for VIP members.	To a bank account: free (Europe) To a card: EUR 2 or 1% (max. EUR 10), depending on country
Money transfer / P2P
Skriller (2.99%, min. EUR 0.50) True Skriller — fully verified (1.45%, min. EUR 0.50) VIP (free) Skrill Money Transfer to bank accounts (free when funded from a bank; up to 2.99% by card; FX mark-up up to 4.99%)	Domestic: free unless a currency conversion is needed International: EUR 1.99–3.99 (e.g. Estonia) or 5% (min. EUR 0.99, max. EUR 3.99, Germany) US: card-funded 2.9% + USD 0.30
Receiving P2P payments
Free	Free unless a currency conversion is needed
Paying merchants
Free	Free unless a currency conversion is needed
Currency conversion
Up to 3.99% (euro area) 4.49% in non-euro EEA countries and most other countries. VIP: 2.89% (Silver), 2.59% (Gold), 1.99% (Diamond).	About 4% above the base exchange rate (EEA consumer terms) US: 4% for purchases and P2P, 3% for other conversions.
Cards
Skrill Prepaid Mastercard (EEA and UK residents) EUR 10 application + EUR 10 per year (free for VIPs) ATM 1.75% (min. EUR 1) Foreign currency 3.99% First virtual card free.	—
Cryptocurrency
Buy and sell 40+ coins: 1.5% (VIP 1.3–1.4%) Selected countries only.	—
Inactivity fee
EUR 5 per month after 6 months without a login or transaction	EUR 10 per year after 12 months (most EEA countries; not Germany)
VIP programme
Silver, Gold, Diamond From EUR 15,000 per quarter in merchant payments and crypto trades Free P2P and bank withdrawals, lower FX fee, free card VIP programmes explained	—

Fees and features as published by each provider; they vary by country and account level and can change. Check the provider’s current fee page before you transact.