PayPal vs Wise
The conversion markup is the fee
A Hong Kong PayPal account can send, receive, and withdraw to a local bank. That convenience is priced in the exchange rate. Wise charges a visible percentage and uses the mid-market rate. On a two-thousand-dollar invoice, the gap is usually tens of dollars, not cents.
Recipient gets
Models last reviewed 2026-09-16. Providers change tariffs without notice. This is a ledger, not a booking engine.
Typical shapes (not a quote)
| Wise | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | Mid-market | Own rate + about 3–4% conversion |
| Send internationally from HK | ~0.4–0.7% + small fixed | About HK$38.99 from balance; more from a card |
| Get paid (international commercial) | Local receive often free, then convert ~0.33% | ~4.4% + cross-border 1.5% + conversion if you want HKD |
| Withdraw to HSBC HK | Local payout; receiving bank may still fee a SWIFT | Standard bank withdrawal; conversion already taken |
Switch the calculator to Send money if you are remitting, or keep Get paid if a client insists on PayPal Checkout. If they can pay a Wise local USD/EUR/GBP account, that is usually the cheaper receive path.
Related: USD → HKD, SWIFT into HSBC, AdSense EFT to HSBC (that one is not PayPal).