How clients can pay an invoice: payment methods compared

Why payment speed and reliability matter

Late payments tie up cash that founders have already earmarked for payroll, rent, and suppliers. When a client says they paid, the settlement window of the method they used determines when you can actually spend that money. A wire settles the same day. A standard ACH transfer can take three business days, while same-day ACH settles the same business day when the client's bank offers it and submits the file in time.

Hidden fee traps in payment methods

The fee you see on your invoice platform isn't the total cost. When the sender's bank and your bank have no direct relationship, a SWIFT payment passes through a correspondent bank, a third-party institution that moves the money between them and may deduct a fee for the service. The payer chooses the SWIFT charge option: OUR means the sender pays all fees, while SHA (shared) and BEN (beneficiary pays) allow banks along the way to deduct fees, per Swift.

If your client sends with the SHA or BEN charge option, banks along the way can deduct fees, so in one illustrative case a $5,000 payment arrives as $4,970. Ask clients to choose OUR, and add “all bank charges for the payer’s account” to the invoice. Even with OUR, intermediary fees vary by bank and some intermediary banks can still deduct charges.

Simplifying cross-border revenue collection

If your clients are in different countries, the payment method you offer determines whether they can pay you without friction. A client in Brazil has no direct access to ACH through their local bank, because ACH is US-domestic infrastructure and Brazil runs its own domestic clearing system. A client in the UK can still pay by SEPA, because the UK remains a member of the scheme. Offering the wrong method means the payment either fails or arrives through a costly workaround.

How ACH payments clear for clients

ACH transfers move in batches, not in real time. When your client initiates an ACH payment, their bank groups it with other ACH transfers and sends the batch to the Federal Reserve's clearing system, per the FedACH processing schedule. A standard ACH credit settles one or two business days after your client's bank sends it, and since September 18, 2026, Nacha requires the receiving bank to make the funds available by 9:00 a.m. local time on the settlement date. Allow up to three business days end to end.

How long ACH transfers take

Standard ACH takes one to three business days. Same-day ACH settles the same business day when the client's bank sends the payment to the Fed in time. Banks can submit same-day ACH files to the Fed by 10:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m. or 4:45 p.m. ET, settling at 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. ET, per the FedACH processing schedule. The client's bank sets an earlier cutoff, and not every bank offers same-day ACH. Settlement isn't the same as funds availability: Nacha requires receiving banks to make funds available by 1:30 p.m. local time for the first window and 5:00 p.m. local time for the second, while third-window credits only need to post by the end of the bank's processing day. Altitude charges no fee for ACH or same-day ACH.

ACH payment costs and limits

ACH is the cheapest invoice payment method. Altitude charges $0 for ACH and same-day ACH. The client's bank may charge them a small fee, but most US business accounts include free ACH. Same-day ACH has a $1 million per-payment limit under rules from Nacha, the organization that governs the US ACH network, as of October 2026, with an approved increase to $10 million per payment taking effect in 2027.

Why clients prefer paying via ACH

US clients default to ACH because it's already set up in their accounting software, their bank doesn't charge them for it, and they don't need to learn a new payment method. If your client is US-based and not in a rush, ACH is the path of least resistance.

When to use domestic or global wires

Use a domestic wire when the payment is large enough that the client wants same-day settlement and is willing to pay for it. Use an international wire (SWIFT) when the client is outside the US and Europe, or in the UK and paying in GBP, and pays by bank transfer rather than stablecoin. Wires aren't the right choice for small, recurring invoices because the fees compound.

Reliability of wire invoice payments

The core strength of a wire is settlement finality. Fedwire moves individual payments in real time with immediate, final settlement, and once a wire is sent, it can't be reversed. This makes wires the preferred method for large invoices where payment certainty matters more than cost.

Evaluating wire transfer payment fees

Altitude charges $0 for US domestic wires. SWIFT outbound carries a fee of $35. The sender covers the known fees under the OUR convention, the SWIFT fee arrangement in which the sender pays all transfer charges upfront so the payment should arrive in full. Intermediary banks can still deduct fees that vary by bank, so full-value receipt isn't guaranteed. If the destination account is in another currency, the recipient's bank sets the conversion rate and fees.

Best use cases for wire payments

Wires work best for one-time, high-value invoices where the client needs proof of payment and same-day settlement. They also work for international clients who pay by bank transfer and aren't in a SEPA country. For small or recurring invoices, the fee compounds and ACH or USDC becomes more cost-effective.

Handling local invoice transfers

If your client is in Europe, SEPA is faster and cheaper than SWIFT. If your client is in the UK and pays in EUR, they can also use SEPA, because the UK remains a SEPA participant for euro payments. For GBP or other non-EUR payments, their bank may support Faster Payments for domestic UK transfers, but for paying you as an international recipient, they will typically send a SWIFT wire. The key is matching the payment method and currency to the client's local banking system so they pay you the way they pay their local suppliers.

When to use SEPA for your invoices

Use SEPA for any client in a SEPA country paying in EUR. SEPA Credit Transfers settle within one business day, and Altitude charges no fee for EURC-funded SEPA. SEPA Instant Credit Transfer credits the payee in under 10 seconds, 24/7. Under the Instant Payments Regulation (EU) 2024/886, European payment providers had to be able to receive instant euro payments from January 9, 2025 and send them from October 9, 2025, so EU banks that offer euro transfers must also offer instant ones. Banks outside the EU, including UK banks, may not offer it yet, and the scheme no longer sets a maximum amount per payment.

ACH vs wire for invoice processing

Standard ACH is free but takes one to three business days. Same-day ACH settles the same business day at no Altitude fee when the client's bank offers it and submits the file in time, up to $1 million per payment. Wire is fast and costs money. For routine invoices with US clients who aren't in a rush, standard ACH is the right default. For urgent invoices, ask whether the client's bank offers same-day ACH. For large invoices where the client needs proof of payment today, or the amount exceeds the same-day ACH limit, wire is worth the fee.

Paying invoices with USDC stablecoins

A client pays your invoice by sending USDC to your Altitude deposit address. The payment arrives in your account as USDC, which you can hold, convert to EURC, or send out by ACH, wire, or SEPA. The client needs a wallet or an account that supports USDC transfers, but they don’t need to understand crypto. They’re sending a dollar-denominated stablecoin that Circle redeems 1:1 for US dollars, not a bank deposit. For a detailed breakdown of how to structure invoices that accept USDC, Altitude’s help center explains how to receive invoice payments.

USDC payment arrival times

USDC moves across several separate networks, each with its own confirmation speed. On Solana, transactions confirm instantly, and Altitude credits Solana deposits directly once the transaction confirms. On other networks such as Ethereum, Base, Avalanche, and Tempo, settlement typically takes about 15 minutes. Altitude credits USDC sent on Ethereum, Base, Avalanche, and Tempo as USDC on Solana.

Fees for USDC invoice payments

Altitude charges $0 for stablecoin transfers, with the network fee included. Solana network fees are typically very low but vary with network conditions. The minimum is 1 USDC or 1 EURC. The client may also pay an exchange or on-ramp fee if they need to buy USDC first, and that fee varies by provider.

The client may incur an on-ramp fee to acquire USDC if they don't already hold it. Once USDC arrives in your Altitude account, you can hold it, convert it to EURC, or send it out by bank transfer with no conversion required.

When to request USDC for invoices

Request USDC when the client already holds stablecoins and the client is international, the invoice is time-sensitive, or the payment falls on a weekend. In Q2 2026, 12% of Altitude's payment volume was processed on weekends, according to an X post by Altitude CEO @SimkinStepan dated 2 August 2026, which shows that stablecoin transfers work when bank transfers can't settle. USDC is also the right choice when you want to avoid SWIFT intermediary fees or when the client's country has limited banking infrastructure, provided the client can hold and send stablecoins.

USDC works best when the client already has access to stablecoins or is willing to acquire them. For clients without that infrastructure, ACH, SEPA, or wire remain the path of least resistance.

Settlement times for ACH and wires

Who can pay by each method depends on the client's bank and location:

Reversibility also differs by method. Under Nacha's rules on warranty claims, an ACH debit to a business account can be returned as unauthorized within 2 banking days, and an ACH debit to a consumer account within 60 days. Fedwire payments are final once credited, per the Federal Reserve's Fedwire funds service guidance, so a sent wire can't be recalled by the sender.

Total expense per payment method

The cheapest method isn't always the one with the lowest platform fee. Standard ACH is free but takes one to three business days, and same-day ACH is also free when the client's bank offers it. SWIFT costs $35 on Altitude, with a $100 minimum per transfer, plus intermediary fees that vary by bank and that the client or you absorb. USDC costs nothing on Altitude, but the client may pay an exchange or on-ramp fee to acquire USDC. The total cost is the sum of what you pay, what the client pays, and what gets lost to intermediaries.

Handling international invoice payments

For international clients, the payment method determines whether the payment arrives at all. A client in a country with capital controls or weak banking infrastructure may not be able to send a wire. A client in Europe should use SEPA. A client outside the US and EU should use SWIFT, or USDC if the client already holds stablecoins. Altitude opens accounts for eligible businesses from 200+ countries with no US entity required, though product availability varies by country.

Payment options for Altitude invoices

Altitude invoicing accepts ACH, wire, EURC-funded SEPA, and USDC. You invoice in USD or EUR and set the payment terms on each invoice: On Receipt means payment is due as soon as the client receives the invoice, Net 15 means the client has 15 days to pay, Net 21 is the default and gives the client 21 days, Net 30 means the client has 30 days to pay, and you can also set a specific due date. You can track invoice status and due dates while payment is outstanding. Deposit matching is manual today, with automatic matching coming soon. One matched deposit marks the whole invoice as paid. Partial payments aren't tracked and card payments on invoices aren't currently listed as a supported option.

Align payment methods with client needs

Match payment methods to client segments, such as client location, payment time and average invoice amount. US clients on routine invoices should see ACH unless the payment is large or urgent. European clients on any amount should see SEPA, or USDC if they already hold stablecoins. International clients outside these regions should see SWIFT, or USDC if they already hold stablecoins.

Choose payment options by jurisdiction

Match the payment method to the client's local banking system. US clients get ACH and wire. European clients, and UK clients paying in EUR, get EURC-funded SEPA. UK clients paying in GBP and other international clients outside Europe get SWIFT, or USDC if the client already holds stablecoins. Altitude supports local payouts in EUR, GBP, MXN, BRL, and COP, but these are for outgoing payments.

How Altitude syncs to QuickBooks and Xero

Every payment method that arrives in a separate account creates a reconciliation task. If a client pays by ACH to one account, another pays by wire to a different account, and a third pays by USDC to a wallet, you're matching three payment sources to three invoices in three systems. Altitude syncs transactions to QuickBooks Online and Xero, and you confirm every posting before it applies. Card transactions sync once mapped. Receipt-to-transaction matching is a separate card feature.

Here is the checklist for choosing invoice payment methods:

1. List ACH and wire for US clients. ACH is the default. Wire is for large or urgent payments.
2. List SEPA for European clients and for UK clients paying in EUR. EURC-funded SEPA settles in one business day with no Altitude fee.
3. List SWIFT for international clients outside the US and Europe, and for UK clients paying in GBP, since most corporate accounts payable teams pay by bank transfer. Add USDC if the client already holds stablecoins. It settles in minutes, works on weekends, and avoids intermediary fees.
4. State the payment terms clearly. On Receipt, Net 15, Net 21 (default), Net 30, or a specific date.
5. Include payment instructions. Routing number for ACH, IBAN for SEPA, deposit address for USDC.
6. Confirm which fees apply. Tell the client if they will pay a wire fee or an exchange or on-ramp fee.
7. Test critical payment flows. Send yourself a test invoice and confirm at least ACH and wire instructions work before sending to clients.

See how Altitude handles invoice payments across borders. Book a demo.

What is the fastest way to pay an invoice?

USDC on Solana settles instantly, and the network runs continuously without banking hours. Same-day ACH settles the same business day when the client's bank submits the file to the Fed by 4:45 p.m. ET (settling at 6:00 p.m. ET), though the client's bank sets an earlier cutoff and not every bank offers it. Domestic wires settle the same day during banking hours.

What is the cheapest invoice payment method?

ACH is the cheapest for US clients because Altitude charges $0 and most US banks don't charge the sender. For international clients, USDC has the lowest total cost when the client already holds it: Altitude charges no fee for stablecoin transfers, there are no SWIFT intermediary fees, and Solana network fees are typically very low. A client who has to buy USDC may pay an exchange or on-ramp fee, so compare the total cost to the payer and to you. SWIFT costs $35 on Altitude, with a $100 minimum per transfer, plus intermediary fees that vary by bank.

Can clients pay invoices internationally with ACH?

Technically, yes. ACH is a US-based system, but it supports International ACH Transactions (IAT), which send payments in a defined set of currencies and countries. Confirm current coverage with your bank. In practice, though, most international clients pay by SWIFT, SEPA, or USDC. Most SWIFT payments between banks that use Swift GPI arrive within a day, but some routes take several business days and intermediary banks may deduct fees. SEPA works for European clients and for UK clients paying in EUR. USDC settles instantly on fast networks like Solana, though timing varies by network.

How do I accept USDC payments on invoices?

Altitude invoicing accepts USDC alongside ACH and wire. You invoice in USD or EUR, and the client pays by sending USDC to your Altitude deposit address. The payment arrives as USDC, which you can hold, convert, or send out by bank transfer. Card payments on invoices aren't available.

Which invoice payment method is best for cross-border clients?

Most cross-border clients pay by bank transfer. SEPA works for European clients and UK clients paying in EUR, and SWIFT works for other currencies and regions. Most SWIFT payments between banks that use Swift GPI arrive within a day, but some routes take several business days and intermediary banks may deduct fees. USDC is a strong option if the client already holds stablecoins. It settles instantly on Solana and works on weekends, since the network runs continuously outside banking hours. Altitude charges no platform fee for stablecoin transfers, though network fees may still apply and a client who has to buy USDC may pay an exchange or on-ramp fee.