Updated October 17, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Papaya Global vs Skrill
Papaya Global
Higher score in this comparison
Skrill
Where Papaya Global and Skrill differ
| Compare | Papaya GlobalReviewVisitVisit | SkrillReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | €0 |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Currencies | 15 | 47Higher |
| Transfer fee | No platform or contractor fees | Skrill to Skrill 2.99% (min EUR 0.50); Skrill Money Transfer by bank transfer zero fees; international transfer up to 4.99% incl. exchange rate mark-up |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 3.99% |
| Local account details | IBAN | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Licence type (E money).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Skrill: 2001 vs 2016.
- Papaya Global is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Papaya Global is available in 2 more countries.
- Currencies is higher at Skrill: 47 vs 15.
- Audience: only Papaya Global offers Freelancer.
- Audience: only Skrill offers Expats, Travelers.
- Pricing model: only Papaya Global offers Low FX.
Our verdict on each
Papaya Global
Papaya Global describes services for enterprise payments and contingent workforces, and lists an end-to-end payroll platform.
Skrill
Skrill suits expats, travellers and businesses who want many currencies and no monthly charge, with the monthly fee at €0 and 47 currencies. The trade-off is the pace and cost of moving money: international transfers land in 24 - 72 hours and conversion costs 3.99% on top.
Score breakdown
| Area | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.7Cost is the weak side: 3.99% to convert, a fee set on the amount sent for transfers, and a mark-up of 4.99% on international ones. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.6HigherOffer is strong: 47 currencies, EU deposit protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 and support on help centre, email and phone. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.9Higher |
Pick Papaya Global if, pick Skrill if
Pick Papaya Global if cost matter most.
Pick Skrill if offer, trust, and currencies matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority (Electronic Money Regulations 2011), Azimo Ltd. 001b000000m4IXpAAM | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Canada | Not confirmed | |
| Hong Kong | Not confirmed | |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C184986 |
| Malta | MT_MFSA PSD_EMI MT_MFSA!PAP | Not confirmed |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Papaya Global: 5. Additional countries for Skrill: 3.
A third option
UQPay has currencies at 54, against 15 for Papaya Global and 47 for Skrill.
UQPay reviewSources behind this comparison
Papaya Global
- papayaglobal.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Skrill
- skrill.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Current and checking accounts | 11 of 885 | 4 of 885 |
| Business bank accounts | 15 of 563 | 7 of 563 |
| Money transfer services | 12 of 1564 | 4 of 1564 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 7 of 348 | 4 of 348 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers, Business |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | PAPAYA LTD | Paysafe Payment Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Malta | Ireland |
| Founded | 2016 | 2001Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Email, Phone |
Money transfer
| Fact | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 4.99% |
| Delivery time | 95% same-day | 24 - 72 hours |
| Payout methods | Bank, Wallet, Card | Bank, Card, Wallet |
| Fee to send 1,000 | $0 | €0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Papaya Global | Skrill | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 3.99%highest quarter | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 15above the median | 47highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Papaya Global
Pros
- Employees and contingent workers handled in one setup
- Central view of workforce payments across borders
- Compliance structure built into global payroll
Cons
- Built for businesses rather than individuals
- Enterprise focus may feel heavy for small teams with one local payroll
Skrill
Pros
- The monthly fee is €0, the same as Starling Personal Account Debit Card at £0, so the wallet costs nothing to keep open.
- The stated audience covers expats, travelers and business, so expats, travellers and businesses are the groups the service is built around.
- 47 currencies sit in one wallet, well above the site median of 5.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 3.99%, against 0% at AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito and 0.5% at XTB.
- An exchange rate mark-up of 4.99% can be added to international transfers on top of the fee.
- The currency conversion fee ranking puts it at 297 out of 312, so exchange is the weak spot.
Who each suits
Papaya Global
Who it suits
- Readers reviewing Papaya Global’s stated enterprise services.
Who should look elsewhere
- Individuals looking for a personal bank product to hold money
- Small firms that only need payroll in one local market
Skrill
Who it suits
- Expats and travellers who need to hold and send money in several currencies, with 47 available.
- Businesses paying suppliers abroad that want no monthly charge, since the monthly fee is €0.
- People who want help on a stuck transfer, since support covers help centre, email and phone.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who convert money often, since AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito charges 0% to convert against 3.99% here.
- People hunting for the lowest exchange cost, who would find XTB's 0.5% conversion fee easier to weigh.
Current offers
Skrill
Current offer
Bonus
Final Score: Up to EUR 10,000 every week
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Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Papaya Global | Skrill |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | No |
| Hong Kong | Yes | No |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Malta | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
8 of 9 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Papaya Global
What kinds of workers can be paid through the platform?+
Both employees and contingent workers can be paid through the same platform. Contingent workers are people engaged on a flexible basis rather than on a standard employment contract. Handling both groups in one system helps organisations keep their workforce operations consistent, whatever the contract type.
Is the service intended for individual customers?+
No, the service is aimed at companies that run payroll and payments for a team. It is not a personal bank product for individuals to hold money. Businesses that need a single view of global staff activity will find the enterprise focus more relevant than a consumer product.
Skrill
How much does it cost to keep a Skrill account?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the account is sold as no monthly fee, so holding the wallet costs nothing each month. A bank transfer through Skrill Money Transfer is free, while a transfer to another Skrill wallet takes a fee set on the amount sent and an international transfer can cost more.
What does it cost to change currency?+
Converting between currencies costs 3.99%, and an exchange rate mark-up of 4.99% can apply on international transfers on top. AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito lists 0% for conversion and XTB lists 0.5%, so a wallet holding a single currency costs far less to change.
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