Best freelance, gig and earning platforms in Nigeria
For platform earnings, Upwork pays straight to Nigerian bank accounts in naira (NGN) through Direct to Local Bank for USD 0.99 per withdrawal, and Fiverr pays via PayPal or Payoneer. PayPal's Nigeria fee schedule lists receiving personal payments as free when no currency conversion is involved. Grey offers multi-currency accounts for receiving foreign payments and lists Nigeria as supported, Chipper Cash lists Nigeria among its six markets, and OPay, licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, has taken about 22% of the Nigerian e-wallet market. Locally, Jumia and Konga run online marketplaces with third-party sellers, Glovo delivers in Lagos, Chowdeck recruits delivery riders in Nigeria and Ghana, and Bolt's Nigerian site lists rides, Bolt Food and Bolt Market. Zindi runs prize-based AI and data science competitions. Practical tip: Upwork requires the name on your bank account to match your verified Upwork name, so make sure your naira account is in exactly the same name before withdrawing.
Updated · how we verify platforms
Nigeria at a glance
Platform types: 5 payment receiving platforms, 3 delivery platforms, 2 big marketplaces, 1 ride platform, 1 marketplace, 1 card processing platform, 1 freelance site and 1 prize competition
How they pay out: Bank transfer (12), agent cash-out (2), Mobile money (2)
Which global platforms accept people in Nigeria? See all 28 confirmed, and how to get paid →
Getting paid in Nigeria
Compare at a glance
| Platform | Type | Fees / commission | Pays via | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Airtel Money
|
Mobile money | Varies by country, tiered cash-out fees | Agent cash-out, bank transfer, ATM | 2011 |
Asuqu
Closed |
Freelance marketplace | — | — | 2016 |
Bolt
|
Mobility company | 15-20% commission per ride depending on city | Bank transfer | 2013 |
Bolt Food
|
Food delivery platform | — | — | 2019 |
Chipper Cash
|
Money transfer app | Free P2P within network, FX markup cross-border | Bank transfer, mobile money cash-out | 2018 |
Chowdeck
|
Food delivery platform | Riders keep delivery fees + weekly bonuses | Daily payout via in-app wallet | 2021 |
Glovo
|
Delivery platform | Paid per delivery (base + distance + waiting) | Bank transfer | 2015 |
Grey
|
Payment platform | No account fees, FX conversion margin | Bank transfer, Mobile money | 2020 |
Jiji
|
Classifieds marketplace | Free listings, no commission, optional paid boosts | Direct payment from buyers | 2014 |
Jumia
|
Online marketplace | Category commission ~5-20% + processing fee | Bank transfer (local) | 2012 |
Konga
|
Online marketplace | Category commission from ~3% | Bank via KongaPay, Tuesdays and Fridays | 2012 |
OPay
|
Mobile money | ~NGN 10 per transfer, ~0.5% agent withdrawal | Bank transfer, agent cash-out, card/ATM | 2018 |
PalmPay
|
Mobile money | Free/low in-app transfers, agent cash-out ~0.5% | Bank transfer, agent/POS cash-out, debit card | 2019 |
Paystack
|
Payment processor | From 1.5% per local transaction | Bank transfer | 2015 |
Terawork
|
Freelance marketplace | 7-13% commission by work type | Bank transfer (Nigeria), PayPal | 2017 |
Zindi
|
Data science competitions | Free to enter, host-funded cash prizes | Bank transfer, Mobile money | 2018 |
Airtel MoneyA wide-reach African mobile money service for receiving payments and cash-out.
airtel.africa54 viewsAsuquA Nigerian marketplace connecting businesses with vetted local creative and professional freelancers.
asuqu.com60 viewsBoltA European mobility platform offering ride-hailing, scooters, and food delivery across 45+ countries. Drivers and couriers sign up in the ap…
bolt.eu89 viewsBolt FoodBolt food-delivery arm where couriers earn delivering restaurant orders across Europe and Africa.
food.bolt.eu63 viewsChipper CashA pan-African app for sending and receiving money across borders and locally.
chippercash.com42 viewsChowdeckNigeria fast-growing food-delivery platform where riders earn delivering local orders.
chowdeck.com85 viewsGlovoA Spanish delivery platform operating across Southern Europe, Africa, and beyond. Couriers sign up to deliver food, groceries, and almost an…
glovoapp.com86 viewsGreyVirtual USD, GBP, and EUR accounts for African freelancers - receive international payments and convert to local currency at competitive rat…
grey.co33 viewsJijiA leading African classifieds marketplace with over 8 million monthly users, strongest in Nigeria and across East and West Africa. Free list…
jiji.ng33 viewsJumiaAfrica largest e-commerce marketplace, selling across Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, and more, with open seller registration and JForce sal…
jumia.com49 viewsKongaA Nigerian online marketplace where merchants list goods to local shoppers.
konga.com38 viewsOPayA Nigerian fintech where individuals and merchants receive payments and transfer money.
opayweb.com40 viewsPalmPayA Nigerian mobile-money app for receiving payments, transfers, and bill pay.
palmpay.com47 viewsPaystackThe Stripe-owned processor built for Africa - Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, and Kenyan businesses accept cards, mobile money, and bank…
paystack.com47 viewsTeraworkA Nigerian freelance services marketplace connecting African talent with local and international clients. Freelancers sell packaged services…
terawork.com42 viewsZindiAfrica data science competition platform, connecting African data scientists with paid challenges from companies and NGOs.
zindi.world61 viewsFrequently asked questions
What are the best freelance and gig platforms in Nigeria?
Upwork and Fiverr for international freelance work, Jumia and Konga for selling products online, Glovo and Chowdeck for delivery work, Bolt for ride-hailing, and Zindi for prize-based AI and data science competitions.
How do freelancers in Nigeria get paid by international clients?
Upwork pays to Nigerian bank accounts in NGN via Direct to Local Bank for USD 0.99, and also offers PayPal and Payoneer. Fiverr pays through PayPal (no fee, USD 1 minimum) or Payoneer. Grey offers multi-currency accounts for receiving foreign payments and lists Nigeria among its supported countries.
Does PayPal work in Nigeria?
Yes, for sending and receiving. PayPal's Nigeria fee schedule lists receiving personal payments as free when no currency conversion is involved, with commercial receiving fees set on its merchant fees page. For moving platform earnings into naira, Upwork's NGN bank payouts and Payoneer are documented alternatives.
Can people in Nigeria work on Upwork and Fiverr?
Yes. Upwork lists Nigeria (NGN) for Direct to Local Bank withdrawals, and the bank account name must match your verified Upwork name. Upwork also requires tax information before you can withdraw. Fiverr sellers must be at least 18 to withdraw, and each withdrawal method can be linked to only one Fiverr account.
How can freelancers in Nigeria receive foreign currency?
Grey provides multi-currency accounts to receive, hold and convert foreign payments and lists Nigeria as a supported country. Fiverr pays out through PayPal or Payoneer, and Upwork freelancers can also withdraw directly in naira through Direct to Local Bank for USD 0.99 per withdrawal.