Bitwage

Bitwage is an international payments platform focused on cryptocurrencies that quickly and easily delivers wages across borders through the Bitcoin blockchain. The platform is a payroll and invoicing platform that has been operating for three years and has helped companies worldwide pay their international employees and receive invoices at a faster pace.

Bitwage offers two services: Team Wages and their invoicing service. Team Wages is useful for companies with international workforces since it allows them to pay employees, freelancers, and vendors in other countries without limits. Their invoicing service allows freelancers and companies to receive international wages from US, EU, and UK companies with their respective local bank accounts.

Bitwage Features

Using Bitwage allows employers, employees, and freelancers to have a reliable international payments platform that makes it easier to send payments and get paid. Some of Bitwage’s features are listed below.

Bitcoin 401(k)

Using Bitwage gives people access to the new Bitcoin 401(k) program. This can help companies set up a 401(k) plan for their employees that isn’t limited to Bitcoin and give employees access to traditional investments. It also includes a DCA system to help those who opt into the plan avoid the extreme price swings that often occur in the cryptocurrency industry.

The Bitcoin 401(k) feature provided by Bitwage is designed for growth and has tax-free crypto investing with Roth IRAs and automated rebalance alerts. The solution includes automated alerts, tax-free investments, access to holistic financial advisors, and allows users to make environmentally friendly investments.

Businesses can also take advantage of several of the 401(k)’s features meant for businesses, including integration with payroll, low administrative and investment fees, and fiduciary protection through ForUsAll.

API Integration

Through Bitwage, it is possible to integrate existing Bitcoin, stablecoin, and other cryptocurrency payroll systems into the platform. Employers can enable cryptocurrency direct deposit through the Direct Deposit API,  enable cryptocurrency payroll and payouts, and automate both employee invites and payroll creation through the Payouts API.

Bitwage’s API integration is ideal for companies that are looking for new ways to deposit money and enable payouts. The Payout API is also perfect for payroll, time tracking, different marketplaces, gig worker platforms, global EOR, and HRIS.

Same day processing

Premium Bitwage users can enjoy same-day wage processing to allow employees and freelancers to get paid faster and for companies to quickly process wages. This feature, although locked behind a paywall, is useful for both employers and employees since it can help build trust with employees, and the recipients can get paid quickly.

International and domestic payroll

Users will have access to simple and low-cost payroll solutions for both local and international workers. The payroll solution allows for Bitcoin, stablecoin, other cryptocurrencies, and local currency payment options.

Bitwage Business Benefits

Bitwage offers plenty of benefits for its users, especially with how useful the Bitcoin 401(k) and  API integration are. Some of the benefits of using Bitwage include the following:

Timeless basic functionality

Bitwage started in 2013, and the basic functionalities it had before remain today. The basic functionality is simple and timeless, and it works to ensure that employees get paid in Bitcoin without any changes on the employer’s end.

Ability to send and receive payouts anywhere worldwide

Being able to pay employees in any location allows companies to be more flexible in hiring employees, as the international payments platform makes it simple. Bitwage also gives remote workers and freelancers the opportunity to work for international companies instead of being tied down to their current location

Bitwage easily allows employers and remote workers the flexibility to hire workers and work for international companies. The fact that payments take the form of cryptocurrencies means that payments can be processed faster and more cost-effectively.

Reduced costs

Bitwage analyzes all the mechanisms involved in distributing wages across borders, allowing the platform to adopt an approach to reduce workers’, freelancers, and outsourcing companies’ costs regarding payments. Because of this, international invoices from firms in the US, EU, UK, and Switzerland are cheaper.

Users will also find that Bitwage is affordably priced, and even the free Standard plan is functional. The only downside for workers is the $10 cost for incoming wires when using the free plan. Still, the premium plan is affordable enough to allow freelancers with multiple clients to earn more money without getting charged for the wire transfer.

Bitwage Pricing

Bitwage is an affordable software solution with two versions available—one for workers and one for employers. Both versions have free Standard and Premium versions, with the Premium worker version costing $15.99 per month and the Premium business version costing $7.99 per employee per month. The premium version for businesses can be used solely for freelancers instead of the entire workforce to limit costs.

Opting for the free plans has some downsides for users in the form of additional fees, which can be problematic for freelancers who receive multiple wire transfers since each one costs $10 per wire. Switching to a paid plan is more cost-effective considering the cost of receiving multiple transfers, especially when the amounts are relatively low. 

Bitwage does not offer free trials, but the free version should be good enough to serve as a trial since most of the features and benefits are the same as those of the paid version. Bitwage’s Bitcoin 401(k), however, offers a demo that users can request.

Conclusion

Bitwage is a simple, crypto-focused international payments platform that provides flexible payment options for both workers and employers. The platform itself is easy to use due to its simple features and functionalities, and the Standard free plan is functional enough that employees and freelancers can continue using it without needing to upgrade to a Premium plan.

Freelancers that are just starting out can get paid in non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies without needing to pay fees and only get charged a $10 fee for local currency wire transfers. Long-time freelancers with multiple clients, however, should consider a Premium plan when receiving multiple wire transfers, but if they only receive non-stablecoin crypto payments the Standard plan will suffice

Using simple international payment solutions like Bitwage gives both employers and employees the flexibility to have access to different payment methods. The Bitwage platform is functional for both free and paid users and people can opt to switch to the paid plan when they require additional features. It can help encourage company growth by providing a functional free solution instead of locking most of the useful features behind a paywall.