As a web designer or developer, you are often dealing with customers from around the world, and you need an easy way to let them pay you for your hard work. While PayPal is probably the most commonly used payment method, there are quite a few alternatives.  Listed below are other alternatives that are just as convenient, reliable, and reasonably priced:

1. Google Checkout

A newer online payment service, which offers competitive fees, fast checkout process, refunds, and frequent payouts. It allows sellers to accept Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, and Visa Electron cards, and has a number of integration options, such as ‘buy now’ buttons and e-commerce partners. The service is integrated with Google Analytics, which allows advanced reports to be compiled easily.

2. Money Bookers

This site has more than 10 million users worldwide and is a UK company, which is under the regulation of the FSA. The fees are very competitive, the bank transfers done in real time, and the service is widespread and used by many merchants and web sites. Once you receive payment via Money Bookers, you can apply for a MasterCard debit card and withdraw the cash from an ATM, receive the funds via check, or deposit them directly to your bank account.

3. AlertPay

Yet another popular payment gateway, which allows its users to send, request, deposit, and withdraw money. The buyer can pay by credit card or add funds from bank account or check and the seller receives the funds by bank wire, bank transfer, credit card, or check.

4. 2Checkout.com

2Checkout is a company that allows designers, developers, merchants, and webmasters to sell products and services online. It lets users add links or buttons to their web sites and accept secure online payments; it also supports existing shopping carts, recurring billing, and offers order notification. Its main advantages are the advanced fraud detection, simplicity, and competitive fees.

5. OboPay

This is the first large payment gateway developed exclusively for mobile phones. It offers to the buyers instant access to their bank accounts, allowing them to transfer money on the go to anyone, anywhere. The sellers, on the other hand, do not need to have the OboPay software installed on their mobile phones, and can transfer the funds directly to their bank accounts or apply for a special prepaid debit or family MasterCard and use it to withdraw cash from ATMs.

6. Liberty Reserve

This service allows their members to send payments to each other easily and quickly, and the received funds are withdrawn by the sellers with the help of trusted, independent exchange providers. The accounts come with some excellent features such as wallet for fast payments, private messaging, transaction history, and advanced security options.

7. ProPay

ProPay is very easy to use, offers very simple and straightforward fee structure, low annual fee, and secure storage of credit card details for repeated purchases. With no gateway charges, no contracts, and no minimum monthly purchases, this is yet another payment option that many designers and developers could find useful. The funds are withdrawn with a ProPay Prepaid MasterCard or can be transferred directly to a US checking account.

8. CCNow

A great alternative to creating a merchant account is CCNow.  It allows users to process all major credit cards, use shopping carts, and offer secure checkout to their clients.

9. PerfectMoney

This site offers personal and business accounts, transfers between members, and lets its clients fund their accounts by using wire transfers or e-currency.  They can also store funds and earn interest on them. Recurrent payments, detailed reports, 24/7 customer support, and many advanced security tools are available as well.

What is your favorite method to get paid online? Please share with us in the comments.