Which platforms work with Ruvo?

Any platform or client that pays to an account with US ACH details, including marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr and payroll platforms like Deel and Rippling. You share your Ruvo receiving details and the payment arrives in dollars.

Is it better to withdraw in dollars or convert on the platform?

Generally, withdrawing in dollars and converting on your own preserves more income, since the FX baked into platforms is usually worse than that of an efficient account.

Do I need a US account to use these platforms?

You need US bank details, not a traditional American account. Ruvo provides those details (ACH) so you can receive as if you had a local account.

What fees does Upwork charge when withdrawing to Brazil?

Upwork charges a service fee on earnings (5–20% depending on your lifetime billings with each client) and then a withdrawal fee depending on the method. Wire withdrawal to a Brazilian bank carries a $30 fee per transfer. Connecting to a US dollar account (such as Ruvo via ACH) is cheaper — typically $0.99 or less — and avoids the forced conversion that a wire to a Brazilian bank triggers. Once in your Ruvo account, you convert on your own schedule.

Can I receive from Deel, Remote.com or similar EOR platforms into Ruvo?

Yes. Most EOR and payroll platforms support ACH or wire withdrawal to a US bank account. Ruvo provides a US routing number and account number (ABA/ACH) that works like any US bank account for withdrawal purposes. Once received, the balance sits in your Ruvo account in USD. Check your platform's supported withdrawal methods and select ACH to a US bank account.

How do I reduce platform fees when earning internationally?

The three main levers: choose platforms with lower service fees (direct contracting beats marketplace rates), withdraw via ACH to a US account rather than wire to Brazil, and hold the resulting dollar balance in Ruvo rather than converting immediately at whatever rate the platform offers. Each step removes one layer of cost. The difference between a freelancer who converts at every withdrawal and one who consolidates and times conversions can be several percentage points of annual income.

Where to earn

Best platforms for Brazilian freelancers to earn in USD

PlatformsFreelanceUSDReceiving from abroad

Compare the top platforms for Brazilian freelancers to earn in USD — marketplaces, payroll platforms, and direct clients — and learn how to keep more of what you earn.

Freelancer working for international clients

Freelance marketplaces

There are multiple ways to earn in USD, from freelance marketplaces to international payroll and direct clients, and Brazil's freelance market is projected to reach around US$655 million by 2030 (Grand View Research). The real difference in outcome is not just how you get clients, it is how much you lose when you finally get paid, and that last step is where most income quietly disappears.

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal and 99designs connect you with global clients and handle invoicing and payment collection, and Workana is the largest of these in Latin America. They are convenient, but two costs stack up before the money reaches you:

A platform commission on each job. Fiverr charges a flat 20%, while Upwork moved in 2025 to a variable fee of 0% to 15% set per contract.
A hidden FX spread, often 2% to 4%, when the platform converts USD to BRL automatically.
Platform control over withdrawal timing and rails.

The better approach is to withdraw in dollars whenever possible and send the funds to a proper USD account instead of converting inside the platform. That preserves optionality and reduces leakage.

International payroll platforms

Companies hiring globally often pay contractors through Deel, Remote.com, Rippling, Gusto and similar tools. In this model:

You are paid like a US vendor.
Funds are sent via ACH or wire.
Payment arrives in USD directly into your account.

This is the cleanest structure for remote work: predictable, standardized, and USD-native.

Direct clients: highest flexibility, lowest fees

When you work directly with international clients, you typically invoice them and share your banking details. They pay you like any US supplier:

ACH (preferred).
Wire transfer.
Sometimes local equivalents, depending on the country.

There is no platform cut, no forced conversion, and no intermediary taking an FX margin. This is usually the most efficient path, assuming you can manage invoicing and compliance. One thing to plan for: the MEI ceiling of about R$81,000 a year counts your foreign income too, and USD rates often run 2x to 3x local ones, so many freelancers quickly outgrow MEI and move to a fuller PJ. See the full flow in how to receive USD as a business.

The earning paths at a glance

Work type	Example platforms / employers	Contract structure	Payment rail	Where you receive USD	Real friction point	Effective downside
Freelance marketplaces	Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal	Platform-mediated gigs	Platform wallet → ACH/card withdrawal	Inside platform until payout	Platform controls pricing and payout rules	High platform fees, FX spread, and lock-in
Employer contractor (EOR / payroll)	Deel, Remote.com, Rippling	Fixed monthly contractor agreement	ACH / wire	USD bank account or provider wallet	Compliance and employment rigidity	Lower flexibility, limited negotiation leverage
Direct contractor (best-case setup)	Direct foreign companies	B2B invoice / retainer	ACH / wire	Your USD account	You manage invoicing and collection	Operational overhead (tax, billing, contracts)
Agencies / outsourcing layers	Staffing firms, dev agencies	Subcontracted labor	Wire → agency → you	Often converted before payout	Margin compression at the agency layer	Reduced rate, FX, and delayed payouts
Hybrid platforms (wallet-based ecosystems)	PayPal, some marketplace wallets	Platform balance + optional withdrawal	Internal ledger → bank withdrawal	Platform-controlled wallet	Forced conversion at the exit point	FX timing controlled by platform, hidden spread

The real leak: forced FX conversion

Whether it is a marketplace or a bank, the default behavior is the same: they convert your dollars into reais immediately, usually at a spread of around 2% to 4%. That is the silent tax on global income.

The alternative is simple: receive in USD, hold in USD, and convert only when you need to. This is where infrastructure like Ruvo changes the equation. For a real-money breakdown, see our $5k developer case study.

A better USD receiving stack

With Ruvo you can:

Receive USD directly via ACH or wire, and receiving is free.
Hold a USD balance, with no forced conversion.
Convert to reais at around 0.5% as an individual (PF) or 0.3% as a business (PJ).
Avoid IOF entirely on the conversion.
Control the timing of your FX instead of being forced into it.

Instead of platforms deciding when and how you convert, you decide. Pick the right setup in the best account.

Mind the platform FX trap

Even when your client pays in dollars, many platforms quietly default to:

Auto-conversion to reais.
Withdrawal fees.
FX spreads embedded in the name of convenience.

Even the dedicated transfer tools convert at a cost: PayPal typically takes around 3.5% to 5%, Payoneer around 2% to 3%, and Wise around 1% to 1.5%. The only way to stop paying that spread is to not convert until you choose to: withdraw in dollars, route the money into a USD account, and convert on your terms with Ruvo at 0.3% to 0.5%, with 0% IOF.

What to do once you are paid

Once dollars land in your account, you are no longer constrained by the payment method. You can:

Spend globally on the card in USD, with no IOF and no spread on international usage.
Move money freely by Pix (any key), ACH, wire, or crypto rails where applicable.
Optimize FX timing, holding dollars through favorable cycles and converting gradually instead of all at once.
Separate personal and business flows, managing PF and PJ balances cleanly and moving between them without friction.

If you're hired directly by a foreign company rather than through a platform, see our guide to working remotely for foreign employers.

Bottom line

Earning in USD is no longer the hard part. The real edge comes from how efficiently you receive, hold, and convert that dollar income, without leaking 2% to 4% at every step. Infrastructure like Ruvo turns global income into something closer to a controlled financial system than a forced conversion pipeline.

Frequently asked questions

Platforms to earn from abroad and how to get paid.

Talk to support

Any platform or client that pays to an account with US ACH details, including marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr and payroll platforms like Deel and Rippling. You share your Ruvo receiving details and the payment arrives in dollars.
Generally, withdrawing in dollars and converting on your own preserves more income, since the FX baked into platforms is usually worse than that of an efficient account.
You need US bank details, not a traditional American account. Ruvo provides those details (ACH) so you can receive as if you had a local account.
Upwork charges a service fee on earnings (5–20% depending on your lifetime billings with each client) and then a withdrawal fee depending on the method. Wire withdrawal to a Brazilian bank carries a $30 fee per transfer. Connecting to a US dollar account (such as Ruvo via ACH) is cheaper — typically $0.99 or less — and avoids the forced conversion that a wire to a Brazilian bank triggers. Once in your Ruvo account, you convert on your own schedule.
Yes. Most EOR and payroll platforms support ACH or wire withdrawal to a US bank account. Ruvo provides a US routing number and account number (ABA/ACH) that works like any US bank account for withdrawal purposes. Once received, the balance sits in your Ruvo account in USD. Check your platform's supported withdrawal methods and select ACH to a US bank account.
The three main levers: choose platforms with lower service fees (direct contracting beats marketplace rates), withdraw via ACH to a US account rather than wire to Brazil, and hold the resulting dollar balance in Ruvo rather than converting immediately at whatever rate the platform offers. Each step removes one layer of cost. The difference between a freelancer who converts at every withdrawal and one who consolidates and times conversions can be several percentage points of annual income.

Sources

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