PlaytoDodo Payments alternative · Ethiopia · 2026
Dodo Payments alternative in Ethiopia: keep $9,749 of $10,000
On a $10,000 card payment from a client in the United States to a business in Ethiopia, Dodo Payments takes at least $400.40 in fees. Some of its fees are not published. Playto takes $250.30 and adds zero markup, so you keep $9,749.70. The table below also shows Lemon Squeezy, Paddle, 2Checkout and Chapa.
No monthly fees. No setup fees. Lowest price guarantee.
Fees on $10,000 by card
- Dodo PaymentsYou receive $9,599.60 at most≥ $400.40
- PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30
The numbers
What lands in your bank
Example payments from a client in the United States to a business in Ethiopia. All fees included. Taxes not included.
- Difference on $10,000
- ≥ $150.10
- By card, what reaches you with Playto compared with Dodo Payments (not all its fees are published, so at least this).
- Dodo Payments all in
- 4.0%+
- Of a $10,000 card payment.
- Playto all in
- 2.5%
- Of a $10,000 card payment.
- Ways to pay
- 30+
- From 170+ countries.
| Provider | $1,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playto | $974.70 | $4,874.70 | $9,749.70 |
| Dodo Payments1 | ≤ $959.60 | ≤ $4,799.60 | ≤ $9,599.60 |
| Lemon Squeezy2,3 | $940.00 | $4,702.00 | $9,404.50 |
| Paddle4,5 | ≤ $934.50 | ≤ $4,734.50 | ≤ $9,484.50 |
| 2Checkout7,8,9 | ≤ $929.65 | ≤ $4,709.65 | ≤ $9,434.65 |
| Chapa11,12 | ≤ $990.00 | ≤ $4,950.00 | ≤ $9,900.00 |
| Provider | $1,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playto | $995.00 | $4,995.00 | $9,995.00 |
| Dodo Payments1 | ≤ $985.00 | ≤ $4,985.00 | ≤ $9,985.00 |
| Lemon Squeezy3 | $940.00 | $4,702.00 | $9,404.50 |
| Paddle5,6 | ≤ $950.00 | ≤ $4,810.00 | ≤ $9,635.00 |
| 2Checkout8,9,10 | ≤ $929.65 | ≤ $4,709.65 | ≤ $9,434.65 |
| Chapa | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
- 1.Dodo Payments: Card or wallet fee; Dodo Payments: ACH Direct Debit fee (charged instead of the card fee). dodopayments.com/pricing, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 2.Lemon Squeezy: Platform fee. www.lemonsqueezy.com/pricing, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 3.Lemon Squeezy: Transfer fee to a bank outside the US; Lemon Squeezy: Platform fee (same for ACH bank debits). docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 4.Paddle: Paddle Checkout fee. www.paddle.com/pricing, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 5.Paddle: SWIFT transfer fee for USD to your bank (one a month). www.paddle.com/help/manage/get-paid/is-there-a-fee-taken-for-payouts, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 6.Paddle: Fee on a Paddle invoice paid by bank transfer. www.paddle.com/legal/terms, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 7.2Checkout: 2Sell fee per sale. www.2checkout.com/pricing/, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 8.2Checkout: Cross-border fee (Ethiopia is not exempt). docs.2checkout.com/product-catalog/product-catalog/pricing-and-charge-scenarios/cross-border-payments-fee-charges, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 9.2Checkout: Wire transfer fee for USD to your bank (one a month). docs.2checkout.com/get-started/getting-started/payouts, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 10.2Checkout: 2Sell fee per sale (also on wire-paid orders). docs.2checkout.com/payments/payments/payment-methods, checked 17 Oct 2026.
- 11.Chapa: Chapa fee on a payment from a customer outside Ethiopia. chapa.co/pricing, checked 18 Oct 2026.
- 12.Chapa: Exchange rate margin from USD to Ethiopian birr at Chapa's rate (not published). support.chapa.co/knowledge-base/99-what-is-the-swap-feature-used-for-and-where-to-find-it, checked 18 Oct 2026.
Where the money goes
$10,000 by card, line by line
Dodo Payments
- Card or wallet fee1$400.40
- Total (at least)$400.40
- You receive (at most)$9,599.60
Some fees on this route aren't published, so this is the least it can cost.
Playto
- Card fee$250.30
- Total$250.30
- You receive$9,749.70
Prices from playto.so/pricing. Playto adds zero markup.
Getting paid in Ethiopia
The basics, with sources
Public facts from official sources, each with its date. Not advice: check with your bank.
Money rules
The National Bank of Ethiopia says all exporters must bring home all the foreign currency they earn from exports. Exporters who have not done so after 90 days are marked as late and cannot start new exports.
Source: nbe.gov.et, checked 17 Oct 2026.
Keeping foreign currency
Under National Bank of Ethiopia directive FXD/04/2026, a business that sells services abroad may keep 100% of what it earns in a foreign currency retention account, with no time limit. Services here include business, consulting and engineering services.
Source: nbe.gov.et, checked 17 Oct 2026.
Exchange rate, for scale
1 USD = 161.725 ETB (US Treasury reference rate, 30 Sept 2026). The rate on the day of a payment will differ.
Source: fiscaldata.treasury.gov.
Calculator
Try your own amount
From $1,000 to $50,000, by card or bank transfer, for a client in the United States paying a business in Ethiopia.
Fees charged
- Dodo PaymentsYou receive $9,599.60 at most≥ $400.40
- PlaytoYou receive $9,749.70$250.30
Side by side
Dodo Payments and Playto, in plain numbers
What adds to the cost with Dodo Payments
- All in, Dodo Payments takes $400.40 or more (4.0%) of a $10,000 card payment. Playto takes $250.30.
- Some Dodo Payments fees for card payments are not published, so the real cost can be higher.
- All in, Dodo Payments takes $15.00 or more (0.2%) of a $10,000 bank transfer payment. Playto takes $5.00.
- Some Dodo Payments fees for bank transfer payments are not published, so the real cost can be higher.
When Dodo Payments is still the right choice
- Your clients pay you inside your own country. A local payment method can cost less there. Playto is built for clients abroad.
Switching
Move from Dodo Payments in three steps
- 1
Request an invite
Tell us about your business. Playto checks every business before it gets in.
- 2
Send a payment link
Share a link or an invoice. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries.
- 3
Get paid
Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Playto adds zero markup.
FAQ
Dodo Payments alternative in Ethiopia: questions
Is Playto cheaper than Dodo Payments in Ethiopia?
What are the alternatives to Dodo Payments for a business in Ethiopia?
How does a business in Ethiopia get paid from abroad?
Does Dodo Payments work in Ethiopia?
How much does Dodo Payments charge on a $10,000 payment from the United States?
How much does Playto cost?
How do I move from Dodo Payments to Playto?
Get paid by global clients
Get paid by clients abroad with zero markup
Cards cost 2.5% + $0.30. Bank transfers are never more than $5. Your client can pay 30+ ways, from 170+ countries.
No monthly fees. No setup fees. Lowest price guarantee.