Which Payment Method Is Best for The5ers? A Complete Guide for Traders in Japan
※ Payment methods and fees change frequently. Always check The5ers' official site for the latest accurate information. (Last updated: September 25, 2026. The payout fee has been corrected to 3.5% to match the official FAQ, revised August 24, 2026.)
Conclusion: for traders in Japan, "Checkout (Apple Pay)" is the best choice
The5ers' purchase screen lists six payment methods, but the one we'd most recommend for traders in Japan is Checkout (with Apple Pay support). PayPal looks convenient at first glance, but its poor exchange rate often ends up costing you an extra $10–$25 in practice, so it's best avoided.
Payment methods available on The5ers
| Method | Support | Real cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hub credit | 0% fee | Cheapest | Only if you've accumulated a previous payout |
| Checkout (Apple Pay support) | Low–medium | Depends on the card | Apple Pay / Google Pay available |
| VISA / Mastercard | Medium | +1.6–2.2% | Standard international card payment |
| Credit/debit (separate option) | Medium | +1.6–2.2% | Via Stripe |
| Confirmo (crypto) | Cheapest–low | Close to 0% | USDT/ETH/BTC etc., requires some familiarity |
| PayPal | High | +3–5% | Not recommended |
Why Checkout + Apple Pay is the strongest choice
1. Apple Pay itself has zero extra fees
Apple Pay simply rides on top of the existing payment network — Apple itself doesn't take any additional fee. What you're actually charged is determined by the credit card linked to your Apple Pay, and that card's exchange rate plus foreign transaction fee is what applies.
2. Checkout.com lets you use VISA/Mastercard brands
The5ers' "Checkout" option is a card payment routed through the payment processor Checkout.com. This lets you choose Apple Pay, Google Pay, or a regular VISA/Mastercard, and paying with Apple Pay also means you never have to enter your physical card details directly, which is a security advantage too.
3. Choosing the right card can bring fees close to zero
By choosing carefully which card you link to Apple Pay, you can minimize the foreign transaction fee:
| Card | Foreign transaction fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wise debit | 0% | Mid-market exchange rate, the strongest option |
| Revolut | 0% | Weekdays only; 0.5% on weekends |
| Rakuten Card (VISA) | 1.63% | A standard Japanese card |
| SMBC Card | 2.20% | Slightly on the higher side |
| Epos Card | 1.63% | Standard |
| JCB Card | ❌ | JCB may not be usable with Checkout |
Recommendation: registering a Wise or Revolut debit card with Apple Pay lets you effectively pay the $545 at the mid-market rate, saving roughly $15–$25 compared to other methods.
Why you should avoid PayPal
PayPal has the advantage of being "easy to pay with," but its exchange rate is set very unfavorably at mid-market +3–4%. Paying in USD from a Japanese PayPal account:
- A $545 purchase → an effective cost of roughly $565–$571
- Difference: $15–$25 (roughly ¥2,200–¥3,700)
This is the same as "wasting around ¥3,000 every time you buy a challenge." And since chargeback protection effectively runs through your card issuer anyway, with The5ers you're purely losing money to the exchange fee for nothing.
Confirmo (crypto) is also an option
If you're comfortable with crypto, USDT (Tether) via Confirmo is the cheapest option:
- USDT is pegged 1:1 to USD, so there's no exchange-rate fluctuation
- The network transfer fee varies (roughly $0.5–$2)
- Just scan a QR code through the Coingate/Confirmo gateway
That said, it has the downside of requiring a wallet and a transfer, which can be "a high bar for someone touching crypto for the first time." If you already hold USDT, it's the clear choice; if not, Checkout + Apple Pay is more convenient.
A strategy built around payouts
Once you're funded on The5ers, here's how you can receive a payout:
- Hub credit (0% fee) — received as balance inside the dashboard, applied toward your next purchase
- Rise (3.5% fee) — to your bank account. Requires KYC on Rise's side, and the email registered with Rise must match the one registered with The5ers
- Crypto (3.5% fee) — USDT (TRC20) / USDC (ERC20) / ETH / LTC. Capped at $1,500 per request
- Bank transfer (3.5% + bank fees) — the most expensive option
The optimal cycle:
- First purchase: buy via Checkout + Apple Pay (Wise/Revolut)
- Get funded & receive a payout: take it as hub credit (0%)
- Buy additional accounts: apply hub credit (0%)
Following this loop, from the second round onward you can operate at effectively zero fees.
We covered the actual payout process in the site owner's payout report. The first payout (September 9, 2026) was within the $1,500 cap, so it was received as $1,230.86 in crypto (USDT, TRC20); the second (September 24) exceeded the cap at $3,545.67, so it was received in full via Rise. Neither required an interview.
Summary
| Situation | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| Buying from The5ers for the first time | Checkout + Apple Pay (linked to a Wise/Revolut debit card) |
| You have hub credit balance | Hub credit (0% fee) |
| You already hold crypto | Confirmo (USDT) |
| Apple Pay isn't available | VISA/Mastercard directly |
| ❌ Should avoid | PayPal (poor exchange rate) |
The5ers is a firm that offers a lot of flexibility in payment methods, but for a purchase from Japan, Checkout + Apple Pay is the best-balanced choice. Link a Wise/Revolut debit card, and you can keep the extra fees on a $545 purchase close to zero.
Related links
Written by
Hosono P | the prop firm strategist
I buy challenges with my own money and record everything through to the payout. Recorded payouts: ¥6.1M in total from Fintokei, Fundora and Funded7, plus $4,776 from The5ers (as of September 2026). Author of the semi-discretionary EA "ELDRA".