Getting paid as a freelancer in Algeria: cards, transfers and escrow

"How will I get paid?" is the first question every Algerian freelancer asks. Cash in hand doesn't work for online work, and transfers between strangers rely on trust. Here is an overview of the options available today and how to protect yourself.

Cards are now widespread

More than 22 million payment cards are in circulation in Algeria, including nearly 18 million Edahabia cards from Algérie Poste, alongside the banks' CIB cards (figures as of March 2026). In 2025, internet payments passed 27 million transactions, worth more than 145 billion dinars. Clients increasingly pay online without thinking twice.

The main ways to receive money

• Online card payment (CIB and Edahabia). The client pays on a secure payment page; the money arrives in dinars. This is the most practical option for online services.
• BaridiMob and transfers between accounts. Quick between people who know each other, but there is no protection if the client disappears after delivery, or if the freelancer disappears after payment.
• Bank transfer. Common with companies, often required with an invoice. Slower, and it also relies on trust.
• Foreign clients. International platforms and payment services pay in foreign currency, with fees and conversion rules. Under the auto-entrepreneur status, exporters of services can keep their foreign-currency revenue (see our article on the status).

The real problem: trust

Most payment disputes between freelancers and clients come down to the same situation. The client doesn't want to pay before seeing the work; the freelancer doesn't want to work without being paid. Advance payments of 50% help, but they don't solve everything: half the work can still go unpaid, and a client can still lose an advance.

How escrow solves it

Escrow means a third party holds the money during the work. On Tamam, it works in three stages:

• Held: the client pays when ordering, by CIB or Edahabia card or from their Tamam balance. Tamam holds the money.
• Delivered: the freelancer delivers the work through the platform.
• Approved: the client approves, and the money becomes available to the freelancer, who can withdraw it.

The freelancer starts working knowing the money exists. The client knows they only pay for work they accept. If something goes wrong, there is a refund process and a trace of everything that was agreed. For projects, the same idea applies to each milestone.

Good habits for freelancers

• Keep all communication and payment on the platform. Paying outside removes your protection, and your reviews.
• Write down what is included before starting: deliverables, number of revisions, delivery date.
• Deliver through the platform, so the delivery is recorded.
• Add your payout details early. Billing information and a payout account ready means no delay when you withdraw.
• Keep records of your income for your taxes if you work under a status.

Good habits for clients

• Pay through the platform, never in advance by transfer to someone you don't know.
• Check the deliverable carefully before approving it, and ask for the revisions included in the package if needed.
• Approve quickly when the work is right: a freelancer who gets paid on time will want to work with you again.