If you're a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner in Latin America with clients in the US or Europe, you've probably heard of both Higlobe and ARQ, the app formerly known as DolarApp. Both give you US and euro account details so clients can pay you like a local, and both help you move that money into your own currency.

The difference is who each one is built for. Higlobe is a money transfer account for professionals, with the lowest cost guaranteed, while ARQ is an everyday finance app for saving, spending, and investing in digital dollars. Here's how they compare, based on each company's published pricing and help center as of November 2026.

Who is Higlobe for?

Higlobe is built for professionals: freelancers, contractors, small businesses, and exporters who get paid by clients abroad. You get a free USD and EUR receiving account, and you withdraw to your local bank in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, India, or the Philippines.

Higlobe is focused on its lowest cost guarantee. It promises to always deliver more local currency per dollar than any other service, and if you find a comparable offer that costs less, Higlobe matches it.

Best for: professionals who want the most local currency from every overseas client payment.

Who is ARQ for?

ARQ is built mainly for everyday consumers in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Its core use is converting local currency into digital dollars or euros, then saving, investing in US stocks and ETFs, or spending with a Mastercard while traveling.

ARQ also offers US and euro account details for receiving payments, plus a separate ARQ Business account. On its free plan, it charges a flat fee on each international payment, and paid plans add perks like free transfers and higher yield.

Best for: people who want to turn local currency into digital dollars to save, invest abroad, or spend while traveling.

Higlobe vs ARQ side by side

How your clients can pay you

This is where Higlobe stands out for professionals. Besides ACH, RTP, US wires, and SEPA, you can send clients a payment link and let them pay by credit or debit card, with the card fee charged to them, not you. US payers can also pay through Higlobe payment links from Lightning-enabled apps such as Cash App, and Venmo is coming soon.

ARQ covers the standard routes (ACH, wire, and SEPA) and adds PayPal transfers and deposits from your local bank. Those options suit people topping up their own savings, while Higlobe's are built around getting paid by clients.

What it costs you to get paid

For most professionals, the cost comes down to two things: the fee to receive a payment and the cost of converting it. Higlobe charges nothing on ACH and SEPA payments and keeps conversion costs low, from 0% to 0.60% depending on the country. ARQ charges 3 USDc or 3 EURc per international payment on its free plan, plus its conversion rate.

On a $2,000 ACH payment withdrawn in Brazil, that works out to about $4 with Higlobe and about $13 on ARQ's free plan, before taxes. And thanks to Higlobe's lowest cost guarantee, if you ever find a comparable offer that costs less, Higlobe matches it.

How fast your money gets home

Once a US payment reaches your Higlobe receiving account, it's credited right away, and local payouts take under a minute through SPEI, Pix, InstaPay, and other local networks, 24/7.

ARQ's help center says US ACH payments take 3 to 6 business days to reach your balance, while wires usually arrive within 48 business hours.

Earning while your money waits

Higlobe Earn pays 3% a year on your dollar balance, accrued daily and paid weekly, with no subscription required. Enrolling moves your whole balance into DeFi lending protocols.

ARQ pays 2% on its free plan. To earn 3.5% or more, you need Premium at $6.99 a month or Prestige at $199.99 a year.

Pros and cons

Higlobe pros

• Lowest cost guaranteed, with published conversion costs from 0% to 0.60%
• More ways for clients to pay you, including card payment links and Lightning-enabled apps like Cash App
• 3% yield with no subscription
• A Visa Signature card with premium travel and concierge benefits
• Local payouts in under a minute and a dedicated account manager

Higlobe cons

• Not built for moving money out of your country, such as converting local currency into dollars
• Receives USD and EUR only
• No investing features

ARQ pros

• Convert local currency into digital dollars or euros
• Send money to US and European bank accounts
• Invest in US stocks and ETFs
• Mastercard with cashback on paid plans

ARQ cons

• A 3 USDc or 3 EURc fee on every international payment on the free plan
• US ACH payments take 3 to 6 business days to reach your balance
• Higher yield and extra perks require a paid plan

So, which account is right for you?

Choose Higlobe if you're a freelancer, contractor, small business, or exporter paid by clients in the US or Europe. It's built to be the best way to get your money home, at the lowest cost guaranteed, with more ways for clients to pay you and yield that doesn't require a subscription.

Choose ARQ if you mainly want a consumer app for converting local currency into digital dollars, investing in US stocks, or spending while you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Is ARQ the same as DolarApp?

Yes. DolarApp rebranded as ARQ in March 2026, and existing accounts and balances carried over, so current users didn't need to sign up again.

Is Higlobe only for professionals?

Higlobe is built for professionals: freelancers, contractors, small businesses, and exporters paid by clients abroad. It's open to individuals too, but its features are designed around getting paid for your work and bringing that money home.

Are Higlobe and ARQ banks?

No. Higlobe is a financial technology company registered with FinCEN as a money services business and audited under SOC 2 Type II. ARQ also says it isn't a financial institution, and it holds balances as USDc and EURc, which it describes as virtual assets.

Can my clients pay me by credit card with Higlobe?

Yes. You can send a Higlobe payment link that clients pay with any major credit or debit card. The 4.2% card fee (plus 1.5% for non-US cards) is charged to the client, and the funds arrive in your account within 24 hours.

Can I get paid through Upwork or Deel with Higlobe or ARQ?

Yes. Both work with platforms like Upwork and Deel, so you can add your US account details as your payout method and withdraw to your local bank from there.

Do I have to pay taxes on money I receive through Higlobe or ARQ?

Neither app files or pays taxes for you. Tax rules depend on your country and how you're paid, so a local accountant is the best person to confirm what you owe.