Venmo is one of the most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) apps, boasting over 80 million users to date. Venmo is great for sending money to friends and family. It costs nothing to link your bank account to send cash, and there are no fees for receiving payments. Venmo also offers a teen account and a Venmo Debit Card with no monthly fees.
Despite its strengths, Venmo lacks some features found in other popular P2P apps like Cash App, Chime and PayPal.
If you split a bill with your friend, you'll likely ask if they use Cash App or Venmo. Arguably one of Venmo's top competitors, Cash App is very similar to Venmo with additional features. Cash App lets you send and receive P2P payments with no fees, get a fee-free prepaid Cash App Card with discounts on select purchases you activate in the app, file your taxes, invest with Cash App Invest and even earn up to 4.5% APY on savings. Just like Venmo, Cash App also has a teen account for ages 13 and older and requires the sponsorship of a parent or guardian. On the downside, Cash App is known for being riddled with scammers, there's no 24/7 customer support and you can't make international transactions except with the UK.
Pros
Free P2P payments to other users
Free prepaid card linked to balance
Earn up to 4.5% APY with direct deposit requirements
Cash App Invest platform
Teen account
File federal tax returns
Cons
Limited customer support options
Thousands of complaints
No international payments (except UK)
APY
N/A
Rewards
Save money instantly at selected stores by activating personalized discounts in the app. You can add only one offer to your card at a time
Refer a friend to Chime using your referral link, and if they complete a $200 direct deposit within 45 days of opening their new account, you both get $100.
Like Venmo, Chime is a fintech company with partner banks. While Chime is known for its banking services, it can also send P2P payments to anyone with a debit card with its feature Pay Anyone. The recipient doesn't even need Chime — a major leg up over apps like Venmo, as they require the recipient to have the same app to receive transfers. On top of the free P2P payments, Chime is a fully loaded digital banking app. It features an online checking and savings account with no monthly fees, opening deposit or balance requirements. If you have direct deposit of at least $200 per month, you may also get access to features like MyPay cash advances, its overdraft service SpotMe and a credit-building secured card. Chime also has 24/7 live customer support, something Venmo lacks.
Pros
No-fee Pay Anyone
$0 checking and savings account
2% APY on savings
24/7 live support
Cons
Direct deposit required for some features
APY
N/A
Intro or bonus offer
Refer a friend to Chime using your referral link, and if they complete a $200 direct deposit within 45 days of opening their new account, you both get $100.
Rewards
Cash back offers on everyday purchases through the app
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM. Deposit: Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime Checking Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade. Mobile Deposit: Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status. Chime Savings Account: Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. APY: The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of May 22, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. Get Paid Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Credit Builder: The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank. To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash loads or deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
One of the most well-known and widely accepted payment systems worldwide, PayPal is a great option for money transfers — domestically and internationally. And since it actually owns Venmo, you can send money to Venmo from your PayPal account. PayPal lets you send money to other PayPal users for free within the Friends and Family tab using either your PayPal balance or directly with your linked bank account. PayPal also has a no-fee debit card linked to your PayPal balance that can earn cashback rewards and points. And unlike many P2P apps, it accepts mobile check deposits and cash deposits at Green Dot locations. You can send international payments, buy or sell crypto and use PayPal in online stores. Also, it allows for international transactions and has 24/7 customer support, things you don't get with Venmo. Just watch out for random fees, like a 2.5% foreign transaction fee with the PayPal Debit Card.
Venmo can't do international payments. If you frequently send money to friends and family overseas, Revolut is worth considering. Its free Standard plan has no monthly fees and a ton of perks. You can send and receive money with other Revolut users at no cost in 15 different currencies, and you can spend in over 150 currencies. Revolut also offers free currency exchange allowances. There's also a split bill feature, up to 3.25% APY on savings balances with Standard, and you can do stock trading with no commission fees. For kids, there's the free Revolut <18 account if a parent or guardian has Revolut themselves. Just know that Revolut has complicated fees and rules about ATM withdrawals, and you'll pay $10 for receiving domestic wires. Plus, its higher savings APYs and more exchange allowances require a paid plan.
Pros
$0 Standard plan
Free P2P payments between Revolut users
Spend in over 150 currencies and money exchange allowances
Investing and saving features
Kids banking option
Cons
High ATM and wire fees
Best perks require paid membership
APY
4.25% on balances of $0+ 3.25% on balances of $0 to
Intro or bonus offer
Get a $10 cash reward when you first use you card on a qualifying $1+ transaction. Terms & Conditions apply.
Fee
From $0 per month
To waive the fee
Open a Standard plan with $0 monthly fee. Paid plans: • $9.99 monthly fee for Premium plan • $16.99 monthly fee for Metal plan
Money loaded on your prepaid card is held at Metropolitan Commercial Bank and money in your Savings Vaults is held at Sutton Bank. Money at each bank is FDIC insured up to $250,000 in the event of Metropolitan Commercial Bank's or Sutton Bank's failure. Securities products are not FDIC Insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value.
*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is a variable rate and may change at any time. These APYs are accurate as of 16 March 2023. Monthly fees apply for Premium and Metal plans. Terms and Conditions Apply. Standard customers can earn up to 3.25%, while Premium and Metal customers can earn up to 4.25%. No minimum amount required. Savings Vault services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
A few years younger than Cash App, Zelle is another P2P money app. It's convenient because if you bank with a major institution, you may already have Zelle in your bank app. It's integrated with over 2,000 financial institutions, including Bank of America, Chase, Discover, PNC and Wells Fargo. Like Venmo, Zelle offers fee-free P2P transfers to other US bank accounts. It's also available on the App Store and Google Play. Zelle's speed is nearly unmatched, with the recipient typically receiving their money within minutes. However, you can't cancel a payment if the recipient is enrolled in Zelle because the transfers clear so quickly. Zelle requires only a US bank account to send or receive payments, but you can't make international payments or send money with a credit card. While it's a great alternative to Venmo for its free P2P transfers, it lacks nearly all the other extra features that Venmo has, like a debit card or teen banking option.
Pros
No fees
Instantly send money to US bank accounts
Integrated with thousands of banks and credit unions
Cons
No international or credit card payments
Not as many features as Venmo
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
Fee
$0 per month
Alternative for Apple users
Apple Pay
Most modern Apple devices already include Apple Pay without downloading another app. By simply adding a card to your Apple Wallet, you can send money to other Apple users through Messages with Apple Cash and use Apple Pay for online and in-store purchases. The no-fee Apple Cash card is automatically in your Apple Wallet, functioning much like a Venmo balance. Apple Wallet also accepts most types of cards, including credit, debit, prepaid and even some gift cards. And with Family Sharing, parents can give kids their own Apple Cash cards. However, you can't fund your Apple Cash balance using a credit card.
Pros
Already on most Apple devices
Send money through Messages
Apple Cash cards with Family Sharing
Apple Pay widely accepted
Cons
Can't fund Apple Cash card with credit cards
APY
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
Fee
$0 per month
How Venmo compares
Venmo is a solid P2P money app if you regularly send small amounts to friends and family. The app is free, it’s free to send payments to users, and it offers the no-fee Venmo Debit Card and the Venmo Visa Credit Card with rewards. But you can only send cash to other Venmo users. And if you need to cash out your Venmo balance immediately, you’ll pay an instant transfer fee of 1.75%, costing a minimum of $0.25 and a maximum of $25.
Pros
Free to send and receive P2P payments
Teen account
Free debit card
Credit card with rewards
Cons
No international payments
Can only send to other Venmo users
Instant transfer fee of 1.75%
Frequently asked questions
Does Venmo need your bank account?
Venmo accepts US bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards and some prepaid debit cards.
Can I pay someone on Venmo with a credit card?
Yes, Venmo allows you to make payments with a linked credit card.
Which is better: Cash App or Venmo?
On the Apple App Store, Venmo has a 4.9-star rating from over four million ratings, and Cash App has a 4.8-star rating from over six million ratings as of June 2024. Venmo has 4.2 stars on Google Play out of over 700k ratings, while Cash App has a higher 4.6-star rating out of over three million ratings. In terms of reviews, they’re both highly rated money apps with millions of users, with Cash App raking in millions more downloads and ratings. Both also use Plaid to link to existing bank accounts.
Cash App is better for investing or savings, as Venmo doesn’t have an investing platform or savings account. However, Venmo offers a rewards credit card, and it has a social feed where you can view friends’ transactions.
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Written by
Bethany Hickey
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full profile
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