If you haven’t heard of Venmo yet, you certainly must have heard of PayPal. Think of Venmo as PayPal’s mobile-friendly cousin. This payment app lets users send and receive money for free and easily split bills. Venmo is used by more than 80 million people, so you might be wondering if it’s available in Canada and, if you can’t get it here, if there are any other apps like Venmo worth checking out.
Is Venmo in Canada?
Unfortunately, Venmo is not available in Canada. To be able to use the app, you need to fulfill two requirements:
Be physically located in the US
Have a US mobile number
You’ll also need a US bank account if you want to take money out of a Venmo wallet. Long story short, you won’t be able to use Venmo in Canada. But there are several apps like Venmo in Canada.
Cash advance apps like Venmo
In the US, Venmo pairs with multiple cash advance apps to help users access their paycheques early. But if you’re searching for a small cash advance to help you overcome a financial emergency in Canada, here are three apps like Venmo that are worth checking out.
Nyble offers interest-free cash advances of $30 to $250. There are no interest charges or late fees to worry about, and you can also check your credit score for free. You'll get funded in 1-3 business days with a free account, but funds are instantly available when you sign up for an $11.99/month premium membership.
No interest
No late fees
Build your credit history
Instant access to funds
Easy to sign up
You're limited to borrowing a small amount
Late payments are reported to the credit bureaus
Up to three days to get funded with a free account
$11.99 monthly membership if you want instant access to funds
Loan amount
$30 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
30 days, extendable
Fees
0% interest with optional fees
Turnaround time
1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.
Bree offers interest-free cash advances of up to $350, and you can qualify without completing a credit check. It's easy to apply, you get an instant decision and there are no late fees to worry about. Just be aware that a monthly subscription fee applies, and you'll need to pay an extra fee for fast access to funds.
Quick and easy to apply
No interest charges or late fees
Instant approval 24/7
You also get access to a budgeting tool
$2.99 monthly subscription fee
Fee applies if you want a fast transfer
It can take up to 3 business days to get funded for free
Small loan amounts
Loan amount
$20 – $350
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Next pay cycle (65 days max)
Fees
0% interest with a $2.99 monthly membership fee
Turnaround time
Receive funds within 5 minutes with express delivery (the fee is based on the advance amount) and up to 3 business days for standard delivery.
KOHO Cover provides a fast cash advance of up to $250. There are no interest charges to worry about and no credit checks required. You get the money instantly in the KOHO app or by making an ATM withdrawal. However, you'll need to pay a $2/month KOHO Cover fee, while you may also need to pay a fee for your KOHO plan (ranging from $0 to $19 per month).
No interest
No NSF fees
Instant access to funds
No income required to qualify
Monthly KOHO Cover fee
KOHO plan fee may also apply
Small loan amount
Won't improve your credit score
Loan amount
$20 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Flexible
Fees
0% interest with a subscription fee starting at $2/month
Turnaround time
Immediately
Serviced provinces
All provinces and territories
Money transfer apps like Venmo
If you need to send money to friends or family—within Canada or internationally—there are seven apps like Venmo you might want to check out.
The Interac payment network links financial institutions across Canada. Through its e-Transfer service, you can send money almost instantly to someone with a Canadian mobile phone number or email address and an account with a bank or credit union that is part of the Interac network. International e-Transfers are also available through a partnership with Western Union if you have an account with National Bank. The Interac Debit service supports online and in-store payments.
Instant transfers
Use your bank account with no need to open a separate account
Easy to send and receive money
Supported by most banks and credit unions
Your bank may charge an e-Transfer fee
You need a National Bank account to send an international transfer
International money transfer service Wise offers the mid-market (or real) exchange rate when you need to send funds internationally. You can send money from Canada to over 76 countries around the world. Wise also offers a multi-currency account and a debit card, allowing you to send, receive and spend money in 52 currencies.
Get the mid-market exchange rate
User-friendly app and online platform
Rated 4.3/5 based on over 235,000 Trustpilot reviews
24/7 support
You can only send money to bank accounts
Transfer fees apply
Transfer Amount
$1 – $1,500,000
Payout Method
Bank account Alipay (China only)
Pay By Method
Credit card Debit card Bank transfer Interac e-Transfer Online bill payment Direct debit (EFT)
Xe lets you send money around the world, with 200 transfer destinations supported. You can send your transfer through Xe's website or its highly-rated mobile app, and there are multiple payment options available. The funds you send can be deposited into your recipient's bank account, sent to their mobile wallet or made available as cash for collection.
Send money to 200 countries
App averages ratings of 4.7/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store
OFX is a money transfer provider that has been in business for over 25 years. Send money in 52+ currencies to 170+ countries around the world online or via OFX's highly rated mobile app. Direct debit and wire transfers are the supported payment methods.
Send funds to 170+ countries
Supports advanced tools like limit orders and forward contracts
MoneyGram lets you send funds from Canada to more than 200 countries and territories around the world. It's particularly useful if you want to send a fast cash pickup transfer, as it has over 400,000 locations worldwide. You can get funds to your recipient in a matter of minutes.
Send money just about anywhere
Cash arrives in minutes
Pay using cash, card or your bank account
Easy-to-use mobile app
Watch out for transfer fees
High exchange rate markup
Transfer Amount
$1 – $990
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet Home delivery
PayPal is one of the biggest names in the world of online and mobile payments, offering a simple and secure payment option when you shop online. It's quick and easy to check out with PayPal when you link your credit or debit card to your account. You can also use the PayPal app to send money within Canada or send an international transfer to over 130 countries.
Your payment details are encrypted
Fast checkout when shopping online
Fast transfers within Canada
You can also send money overseas
Currency conversion costs apply
Watch out for fees
Other providers offer faster transfers
Transfer Amount
$1 – $10,000
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet
Pay By Method
Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Transfer Methods
Through app Online
How do I request and send money through Venmo?
While Venmo is not available in Canada, these are the steps that US users need to follow to send or request money in Venmo:
1. Create a Venmo account. Sign up with your email address and credit or debit card information. Add your bank account info if you want to deposit the money you receive. Note that you may have to pay a transaction fee when using your credit card. 2. Request a transfer. Once you’ve created your account, request or send money by tapping Pay/Request at the bottom of the screen. 3. Enter your Venmo recipient or sender. Use the person’s Venmo username to send or request money, adding the transfer amount. Name your transaction with a memo, or use Venmo’s bitmoji shorthand for your transaction. 4. Complete transaction. Tap Pay or Request to complete your transaction.
What happens when someone sends me money via Venmo?
If you’re eligible for a Venmo account, you’ll receive a notification from Venmo each time a user sends you money. Unlike some other payment apps, the money you’ve been sent doesn’t go directly into your bank account. Rather, it stays linked to your Venmo account until you choose to transfer it. You can transfer all of your balance or only a portion of it.
A feature that sets Venmo apart from other peer-to-peer payment systems is its social media component. Once you’ve received money, it may show up in your friends’ feeds, where they can see your transactions—but not the amounts. However, you can adjust your privacy settings to restrict who can see your transactions.
Is Venmo safe?
Venmo has multiple security features in place to help keep your personal and financial details safe. These include:
Data encryption. Your personal and financial information (including transaction details) is encrypted.
Sign-in security. You can set up biometric or PIN login details as well as your Venmo password for an extra layer of security.
Purchase protection. Eligible payments in the app are covered by Venmo Purchase Protection.
Fraud reporting. Venmo has specialized systems in place so users can report fraud or suspicious activity related to their accounts.
Pros and cons of Venmo
Pros
Widely popular service. Over 80 million people in the US are already using Venmo.
Easy to use. It’s quick and convenient to send and request payments in the app.
Social media platform. Venmo is a social payments platform with a feed of transactions that your friends can see, so it offers something a little different to other payment apps.
Cons
US only. Venmo’s services are limited to users in the US, so you can’t use it in Canada.
Steep credit card fee. Unlike when you use a debit card, a credit card comes with an additional 3% fee for each transaction.
Bottom line
Venmo isn’t available in Canada, but there are several apps like Venmo that Canadians can use. Whether you’re looking for a small cash advance or the ability to send payments domestically or internationally, compare apps like Venmo to find the payment solution that’s right for you.
Frequently asked questions
No, neither Zelle nor Venmo are available in Canada. However, there are alternatives available for Canadians who want a mobile app for sending domestic or international payments.
You can download Venmo from Google Play or the Apple App Store. However, Venmo is only available to US users.
Venmo is owned by PayPal. Venmo was founded in 2009 and then acquired by PayPal in 2013.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio
An international money order may not be the best option for sending money overseas. Learn more about money orders in Canada, and find out about other ways to transfer funds abroad.
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