10 best PayPal alternatives for online payments

Don’t get us wrong; we love PayPal.

The OG payment app has been around since 1998 and still manages to offer an jack-of-all-trades that are excellent. You can easily send money to friends, handle payments as a continuing business, and even earn 5% back on PayPal purchases through certain rewards cards.

But 24 years is a time that is long let competitors get caught up. Even though none have been able to topple the titan, contenders like Venmo, Wise, Payoneer, Zelle, and Cash App have gained ground that is serious offering a better experience for certain users. Some let freelancers get paid with fewer fees. Others let you pay your friends overseas in their currency of choice. And one is perfect for sending payments to people who don’t have any payment apps installed (e.g., your parents or grandparents).

So which payment app is best for what? And most importantly, which is best for you?

Let’s investigate the 10 best alternatives to PayPal.

PayPal alternatives overview

• Venmo: Best for paying friends
• Wise: Best for international transfers and currency conversions
• Google Pay: Best for sending money through Gmail
• Payoneer: Best for receiving online payments as a freelancer
• Square: Best for receiving in-person payments as a freelancer/small business owner
• Stripe: Best for receiving online payments as a small business owner
• ProPay: Best for receiving offline payments as a freelancer/small business owner
• Zelle: Best for sending money to people who don’t use payment apps
• Cash App: Best for converting received payments into hard cash
• Apple Pay: Best for sending, receiving, and paying at the register for iPhones and Apple Watches

Venmo

• Fees for personal use: 3% credit card processing fee
• Fees for business use: 9% merchant fee plus 10 cents per transaction; Venmo tax applies to all transactions marked “goods and services”

Venmo is so widespread these days that “Do you have Venmo?” has become the new “Cash is king.”

Even The numbers show that the former is now nearly as popular as its big brother though Venmo is technically a subsidiary of PayPal. PayPal handled all in all, $330 billion in transactions in 2021, while Venmo handled $230 billion — up an astounding 44% through the year.And that is previous there’s a reason why so many people use Venmo as their payment that is go-to app it is simple, safe, and reliable. Transfers are free, payments to family and friends are free, therefore the app even has a“newsfeed that is built-in showing who among your friends is paying whom for what. There was even a right time when Venmo showed you the particular amounts

they were investing in rent, food, and a lot more, but naturally that TMI feature was retired.

While popular, Venmo is not perfect. It will take between one and 3 days to withdraw your Venmo funds to your money, you can also pay a 1% instant transfer fee. Plus, by using it to invoice clients, there’s no “tip” option on the end — they need to manually initiate an independent payment.

• There may also be a default that is few I’d strongly recommend you change if you download Venmo.Settings > PIN code and lock that is biometric
• Set a PIN that is 4-digit so if someone borrows or steals your phone, they can’t Venmo themselves the maximum $3,000 (happens more often than you’d think).Settings > Privacy > Private. You’re paying and for what, I see no reason to broadcast this sensitive data unless you

  really for iOSwant your entire friends list to see who. Switch it off.AndroidPros and cons aside, Venmo can be so popular that someone’s bound to inquire of one to make use of it. Luckily, after you succumb to peer pressure, you’ve got a PayPal that is rock-solid alternative for you.

  Get Venmo

  

  • or .
  • WiseFees for personal use:

  Sending rates from 0.41%; conversion rates from 0.41%WiseFees for business use: Same as personal, plus a $31 account setup fee

  There are plenty of apps to help you split the cost of a pizza with your buddies, but what about your friends that are international? , formerly TransferWise, is great for that. You can easily send money to consumers in 51 countries, with new currencies added on an basis that is ongoingWise is custom-built for any international

  paymenta personal international bank transfer or money transfer you want to make. I just have to enter how much I want to send in USD, then choose the currency of the party that is receiving. Right there, it shows simply how much I’ll pay money for a fee that is monthly. There are bank fees and Wise fees, but they are minimal.To send $100 USD to Europe using Wise’s account that is personal I’d pay $0.16 in bank/debit card fees, plus a $0.96 Wise fee. Compare that to $5 per transaction fee for with PayPal payments. That alone makes this even the best

  PayPalinternational business payments alternative

  around.

  Wise business members pay a fee that is fixed of1.40 to send money. PayPal, in contrast, charges a 1.50%

  fee in addition to the fee that is standard2.89% or more).for iOSI’ve only been a smart payment recipient, thus I was required to take a look at how someone that is paying. It’s pretty that is simple, as easy as paying internationally ever is. You’ll need the e-mail address, full name that is legal and mailing address of the person. You’ll also need the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) of the recipient, as well as the type of account it is and the true name and address of these bank.AndroidThe business side of Wise has many advanced functions, including invoicing and compatibility with Stripe. You’ll also pay a one-time $31 fee to put your account up for international banking.

  Get Wise

  

  • or .
  • Google PayFees for personal use:

  Google Pay9% credit card fee( that are processing for business use:

  9% merchant fee plus $0.30 per transaction for transactions under $3,000. Rate drops to 2.5% for transactions above $3,000; 2.2% for $10,000+; and 1.9% for $100,000+.

  enables you to send funds from your money or GoogleWallet through Gmail at no cost. J

  ust search for the $ symbol when you’re composing an input and email the amount of money you want to send. If you use your Google account for most of your business interactions if you’re like me, you already do most of your communication through Gmail, so this may boost Google Pay to the top of your list.

  Signing up for Google Pay is easy. You just need to download the app and add your contact number. Google automatically pulls in most your contacts that are frequentfor iOSThe interface with Google Pay is not all too different from Venmo’s. You just choose a true name out of your contacts and input the total amount you need to pay. It’s also possible to add an email.AndroidOne feature i love with Google Pay is that you could easily split payments with friends. Just tap on “Split with Friends” from the Pay screen and pick the close friends from your contacts. There’s also a Scan QR Code feature that will make it easy to pay a business that accepts pay that is google

  Speaking of business use, Google Pay contains the same weakness Venmo does with regards to paying vendors. You’ll have to work the tip out and add it to what you’re paying. But these apps are designed to keep things as simple as possible, so that’s one by-product that is unfortunate

  

  • Get Google Pay or
  • .Payoneer

  PayoneerFees for personal use:

  N/A

  Fees for business use:

  $0 for payments off their Payoneer customers; 3% bank card processing fee; 1% ACH debit fee; marketplace fees (Network, Fiverr, et al) vary by marketplace; 0% to at least one% receiving account fee

  is an internet payment system and peer-to-peer payment solution which allows one to transfer money to anyone around the globe, as well as making purchases. It gives you you with a Mastercard that is pre-paid that can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted.for iOSAs a freelancer, I’m familiar with Payoneer through sites like Upwork. The service is useful, but if you’re not a freelancer, there are better options. Professionally, what I like that you can send payment requests to clients and they can pay you directly through the app.

  Payoneer is another great option for freelancers who are crossing international borders with their work about it is. You’ll pay no fees in the money your clients send to you personally, and when you send out money, there are not any fees assuming that the recipient is a Payoneer member. Otherwise, you’ll pay 3% for credit cards payment and 1% on ACH transfers.

  

  • But, it is likely that, on one of the many platforms that use it if you’re using Payoneer, you’ve encountered it. Upwork is where I’ve seen it, but it’s also a payment option on Fiverr, Wish, and Airbnb, among many others. It’s mostly for freelancers and small business owners.
  • Get if you pay for products and services on sites like that, a Payoneer account for personal use could come in handy, but otherwise Payoneer or

  .SquareSquare

  Fees for personal use:

  N/AFees for business use: First card reader is free of charge; 2.6% bank card processing fee plus $0.10 per transaction; 3.5% plus $0.15 fee for payments which are manually keyed inNot every in-person business operates in a storefront with a cash register.

  is great for that, equipping business that is small and freelancers with a way to easily swipe a card. The reader attaches to a phone or tablet, allowing you to accept payments anywhere.

  I made the mistake of not using Square when I had an event that is in-person I had to develop to simply accept cards a short while ago. I used the PayPal reader so it would be easier because I figured I already had an account. The swiper didn’t work, so I had to manually enter every credit card that is single. It absolutely was a pain.

  For the event that is next I ordered a Square reader and never looked back. It works every time, which comes in handy when you have a line of customers credit that is holding.

  Fees range from 2.6% + $0.10 for swiped cards to 3.5% + $0.15 for manually keyed transactionsfor iOS, so you back for dinner, one of the apps built for personal payments will likely be better for that

  

  • .But while it might come in handy to be able to swipe your buddy’s credit card to pay Square isn’t just for taking payments that are in-person the go. You can utilize it as a shop that is one-stop all your business’s sales. You can send invoices directly from the dashboard, set up gift cards that you sell directly through their site, and take sales on even your site employing their platform.
  • What I love about Square, though, is that you could see, without delay, your total sales that are daily. For personal use if you’re regularly collecting money from customers — in person or online — having this easy access to your progress comes in handy.

  Is it? In no way. You can swipe your buddies cards that are the reader, but the fees will cut into whatever you’re taking.StripeGet Square

  or .

  Stripe

  Fees for personal use:

  N/A

  Fees for business use:

  First card reader is $59; 2.9% credit card processing fee plus $0.30 per transaction; 3.4% plus $0.30 fee for payments that are manually keyed in; 0.8% fee for ACH transfers

  Another option geared toward the needs of small businesses is for iOS. The payment platform can be integrated with your store that is online or separately by directing customers to cover you there.AndroidStripe is actually for business. It could be used by you to send money to friends, but the fees make it cost-prohibitive.

  Fees start at 2.9% + $0.30 for each card charge that is successful. It’s also possible to accept transactions that are international with an additional 1% fee added to each transaction.

  

  • Compared to its competitor that is direct square Stripe has higher fees but better tools for online integration. If you’re customer that is swiping cards in-person, use Square. If you accept most payments online and want to offer options like recurring billing and subscriptions, use Stripe.I’ve used Stripe to accept payments from clients, and I loved the easy process that is sign-up. They actually do require identity verification, but all I got to complete was snap a photograph of my driver’s license and place up authentication that is two-factor start accepting payments.
  • What I like most about Stripe is the dashboard. You can see, at a glance, how much you’ve made today, as well as your financial activity over the past seven days when you log in. It’s also possible to see any disputes customers have filed on previous charges.Yes, you are able to send invoices Stripe that is using that’s how I get paid for what I do. But where Stripe really shines is in its API. You can easily add Stripe to your website to start taking payments, and, in fact, you probably see Stripe as an option when you’re setting up your e-commerce store.

    Stripe if you use one of the top web hosting services likewise has terminals and payment that is mobile. You don’t need a card reader to accept payments that are in-person simply secure the card in the front of the phone while the camera will capture the content you’ll need. It’s worth considering if you regularly take payments on the go.

    Get Stripe

    or

    .is posted hereProPay

    Fees for personal use: for iOSN/AAndroidFees for business use:

    $39.95 signup fee; $39.95 renewal that is annual; 2.60% bank card processing fee; 3.55% fee for payments which are manually keyed in; $0.35 bank transfer fee

    

    • offers payment processing tools for businesses of all of the kinds. Whether your company is small, on the way, or global, they could
    • ProPay work with you is for the business that’s serious about accepting payments on the go. You can swipe cards using the ProPay JAK™ card reader. You can manually input the information if you aren’t near your card reader. It’s also possible to prefer to securely save a customer’s payment information to help make things go more quickly next time they buy that it works even if you are offline from you.

    One thing I love about ProPay is. I’ve sold items at libraries, book fairs, craft fairs, and even in the parking lot after an event. You aren’t guaranteed to have Wi-Fi or connectivity that is even cellular all times, and that app is available in handy for the. The transaction is logged the time that is next go online.ZelleFor personal payments, this is another app that won’t help you much really. However if you’re a freelancer or operate in direct marketing, this can be a app that is great processing payments. 

    As for fees, they depend on the type of card being used and the account you have. Rates start at 2.40% for swiped transactions. The rate that is complete

    .

    Get ProPay

    or

    .for iOSZelleAndroidFees for personal use:

    None

    

    • Fees for business use: None (though there are not any features that are business-specific
    • You may already know as “the payment app my bank wants me to use.”

    That’s because while competitors like PayPal and Vemno were marketing themselves to businesses and individuals respectively, Zelle was chatting up the banks. As a total result of most that relationship-building, Zelle now interfaces with more than 1,000 banks and banking apps worldwide, that makes it extremely simple to receive and send money directly via your banking dashboard.Cash AppThe Other benefit of using Zelle is it is made by it way easier to send money to people who don’t use payment apps at all. For example, let’s say I wanted to send $200 to my grandparents to help them pay for a fridge that is new. If I thought to them, “Do you’ve got Venmo or Cash App?” they’d probably have a look at me like I became speaking a different language.

    I don’t want to stress them out making use of prospect of downloading an app (or buying a smartphone), so I’ll just send it via Zelle. They’ll receive a contact from Zelle that presents them instructions that are step-by-step how to enroll and put the money in their account, no apps required.

    The other benefit to Zelle is simplicity. You simply send and receive money with no fees ever. That’s it. There are no newsfeeds, social features, nada. And frankly, the reason that is only don’t recommend Zelle over Venmo is simply because the second is simply more recognizable.

    Get Zelle

    or

    • .
    • Cash App

    Fees for personal use:

    3% bank card processing fee; 0.5% to 1.75% instant transfer fee ($0.25 minimum); $2 ATM withdrawal fee with Cash Card

    Fees for business use: for iOS2.75% transaction feeAndroidLike Venmo,

    is an additional those types of payment apps that everyone’s heard of, and everyone uses. It’s extremely simple, with a dashboard that is no-frills no fees for personal use, and for better or worse it lacks the social features of Venmo.

    

    • At first glance, Cash App seems to be the Paris Hilton of payment apps: popular just because it’s popular. There’s no option to tip contractors, not much to appeal to business owners, and you’re capped at sending $1,000 every 30 days.
    • Pretty until you verify your personal information soon, Cash App’s value that is initial — barebones simplicity — may start to feel limiting when you see competitors offering compelling features like bank dashboard integration, currency conversions, and free credit card readers.Thankfully, Cash App starts making way more sense when you learn about the Cash Card. The Cash Card is a debit card linked to your Cash App balance that lets you withdraw your funds from any ATM for a $2 fee.

    Apple PayThat’s a deal that is big people that want their cash instantly, considering that the alternative is always to:

    Initiate an instantaneous transfer for a charge starting from 1% to 3%

    Find an in-network ATM, or pay out-of-network ATM fees of ~2.5%Let’s say you get a $300 payment and wish to convert it into cash. The total fee would be $2 or 0.67% with Cash App. With another app, you could pay up to 5.5% or $18.33 in fees alone, plus having to wait up to 30 minutes for the “instant” transfer to your bank account.True to its name, Cash App is the payment app that is best for converting received payments you get into cold, hard cash.Apple boastsGet Cash App

    or

    .for iOSApple Pay

    Fees for personal use:

    5% instant transfer fee (min. $0.25, max $15)

    Fees for business use:

    • No additional fees for merchants (though standard bank card issuer fees may apply)
    • offers more than simply a different way to receive and send funds from friends. The app will additionally let you securely store all of your current credit and debit cards in a neat-looking stack that is virtual. Then, when you reach the register, you can just pull the card up you need to use, hover your phone nearby the payment terminal, and wait a little for payment to pay off. No reason to fiddle together with your wallet or let your card from your sight!
    • Apple Pay also works closely with Apple Watch, to help you simply pull your card up there and hold your wrist over the payment terminal until payment clears, signaled by a gentle tap from your watch.
    • For online stores and purchases that are in-app you have probably pointed out that Apple Pay isn’t
    • quite
    • as widely accepted as PayPal, however it’s getting there.
    • that at the time of late 2022, over 85% of U.S.-based retailers accept Apple Pay — even vending machines and taxis.
    • As You may expect, Apple Pay is a perk reserved for iOS users only. In fact, it’s one of the apps that comes factory-installed on Apple devices. At least Android users it can help to take a look at the overall features of online payment apps like me still get Google Pay.
      • Get Apple Pay .
      • Benefits of online payment appsFirst. Online payment apps ensure it is possible for a continuing business of any size to collect money from customers. Peer-to-peer payment apps make it easy to transfer money to your friends.
      • Here are some benefits to consider:Easily pay friends and family members
      • Transfer funds from your bank account to someone else’s with a few clicksSet up recurring payments to friends or family members
      • Avoid carrying cash around {with youSkip the trip to the ATM before you go out with friends
      • Accept secure payments for products or services on your small business websiteSet up a Point Of Sale system in a brick-and-mortar business using a tablet
      • Accept payments on the go using a card swiperProvide an alternative to personal checks, which can be risky
      • Some of these won’t appeal to you, while others will|while others will with youSkip the trip to the ATM before you go out with friends

      Accept secure payments for products or services on your small business website

      Set up a Point Of Sale system in a brick-and-mortar business using a tablet

      Accept payments on the go using a card swiper

      Provide an alternative to personal checks, which can be risky