Every day, millions of people around the globe have to figure out how to pay for the things they need. Show
Whether you're an independent contractor filing an invoice, friends splitting the check or a family looking to divide up household expenses, electronic payments have become the norm for paying for almost anything in a fast, secure way simply by picking up your smart phone. "I'll Venmo you," has nearly replaced the phrase, "Do you take a check?" But of course, not every business likes emojis alongside their invoices, and that's where apps like PayPal — which has a slightly more sophisticated invoicing set-up — come in. Factors like cost, transfer speed and international capabilities all come into play when choosing the best method for transferring digital cash. Ahead, Select reviewed the best five apps for sending money to friends, family and even some small businesses. (Read our methodology for more information on how we choose the best money-sending apps.) Best apps to send money
Money transfer apps FAQs
Subscribe to the Select Newsletter! Our best selections in your inbox. Shopping recommendations that help upgrade your life, delivered weekly. Sign-up here. Best between friendsVenmo
Pros
Cons
Best for bank-to-bank transfersZelle
Pros
Cons
Best for flexible paymentsPayPal
Pros
Cons
Best for budding investorsCash AppOn Cash App's secure site
Pros
Cons
Best for sending money internationallyRemitly
Pros
Cons
Money-sending app FAQsHow much do money transfer apps cost?The best money transfer apps are free to download, but costs vary depending on how you use them. Most services offer free bank transfers at a standard speed of 1 to 3 business days, but charge fees if you want to pay with a credit card and/or speed up the delivery to your bank account. International money transfers vary based on the country's exchange rates and bank fees, but you may still be able to choose a standard or economy delivery versus a more expensive express delivery. Be sure to check fees before assuming that all money transfers are free. Are money transfer apps safe?Money apps are arguably safer than cash since most require you to create an account with a password and two-factor login methods (such as sending verification codes) to verify your identity and the person you are sending money to. Likewise, using a money app is safer than writing a check because it will not expose your bank account number and routing number to the person who receives it. By signing up for a money transfer app, you are, in essence, making it possible for anyone to send you a digital payment without viewing any of your secure account information, just your user ID or email address/phone number. And unlike cash, digital payments cannot be lost. Because digital money apps allow you to send money to anyone with an account, the one caveat is that it can be easy to send money to the wrong person if you're not careful. Some apps offer additional protections, like QR-code scanning, text or email verification, unique user IDs and profile pictures to ensure the right person is on the receiving end of your payment. Our methodologyTo determine the best money-sending apps, Select analyzed over a dozen options offered by the top companies in this market and narrowed down our ranking by only including apps that meet the following criteria:
In addition to these baseline requirements, some of the above apps offer additional standout features like social sharing, investing capabilities and flexible payment options (such as the ability to pay over time). We noted these features with a brief explanation, and you can learn more by visiting the respective app's website. Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party. Can I use Cash App without debit card?Users can get money off Cash App without a typical credit or debit card by using a Cash App Card. Cash app allows for money withdrawal and other services without a bank account or card.
How do I send money on Cash App without card?² Also, you don't need a Cash App card to be able to send money on the app.. Open Cash App.. Enter the amount you want to send.. Click “Pay”. Enter the recipient's phone number, email address or $Cashtag.. Enter the purpose of the payment (for example, “last night's dinner”). Select “Pay”¹. How can I send money without a debit card?Online payment services
PayPal, Venmo, Western Union, and Cash App are some of the most popular payment services that do not require you to own a bank account to receive money. If you use a payment app like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, your recipient may sign up for the app and link a prepaid debit card.
Can you use Cash App without a card or bank account?Where do Cash App Pay funds come from? Customers are not required to have a linked bank account to use Cash App Pay. Funds for payment come from a customer's Cash App balance. If there are insufficient funds in the Cash App balance, a customer's linked debit card will instead fund the entire purchase.
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