Venmo
PayPal-owned US app for splitting bills and paying friends and businesses.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · iOS, Android, Web
Is Venmo free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from Venmo to
All 5
Cash AppCompareFree
Apple WalletFree
WiseFree
- Verified facts
- 3 of 3
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Venmo
Venmo is a US peer-to-peer payment app owned by PayPal. People use it to split rent, dinners and trips, with an optional social feed showing payments between friends. Sending money from your Venmo balance, a bank account or a debit card is free, while paying with a credit card adds a fee, and instant transfers to your bank cost extra. Beyond paying friends, Venmo has a debit card, a credit card, direct deposit, teen accounts, crypto buying, purchase protection for eligible payments, and checkout at online and in-app stores that accept it. Small businesses can create business profiles to accept payments. It can send money to US PayPal accounts too. The app is available on iOS and Android with a limited website, and only for people in the United States.
Best for: US friends and roommates splitting bills and paying each other back.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free to send money from balance, bank or debit card
- Can pay US PayPal accounts as well as Venmo users
- Accepted at checkout in many online stores and apps
Why people leave
- 3% fee when you pay with a credit card
- US only
- Public-by-default social feed needs privacy settings changed
Venmo vs Cash App, Apple Wallet and Wise
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Venmo | Cash App | Apple Wallet | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
Top Venmo alternatives
See all 5- 1Cash App68.8
Adds stock and bitcoin investing, free tax filing and a debit card with no monthly fee.
- 2Apple Wallet64.8
Apple Cash pays friends from Messages without a separate app, if everyone uses an iPhone.
- 3Wise52.6
For paying people in other countries, with mid-market exchange rates instead of marked-up ones.
- 4
Zelle42.3Sends money straight between US bank accounts from your bank's own app, with no separate balance.
- 5
Splitwise40.9Tracks running group balances over weeks or trips, not just one-off payments.
Why people left Venmo
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Venmo, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Venmo: common questions
What is Venmo?
Venmo: PayPal-owned US app for splitting bills and paying friends and businesses. Best for US friends and roommates splitting bills and paying each other back. Available for iOS, Android and Web.
Is Venmo free?
Yes, Venmo is free to use.
Is Venmo open source?
No, Venmo is not open source.
What platforms does Venmo run on?
Venmo is available for iOS, Android and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Venmo?
The highest-ranked Venmo alternatives right now are Cash App, Apple Wallet and Wise. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Venmo vs Cash App: what's the difference?
Both Venmo and Cash App are free to use. Both run on iOS, Android and Web.