We’ve all been there. It’s a Saturday night and you’re out for a meal with friends, but when the bill comes it turns out that no one has any cash. It’s always a hassle asking your server to split the check, so what can you do? Simple: send your friends the money automatically via a money transfer app. Although to do that, you should find out the best app to send money, which is why you need to read this article.
Money transfer apps are useful in a whole host of other scenarios from paying for items online to sending money abroad to getting paid if you’re self-employed. As the world moves towards a cashless society – no one wants to pay ATM fees! – Money transfer apps will only become more common. We’ve already seen plenty of shops allowing you to pay for goods using your phone and there are even some completely cashless stores opening up.
Image from Pexels
Best Apps to Send Money
PayPal
This is one of the oldest money transfer apps on the market and almost everyone has heard of it. In fact, if you’ve ever bought or sold on a certain online auction site, you may well have used it.
Pros
Worldwide
This app can be used anywhere in the world and deals with literally hundreds of different currencies, so no matter who you have to pay, PayPal is for you.
Well-known
Given that PayPal is one of the oldest transfer apps available, the majority of people you have to pay will already have the app. It also has a long history of safe and successful transactions.
Can be used for businesses
PayPal will allow you to buy from certain businesses, so you can keep your money secure.
Cons
Fees
On certain transactions, you will be paying a 2.9% fee plus 30 cents on each transaction. However, if you are paying a friend using your PayPal balance or bank account, you should avoid these fees.
Venmo
Venmo is one of the most popular money transfer apps out there. In fact, it’s so ubiquitous that people are using it as a verb (Can you Venmo me that $10?), in much the same way that people use the word Google now.
Pros
Popular
This means that the person you’re paying or requesting money from will most likely already have the app.
No charges
Venmo doesn’t charge you for processing payments through your Venmo account, debit cards, or bank account.
Top Security
Venmo is all about protecting your money, which is why they have an incredible security system to stop hackers from stealing your data.
Cons
Credit card charges
Venmo does charge a small 3% fee for using your credit card, so you should avoid using a credit card through the app.
Apple Pay
This will allow you to send money directly to anyone in your contacts through iMessage without even downloading another app.
Pros
No new apps
If you and the other person both have iPhones, then there is no need to download another app, so you can save that space on your cell for apps that help you determine which superhero to marry. (Or maybe pictures of your kids.)
Apple Watch Compatible
Yes, this means that you can track payments from your Apple Watch if that’s what you need.
Let Siri Help
“Hey Siri, send $80 to Alice for Panic! at the Disco tickets.” It’s just like having a personal assistant to manage your money and its soooo easy.
Cons
Doesn’t work with non-Apple phones
I know, shocking, right? Apple Pay won’t work if you don’t have an iPhone, because… well, how would you even get an app for it? It also won’t work if the person you’re trying to pay doesn’t have an iPhone.
Google Pay
Pros
Works in the US and UK
If you need to send money to a friend in Britain or get paid by a British company, this app will allow you to do it easily.
Fingerprint security
Okay, so criminals can always guess your password or hack your email for your unique code, but they can’t steal your fingerprints. This means that you can be assured that your money is safe.
Easy to Use
This app is really user-friendly, with a minimalist design that even the biggest technophobe can use.
Instant transfer to and from a bank account
Rather than holding your money in the app, Google pay moves your payments directly into and out of your bank account. That means no waiting to get hold of your money.
Available on Android and iPhones
Strangely, the app with Google on the name is also available on iPhones, but this means that you can pay anyone using this one app.
Cons
Fees for using credit cards
There is a 2.9% fee associated with using credit cards on Google pay. Try to use debit cards instead.
Western Union app
Western Union made its first money transfer in 1871 but has kept up with the times with the launch of this app.
Pros
Easy to add a new card
Adding in a payment method is a snap with the Western Union app. You can use your phone camera to scan in a card and the process takes seconds.
Find a real person to talk to
Unlike most of these money transfer apps, Western Union has a range of locations across the US. The in-app geo-location system allows you to find your nearest agent and their opening hours.
Worldwide
You can easily send money worldwide via the app. After all, that’s why Western Union was created in the first place. It’s also easy to estimate any fees before you make the transaction.
Easy to repeat transfers
If you regularly have to send money to the same person, then you'll love how easy it is on this app. You can even set it up to pay automatically. Also, you can easily track whether the money has been collected.
Recipient does not need the app
If your friend doesn’t have the app, then they can pick up their money at a Western Union branch.
Cons
Fees
There are fees associated with using the Western Union app for peer-to-peer payments, unlike with most apps. The fees vary depending on how much you’re sending, what country you’re sending it to, and how fast you want it to get there.
Facebook Messenger
You’ve heard of Facebook, right? It’s the website and app that everyone and their dog is on. It’s the place where you can find out who your ex from college is dating now and get updates about your sister’s kids. Well, now you can send money to your niece along with a ‘Happy Birthday’ message.
Pros
Easy
You can send money while chatting with your friends. All you have to do is tap the dollar sign, which is right beside the sticker and photo sharing options.
No need to download another app
You’re already using Facebook messenger to keep in contact with your old friends, so use it to pay for pizza as well. Save your space for selfies.
Cons
Can only be used in the US
If you have to send money abroad, then Facebook messenger is not for you. This is a little odd considering that Facebook is in every country on earth, which makes me think that soon Facebook will expand their peer-to-peer payment system.
Cash App
Formerly known as Square Cash, this app is somewhat unique in that it provides you with an ATM card to withdraw your money if you so choose. It’s also recently started accepting Bitcoin payments.
Pros
Simple
This is one of the simpler apps to use and you can easily link up your debit card to pay. It also allows money to be transferred straight into your checking account.
Discounts
Cash App lets you earn discounts at the places that you frequent, meaning that you can get money off at your fave restaurants.
Cons
Fees
There is a 3% credit card fee, so try to use a debit card on this app.
TransferWise
This service was founded in 2010 to make it simple to send money abroad.
Pros
Positive user reviews
TransferWise is one of the most favorably reviewed money transfer apps in the world, meaning that it has a lot of trust from its users.
Convenient
Allows you to easily repeat payments and brings all potential recipients into the same place.
Cheap
TransferWise advises that it is a cheap way to send money internationally, being up to eight times cheaper than high street banks.
Cons
Signing up can be challenging
Transferwise asks for a lot of information upfront, more so than most money transfer apps.
Samsung Pay
This app, available on Samsung phones, allows you to pay friends instantly.
Pros
Easy-to-use
It stores all of your cards, making it easy to pay people easily.
Deals galore
The Samsung Pay app also allows you to find great deals in your local area, so you can save money while you send money.
Cons
Only available in the US
Unfortunately, Samsung Pay is only available in the US, which means that you can’t use it to pay people abroad.
Azimo
Founded in 2012 with the goal of making financial transactions easier, Azimo has quickly attracted customers.
Pros
Easy-to-use
Azimo is another app that allows you to receive cash directly into your bank account and also allows you to add cards by scanning them with your camera. It even finds new recipients by syncing with your phone contacts.
Available in over 200 countries and territories
While not worldwide, Azimo is accessible in plenty of countries and they have more than 1 million happy customers.
Secure
If you want to make sure that your money is secure, then Azimo is one of the best apps available. You can use your fingerprint or a pin number, whichever works better for you.
Cons
Fees
There is a whopping 9.9% fee for online money transfers.
Not available in the US
Azimo does not currently serve US senders, although it does allow people in other countries to send money to the US.
Which is the Best App to Send Money?
Well, it really depends on what works best for you, so you need to ask yourself some questions about your needs. Here are a few to get you started.
- Do you regularly send money abroad?
- Do you need to convert money into different currencies?
- Would you prefer to transfer money using an app that you already have?
- Is this for personal or work purposes?
- Are you willing to pay fees?
- Do you want biometric security?
- Do you want to put the money into your bank account or use it for purchases online?
Why Use Apps to Send Money?
Simply, because it's quick, easy, and stress-free. When you send money via a money transfer app, all you have to do is log in, select the friend you wish to pay, type in the amount, and hit send. After that, the money will often appear in their account in just two hours. You can even show them the sent receipt immediately. We’ve all had or, in some cases, been that friend who promises they sent across the money and there must be some error with your bank. We should really get better at asking our friends if they can wait until payday for that $20.
Do you know how easy that is? On the off chance that you’ve never had to deposit a check before, it can take 5-7 business days to clear the funds. And that doesn’t even take into account the time that it takes to find your checkbook, get the check to your friend, and the time it takes them to get to a bank to deposit the thing. By that time, you’ve already gone out for dinner again and the whole cycle starts over again.
My favorite part about it is that you can pay exactly the amount you owe. I realize that not many people have a problem with paying over $15 to a friend when you owe them $15.36 or accepting $20 when owed $19.88, but for people like me, who like things to be exact, this is perfect. No longer do I have to find dimes, nickels, and pennies in order to balance the books. And I’m not the only person who feels this way. Check out the below video from British comedian David Mitchell.
Do I Have to Use an App to Send Money?
Well no, but as explained above, there are plenty of reasons why you should.
A lot of people are skeptical about using apps to send money for a number of different reasons, from worrying that their phones aren’t secure enough for financial transactions to wondering if their phones have enough space to deal with another app. (I’m certainly not deleting any more photos of my cat!)
How safe is your money?
Thankfully, the first thing isn’t really something you need to worry about. Every legitimate financial transaction app comes with a huge amount of security to prevent you from having your identity stolen and give you protection when you buy something.
It also means that you don’t have to give out your bank details to everyone; just a username or email address. (Your friends aren’t the type of people who will try to steal your money, but how likely are they to shred the note with your account number on it?)
Keeping your money safe online
You need to make sure that you do all the responsible things, like keeping your phone and app passwords secret, logging out when you’ve finished using the money transfer app, and obviously making sure that you are sending the money to the right person for a legitimate purpose. (The “prince” offering to give you 10% of his vast fortune if you’ll send him the transfer fee upfront isn’t any more legitimate on PayPal than through your bank.)
It might even be a good idea to set up two-factor authentication where rather than using a password, you choose to get a code emailed or texted to you. It makes it less likely that anyone can get hold of your details.
Time to clear out your phone
As for the second thing, maybe get a memory card to expand the space in your phone. Or do a deep clean and remove the unused apps on there. (Why do I have two apps to determine which Disney character I am? It’s Timon from The Lion King, obviously.)
Are there any occasions when I shouldn't use an app to send money?
Well, if you don’t have a smartphone, then I would imagine that an app wouldn’t be the best choice for you. However, in most cases, this is the easiest and quickest option for you.
Even if the person you’re paying doesn’t have a smartphone, you can always use an app that has a website so that they can access their money online.
How do I set up an account with the best app to send money?
It’s really easy. Just choose your app and download it from the app store. Next, create a memorable username and password combination. Then, enter in some basic details like your name, address, phone number, bank account details. It’s so simple you could do it in an ad break. (If you still watch television with adverts.)
I hope that this has helped you see the benefits of money transfer apps and managing your money online. Now, I’d like to hear from you about your experiences with these cash apps. Have you used any of these? What are your thoughts on them? Let me know all that and more in the comments below because your experiences can really benefit your fellow readers.
