Apps That Pay You Real Money To Your Bank Account
- Apps That Pay You Real Money To Your Bank Account Receivable
- Free Apps That Pay You
- What Apps Pay You Real Money
- Apps That Win Real Money
- Like the other apps, Cash App is secure and transferring your money to your bank account is free but can take a few days. Instant cash outs will cost 1.5% with a $.25 minimum. Cash App allows you to use your money to buy stocks or convert dollars to bitcoin, but there are fees associated with these services.
- Start with a high-yield savings account like CIT Bank that offers a Savings Builder that will pay a great APY and still give you instant access to your money in case of an emergency. You can open it with $100 and deposit $100 a month to help you get to $1,000 in less than a year.
You can also easily manage your payments online. The Chase app allows you to pay bills, transfer money to friends via Zelle, and schedule payments for your credit card, mortgage or other loans. You can also see your TransUnion credit score in the app. Yes, it’s possible to know your actual net worth by the month, by the week, by the day, heck, by the second. Here are our choices for the best personal finance apps. Cost: $1 per month. When account balance hits $5,000, then it’s 0.25% of the account. Most payment apps allow you to make and receive payments for free if you’re using a bank account or an in app balance. However, if you use a credit card, you may have to pay a fee to send or receive money. Additionally, apps may charge other fees if you want to move the money out of your app account and into your bank account.
These days, you can find apps for almost anything. But have you ever wondered if there are apps that pay you real money or apps that make you money?
Sounds like a dream, right?
What if I told you that there are actually lots of legit apps that pay you money or give you free cash?
Even better, most of the best money-making apps can run in the background or require very minimal effort to use.
I’ve done the research for you so all you need to do is pick from this list of legit money-making apps!
These apps won’t pay you as much as a full-time job would but using any of these apps is an excellent way to make money fast.
How to Avoid Money-Making Apps Scam
I’ll be honest, while there are plenty of legit money-making apps out there, there are also apps that only offer false promises and only scam you into signing up.
So, how do you know which apps are legit?
Here are the red flags telling you that a “money-earning app” could be a scam.
It promises unrealistic rewards or payments.
Legit apps that pay you real money give out rewards or cash, that’s for sure, but what you earn from them can hardly replace your full-time income.
If you find an app promising you hundreds of dollars upon sign up, and an extra hundred for a referral, think twice because it’s most likely a scam.
It asks for confidential information.
You should never give away sensitive information online, even if you aim to make money. When you sign up with an app, the most that it would require you are your name, email address, PayPal address, and bank account information (for apps that you have to link your credit or debit card with).
Be wary of apps that ask for your social security number and driver’s license number.
It asks you money to sign-up.
Legit apps that pay you real money are free to sign up.
If you’re required to shell out cash even before you start making money with the app, you might want to reconsider joining.
How Do Free Apps Make Money?
When using apps to make money, it’s also important to learn how these apps make money. You want to know how these companies are able to pay you even when their apps are free to use.
This knowledge should also make you feel comfortable about using these apps and help you weed out scams from the real ones.
I have categorized the apps on this list into the following to give you an idea on how these top money making apps work and make an income:
1. Apps that give you free money
These “free money apps”, also called cash back apps, pay you for shopping.
Cash back apps are paid by their partner stores or brands each time you use these apps for shopping.
These apps work like a middleman. When you shop through them, they’ll take you to the store, say Amazon, and Amazon will pay them a commission for your purchases.
But instead of keeping the commission all to themselves, they split this payment with you in the form of cash back.
The best cash back apps also offer a welcome bonus for just signing up, and they have partnered with numerous stores in the US so you’ll have a lot of opportunities to make money using the app.
2. Survey apps that pay money
There are also apps that pay you real money for your opinion, and these apps, also called survey apps, operate a bit different from cash back apps.
You don’t have to purchase anything to start making money with these survey apps. All you need to do is to share your opinion as a consumer.
Survey apps are paid by companies who want to know your opinion to improve their products or services.
These apps then compensate you for the time you spent for answering questions like “Which of these coffee products do you often buy?” or “When will you likely buy a new car?”
3. Apps that save you money or make you money
These apps are designed to help you save money but I have also included apps that make you money in this category, including micro-investment apps.
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links at NO additional cost to you. Please read my Disclosure for more information.
Best Legit Apps that Pay You Real Money with Your Smartphone
Best Legit Apps that Give Free Cash
1. Ibotta
Ibotta is one of my most favorite money-earning apps because you get cash back for grocery items. You buy groceries every week so there are lots of opportunities to earn money using this app.
This free money app has paid me over $800 in cash back and bonuses from buying groceries alone!
How does Ibotta work?
Ibotta works just like couponing without the need to clip coupons. All you need to do is upload your grocery receipts on the app and earn cash back on grocery items such as milk, meats, vegetables, bread, cleaning products and more.
Ibotta has recently expanded and they are now offering cash back not only for in-store purchases but also online. Among the new categories you can earn cash back from are clothing, travel, eating out (restaurants) and home.
Important: You’ll only get this bonus after uploading your first grocery receipt. If you cannot find any offer that you like on the app, you could buy a toilet paper or Colgate and you’ll still come out ahead.
Want to know more? Read my Ibotta Review here!
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2. Rakuten (Ebates)
When you shop online, use this free money-making app to earn up to 40% cash back on your purchases at any of their 2500+ partner stores!
Not only will Rakuten pay you for using their app for shopping, they will also pay you $25 extra for each person you refer to them.
They also offer a lot of awesome bonuses. For example, if you ride Lyft through Rakuten, Rauten will give you $20 on your first ride, plus a $10 bonus for downloading the app here and signing up.
I’ve also made over $300 in cash back for simply using this app!
Want to know more? Read my Rakuten Review here!
3. Dosh
Dosh is an app that automatically collects cash back from your purchases from partner stores into your credit or debit card.
Dosh is free to use, and sign up is easy. It’s best to link your most-used credit or debit card with Dosh to accrue cash back rapidly. Use that card to pay for purchases and then get cash back ranging from 2% to 10%, depending on the store. Whether you use the card to pay for in-store or online purchases, Dosh runs on autopilot, so you can keep getting cash back as you shop.
Apart from paying your purchases with the Dosh-linked card, you may also book hotels with the same card and enjoy $25 cash back on your very first hotel booking.
When you refer a friend to sign up for Dosh, you’ll get an additional $5 cash back.
You can withdraw your earnings when you reach $25 of cash back and deposit the funds to your PayPal account.
4. Paribus
Ever paid full price for an item, only to find out a day later that its price dropped? Use this free app called Paribus so you’ll never miss any savings when prices drop.
The best thing about Paribus is that it automatically gets the adjustment amount for you! There’s no need to scan receipts or waste time finding out whether there’s any price drop.
It also even helps you get paid for late Amazon deliveries. You can check it out here.
Legit Survey Apps that Pay Money
Survey apps are some of the best money making apps out there, and they’re legit too! The great thing about survey apps is that they’re pretty easy to use, they’re usually free to sign up, and collecting points is super easy.
5. Swagbucks
Apps That Pay You Real Money To Your Bank Account Receivable
I personally use this app to earn money via Paypal, or earn Amazon or Starbucks gift cards.
Swagbucks is the biggest research panels on the internet that will reward you for doing things like completing surveys, watching videos, searching the internet, playing games and shopping online.
Swagbucks gives you SB points which you can redeem for gift cards or Paypal cash.
It is free to join and if you join below, you’ll receive $5 FREE after confirming your email.
6. Inbox Dollars
Inbox Dollars is another rewards company that works like Swagbucks, offering you a few options to earn points, from watching videos, playing games or completing surveys.
This company has paid over $57 million in rewards and is currently offering a $5 sign-up bonus!
Like Swagbucks and other rewards sites, Inbox Dollars also offers a cash payout or gift cards as an option to redeem your points.
Download the app below and make sure to confirm your email to get your sign-up bonus!
7. MyPoints
Another survey app that pay money is MyPoints, which is also just as fantastic because they give you $5 when you sign up. You can also redeem your points in a variety of ways, including cash, travel miles and gift cards.
Most of these real money apps allow you to earn in different ways. So, apart from taking surveys, you could also earn from shopping online, watching ads, playing games, searching the web, and referring other people.
Legit Apps that Save You Money and Make You Money
Free Apps That Pay You
8. Trim
If you think canceling a subscription you no longer use is such a hassle, you can let the app called Trim to do it for you.
Trim is a fascinating smartphone app that analyzes all your bills so you can see which of them continues to charge your account even if you aren’t using them.
Got a gym membership costing your account month after month, but you don’t go to the gym? Trim will remind you of that. Even better, the app can cancel the subscription on your behalf, so you don’t even have to bother doing it yourself.
Trim can also help you negotiate your cable bill. If you think you are getting ripped off on cable or internet, download this free app that helps you save money.
Trim works with Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, and any other provider, and has helped its users over $1,000,000 over the last month!
9. Decluttr
If you were quite the hoarder of electronic things, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, gaming consoles, and tablets (and surprisingly, legos too!), you might find disposing of them somewhat painful and regretful.
But a cash incentive in exchange for them might convince you. And that’s what the money earning app called Decluttr aims to do.
Decluttr is both an app and a website that accepts the abovementioned products and pay you with cash. You just fire up the app on your phone, scan the product’s barcode, and Decluttr tells you how much they offer for each item.
If you like what they offer, Decluttr will send you a pre-paid box and shipping label to attach to your box, and then ship the box free of charge. Once they receive your items, they will go through them, and then send you the money through a check, PayPal, or bank deposit.
10. Airbnb
If you have a second home, a vacation home, or even a spare room in your house, you can earn money from them by listing them up on the Airbnb app, one of the best real money making apps for those in real estate business.
First, you need to create a description of the rental property, post photos, set the price, and availability. When the listing goes live, people can make sense of what your property looks like, and if they like it, they’ll book through the app.
Using the Airbnb app is an excellent way to establish yourself as the landlord as well as create a sense of trust with the potential guests. The app also comes with a rating and feedback feature wherein guests can rate and comment about their experience in your property.
11. Sweatcoin
Sweatcoin is known as an app that pays you money for walking. It’s a fantastic platform that motivates you to become fit and healthy while earning money at the same time.
In reality, the app pays you a digital currency called sweatcoins, which you could use to buy Paypal vouchers to turn your earnings into real cash.
Sweatcoin works by tracking your steps through the app’s GPS feature and then rewards you with sweatcoins.
The app does not count steps taken indoors, so make sure to gear up for a walk around your neighborhood. Once you’ve accumulated enough coins, you can visit the app’s marketplace to purchase something you fancy, ranging from random knickknacks to a smart television, iPhone 6, or $1,000 worth of PayPal money.
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12. Acorns
Need help saving money and investing your savings? I highly recommend using Acorns, one of the most popular investing apps for beginners.
You need to link your credit or debit account with Acorns, and then the app will round up your purchases using those cards, take the spare change, and invest them.
For example, if you spent $3.80 for a coffee using your linked credit/debit card, Acorns will see the transaction, transfers the spare change of $0.20 to your Acorns account. When your account hits $5, Acorns will withdraw the money and invest it.
I’ve been using it for awhile and here’s a screenshot from my account after a few weeks:
I’ve accumulated over $280 of spare change from my weekly purchases and gained $6.32 from that little investment.
If you want to save and save money without thinking, Acorns is definitely one of the best ways to go most especially if you are new to investing as well. You’ll also receive$5 FREE from Acorns hereafter making your first investment of $5.
13. Robinhood
Robinhood is a free trading app that allows you to invest in stocks, ETFs, and options. As a mobile app, Robinhood gets you to invest with $0 account minimum and commission-free stock trading. It’s an excellent app, especially for beginner investors who are looking to maximize their trading profits by eliminating commission fees from the picture.
Additionally, Robinhood has been intuitively designed so that users can schedule deposits, monitor day trades, and perform advanced orders. As a smartphone-based trading platform, Robinhood is one of the best legit money making apps that allows you to invest right from your fingertips.
14. Poshmark
If you’ve outgrown a couple of your designer clothes, you may sell them on Poshmark. Poshmark is a smartphone buying and selling app, and most of the products traded herein are mostly designer clothes.
This is the ultimate for the fashionista, whether one has accrued more than clothing than your closet can handle, or you’re looking to purchase high-end clothes at a lower price.
Have a couple of clothes to sell? You can set up your own store wherein people can like and comment on your items.
LegitApps That Pay You Real Money: Are They Worth It?
The smartphone is such a powerful device that lets you do so many things, and having legit apps that pay you real money is one of the best ways to maximize your smartphone use. Whether you like to get fit, sell old products, shop online, or answer surveys, as they say, “there’s an app for that.” And if that app gives you money, then you’re in great luck!
Does anyone carry cash anymore?
A recent study estimated 79 million adult Americans will use peer-to-peer payment services in 2019. This is an increase of 24 percent over last year, according to eMarketer, a market research company.
Why?
Because it’s never been easier, cheaper, and more efficient to send money online. Thanks to tons of free apps and minimal fees (if any!), these apps make it much easier than going to the bank to get cash.
Plus, it’s never been safer as companies make a huge effort and spend millions of dollars to protect your financial identity online. The best part though, is the convenience.
You don’t need to go to the bank’s ATM, try to avoid fees, break change at dinner, and worry about not having cash anymore.
12 Best Send Money Apps
Here’s everything you need to know about the best ways to send money, how to send it internationally, and some other best practices.
1. Apple Pay
Apple Pay may be the simplest way to send money if you use an iOS device.
Before you get started, you will need to add your debit card to your iOS device. You can quickly access those settings by going to Settings and then scrolling down to Wallet & Apple Pay inside any iOS device.
Sending or Receiving Money Apple Pay | ||
---|---|---|
Apple Pay Send and Receive Limits | Minimum | Maximum |
7-day period | $1 | $10,000 |
Per message | $1 | $10,000 |
To request payment or send payment, simply create a text message for the person you are paying or requesting money from. Inside your text messages and right above the keyboard is a series of icons to choose from. Click on the one that has the Apple Pay logo. If you’re sending payment, you will need to enter in your password (fingerprint or retina scan) and the money will be sent instantly.
Note: This will only work with iOS devices.
2. Venmo
Venmo is a money transfer app that is actually owned by PayPal but operated separately. It’s more of a social sharing and payment platform than PayPal. This is my personal preferred method of sending money online.
One of the biggest perks is that it is 100% free if you send money from a bank account. If you choose to add a credit card and transfer money, there is a small fee as they have to deal with credit card processing fees. These fees are around 3% if you opt to use a credit or debit card.
All you need to send money is to make sure that both people download the app. Once you select an amount, type in what it’s for and push send.
Venmo Limits | |
---|---|
Sending/Receiving money to Venmo users | $2,999.99 weekly limit |
Sending/Receiving money authorized merchants | $2,000 per purchase (max 30 per day) |
$299.99 max for first-time users |
The money will arrive instantly and can be transferred to your bank account within 2-3 business days. Plus, if you don’t have your app you can also pay with Venmo from their website.
Venmo is more of a social app than the others as you can see who is sending who money. But don’t worry, the amount of money you send isn’t displayed. If you don’t want others to see your activity make sure to log on to your profile and change these settings.
3. Google Wallet
Google Wallet is a very simple way to send money as the other person doesn’t even need to download the app. To get started sending money, log into your app and add your debit card or bank account information.
All you need is the email address or phone number to use the app to send money. As long as they have a Google account with a linked bank account or debit card, the other user can withdraw the funds. The max amount is $9,999 per transfer or $50,000 over a 5-day period.
Google Play Limits | |
---|---|
Single Transaction | Up to $10,000 |
In 7 days | UP to $10,000 |
Florida residents | Up to $3,000 every 24 hours |
Transactions over $2,500 | Recipient will need to add a bank account to claim the money |
A big plus with using Google Wallet is the amount of security you receive. As Google is one of the largest companies in the world, the security matches. Plus, if you somehow lose your phone you can disable and have the app removed from your phone from logging in online.
But, a major downside is that you aren’t able to pay using a credit card. Also, the bank transfers can up to 10 days!
4. Facebook Messenger
In Facebook’s attempt to take over the world, you can now use the social media sharing platform to transfer money not just mindlessly scroll through your newsfeed. They make it very simple to send money via the Messenger app.
All you need to do is download the app (if you haven’t already) and find the person you want to send money too. Hit the “$” sign in the chat and enter your debit card to complete the transaction. Once the other user receives the money they will also need to add a debit card to withdraw the funds.
As Facebook is worldwide, I was surprised to learn that you can only use this app to send money if you are both located in the United States. If you’re worried about safety, Facebook does allow you to add a pin and extra verifications once you add your debit card. The entire transfer process takes 1-3 business days.
Even though it’s a social media app don’t worry, your payment details aren’t displayed anywhere on your profile.
Note: Facebook messenger limits vary from country to country.
5. Square Cash
Square Cash is another app that allows you to send money to family and friends 100% free. You can use the app in two different ways. If the other person has a Square Cash account you can ask for their “cash tag” and do a money transfer. If you don’t have an account you can still pay by iMessage and Siri as well.
When you transfer money with Square Cash there is a service limit of $250 per week. But, if you go through the short verification you can increase your limit to $2,500!
Square Cash Limits | |
---|---|
Send money | $250 per week |
Recieve money | $1,000 per week |
Increase send limits up to $2,500 when you verify your account |
The only real downside to using square cash is that you can’t use the service if you are outside the United States. Otherwise, it’s a very comparative payment option to Venmo.
If you run a business and want to use Square Cash they also have several options that allow you to use the app for payments.
6. Dwolla
Dwolla is a money sending app that allows you to transfer money from your bank account to others for a nominal fee. If the transfer is under $10 you won’t have any service fees and anything over is only .25 cents!
The max amount of money you can send from Dwolla is $5,000 for personal accounts and up to $10,000 for business accounts. All you need is the Dwolla ID of the other person/business, email, and phone number. If the other person doesn’t have an account yet it will prompt them to sign up for free.
Dwolla Limits | |
---|---|
Personal Account | Send up to $5,000 per transaction |
Business, Non-profit, and Government Accounts | Send up to $10,000 per transaction |
You can apply for increased limits anytime. Approval is based on Dwolla's discretion. |
Like Square Cash, Dwolla also has several business options to help you send money at a very minimal cost. You can receive higher limits, next day transfers, and better customer support. This is the best money sending app if you are wanting to use a money sending app for your business as well.
7. Zelle
Zelle is a great app to send money but you need to have an account with participating banks or signing up at clearxchange.com. They are becoming increasingly popular with the bigger banks joining clearxchange.
There are currently over 400 banking partners with Zelle.
Here are a few of the bigger participating banks:
- Chase Bank
- Wells Fargo
- U.S. Bank
- Capital One
- Ally Bank
- Bank of America
To send money all you will need is the recipient’s email or phone number. Check with your bank to learn how to sign up for Zelle today or register at clearxchange.com.
Note: Limits to send money via Zelle are created by your own bank or credit union. If you use Zelle outside of your bank, the send limit is $500 per week.
8. Popmoney
While not as common as the other apps above, Popmoney is another app that lets you send money online. Popmoney has partnered with numerous banks and credit unions to send and request money from your mobile banking app.
Here are the current limits for Popmoney:
Popmoney Send Limits | |||
---|---|---|---|
From your | Fee (free to receive) | Limit per day | Limit 30 days |
Bank Account | $0.95 | $2,000 | $5,000 |
Debit Card | $0.95 | $500 | $1,000 |
Pop Money Receive Limits | |||
---|---|---|---|
Request Money | Fee (free to receive) | Limit per day | Limit 30 days |
Pay a request | Free | $2,500 | $4,000 |
Send a request | $0.95 | $1,000 | $2,500 |
You can send money to someone else who has Popmoney for free. Otherwise, it is only .95 cents to transfer the money.
9. PayPal
PayPal is one of the oldest and first apps to help send money both domestically and internationally as they are the preferred method of payment for eBay before being acquired by them.
If you have a personal PayPal account you can send money free as long as the other person has a personal account. While you can transfer from a business account, there a few more steps to open the account and transaction fees as well.
To send money, log on to the app or website and make sure you have the intended recipients phone number or email address. You can choose to send the money from your bank, debit card, or credit cards. If you use a PayPal balance or your bank account there are no transaction costs.
But if you choose to use a credit or debit card there is a 2.9% fee plus 30 cents. The fees are even higher when sending money abroad. Two major perks are the security and total amount (up to $10,000) to send money.
Plus, PayPal is on the send money apps on the list that allows you to send money internationally. Below are the most common ways to send money outside the United States.
Note: There is no limits on sending or receiving money via Paypal with a verified account (linking your bank account or credit card).
10. Walmart 2 Walmart Transfers
Walmart is a great place to shop and save money each month for your budget. Now you can also send cash! This is a cheaper option than using Western Union or Moneygram. Plus, it’s convenient as you might already be shopping there on a regular basis.
You can use their transfer service to send to other Walmart’s around the country. The maximum amount you can transfer is $2,500 and costs vary depending on transfer amount.
A potential downside is that not every Walmart does offer the transfer service although a majority do. Make sure to check their website to ensure your Walmart does offer the money sending service.
11. Cash
If you’re old-fashioned or sell some stuff as a side hustle and have extra cash, you can still pay the old school way. While I’ll never recommend sending cash in the mail, it’s still an option. If you do, make sure that the postage is insured just in case!
Otherwise, I recommending switching to one of these send money apps to increase your security and not waste time finding the closest ATM.
12. Bank Transfers
While it’s not an app like most of the others on this list, you can still use old-fashioned bank transfers to send money to friends or family if you have the same bank. If they bank at a different establishment there is almost always a transfer fee which can range depending on institutions and overall amount.
Transaction fees are the main reason I don’t recommend using bank transfer to send money as you can avoid it with most of these apps.
8 Ways to Send Money Internationally
The methods above making sending money easy, but when it comes to sending money internationally it’s not always as simple but still easier than it ever has been. It is more difficult because of higher regulations, fraud, and different banking operations.
Here are the best and cheapest ways to send money internationally.
1. PayPal
As I mentioned, PayPal is one of the most secure and best ways to send money online. When you use a bank account there is a very small processing fee and a higher fee if you choose to use a credit card as the form of payment.
Depending on where you are located it might even be cheaper to use a credit card instead of a bank account. Make sure to compare both before hitting send.
PayPal is very easy and very secure as it’s payment giant. But, there are some restrictions that don’t make it always the best experience. Depending on location and verification you can only send limited amounts of money.
If you try to do more or PayPal thinks it’s fraud, they can freeze your account and make it difficult to reopen. Usually, you will have to contact a call center and go through additional verification steps before sending money.
What Apps Pay You Real Money
2. TransferWise
TransferWise is a U.K. company that allows you to send money internationally to select countries. The best part is that the fees are minimal and you only pay the actual exchange rates. Plus, the daily amounts are incredibly high compared with other platforms!
There is a $50,000 daily limit and $250,000 annually. If you do business internationally this is also a great option as you can send $250,000 daily and $1 million per year!
If you want to start download their mobile app today.
3. Western Union
Western Union has been a way to send money internationally for decades and is the biggest money transfer company in the world. To send money you can go into one of their locations internationally, use their app or their website.
You can choose to use cash or a debit card to fund the money transfer and can be direct deposited or picked up by the recipient at a Western Union location. The delivery options make this one of the biggest perks along with low fees and a very small exchange rate markup.
The biggest downside of using Western Union is the costs and delivery time. The cheaper the transfer usually the longer it will take to be delivered.
Apps That Win Real Money
4. OFX
OFX is very similar to Transferwise and doesn’t charge fees regardless of how much money you are sending! They make their money by taking a cut on the exchange rate for transfers.
They are also great if you are transferring a large sum of money as the minimum amount to transfer is $1,000. This is relatively high as others on the list have a minimum between $50-$100.
Another perk of using OFX to send money internationally is that you get a discount the more you use the service. If you are sending money abroad on a regular basis, this can help save you tons of money over time. Unlike Transferwise, they do not have daily limits and have incredible 24-hour support if you are having any issues.
Get started with OFX today!
5. MoneyGram
MoneyGram is a large money sending platform that operates in over 200 countries and has 350,000 locations! They are the biggest competitor of Western Union and offer the ability to send money to other locations and have the money picked up almost instantly.
What’s the catch with using Moneygram?
The fees.
If you send between $200 and $1,000 the costs will range from $10-$25 and exchange rates can make it even worse. The average exchange rate adds another 1-6% on your transaction fees. This can add up if you are regularly sending money abroad!
6. Xoom
Xoom is the sister app of Venmo and also owned by PayPal. Think of them as the Venmo abroad.
While Xoom doesn’t service as many countries as Western Union or Moneygram, it does makeup in how fast the transfers happen. They still operate in 70 countries and allow you to send up to $25,000 to some countries.
You can choose to pay with credit card, debit card, or bank account and most transfers happen instantly.
The biggest downside?
High costs when using your debit or credit card. Depending on where you are located it can be a substantial amount.
If both parties are using bank accounts this is one of your best options! Make sure to check out their free online calculator to help you evaluate the fees before sending money abroad.
7. Wire Transfer With Your Bank
One of the easiest but not cheapest ways to send money online is a traditional wire transfer. You will have to deal with bank fees and depending on the bank, an exchange rate markup. The transaction can take a few days due to banking regulations and where the money is being transferred.
If you are transferring a large amount of money this is the option I would recommend. While it is more expensive it’s also much more secure.
Most Frequently Asked Questions About Sending Money Apps
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions to help ease your financial concerns about sending money online.
How long will my transfers take to complete?
It depends on each of the apps and providers. Some will help you send or receive money faster than others. Generally, it will be between 1-3 business days while some take closer to 3-5 days. Remember that if you transfer money on a weekend or holiday it will take longer to complete the transaction due to banking regulations.
Is this safe to transfer money through an app?
Yes, security is a major concern. Like anything online, there is always a small risk but these companies spend millions on advanced software and highly qualified engineers to ensure you are protected.
That being said, make sure to review your bank accounts and app usage to ensure there isn’t any charges you don’t recognize.
What are the main types of fees with these apps?
There are two main fees associated with sending money through apps or bank transfers. The first is the transfer fee which can be a percentage of the total amount, flat fee or a combination of both like PayPal.
The other fee is the exchange rate markup that only occurs if you are sending money internationally. These fees will differ from each app and depend a lot on the currency you are using.
Some companies, like OFX, don’t charge transfer fees but instead take a cut of the exchange rate markup. Make sure to double check these fees as different countries have very different costs associated with them.
Final Thoughts on Best Sending Money Apps
As you can see, it’s never been cheaper and easier to send money to friends and family. Domestically there are plenty of options. I personally love Venmo but after researching this post other top recommendations include Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Zelle and PayPal. If you want to send money domestically and prefer a brick and mortar go with Western Union, Moneygram or Walmart.
When it comes to sending money internationally this might require a little more research on your end as fees can vary between different companies. My biggest piece of advice is to use the one that is the cheapest by making sure you are shopping around.
Lastly, try not to use credit cards for sending money as most of these charge higher fees than a debit card or bank account. Any extra money you can save the better!
What is your favorite sending money app for friends and families? Have you ever send money internationally with an app or were you worried about security?
Let us know in the comments!