There’s no denying that PayPal and Venmo are two of the most popular online payment systems available. Both offer many benefits for users, but one question is on many minds: can PayPal pay Venmo? Learn the possible ways in which PayPal and Venmo could work together to experience a great online payment experience.
While these platforms aren’t directly compatible, Paypal can pay Venmo indirectly if users connect their accounts through the platform apps. This process allows users to use their Paypal balance or credit card to make payments on Venmo. They may appear to be separate entities, but this connection allows convenient transfers using your Paypal account for both apps.
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Can PayPal Pay Venmo?
Paypal and Venmo are two popular payment apps that serve different purposes and offer different features, but connecting the two accounts is possible. Paypal users cannot send money directly to a Venmo account, but they can connect that account to the Venmo app for easy access to funds on both platforms.
PayPal offers alternative payment methods, such as using an existing balance, bank account transfer, and debit or credit card payments. By creating PayPal and Venmo accounts, people have a simplified means of paying without worrying about carrying cash or writing checks.
With online payments, there are a lot of different options to choose from. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to pay someone using your PayPal balance, unfortunately, Venmo isn’t the platform for you – but there are some workaround options available if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort.
How PayPal Works
PayPal is an online payment platform that allows individuals and businesses to send and receive money. There are a few different ways to use it. You can make online purchases, send money to friends and family, or receive payments for goods or services.
You can also use the platform to transfer money between your bank account and your app balance. To use PayPal, you’ll need to create an account and link it to a funding source (bank account or credit card). Once your account is set up, you can start using the platform.
How Venmo Works
Venmo is another online payment platform that allows individuals to send and receive money. It’s similar to PayPal in that you’ll need to create an account and link it to a funding source before using it. However, a few key differences separate the two platforms.
One of the biggest differences is that Venmo was primarily designed for person-to-person (P2P) transactions, while PayPal can be used for both P2P and business transactions. This means that Venmo may be a better choice if you need to pay a friend back for dinner or split the cost of an Airbnb rental.
Another difference is that Venmo has a social component that lets you see what your friends are spending their money on. This can be turned off if you prefer more privacy, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re considering using the app.
Can You Use Them Together?
Now that you know how each platform works, it’s time to figure out how to use them together. Although direct payments aren’t possible, there are workarounds. Firstly, let’s check who is eligible to connect these two apps in the first place – and how they can do it.
Who Can Link PayPal and Venmo Apps?
On the PayPal Developer page, there are some instructions on how to connect the two platforms when eligible. Anyone who can see the Venmo button can make the platforms work together for cross-payments. However, those users include only:
- Customers and businesses in the US,
- Exclusively transactions made in USD,
- JavaScript SDK-integrated accounts,
- Customers using mobile devices with Chrome on Android or Safari on iOS,
- Buyers who make one-time transactions, including use cases for authorization and capture,
- Exclusively online transactions.
Use Workarounds and Other Apps to Make Two Worlds Collide
Unfortunately, you can’t use PayPal to pay someone’s Venmo account directly. However, there are a few workarounds that you can use to get the job done.
Workaround #1: Use a Third-Party App
A few apps will allow you to connect your PayPal and Venmo accounts, meaning you can transfer money from one account to another without issues. The two most popular apps are called TransferWise and Revolut.
Both of these apps have low fees and are very easy to use. You might enjoy using one of these apps if you need to transfer money from one platform to another regularly or claim money on PayPal.
Workaround #2: Use a Credit Card
If you don’t want to use a third-party app, you can transfer money from PayPal to your bank account and use your bank card to pay someone’s Venmo account. The fees for this method are usually higher than with an app, but it’s still an option if you don’t want to download anything else. You can also always use the PayPal Card and cut out the middleman.
You Can Connect the Two Apps in Various Ways – Just Not Directly
While you can’t use PayPal to directly pay someone’s Venmo balance, you can use a few workarounds if you need to pay someone through Venmo with your PayPal balance. One is a third-party app, and the other uses a bank account or a PayPal Card.
You could also just ask the person if they’d be willing to accept payment through PayPal directly. If you have a business account, you could make the payment through invoicing – although this option comes with some fees you’ll need to consider before deciding whether or not it’s worth it.
