You owe someone money, but you’ve got no cash? Friend-to-friend transfer services might be your solution.
Figuring out the best way to transfer your money can be frustrating, and sometimes feel impossible. Not only do you have to learn what kinds of services there are, you have to figure out which one works best for you. To help you figure it out, we’ve created an easy-to-read guide on some up-and-coming ways to send money that aren’t traditional bank transfers or money transfer services.
Why nontraditional?
Having the ability to safely and easily send your money is something that can make a huge difference in your financial and personal life. Paying bills or sending money the traditional way means a wallet full of cash and costly, time-consuming trips to your not-so-local bank branch. Not to mention, around 27% of Americans are classified as either underbanked or unbanked, making money transfers using bank services unfeasible.
Money transfer services mean that one person can cover the dinner bill while the other person taps a few buttons on their phone for instant reimbursement. For larger amounts, you can send an email and pay from the comfort of your own home. Instead of making the trek to your bank or going through the stress of finding exact change, you can use your phone or computer and pay in seconds.
Don’t forget to check our site for updates on more ways you can be smarter about sending your money.
- Walmart-2-Walmart: You can go to any of the 4,600 Walmart stores in the US and send money to all Walmart stores in the US and to many others internationally. For domestic transfers, the recipient can receive the money within ten minutes of you sending it.
- Square Cash: Started in 2013, Square Cash has quickly gained ground as one of the best and most straightforward person-to-person payment systems. It focuses on the brass tacks of transferring money, and is inexpensive to use.
- Venmo: Venmo is one of the most downloaded apps out there. With a social media-like feel to it, you can easily send and receive money instantly.
- Google Wallet: Google Wallet combines their well-established background in the digital sphere with their payment system. Available to anyone with a Google account, Google Wallet lets you send and receive money quickly.
- Facebook Messenger: Facebook’s payment system allows users an easy way to send money. However, they only allow debit card transactions.
- PayPal: One of the first online money transfer services, PayPal still remains widely-used by business owners and laypeople alike. However, unlike services like Venmo and Google Wallet, PayPal charges a fee for each transaction.
- PopMoney: Established in 2010, PopMoney directly transfers money from bank account to bank account. You can sign up either directly through one of their 1,700 participating banks, or through PopMoney’s site itself.
- WeChat: Started out as a messaging system, WeChat has become extremely popular internationally. Now, their WeChat Wallet system, powered by Tencent, has become a widely-used way to send and receive money in mainland China, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Compare friend-to-friend payment services
| Service | How Fast? | Credit Cards? | International Transfers? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart-2-Walmart | Domestic: Can pick 10 minutes or 4 hours. International: One business day, although there is a same day option. | Accepts credit cards, but charges a fee of around $10.00. | Available to over 200 countries worldwide. |
| Squarecash | Depending on your selected preferences, the money will immediately be in your Squarecash account or transfer to your bank. It is guaranteed to transfer to your bank for free within one business day. Alternatively, you can pay 1% of the deposit and the money will be instantly available in your bank account. | Accepts credit cards, but charges a 3% fee with each transaction. | Only available in the U.S. |
| Venmo | Money is transferred immediately into your Venmo account, but usually takes one day to transfer into your bank account. | Accepts credit cards, but charges a 3% fee with each transaction. | Only available in the U.S. |
| Google Wallet | When using a debit card or your wallet balance, the transfer is usually instant. However it can take up to four days to transfer if you use your bank account. | Accepts credit cards, but charges a 2.9% fee with each transaction. | Only available between the U.K. and the U.S. |
| Although the money is transferred right away, it can take up to five days for it to be made available in your bank account. | Does not accept credit cards. | Allows transfers between over 125 countries. | |
| PayPal | It takes 3-5 days for the money to transfer into your PayPal account, and another 3-5 to transfer into your bank account. | Accepts credit and debit cards, but charges a 2.9% plus $0.30 fee for both | Supported in over 200 countries worldwide. |
| PopMoney | Takes about three days for the money to transfer into your bank account. | Does not accept credit cards. | Only available in the U.S. |
| Transferring money from WeChat Wallet to WeChat Wallet is instantaneous, but how long it takes to transfer that balance into your bank account varies bank-to-bank. | Accepts credit cards. | International transfers are available between mainland China, Hong Kong and South Africa, but WeChat has announced plans to expand into America soon. |
Which way is fastest?
- Walmart-2-Walmart – Domestically, you can choose either a 10-minute or 4-hour transfer time. International transfers typically take one business day, although there is a same-day option.
- Squarecash – Depending on your selected preferences, the money will immediately be in your Squarecash account or transfer to your bank. It is guaranteed to transfer to your bank for free within one business day. Alternatively, you can pay 1% of the deposit and the money will be instantly available in your bank account.
- Venmo – The money is transferred immediately into your Venmo account, but usually takes one day to transfer into your bank account.
- Google Wallet – When using a debit card or your wallet balance, the transfer is usually instant. However it can take up to four days to transfer if you use your bank account.
- Facebook – Although the money is transferred right away, it can take up to five days for it to be made available in your bank account.
- PayPal – It takes 3-5 days for the money to transfer into your PayPal account, and another 3-5 to transfer into your bank account.
- PopMoney – It takes about three days to transfer money into your account.
- WeChat – Transferring money from WeChat Wallet to WeChat Wallet is instantaneous, but how long it takes to transfer that balance into your bank account varies bank-to-bank.
Which allows you to use credit cards?
- Facebook – Facebook currently does not accept credit cards.
- Venmo – Venmo accepts credit cards, but charges a 3% fee with each transaction.
- PayPal – You can use credit and debit cards, but PayPal charges a 2.9% plus $0.30 fee for both.
- Squarecash – Like Venmo, Squarecash accepts credit cards, but charges a 3% fee with each transaction.
- Google Wallet – Like PayPal, Google Wallet charges a fee – 2.9% – when you use your debit or credit card.
- Walmart-2-Walmart – Walmart-2-Walmart accepts credit cards, but charges a fee of around $10.00.
- PopMoney – PopMoney does not accept credit cards.
- WeChat – Accepts both debit and credit cards.
What if you want to send money internationally?
- Facebook – Facebook allows transfers between over 125 countries.
- Venmo – Venmo transactions are only available in the US.
- PayPal – Paypal is supported in over 200 countries worldwide.
- Squarecash – Squarecash is only available in the US.
- Google Wallet – International transfers are only available between the UK and the US.
- Walmart-2-Walmart – Walmart-2-Walmart is available to over 200 countries worldwide.
- Email – Again, the specifics of transferring money via email varies. Companies like Pop Money only allow transfers within the US, but companies like TransferWise strive to provide transfer services to as many countries as possible.
- WeChat – International transfers are available between mainland China, Hong Kong and South Africa, but WeChat has announced plans to expand into America soon.
What’s Next?
If you’re not convinced that any of these emerging ways of sending money are for you, don’t forget that online money transfers are still available. Sending wire transfers is still an easy way to send money to someone, and you can do it for free with many services.