If you haven’t heard of Venmo yet, you certainly must have heard of PayPal. Think of Venmo as PayPal’s mobile-friendly cousin. This payment app lets users send and receive money for free and easily split bills. Venmo is used by more than 80 million people, so you might be wondering if it’s available in Canada and, if you can’t get it here, if there are any other apps like Venmo worth checking out.
Is Venmo in Canada?
Unfortunately, Venmo is not available in Canada. To be able to use the app, you need to fulfill two requirements:
Be physically located in the US
Have a US mobile number
You’ll also need a US bank account if you want to take money out of a Venmo wallet. Long story short, you won’t be able to use Venmo in Canada. But there are several apps like Venmo in Canada.
Cash advance apps like Venmo
In the US, Venmo pairs with multiple cash advance apps to help users access their paycheques early. But if you’re searching for a small cash advance to help you overcome a financial emergency in Canada, here are three apps like Venmo that are worth checking out.
Money transfer apps like Venmo
If you need to send money to friends or family—within Canada or internationally—there are seven apps like Venmo you might want to check out.
The Interac payment network links financial institutions across Canada. Through its e-Transfer service, you can send money almost instantly to someone with a Canadian mobile phone number or email address and an account with a bank or credit union that is part of the Interac network. International e-Transfers are also available through a partnership with Western Union if you have an account with National Bank. The Interac Debit service supports online and in-store payments.
Instant transfers
Use your bank account with no need to open a separate account
Easy to send and receive money
Supported by most banks and credit unions
Your bank may charge an e-Transfer fee
You need a National Bank account to send an international transfer
International money transfer service Wise offers the mid-market (or real) exchange rate when you need to send funds internationally. You can send money from Canada to over 52 countries and the European region countries around the world. Wise also offers a multi-currency account and a debit card, allowing you to send, receive and spend money in 40+ currencies.
Get the mid-market exchange rate
User-friendly app and online platform
Rated 4.3/5 based on over 235,000 Trustpilot reviews
24/7 support
You can only send money to bank accounts
Transfer fees apply
Transfer Amount
$1 – $1,500,000
Payout Method
Bank account Alipay (China only)
Pay By Method
Credit card Debit card Bank transfer Interac e-Transfer Online bill payment Direct debit (EFT)
Xe lets you send money around the world, with 190 transfer destinations supported. You can send your transfer through Xe's website or its highly-rated mobile app, and there are multiple payment options available. The funds you send can be deposited into your recipient's bank account, sent to their mobile wallet or made available as cash for collection.
Send money to 190 countries
App averages ratings of 4.7/5 on Google Play and 4.8/5 on the Apple App Store
Supports a range of payment and payout methods
Canada-based company
There are faster options available
Watch out for exchange rate markups
Transfer Amount
$1 – $600,000
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet
Pay By Method
Credit card Debit card Bank transfer Google Pay Interac e-Transfer Direct debit (EFT)
OFX is a money transfer provider that has been in business for over 25 years. Send money in 50++ currencies to 190+ countries around the world online or via OFX's highly rated mobile app. Direct debit and wire transfers are the supported payment methods.
Send funds to 190+ countries
Supports advanced tools like limit orders and forward contracts
24/7 support
No fees for large transfers
No cash pickup transfers
Slower than some competitors
$15 fee for transfers under $10,000
Transfer Amount
$200 – Unlimited
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account
Pay By Method
Debit card Bank transfer Direct debit (EFT) Money order
MoneyGram lets you send funds from Canada to more than 200 countries and territories around the world. It's particularly useful if you want to send a fast cash pickup transfer, as it has over 440,000 locations worldwide. You can get funds to your recipient in a matter of minutes.
Send money just about anywhere
Cash arrives in minutes
Pay using cash, card or your bank account
Easy-to-use mobile app
Watch out for transfer fees
High exchange rate markup
Transfer Amount
$1 – Not specified
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet Home delivery
PayPal is one of the biggest names in the world of online and mobile payments, offering a simple and secure payment option when you shop online. It's quick and easy to check out with PayPal when you link your credit or debit card to your account. You can also use the PayPal app to send money within Canada or send an international transfer to over 130+ countries.
Your payment details are encrypted
Fast checkout when shopping online
Fast transfers within Canada
You can also send money overseas
Currency conversion costs apply
Watch out for fees
Other providers offer faster transfers
Transfer Amount
$1 – $10,000
Payout Method
Cash pickup location Bank account Mobile wallet
Pay By Method
Credit card Debit card Bank transfer
Transfer Methods
Through app Online
How do I request and send money through Venmo?
While Venmo is not available in Canada, these are the steps that US users need to follow to send or request money in Venmo:
1. Create a Venmo account. Sign up with your email address and credit or debit card information. Add your bank account info if you want to deposit the money you receive. Note that you may have to pay a transaction fee when using your credit card. 2. Request a transfer. Once you’ve created your account, request or send money by tapping Pay/Request at the bottom of the screen. 3. Enter your Venmo recipient or sender. Use the person’s Venmo username to send or request money, adding the transfer amount. Name your transaction with a memo, or use Venmo’s bitmoji shorthand for your transaction. 4. Complete transaction. Tap Pay or Request to complete your transaction.
What happens when someone sends me money via Venmo?
If you’re eligible for a Venmo account, you’ll receive a notification from Venmo each time a user sends you money. Unlike some other payment apps, the money you’ve been sent doesn’t go directly into your bank account. Rather, it stays linked to your Venmo account until you choose to transfer it. You can transfer all of your balance or only a portion of it.
A feature that sets Venmo apart from other peer-to-peer payment systems is its social media component. Once you’ve received money, it may show up in your friends’ feeds, where they can see your transactions—but not the amounts. However, you can adjust your privacy settings to restrict who can see your transactions.
Is Venmo safe?
Venmo has multiple security features in place to help keep your personal and financial details safe. These include:
Data encryption. Your personal and financial information (including transaction details) is encrypted.
Sign-in security. You can set up biometric or PIN login details as well as your Venmo password for an extra layer of security.
Purchase protection. Eligible payments in the app are covered by Venmo Purchase Protection.
Fraud reporting. Venmo has specialized systems in place so users can report fraud or suspicious activity related to their accounts.
Pros and cons of Venmo
Pros
Widely popular service. Over 80 million people in the US are already using Venmo.
Easy to use. It’s quick and convenient to send and request payments in the app.
Social media platform. Venmo is a social payments platform with a feed of transactions that your friends can see, so it offers something a little different to other payment apps.
Cons
US only. Venmo’s services are limited to users in the US, so you can’t use it in Canada.
Steep credit card fee. Unlike when you use a debit card, a credit card comes with an additional 3% fee for each transaction.
Bottom line
Venmo isn’t available in Canada, but there are several apps like Venmo that Canadians can use. Whether you’re looking for a small cash advance or the ability to send payments domestically or internationally, compare apps like Venmo to find the payment solution that’s right for you.
Frequently asked questions
No, neither Zelle nor Venmo are available in Canada. However, there are alternatives available for Canadians who want a mobile app for sending domestic or international payments.
You can download Venmo from Google Play or the Apple App Store. However, Venmo is only available to US users.
Venmo is owned by PayPal. Venmo was founded in 2009 and then acquired by PayPal in 2013.
Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 20-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
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Read our Xe money transfer review to learn how to send funds to bank accounts in over 190 countries with this money transfer service and forex platform.
What bank account details do you need to provide to send or receive an international money transfer? Your guide here.
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