10 apps like Venmo in Canada

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.

Finder Score	Costs	Loan Amount	Loan Term
KOHO Cover
8.7 Great KOHO Cover	8.7 Great	0% + monthly fee from $2	$20 - $250	Flexible	$75 REWARD Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it KOHO Cover provides a fast cash advance of up to $250. There are no interest charges to worry about and no credit checks required. You get the money instantly in the KOHO app or by making an ATM withdrawal. However, you'll need to pay a $2/month KOHO Cover fee, while you may also need to pay a fee for your KOHO plan (ranging from $0 to $19 per month). Pros & cons Pros No interest No NSF fees Instant access to funds No income required to qualify Cons Monthly KOHO Cover fee KOHO plan fee may also apply Small loan amount Won't improve your credit score
Nyble
9.3 Excellent Nyble Credit Line	9.3 Excellent	0%	$30 - $250	31 days, extendable	Use code CFIND1J to get 500 extra points and a $5 higher approval. T&Cs apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Nyble offers interest-free cash advances of $30 to $250. There are no interest charges or late fees to worry about, and you can also check your credit score for free. You'll get funded in 1-3 business days with a free account, but funds are instantly available when you sign up for an $11.99/month premium membership. Pros & cons Pros No interest No late fees Build your credit history Instant access to funds Easy to sign up Cons You're limited to borrowing a small amount Late payments are reported to the credit bureaus Up to three days to get funded with a free account $11.99 monthly membership if you want instant access to funds
Bree
8.8 Great Bree Early Pay	8.8 Great	0%	$20 - $750	Next pay cycle	Refer a friend and get a $20 credit limit increase on your next withdrawal. T&Cs apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it Bree offers interest-free cash advances of up to $750, and you can qualify without completing a credit check. It's easy to apply, you get an instant decision and there are no late fees to worry about. Just be aware that a monthly subscription fee applies if you need access to express funding. Pros & cons Pros Quick and easy to apply No interest charges or late fees Instant approval 24/7 You also get access to a budgeting tool Cons $2.99 optional monthly membership fee for express funding It can take up to 3 business days to get funded for free Small loan amounts

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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.

Finder Score	Fastest Transfer Speed	Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)	Transfer Amount
Wise (TransferWise)
Finder score 9.1 Excellent Wise (TransferWise)	Finder score 9.1 Excellent	24 hours	From $0	$1 – $1,500,000	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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 50+ currencies. Pros & cons Pros 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 Cons You can only send money to bank accounts Transfer fees apply
Xe Money Transfers
Finder score 8.0 Great Xe Money Transfers	Finder score 8.0 Great	Within minutes	$0	$1 – $600,000	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Pros & cons Pros 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 Cons There are faster options available Watch out for exchange rate markups
OFX
Finder score Not scored yet OFX Exclusive	Finder score Not scored yet	24 hours	From $0	$200 – Unlimited	Finder exclusive: Discounted exchange rates for your first and ongoing transactions. $0 transfer fee. T&Cs apply.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Pros & cons Pros Send funds to 190+ countries Supports advanced tools like limit orders and forward contracts 24/7 support No fees for large transfers Cons No cash pickup transfers Slower than some competitors $15 fee for transfers under $10,000
MoneyGram
Finder score 7.9 Great MoneyGram	Finder score 7.9 Great	Within minutes	From $0	$1 – Not specified	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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 470,000+ locations worldwide. You can get funds to your recipient in a matter of minutes. Pros & cons Pros Send money just about anywhere Cash arrives in minutes Pay using cash, card or your bank account Easy-to-use mobile app Cons Watch out for transfer fees High exchange rate markup
Interac
Finder score Not scored yet Interac	Finder score Not scored yet	417 days	Undisclosed	Undisclosed – Undisclosed	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Pros & cons Pros 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 Cons Your bank may charge an e-Transfer fee You need a National Bank account to send an international transfer
PayPal
Finder score Not scored yet PayPal	Finder score Not scored yet	Within minutes	From $0	$1 – $10,000	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Pros & cons Pros Your payment details are encrypted Fast checkout when shopping online Fast transfers within Canada You can also send money overseas Cons Currency conversion costs apply Watch out for fees Other providers offer faster transfers

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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

• Does Canada use Zelle or Venmo?

  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.

• Where can I download the Venmo app?

  You can download Venmo from Google Play or the Apple App Store. However, Venmo is only available to US users.

• Who owns Venmo?

  Venmo is owned by PayPal. Venmo was founded in 2009 and then acquired by PayPal in 2013.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Falk

Writer

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. See full bio

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