Choosing the right service to send money online can save you time, money and headaches. And although your bank may offer transfers, it’ll often be more expensive than the other options available to you. Find the cheapest and fastest way to pay your roommate for rent with our hand-picked list of 5+ ways to send money online you can download right now.
Best ways to send money within the US
| Best for… | Service | Why use it? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No frills transfers |  | Cash App | Easily send and receive money from debit cards and bank accounts |
| Socially interactive transfers |  | Venmo | Send money with emojis and fun messages when paying friends and family |
| iPhone users |  | Apple Pay | Integrates with iPhones to seamlessly send money through Messages |
| Bank-to-banktransfers |  | Zelle | Supported bank accounts can send and receive nearly instant transfers |
| Fast transfers |  | Google Pay | Combines contactless payments, an electronic wallet and money transfer services in an easy-to-use app |
| Business transfers | | Zelle | Allows direct transfers between bank accounts, simplifying invoice payments and business transfers |
| Referral bonuses | | Cash App | When new users sign up for Cash App through your referral link, you receive a $5 bonus per sign-up |
| Free transfers between PayPal accounts |  | PayPal | PayPal is a convenient option for free domestic transfers, paying businesses and sending money online internationally. |
Send money online within the US
Many free options allow you to send money within the US between bank accounts. Here are some of the most popular options for sending money online to friends or family within the country.
Cash App
What we like:
- Straightforward app with no receiving limits and offers a way to purchase Bitcoin
- Easy and fast to pay friends back
What we don’t like:
- Instant withdrawals charge a higher fee than some competitors
Why use Cash App?
For users seeking a clean, simple interface and straightforward payment options, Cash App is high on our list. If all you want to do is send and receive money without social feeds or having to share your bank account numbers, this may be the choice for you.
Cash App’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5% (minimum $0.25) | Send: $2,500/week Receive: Unlimited | Less than 5 minutes | 3% to send from credit card |
Alternative:
- Facebook Messenger: Basic money sending service integrated with Facebook’s chat. Learn how to start using it today.
Venmo
What we like:
- Include emojis to make your payments more social
- Fast transfers and non-restrictive limits for casual users
What we don’t like:
- Instant withdrawals can get expensive if used often
Why use Venmo?
Venmo is a more socially-focused payment app that includes features like emojis, seeing payment history sent between friends and a clean user interface. Connect a bank account, credit card or debit card to make payments — but make sure to check your privacy settings if you’d like to keep payments out of the public eye.
Venmo’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | Send: $4,999/week Receive: Unlimited | No longer than 30 minutes | 3% to send from credit card |
Google Pay
What we like:
- Integrates with other Google services like Google Home and Gmail
- Easy to use
What we don’t like:
- When paying merchants, you have to use your phone — no physical card exists to spend your Google Pay balance
Why use Google Pay?
Google Pay is integrated with Android phones, but can also be used through a browser and iPhone app. It works well with many of the existing Google Services, such as Gmail, Google Assistant and Messages. It comes with enhanced security and has the option for Two-Factor Authentication and sign-in notifications — must-have features for anyone who’s prone to losing phones.
Google Pay’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to bank account | Send: $10,000/week Receive: Unlimited | Less than 3 minutes | Google Pay charges no fees for bank transfers, but your bank may — contact it to find out |
Apple Pay
What we like:
- Integrates with Apple services like Messages
- Included on iPhones by default
What we don’t like:
- Only accessible to Apple product users, making it awkward to try and set up payments with friends who use other brands.
Why use Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is integrated with Apple products, making it a simple service to use if you’re an avid iPhone user. You can add payment methods, pay merchants and manage App Store purchases all through Apple Pay.
Apple Pay’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to bank account | Send: $10,000/week Receive: Unlimited | Less than 10 minutes | Apple Pay charges no fees for bank transfers, but your bank may — contact it to find out |
PayPal
What we like:
- Fraud protection covers the sending and receiving of funds for both domestic and international purchases
- Free transfers to other PayPal accounts
What we don’t like:
- Fees can add up quickly when you send money online to international destinations
Why use PayPal?
Transferring money for both businesses and individuals is one of PayPal’s strengths, and its network of global coverage makes it a good option for international users trying to figure out how to wire money online safely. Sending money domestically is free between PayPal accounts, but pay attention to fees when sending money across borders from a linked bank account. PayPal also offers money transfer protection when making purchases online from other individuals, something Cash App and Google Pay lack.
PayPal’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% up to a maximum of $10 | Unlimited for both sending and receiving | 1 to 4 business days | 2.9% + $0.30 to send from credit card |
Zelle
What we like:
- Bank accounts that support Zelle transfers can send and receive money instantly
- Uses your banking app so you don’t need to install anything else on your phone
What we don’t like:
- Transfer speeds are slow for bank accounts that don’t support Zelle
Why use Zelle?
Zelle is supported by many major banks and has built a network that makes it easy for supported accounts to send and receive money with ease. If your bank supports Zelle you can use the transfer service through your existing bank’s app or online portal, almost always for free.
Zelle’s fees and limits:
| Instant deposit | Transfer limits | Transfer speed | Other fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | Varies | Less than 3 minutes | No fees |
Best ways to send money internationally
If you’re looking to send money to your loved ones on another continent or make a business transfer to a foreign contractor, the best ways to send money abroad will usually differ from the methods above. Unlike transferring money to people locally, you have to consider a range of other factors when making international transfers: exchange rates, fees, availability of transfers to the country, etc.
Typically, if you are making an international transfer for the first time, using an international bank transfer might seem like the obvious choice. However, you are likely to be charged high international transfer fees. Additionally, your recipient will most likely receive a lower amount than intended due to unfavorable exchange rates offered by banks. Luckily, other options exist today. There are various online money transfer services disrupting this industry by helping you send your money abroad for a fraction of the cost charged by banks.
Compare international money transfer services
Looking to send money abroad? Compare your options below to find the best international money transfer services for you.
Our table lets you compare the services you can use to send money abroad. Compare services on transfer speeds and fees, then click Go to site when you're ready to send.
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How to choose the best way to send money online
Transferring money, especially internationally, can seem confusing at first. To identify the best money transfer service to use, do your research by shopping around for a company that offers reliable and affordable transfers instead of simply diving in head-first. Are you looking to send money domestically or internationally? How much are you looking to send? These are some of the questions you should figure out before settling on a provider.
Additionally, while comparing money transfer services, you might also want to consider the speed of the transfer, the exchange rates and fees charged by the service as well as the reliability of the platform you are using. At the end of the day, the best way to send money always depends on what you need, so take your time to analyze your needs carefully before choosing your money transfer service.
Bottom line
There are a range of options that can securely transfer your money from A to B while avoiding steep bank fees — be it within the US or internationally. The best way to send money online depends on your situation, how fast you need the money transferred and to where.
But there’s no need to commit to only one service. With so many options available, it pays to road-test a few first or keep several accounts at once. Checking the prices of different services before you send money online can help save money.
Our approach to helping you pick a money transfer service
Our users have diverse needs, so to find some of the most popular money transfer products, we investigated a variety of companies by comparing factors like fees, consumer sentiment, transfer limits and user experience.
All of the sending and receiving limits are based on the highest limits a user can unlock with each service.
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