Venmo review
Split bills and pay friends, with a social feed
- PayPal
- Free
- iPhone & iPad, Android
4.9 from 15.5M App Store ratings 50M+ Google Play downloads #5 in Finance on the US App Store
Does it deserve #13?
Is Venmo worth it?
For most people, yes. Venmo scores 8.3/10 and ranks #13 in Money & Investing. It's best for friends and roommates in the US who split dinners, rent and trips. Skip it if you send money abroad or want strong buyer protection with strangers. Price: Free from balance, bank or debit; 3% with a credit card; instant transfer 1.75%.
The verdict
Venmo is the quickest way to pay a friend back in the US. Sending from your balance, bank or debit card is free, splitting a bill takes seconds, and the feed of emoji-filled payment notes is half the fun. A 2026 redesign is making privacy settings easier to find, which matters because payments used to be public by default. Instant transfers to your bank cost 1.75%, and Venmo only works in the US.
- Free payments from balance, bank or debit
- Bill splitting and group payments
- Social feed with payment notes
- Venmo Debit Card and Credit Card
- Pay with Venmo at some online stores
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Oct 2026New Venmo Credit Card holders can earn up to 4% back on dining they split with friends
- May 2026The first full redesign since 2009 started rolling out, with simpler privacy controls
Privacy 5.8/10
App Store label: usage data may be used to track you. Purchases, financial info, location, contacts, your content, identifiers and usage may be linked to you.
What we like
- Free to pay friends from balance, bank or debit
- Splitting a bill takes a few taps
- Fun feed with emoji and GIF payment notes
What could be better
- Only works in the US
- Instant transfers cost 1.75%, up to $25
- App Store label lists usage data used for tracking
Friends and roommates in the US who split dinners, rent and trips
you send money abroad or want strong buyer protection with strangers
Questions about Venmo
Is Venmo worth it in 2026?
For most people, yes. Venmo scores 8.3/10 and ranks #13 in Money & Investing. It's best for friends and roommates in the US who split dinners, rent and trips. Skip it if you send money abroad or want strong buyer protection with strangers. Price: Free from balance, bank or debit; 3% with a credit card; instant transfer 1.75%.
Is Venmo free?
Yes, sending money from your Venmo balance, bank or debit card is free. Paying with a credit card costs 3%, and instant transfers to your bank cost 1.75% (25 cents minimum, $25 maximum).
Venmo or Cash App: which is better?
Venmo is built around splitting costs with friends and its social feed. Cash App leans more into banking and investing, with stocks, bitcoin, Borrow and its Cash App Green perks.
What are the best alternatives to Venmo?
The closest alternatives are Cash App, PayPal and Tricount. See all of them ranked on our Venmo alternatives page.
Where does Venmo rank?
Venmo ranks #13 of 16 in our Money & Investing ranking, with an overall score of 8.3 out of 10.