Venmo is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.1. Venmo wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 1.
Friends and roommates in the US who split dinners, rent and trips
Online shoppers who want buyer protection and a quick, card-free checkout
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Venmo | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #13 of 16 | #15 of 16 |
| Developer | PayPal | PayPal |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Venmo better than PayPal?
Venmo is the better app overall, scoring 8.3 to 8.1. Venmo wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 1.
Which is cheaper, Venmo or PayPal?
Venmo: Free from balance, bank or debit; 3% with a credit card; instant transfer 1.75%. PayPal: Free to send from balance or bank in the US; cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. On value for money, Venmo scores higher.
Do Venmo and PayPal work on the same devices?
Only PayPal runs on Web.
Which is more private, Venmo or PayPal?
Venmo scores higher on 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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Venmo
- Free to pay friends from balance, bank or debit
- Splitting a bill takes a few taps
- Fun feed with emoji and GIF payment notes
- Only works in the US
- Instant transfers cost 1.75%, up to $25
- App Store label lists usage data used for tracking
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.
Full Venmo review
PayPal
- Accepted at a huge number of online stores
- Purchase Protection when eligible orders go wrong
- Free to send to US friends from balance or bank
- Sending with a card costs 2.9% plus 30 cents
- Sending abroad costs 5% (up to $4.99) plus currency fees
- App Store label lists usage data used for tracking
PayPal is still one of the easiest ways to pay online without typing your card number, and Purchase Protection helps if an eligible order never shows up. Sending money to friends in the US is free from your balance or bank, while cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. The app also covers Pay in 4, savings, crypto and cash back offers. It tracks a lot, and sending abroad or converting currency gets pricey.
Full PayPal review
