7 Best Ways To Send Money

Sending money to someone else has never been easier, thanks to peer-to-peer (P2P) payments. With just a few taps on your smartphone, you can send or receive money instantly. These tools are especially helpful for everything from splitting bills to paying rent or sending financial help to family. But while convenient, not all apps are created equal. Understanding the differences can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Here are seven of the best ways you can send money to others from nearly anywhere.

1. Zelle

Best for: People with compatible bank accounts who want fast, free transfers through their bank app.

Pros

• Fast transfers between bank accounts.
• No fees.

Cons

• No fraud protection.
• You can only cancel a transaction if the recipient hasn’t enrolled in Zelle yet.

Zelle allows users to send money directly between bank accounts. As of April 1, 2025, the standalone Zelle app will no longer be available. To continue using the service, users must enroll through one of the more than 2,200 banks or credit unions that offer Zelle through their mobile app or online banking platform. For those whose financial institutions support Zelle, transfers are quick and typically fee-free, making it one of the fastest ways to send money within the United States.

To send money to someone, provide Zelle with their email address or phone number. The maximum amount you can send per week varies depending on the financial institution. Typically, Zelle payments are received in minutes when both parties are enrolled, even on bank holidays or weekends. Though there might be delays of a day or two if new enrollment is a factor, according to Zelle.

What to watch for: Confirm that you are sending money to the right person. If you accidentally send money to the wrong person, there’s no guarantee that you will get your money back.

Standout features

• Integration with more than 2,200 banks and credit unions.
• Ability to send money using your phone number or email.

2. Venmo

Best for: Paying back friends with a social component.

Pros

• It’s widely used.
• Free with bank or debit payments.

Cons

• 3 percent fee for credit card use.
• No cancellations for sent payments.

Venmo is a popular peer-to-peer (P2P) payments app, and for good reason. The PayPal-owned app makes it easy to send and receive money with a social twist. Transactions between people are shared with their friends, though users can choose to make their transactions and payment history private, either by default or for individual payments.

You’ll need the Venmo app on your phone to send or receive money through the service. You can easily link your bank account to send money to people for free.

You only need someone’s Venmo username, phone number, or email to pay them, but Venmo may also ask for the last four digits of the recipient’s phone number to confirm you’re sending the money to the right person.

If you link a bank account, Venmo will automatically take out the money from your account when you pay someone. You can link a credit card, but Venmo will charge a 3 percent fee. You can update your payment method before sending money, but you can’t make an adjustment after a transaction has been sent. Once Venmo confirms your identity, you can send up to $60,000 per week. On occasion, Venmo runs a referral program where you can earn a bonus when people you know use your referral link to sign up for a Venmo account.

What to watch: Like Zelle, you can’t cancel money sent via Venmo. So make sure you’re sending money to the correct person and that it’s for the right amount.

Standout features

• Social feed for transactions.
• Weekly limit up to $60,000 after verification.
• Optional instant transfers to your bank account with a small fee.

3. Cash App

Best for: People who want a simple P2P app

Pros

• Offers Bitcoin buying and investing.
• Free to send money from a bank or account balance.

Cons

• Fees for credit cards and instant transfers.
• Low unverified sending limits.

Cash App is another trendy standalone app used to send money to people you know. The app was a popular option for consumers in the U.S. and the U.K., but the company closed down Cash App UK on Sept. 15, 2024.

Like Venmo and Zelle, you can send money to people with an email address or phone number. You can also send money to someone using a $Cashtag, a unique identifier. Also, the sender and recipient of a payment both must download the app to use it.

If you have an unverified account, you can send and receive up to $1,000 over a 30-day rolling period and a total of $1,500. Once your identity is confirmed, you can send additional funds. You can send money to other people without paying a fee. However, if you use a credit card, you will be charged a 3 percent fee. Standard deposits take around one to three business days to arrive. And there is no fee charged for choosing this option. However, instant deposits incur a fee of 0.5 percent to 1.75 percent (with a minimum of $0.25).

What to watch: Like the other peer-to-peer apps, you can’t usually cancel the money you send. Pay attention to whom you are sending funds to and the amount.

Standout features

• Send money using a $Cashtag, email, or phone number.
• No fees with a bank account.
• Higher account limits after identity verification.

4. PayPal

Best for: People who want to send larger amounts of money and those who want to make convenient international payments.

Pros

• Trusted, long-standing platform.
• Global reach with international options.
• Purchase protection for some transactions.

Cons

• Fees for cards and currency conversion.
• Limits for non-verified users.

PayPal is a longstanding digital payment system that lets you send and receive money. It continues to get upgrades, including the ability to use emojis, just like you can on Venmo. It’s available on the web or as a mobile app.

PayPal is a global service, meaning that consumers can send money to various countries around the world for a conversion fee.

You can send money to people for free if you use a linked bank account or PayPal Cash Card, or balance. However, you will pay fees for other card payment methods: 2.9 percent plus 30 cents in the U.S.

If you have a verified PayPal account, you can send up to $60,000; however, PayPal may limit you to $10,000 per transaction, depending on the currency. Those without a PayPal account can send up to $4,000 in a transaction. PayPal offers international transactions through its Xoom service, which allows you to send money to people in over 160 countries and markets. Unlike most apps, PayPal does offer a level of purchase protection for buyers and sellers in some instances.

What to watch: Pay attention to the fees you may incur when sending money to another country. Also, double-check who you are sending money to and for what amount, since transactions can’t be canceled.

Standout features

• Send up to $60,000 with a verified account.
• International transfers via Xoom.
• Free domestic transfers with a bank account.

5. Apple Cash

Best for: People with Apple devices who want to streamline their payment services through their device.

Pros

• Built into Apple Messages.
• Works with Siri.
• Free with a linked debit card.

Cons

• Only available for iOS
• Fee for instant transfers

If you have an iPhone or Apple Watch, Apple Cash is another option for sending and receiving money to and from other Apple device users via a quick text.

To use the functionality, you must first set up Apple Cash in your Apple Wallet — a process that will require linking a debit card to fund the transfer. After that, press the Apple Pay icon in the Messages app on your device to send money via a text to one of your contacts. The transferred funds will appear in the recipient’s wallet.

There are free ways to send and receive money, but Apple charges a 1.5 percent fee for instant transfers. The minimum fee for instant transfers is 25 cents, with a maximum fee of $15. If the recipient doesn’t accept the payment, you can cancel it. You can ask Siri to pay a contact. The minimum you can send per message is $1, and the maximum is $10,000. A maximum of $20,000 can be sent or received within seven days.

What to watch: Unlike some other options, you must accept the money for it to be deposited into your account.

Standout features

• Send and receive money via iMessage.
• Integration with Apple Wallet.
• Ability to use Apple Cash balance for purchases or transfers.

6. Samsung Pay Cash

Best for: People who have Samsung devices.

Pros

• Built into Samsung phones.
• Secure digital wallet.
• Supports peer-to-peer transfers.

Cons

• Only works with Samsung devices.
• Recipients must accept funds within five days.

Samsung Pay is another digital wallet that allows you to send money to someone else, but the recipient must have a Samsung Pay Cash Account, making it less universal than some other peer-to-peer payment options.

A Samsung Pay Cash account labeled as “lite” is an unregistered account. Your account will have more limited transaction options until you upgrade to a full account. With a lite account, you can receive a payment only once a month and send payments of up to $500, no more than 15 times within the same time frame.

You can send money to friends and family from your phone with Samsung Pay Cash. You can fund your account using a debit or credit card, transferring money from your bank account, setting up direct deposit, or receiving money from another person. Samsung Pay Cash is available on the Google Play Store. The recipient must accept the payment to complete the transaction. If it isn’t accepted within five days, the payment will expire.

What to watch: Ensure the person you are sending money to has a Samsung Pay Cash account (or wants to create one).

Standout features

• Send money via Samsung Wallet.
• Ability to create a virtual debit card.
• Access funds for purchases or transfers.

7. Xoom

Best for: Fast international money transfers.

Pros

• Available in over 160 countries.
• Flexible delivery options.
• Backed by PayPal’s security.

Cons

• Varying fees.
• Recipients may need access to a local Xoom partner.

Xoom, a PayPal service, allows users to send money to over 160 countries with various delivery options. You can fund transfers using a bank account, debit card, or credit card and recipients can receive funds via direct deposit, cash pickup, or even mobile wallets in supported countries.

Xoom is best for international transfers, especially when speed and delivery flexibility are important. Sending limits vary depending on where you live, delivery method and payment partner limits.

What to watch: Xoom’s fees and exchange rates can vary significantly depending on the destination and payment method. Review the total costs before sending money internationally. Xoom features upfront pricing and a fee calculator to help you determine fees beforehand.

Standout features

• Versatile delivery options.
• Online and in-app transfer tracking.
• Supports bill payments and phone reloads.

Considerations for using peer-to-peer payment methods

Peer-to-peer money transfer services are convenient, but it’s important to know what you’re signing up for before sending funds.

• Verify recipient details: Double-check usernames, phone numbers and email addresses before sending, as most apps don’t allow cancellations or reversals.
• Understand fee structures: Review how each app charges for credit card payments, instant transfers, or international transactions to avoid unexpected costs.
• Know your transfer limits: Be aware of daily, weekly and monthly sending and withdrawal limits, especially if your account is unverified.
• Use strong security settings: Enable two-factor authentication and app-specific PINs or biometrics to help prevent unauthorized access.
• Review fraud and refund policies: Each app handles errors and fraud differently, and many don’t reimburse accidental or unauthorized payments.
• Watch for tax reporting: If you receive business-related payments, you may get a 1099-K form and need to report the income.

Bottom line

Mobile apps can be a great way to send money quickly to others. Ensure you understand whether there are any fees for sending money and how quickly the recipient will receive it.

Most P2P payment services require that both the sender and recipient have the app for the payment to go through. This might factor into your decision when shopping around for the right payment app if your friends or family tend to use a particular one.