Top 10 Payment Apps

Thanks to the constant development of the digital world, we can nowadays easily use our mobile phones as payment solutions. While mobile payment apps are on the rise, we can also see fewer people using cash to pay for the goods they buy.

Using a payment app has right away several benefits. It is not unusual to forget to take cash with you, but do you remember the last time you forgot to bring your phone? Of course, it can happen, but most of the time, it is probably somewhere around you.

Today’s article will walk you through the top 10 payment apps to make your decision-making easier! Let’s dive in!

PayPal

Forget about carrying around cash with you. With PayPal, you can make secure payments online or in-store on the go, quickly and conveniently.

You can securely send money to anyone with an email address, phone number, or debit card in 202 countries.

PayPal was founded in March 1998 and was acquired by eBay in 2002 for $1.5bn, which is also a year when it started growing and spreading to more and more countries.

The service was originally created as a solution to some of the problems with digital online payments, especially international transactions, such as those with personal checks or credit card payments.

In 2002, PayPal became the first payment company to be licensed for global e-commerce and it has since processed billions of transaction volume through its system.

Paypal is compatible with both Android and iOS. The purpose is to simplify your life – perhaps the easiest way to carry out a transaction is by scanning a QR code. You can choose PayPal when conducting an online payment, paying in person, or simply transferring money to a friend.

PayPal is definitely one of the most convenient payment apps and is now over 20 years on the market. They focus on the protection of the payments first and foremost by using secure encryption technology.

Apple Pay

Apple pay was founded in 2014 and the payment app is another option that can replace your credit cards or cash. The only thing you need to be cautious about is to check whether the place you intend to pay supports Apple Pay as a payment option. In fact, around 85% of the US retailers accept Apple Pay as a payment solution.

You can only use this payment app with iOS devices and there is no need to download any additional app. It automatically works with your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, or iPad.

It is very easy to set up, you just add your credit card information to the Wallet app. Apple Cash is also something you can benefit from – it allows you to receive or send money directly in messages.

You don’t pay any extra fees for using the payment app. The minimum amount you can send or receive per message is $1, and the maximum limit is $10 000 per message. Also, it is possible to send or receive up to $10 000 within a 7 day period.

Google Pay

You just need to insert your card information to get started with Google Pay. The payment app makes it possible to send and receive money, you can buy items online or purchase other products from Google. However, don’t forget to check country availability.

It is well-known that products designed by Google are easy to use and Google Pay is not an exception. You can perform contactless payments with both Android and iOS devices.

Just note that there have been some changes, and from May 2021, there is no longer a possibility to send or receive money with the old app. To do so, you will need to use the new Google Pay app.

There are several Google Pay limits you should be aware of, such as the maximum amount per transaction of $2000 USD, maximum total transaction amount per day of $2500 USD, and you can make up to 15 transactions per day.

 

Venmo

Venmo is a widely used mobile payment app by around 70 million people. In fact, Venmo is owned by PayPal, but it doesn’t mean they are totally alike.

You can send and receive money from both iOS and Android with an option to write a short note, which is useful when sending money between friends.

When it comes to privacy, remember that by default, you are visible to everyone on the internet. You can change the settings to be visible either to your friends only, or to be completely private, where you are only visible to the sender and the recipient.

You don’t pay anything for signing up, sending money and there are no monthly fees.

However, be aware that you are not charged when you send money from a linked debit card, Venmo account, or bank account, but when you decide to link your credit card, there is a 3% fee for sending money.

And on top of that, did you know Venmo also allows you to buy, hold, or sell cryptocurrencies?  You can invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or Bitcoin Cash, and the initial investment doesn’t have to be a significant amount, you can start with even $1.

Samsung Pay

Samsung pay is only compatible with Samsung phones and uses MST and NFC technology for communication between the devices. You can use the payment app in nearly all places that allow you to pay with a credit or debit card.

The same applies if you plan on using Samsung Pay outside the U.S. If credit cards are accepted, then Samsung Pay is also applicable.

This is possible thanks to the NFC technology which has one big benefit and that is that the place where you intend to pay doesn’t have to support Samsung Pay but it is possible to carry out the payment anyway, thanks to the NFC.

Peer-to-peer transactions are a bit more complicated with Samsung Pay. The fact of the matter is that you must register for Samsung Pay Cash and the recipient also needs to do so.

Additionally, you can also decide to add your membership & gift cards to the payment app, to have everything in one place, which is really practical.

Zelle

In contrast to Samsung Pay, which is primarily designed as a payment solution to replace physical debit or credit cards, Zelle allows you to easily send money to your friends with a bank account in the U.S. and the payment app works only between the U.S.-based banks.

It is a great way to have money transferred quickly.

Note that you will only be able to connect Zelle with Visa or Mastercard debit card. Whenever you try to link the app with a credit card or even a business debit card, you will receive an error message.

Zelle doesn’t charge you for sending or receiving money. If some additional fees occur, it is most probably coming from your bank or credit union.

There is also a $500 limit you can send per week if your bank doesn’t have Zelle in their offer.

 

Circle Pay

Circle pay is available in 30 countries and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The payment app is a great solution for businesses of all sizes whose work requires conducting international payments.

Instead of going through a lengthy process due to different country regulations, you can easily transfer funds without waiting several days.

Circle pay also allows you to invest in cryptocurrencies. A USD Coin is worth exactly $1 and if you are a business owner, you can buy it directly through your Circle account. And did we mention you can always redeem USDCs for US dollars on a 1:1 basis?

USD is always the settlement currency when using a card for payment execution. In case the recipient is using another currency than USD, they might be facing being charged a fee from their provider.

Cash App

As of 2021, Cash App has 36 million active users and besides the U.S., the service is also available in the UK. You can make your account active using debit or credit cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.

There are multiple options on how to send or receive money – you can either use a phone number, QR code, or $Cashtag. The purpose of  $Cashtag is to come to the point where individuals can easily identify themselves.

Right when you choose your $Cashtag, an URL is created and is ready to be shared with the people you intend to perform transactions with.

Apart from other things, Cash App allows you to invest in stocks or Bitcoin. You can buy and sell Bitcoin, but be aware you might be charged extra fees when doing so.

As it usually goes with payment apps, you also won’t avoid transaction limitations with Cash App. When it comes to sending money, the maximum amount you can send is $250 within 7 days, whereas it lets you receive up to $1000 within 30 days.

What you can do to increase these limits is to verify yourself, such as providing your full name or date of birth.

Remitly

Remitly has the vision to make the process of transferring money transparent and fast. There are currently 17 countries on the list from where you can send the money, while 100 receiving countries are supported globally.

Remitly is one of the payment apps that allow you to transfer money internationally. If you are looking for a payment app mostly for commercial purposes, then Remitly might not be the best option. If you use the app for such purposes, each transaction has to be individually inspected and approved.

You can use the application to send money to your relatives or friends for purposes such as to help them with their current situation.

When sending money from the U.S., the limit you can send with Remitly is dependent on the recipient’s location.

Stripe

Stripe is another widely used payment app and the fact that 90% of U.S. adults have purchased something using Stripe is just proof of that. The headquarters are located in San Francisco and Dublin, and smaller offices are based around the globe.

With Stripe, you can send and receive money on a global scale. The software is most suitable for businesses, no matter which size – both start-ups and well-established companies can easily get started with the payment app.

You can use stripe with both iOS and Android phones. You don’t pay any monthly fees and there are also not any hidden fees within the app. The rule is you pay-as-you-go 2.9% + 30 cents per successful card charge.

Stripe is a reliable and easy-to-use payment app that comes with 24/7 phone, chat, or email support, in case any issues occur.

Conclusion

Nowadays, we use payment apps on a regular basis and it is not a rarity anymore, as it was just a few years ago. It makes our lives easier, but at the end of the day, it is about individual preferences.

While some people are enthusiastic about digital progress and the conveniences it brings, others might prefer to stick with the old ways, when it comes to transferring money.

You hopefully found useful information throughout today’s article and got a better grasp of payment apps and the current solutions on the U.S. market!