There is no doubt that apps like Zelle Pay make our lives easier. Gone are the days when we had to wait for hours to receive funds in our bank accounts. Now, we have more options than ever.
Zelle is nothing sort of an amazing platform for sending money instantly to friends or family members. It’s the fastest yet most convenient payment app you can lean on. On top of that, it is free and supports all sorts of payment methods, including a debit card, bank account, and credit card.
However, Zelle is limited to the U.S. and lacks a few essential features that may spice up our experience. Provided that, we’ve piled up a few of the best Zelle Pay alternatives for instant money transfers in the U.S. or anywhere in the world.
Best apps like Zelle (Top Alternatives)
We are already enthralled by Venmo, the subsidiary of Paypal, and the best Zelle alternative. It’s a fast, intuitive, and user-friendly app with millions of active users. With Venmo, you can send and receive money almost instantly between friends and family in the United States. If you have a bank account, debit card, or credit card, you can transfer money with this app.
However, it charges a $1.50 fee for instant cash transfers. With a standard transfer, it may take up to 1–3 business days to receive the funds in your bank account. However, it doesn’t charge a fee when you use a debit card or bank account.
On the flip side, it waives up to 3% on credit card transfers, which is the standard fee charged by relevant apps. For example, if you’re giving someone $100 via credit card, you’ll be charged $103.
On top of secure payments and instant transfers, it offers On-Sleazy tools to manage your accounts wisely. It lets you split or share purchases, making it easier for you to pay for the purchase by choosing others to pay their fair share.
Key Features
- Accepts bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards.
- Split or share bills.
- Write a memo with each payment.
- No debit card or bank account fees.
Downsides
- Levies 3% fee when using a credit card.
- $1.50 fee to make an instant transfer (minimum $0.25 and maximum $15).
- Available only in the United States.
The Cash app reduces the friction of P2P – transactions while helping users invest in shares, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. It lets you send and receive money between people on the Cash app. To start, you need to link your payment method, load the funds into the app, and you’re ready to send cash straight to the recipient’s bank account.
It won’t charge any fees other than a 3% fee for using a credit card. However, you will be charged a small 1.5% commission if you want to send cash instantly.
Besides, there is no deposit fee, and you can also cash out all your money back into your account whenever you want. It might take three days for the money to show up in your account. Not only does the platform offer flexibility, but it is also reliable. The Cash app is a company launched by Square way back in 2016 to make personal transactions convenient and secure.
The caveat is, the app lets you send up to $250 every week or $1000 every month, which is far below compared to other payment services like Zelle. However, if you verify your identity, the weekly limit can be increased to $7500.
Verified users can order a custom Cash app Visa debit card and connect it to their Cash app balance. Using a cash card, you can withdraw money from ATMs, add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay, shop online, and pay at gas stations just like a regular debit card. Besides, you get various discounts on apps and shops when spending via cash card.
With direct deposit, the platform makes your paycheck arrive up to two days earlier than most standard banks. Besides, you get free ATM withdrawals if you receive at least $300 per month from direct deposits.
Key Features:
- Design a customizable card that matches your style.
- Buy and sell Bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies all in the same app.
- Speed up your paycheck by two days.
- Invest in a share of stocks for as low as $1.
- Instant discounts when spending cash via Cash card.
- Send and receive money instantly.
- Free Visa debit card.
Downsides
- $2 ATM withdrawal fee. (Free for users with at least $300 in direct deposits, get three free withdrawals every 31 days, up to $7).
- No FDIC coverage.
- Only available in the U.S.
- Limited to up to $1000 transactions during the first 30 days.
For international money transfers, we can bank on Wise. It’s one of the most popular platforms for sending and receiving cash in multiple currencies. Not only can you use it for borderless transactions, but you can also use it locally. However, local or same currency transactions are available in a few countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
Getting started with Wise is as simple as you might think. Simply register using your email address or phone number. Set up your account by filling out information about yourself, and you’re enrolled. Once you have finished setting up your account, tap on the “Send Money” button and enter the amount you would like to transfer.
Wise offers very low-interest rates compared to most similar services, which is also its stand-out feature. If you send 1000 euros to the U.S., the recipient will receive around 1,118.21 dollars.
It provides three transfer types that charge different fees depending on which mode of transfer you choose: fast, low-cost, or easy.
Usually, you would pay more fees with a debit card or credit card to send money quickly. Low-cost or easy transfers are the most basic type, which is also the only option in many countries that lets users send money from their bank account.
To send money in a local currency, simply deposit funds into your Wise balance through your Wise account or bank account—choose the local currency and pay without any fees. Also, you can order a Wise debit card and use it just like any regular debit card. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best payment apps if you want to move your money across the U.S. or abroad.
Key Features
- Send money in 50+ currencies.
- Users can hold multiple currencies in the Wise account.
- Offers a multi-currency Visa debit card with a real-time exchange rate.
- Up to 4x cheaper than banks.
- No foreign transaction fee.
- Easy to use, transparent pricing.
Downsides
- 2% fee on ATM withdrawals (free up to $250 every month).
- $7 card issue fee (varies by other countries).
- 3.8% card fee.
- Not fastest.
- Fees on adding money via debit or credit card.
- Lots of fees.
Xoom is another service solely for borderless transactions, paying bills, and reloading prepaid mobile phones around the globe. It is a company founded by PayPal in 2001 to help users move money easily and quickly within the U.S. or to other countries.
Unlike other alternatives, Xoom offers a cash pickup option that enables U.S. consumers to send money for pick-up to thousands of Walmart and Riya locations.
Send money to thousands of Walmart and Riya locations for cash pick-up—It’s the fastest option for transferring cash with Xoom.
Besides, it accepts Visa and MasterCard debit cards and bank accounts. Simply enter the debit card number you are sending your money to, and it will deposit your money straight into the recipient’s US bank account. Typically, bank deposits may take up to one to two business days, depending on your bank.
Xoom has very reasonable transfer fees compared to Paypal and other similar platforms. However, unlike Zelle, it doesn’t offer free bank and debit card transfers, as it charges a 1% fee up to $999 and a $10 fixed fee for over $999 transactions.
And there is a 2%-4% fee when you send money to a bank account with a debit or credit card. It has mid-range exchange rates, but you can end up paying more when you use a credit card to send funds.
Although Xoom seems to be a bit of an expensive option for US consumers, it has a large transfer limit of up to $2999 for basic users and up to $50000 for verified users.
You can increase your sending limits by submitting your SSN, profile information, and required government documents. If we sum up, Xoom is the blend of large transaction limits and faster speed. However, we have other relevant apps like that offer free bank account and debit card transfers.
Key Features
- Fast transfers within the U.S.
- Send cash through a debit/credit/ bank account and cash.
- Larger transaction limits.
- Send money to over 150 countries.
Downsides-
- Fees on direct debit deposit and bank account.
- Up to 4.5 % credit card processing fee.
- High exchange rate markup.
Facebook Pay was rolled out by Facebook Inc. in 2019 to help its users send and receive money between family and friends. As of now, it’s restricted to Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram users, including some participating retailers. Shopify was the first to integrate Facebook Pay, enabling customers to pay seamlessly through online stores.
To get started, all you need to do is set up Facebook Pay via Facebook’s website or apps, and link your funding sources—you can add a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account information.
Once done, you can shop at businesses that Facebook and Instagram sponsor, as well as donate to fundraising organizations.
Messenger and Whatsapp, on the other hand, work as peer-to-peer platforms for sending and receiving money between two people, free of charge.
However, it charges a 3% fee per transaction when using a credit card.
When it comes to security, it is ahead of the curve. It lets you use fingerprint or facial recognition before a transaction.
Key Features:
- No fees for transactions via bank account and debit card.
- Process payments instantly.
- Users can link their PayPal account as a payment method.
- Fingerprint and face lock for security.
- Easily integrates into Shopify stores.
- Supports various countries.
- Users can donate cash to fundraisers they like.
Downsides
- Credit card fee.
- Limited to people who have a Facebook account.
Revolut is a U.K.-based fintech company aimed at making online money transfers simple and hassle-free. Founded in 2015, the platform has already rounded up over 15 million active users around the globe, with the U.K. being the most popular country in its global operation. With Revolut, you can send, receive, save, and invest money with the help of its cutting-edge tools that are easy to get the hang of.
Not only does it help its users save on fees for both domestic and international transactions, but it also offers multi-currency accounts to receive, hold, and exchange money in 30+ currencies. What’s more, You can set up a number of sub-accounts under each currency and initiate bulk payments with ease.
What intrigues us is that Revolut does offer up to 10 free non-US transfers per month for every user. Even more, it doesn’t incur any fees from Revolut users for peer-to-peer or local bank transfers in any country, much like Zelle Pay.
However, if you send money to other local bank accounts after ten free transfers, it might charge a fee of up to 0.3%, with a maximum of $6 per transaction. And for a different international currency, it will cost $4 if the payment is in U.S. dollars, Euros, pounds, or Swiss.
Besides, you can give yourself a head start by setting up a checking or savings account and enjoy all the perks that come with Standard, Premium, and Metal plans. No matter which plans you choose, you get access to over 55k fee-free ATMs, high-yield percentage accounts, crypto, early paychecks, and more.
However, premium plans unlock everything from unlimited transfer limits to exclusive metal cards and high APY on your savings. To sum up, Revolut is the complete online banking package and an incredible money transfer platform.
Key Features
- No fees for sending money between local Revolut users.
- 0.5%-0.7% APY on savings.
- Get your paycheck up to two days early.
- Supports 30+ Currencies.
- Up to 10 free domestic and foreign transactions around the world.
- Free debit card and access to over 50,000 fee-free ATMs, plus 10 free out-of-network ATM withdrawals per month.
- Invest in stocks, crypto, commodities, and values from just $1.
- Many perks with premium plans.
Downsides
- Heavy monthly pricing.
- No physical bank branches.
- 1% credit card deposit fee.
- May freeze your account for security reasons.
- Transactions limitations.
Apple Pay lets you make payments to millions of websites and apps across all Apple devices. It is accepted by thousands of online retailers globally, making transactions hassle-free. As of now, over 65 million people have activated Apple Pay around the globe.
To start, all you need to do is add your payment sources to the Apple Wallet. Not only can you keep your debit or credit cards, but you can also stack your state ID, transit cards, keys, and more – all in one place. Best of all, you can make purchases straight from your Apple Watch with a gentle touch.
Firstly, you need to deposit funds into Apple Cash to make purchases online or send money to your loved ones for free. With Apple Cash loaded, you can send, request, and receive money in the Messages app (only U.S.).
Another service Apple Pay offers is the Apple Card, which is a titanium credit card that waives less interest than most traditional credit cards. It is a highly secured card powered by Apple. It ticks all the boxes, whether you want to track your spending, get daily cash back, or pay over time for Apple products.
Key Features
- Send, receive, and request money directly to the bank account.
- Accepts credit, debit, and prepaid cards.
- A wallet that keeps keys, IDs, and more.
- Titanium credit card with many perks.
- Budgeting and tracking tools.
- Make payments on millions of websites and apps.
- Pay Later service on only Apple devices.
- Works on an Apple Watch.
- Robust security.
Downsides.
- Not available on Android.
- Apple Cash and Card are only supported in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
A. You can add your Dave card to your Google pay or Apple Pay wallet but you cannot pay with any of these listed apps at Dave.
A. None, until you deal in cash.
Wrapping it Up
The Playstore and AppStore have an excess of payment apps like Zelle that allow users to move money to other bank accounts or debit cards. However, only a few Zelle alternatives support peer-to-peer transactions in the US.
With that in mind, we’ve piled up a few apps or sites that will help you send cash to your loved ones instantly. All the listed apps are free to use but may charge fees to cover the cost.
