Venmo International Transfer and Alternatives

While Venmo is a handy and super popular way to send and receive quick payments to others in the US, it’s not available internationally. You can’t get an account if you’re not in the US, you can’t send money overseas, and if you have an account already you won’t be able to access it when you travel internationally.

So what are your options? Venmo suggests you may choose to use its parent company, PayPal, if you need to send a payment overseas or access transfer services when you’re outside of the US. PayPal is certainly one option – but it’s not the only provider out there. This guide explores popular alternatives, including PayPal, so you can find the right service for your payment, based on fees, rates, convenience and speed.

As alternatives, we’ll explore:

• Wise – for great exchange rates and speedy transfers to 80+ countries
• OFX – if you want low fees and a personal service 24/7 over the phone
• WorldRemit – which offers cash pickups via a huge agent network
• PayPal – Venmo’s parent company, with global payments to and from PayPal accounts all over the world

Does Venmo work internationally?

Venmo does not work internationally. To open a Venmo account in the first place, you’ll need to be physically located in the US, with a USD bank account and local US phone number. Once you have your account set up you can only Venmo money to other account holders in the US – international transfers are not supported.

It may be helpful to know that even if you’re usually based in the US and have left for travel, you may struggle to use Venmo while you’re away. You’re likely to be faced by an error message if you try to log into Venmo, and won’t be able to access services again until you land back on US soil.

Can you send money internationally with Venmo?

No. Venmo can’t be used for international transfers, only for domestic payments within the US, being sent in US dollars.

Comparing Venmo Alternatives on International Transfers

Venmo isn’t an option for international payments. But there are plenty of other providers out there which are just as convenient and intuitive to use, and which do allow you to make payments overseas, or when you’re traveling.

To find the perfect provider for you we’ll compare 4 alternatives to Venmo – Wise, OFX, WorldRemit, and PayPal.

First let’s look at an overview of their speed, transparency, ease of use and price when transferring money abroad. Later we’ll dive into more detail to help you decide which might suit your specific needs best.

Which Venmo alternative is best for you will depend on the payment you need to make. If you want a low cost, fast transfer to a bank account, for example, Wise may be a good bet – while WorldRemit may be your top pick if you need to send a payment for cash collection. Each provider has its own advantages – here’s why each of our Venmo alternatives may be a great option for you:

• Wise – often one of the lowest cost providers for payments to bank accounts, you can generate a quote online with no need to register an account, to compare costs
• OFX – good pick if you’re not sure about how to set up your payment and want a personal service over the phone
• WorldRemit – perfect if you need to get money fast to someone without access to a bank account, with payments to mobile money accounts and for cash pickup
• PayPal – offers great global reach, and instant deposits to other PayPal users around the world

Keep reading to learn more about each of our Venmo alternatives.

Wise

Wise is a specialist in international transfers and multi-currency accounts for personal and business customers. Set up in 2011, Wise now has 13+ million users, and often tops comparison charts as one of the lowest cost options for currency conversion and cross border payments.

• All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees for payments
• Multi-currency accounts and cards available for customers to hold and exchange 50+ currencies
• Send payments to 80+ countries, in 50+ currencies, or open a Wise Account to get paid like a local from 30+ countries and spend with a linked Wise card in 170+ countries
• Fast transfers – 50%+ arrive instantly

Pros and Cons of Using Wise

Pros

• Low fees and the mid-market exchange rate
• Personal and business services available
• Send to 80+ countries and receive money with fee free local transfers from 30+ countries

Cons

• Fees vary based on destination country
• Multi-currency accounts are not interest bearing

OFX

OFX has offices in 8 global locations, which allows it to offer a 24/7 phone service to customers around the world. OFX personal customers can make international transfers in 50+ currencies, and access currency risk management products too. Business customers can do all this, plus open multi-currency accounts to hold, send and receive payments easily.

• 24/7 personal phone service, plus a range of currency risk management tools and products
• One off and recurring international transfers to a huge range of countries, in 50+ currencies
• Personal and business services, including multi-currency accounts aimed at businesses and online sellers
• Known for great service, no transfer fee, and bank beating exchange rates

Pros and Cons of Using OFX

Pros

• Personal phone service if you need help and advice, plus no upfront transfer fee
• Send payments in 50+ currencies and get more complex currency products like limit orders
• Good range of business services

Cons

• Exchange rates include a markup
• Payments may take a day or two to arrive, depending on destination

WorldRemit

Send a WorldRemit payment to a bank account, for cash collection, to a mobile money account or as an airtime top up. You can make payments to 130+ countries, on popular remittance routes, which can be particularly helpful for people looking to get money home quickly when working overseas.

• Great range of pay out options including cash collection
• Transfers can be instant, depending on payment method
• Pay by bank deposit, credit or debit card
• Frequent promotions and new customer offers which can bring down the cost

Pros and Cons of Using WorldRemit

Pros

• Great range of pay out options and 130+ countries covered
• Set up payments online or in the app for convenience
• Low fees, which are displayed when you model your payment online

Cons

• Not all services are available in all destination countries
• Exchange rates include a markup

PayPal

PayPal is the parent company of Venmo, and a huge global giant in electronic payments. As so many people all around the world already have a PayPal account this may be a fast and easy option for your transfer, although your payment will land in your recipient’s PayPal account rather than their bank account.

• Popular and secure option with a broad range of services
• Transfers can be deposited instantly if you pay with card or PayPal balance
• Huge global coverage with millions of users
• Pay with just an email address – no need to get bank details

Pros and Cons of Using PayPal

Pros

• Huge global reach covering pretty much every country on earth
• Instant payments to PayPal accounts in a good range of currencies
• Send payments with just the recipient’s email or phone number for convenience

Cons

• Fees can be high, at 5% + 4% currency conversion costs
• Money is deposited into a PayPal account – extra fees may apply to withdraw the funds to a bank

Conclusion

Venmo is a great way to split a bill with friends or share the costs of a cab – but if you need to make a payment in a foreign currency, or if you’re not physically in the US you’ll need an alternative. The good news is that there are lots of other providers out there which are as easy to use as Venmo, and which cover a good range of countries and currencies.

Ultimately the best Venmo alternative for you will depend on the specific transfer you want to make. We’ve picked out some great contenders, like Wise for low cost international payments with the mid-market exchange rate, and WorldRemit if you want the money to be collected in cash. Use this guide to kickstart your research and make sure you get the best provider for your payment.

Venmo International Transfer FAQs

Can you Venmo someone in another country?

No. You can not make a Venmo payment to anyone based outside of the US, or send a payment in any currency other than USD. But you can use alternatives like Wise, OFX and WorldRemit to make international payments.

Can you use Venmo internationally?

You can not use Venmo internationally. To set up a Venmo account you must be in the US with a local bank account and phone. If you have a Venmo account and try to access it abroad you’ll likely hit an error message and be unable to make payments. Consider other alternatives that provide international money transfers, such as Wise and OFX.

Does Venmo convert currency?

Venmo does not convert currency. Payments can be made in USD only, and you’ll need a local US bank account to set up a Venmo account.

Does Venmo work in Europe?

Venmo does not work in Europe. At the moment it’s only available to people based in the US, with a local US phone and bank account.