10 Best PayPal Alternatives for 2025

LumiNola / iStock.com

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

PayPal is an online payments juggernaut. One of PayPal’s advantages is that it offers services to consumers and merchants.

Many competitors only offer one or the other, but not both. When considering what money transfer service to use, it helps to compare a few companies. Keep reading to learn about the best PayPal alternatives for 2025.

PayPal Alternatives for Person-to-Person Transfers

PayPal gives customers the option to send money to each other, using only email addresses or phone numbers. A few PayPal alternatives offer the same functionality. Here’s how they compare:

Venmo: Best for P2P

Use case: Friends and family sending money

Key features:

• Peer-to-peer payment platform
• Social features

Fees: Free to send money using your account balance or bank account funds

Limitations: Only available in the US.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: While PayPal also allows for money transfers between individuals, it doesn’t have the same social aspects that Venmo does.

Zelle: Best for P2P

Use case: Transferring funds between friends and family.

Key features:

• Allows for instant transfers between bank accounts at participating banks.
• Users can often find Zelle already integrated into their bank’s mobile app.

Fees: Free

Limitations:

• Doesn’t support payments to online retailers.
• Only available in the US.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Unlike PayPal or Venmo, Zelle doesn’t hold transferred funds in an intermediary account; the money goes directly from one bank account to another.

Google Pay: Best for P2P and Businesses

Use case: Freelancers accepting funds; friends and family transferring funds.

Key features:

• Send and receive money using emails and phone numbers
• Make payments online
• Pay in-store through contactless payments

Fees: Free

Limitations: Not accepted by some online businesses.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Google Pay stands out for its deep integration with other Google services. Users can send money to Gmail users, store tickets and boarding passes in Google Wallet, and use the service for in-app purchases on the Google Play Store.

Cash App: Best for P2P

Use case: Transferring money between friends.

Key features:

• Easily send payments to family and friends.
• Add style to your payments.
• Track the total funds sent to others.

Fees: Free to send money from a linked debit card or Cash balance.

Limitations:

• 3% fee to send money via a linked credit card
• US only

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Cash App makes it easy to send and receive money among friends and family without a transaction fee. Plus, the platform offers up to 4% APY on your savings.

Apple Pay: Best for P2P

Use case: Sending money among friends and family members with iPhones.

Key features:

• Send money directly through your iMessage using Apple Cash.
• Many retailers accept this payment form online.

Fees: Free to use

Limitations:

• Risks if you lose your iPhone
• US only

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Apple Pay makes it easy for iOS users with an Apple Cash account to send and receive funds without downloading another app.

Wise: Best for P2P

Use case: International transfers.

Key features:

• Transfers available across 215 countries.
• Easy to use interface.
• Earn interest on funds when you opt in.

Fees:

• 0.57% send sending money
• $6.11 to receive USG wire and Swift payments

Limitations: No buyer protection.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Wise offers a relatively affordable way to send funds and receive funds internationally.

Revolut: Best for P2P and Businesses

Use case: Sending money internationally with ease.

Key features:

• Attractive exchanges rates
• Spend across multiple currencies easily.

Fees:

• $0.02 for local transfers
• $5 for international transfers

Limitations: Banking features are limited.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Revolut offers both personal and business tools. With international options for sending and spending money, many can find value in Revolut’s offerings.

PayPal Alternatives for Merchants

PayPal offers a merchant service to businesses, allowing them to collect payments. PayPal users can pay on a business website in one click. They can also enter their credit card information in PayPal’s secure payment gateway to pay.

This service allows businesses to collect money for goods and services easily. It also gives customers confidence that their payment information is encrypted and safe. Here are some PayPal alternatives for merchants:

Stripe: Best for Businesses

Use case: Online business accepting payments

Key features:

• Accepts online payments.
• Integration of online payment processing tools is possible with your existing website.
• Fraud protection tools.

Fees: 2.9% plus 30 cents

Limitations: Its level of customization, while a boon for tech-savvy users, could pose a challenge for novices. 

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Stripe is a robust online payment processing platform. It stands out due to its customizable suite of features, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their specific requirements. Stripe’s API also enables seamless integration with various platforms. 

Square: Best for Businesses

Use case: Accepting funds at point-of-sale transactions and online purchases.

Key features:

• Accepts in-person payments and online transactions
• Physical hardware available to accept payments
• A free online store that integrates with various e-commerce platforms

Fees:

• 2.6% plus 15 cents for in-person transactions
• 2.9% plus 30 cents for online transactions

Limitations: Relatively high fees

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: Like PayPal, Square can provide businesses with physical point-of-sale systems and card readers. This enables them to accept in-person payments as well as online transactions.

Payonner: Best for Businesses

Use case: Accepting payments internationally as a freelancer or small business.

Key features:

• International payment options
• Multi-currency support
• Dedicated business tools

Fees: $29.95 for businesses that receive less than $2,000 in 12 months.

Limitations: Not ideal for point-of-sale transactions; No in-person payments; Cannot bill customers directly.

Why it’s a good PayPal alternative: For freelancers and small businesses looking to accept payments from clients abroad, Payoneer’s relatively affordable fee structure offer potential savings.

Which PayPal Alternative Is Right For You?

While PayPal remains a dominant player in the online payments industry, alternatives offer unique advantages that cater to specific user needs.

Whether you’re a large business, a small retailer or an individual sending money to friends, there’s a PayPal alternative out there for you. It’s all about understanding your needs and choosing the platform that meets them best.

Share This Article: