How To Send Money on Facebook: A Simple Guide
Written by
Rudri Patel
Edited by
Melanie Grafil
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Most people are familiar with Facebook Messenger and use it to chat with friends and family. What you may not know is that you can also learn how to send money on Facebook. Money transfer is one of Facebook Messenger’s lesser-known but highly useful features.
You can add a debit card or PayPal account and use it to shop, donate to charities, pay friends and make in-app purchases.
What Is Meta Pay and How Does It Work?
Paying through Facebook Messenger is available on a feature called Meta Pay, formerly Facebook Pay. This service is convenient because you don’t need to download another app. You can send money instantly for free.
Your transactions are generally secure since Facebook uses PINs, biometrics and encrypted transactions for safety. It’s also accessible through popular social media options — it’s available in Messenger and Instagram. The feature is also available in WhatsApp in select countries, though not currently supported in the U.S.
Read on to learn how to send money on Facebook, including what types of payments are accepted, how long transfers take to complete and more.
Setting Up Meta Pay
Do you want to add Meta Pay? It’s easy. Follow these steps, and within minutes, you can start sending money to your friends.
- Access your settings: Open Facebook, Messenger or Instagram and tap the menu or profile icon, then go to settings and access Meta Pay.
- Add a payment method: Acceptable forms of payment include debit card or PayPal.
- Provide security verification: Confirm that it is you through a verification code, PIN or biometric login.
- Authorize across apps: Select the option to “Use Meta Pay Across Meta Apps” to use it on Messenger and Instagram.
How To Send Money on Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide
The recipient will get money immediately when you send money on Facebook. Wondering how to send money on Facebook? It’s simple to do.
- Tap the Messenger app or open Facebook.
- Open the chat and select the person who will receive the money.
- Tap the “$” if available or select Meta Pay through the chat menu.
- Enter the exact amount you want to send.
- You can add an optional note.
- Select your payment method.
- Confirm payment and tap “Pay” to send the money.
Receiving Money on Meta Pay
How do you accept payments through Messenger? It’s easy to accept payments on Messenger. Simply open the message on Messenger and accept payment. If you want to set up automatic deposits, access your settings and Meta Pay. You can add your debit card or PayPal as your payment method. Once added, the payments are automatically deposited.
How Long Does It Take for the Money To Arrive?
Facebook processes payments immediately. However, it could take one to five days for the money to appear in the recipient’s account. If the recipient hasn’t received the money after five business days, they should contact either the bank that issued their debit card or PayPal’s support team, depending on the method they’re using to receive payment through Facebook.
If the recipient can’t resolve the issue with their payment provider, they can contact the Facebook support team or use in-app support.
If you need to send money right away and can’t wait three to five days, there are a few alternatives you can look into. Zelle and Cash App are similar money transfer services that usually post transferred money immediately.
Fees and Limits for Meta Pay
Facebook doesn’t charge fees for sending or receiving money. If you’re wondering about payment limits and restrictions for transactions, take a look at this chart:
| Payment Method | Limit Per Transaction | Limit Per 30-day Period |
|---|---|---|
| Visa debit card | $10,000 USD | $10,000 USD |
| MasterCard debit card | $5,000 USD | $10,000 USD |
| PayPal account | $3,000 USD | $3,000 USD |
Sending payments through a debit card may be free, but credit cards have limited use and may charge a cash advance fee. PayPal is free for personal use, but some fees may apply. It is best to check with PayPal before authorizing the transaction through this service.
Is Meta Pay Safe? Security and Fraud Protection
You may be wondering if it’s safe to send money through Facebook Messenger, especially given the trouble that Facebook has gotten into in the past regarding user privacy. Facebook has security features in place to ensure your payments and personal data are safe when you send money through Facebook Messenger. These security features include:
- Anti-fraud technology that monitors for unauthorized activity
- Notifications that alert you to unusual payment activity
- Secure storage and encryption of payment information, with payment info stored separately from profile data.
To increase security, you can set up a PIN for Meta Pay and turn on two-factor authorization. Also, be sure to keep your login information safe, send payments only to people you know, and log out of your Facebook account when using a public computer.
What To Do About Fraud or Unauthorized Transactions
You must act quickly if you suspect fraud or an unauthorized transaction. First, check your payment history to see if there are any suspicious transactions.
Next, if you see an unauthorized transaction, select “Report a Problem.” You can also report the unauthorized transaction to the Facebook Help Center.
Make sure you contact your bank or debit card company to let them know an unauthorized charge occurred and to freeze the account as well as dispute the amount.
Change your Facebook password, enable 2FA for added security and turn off Meta Pay if necessary.
Alternatives to Meta Pay
There are alternatives to Meta Pay. How do Venmo, PayPal and Zelle compare? Take a look at this comparison chart.
| Feature | Meta Pay | Venmo | PayPal | Zelle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sending money via Facebook Messenger and Instagram | Splitting bills and casual personal transactions | Online purchases, personal and business transfers | Bank-to-bank transfers within the U.S. |
| Availability | Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp (select regions) | Mobile app (U.S. only) | Worldwide | Bank apps (U.S. only) |
| Fees for personal payments | Free with debit card | Free with bank/debit; 3% with credit card | Free with bank or balance; fees for cards or currency conversion | Free |
| Payment methods | Debit cards, PayPal | Bank account, debit card, credit | Bank account, PayPal balance, debit/credit | Bank account only |
| Transfer speeds | 1-5 business days | Instant transfer (with a fee) or 1-3 business days | Instant or 1-3 business days | Instant |
| Security features | PIN, biometrics, fraud monitoring | PIN, biometrics, encryption | 2FA, fraud protection | Bank-level security, fraud detection |
Pros of Using Meta Pay
Are there any advantages of using Meta Pay over other payment platforms? Here are some of the pros:
- Integrated with Meta apps: Meta Pay is available in Messenger and Instagram, in select regions
- User-friendly: It’s easy to set up Meta Pay in the app.
- Fee-free: There are typically no fees when sending and receiving money.
- Secure: Offers PIN or biometric authentication and encryption for transactions.
Cons of Using Meta Pay
There can be some disadvantages to using Meta Pay. Here are some of the cons:
- Limited Availability: Not supported in all countries or regions.
- Meta privacy concerns: Potential user concerns due to Facebook’s data privacy history.
- Fewer features: Lacks some advanced financial tools or banking integrations found in PayPal, Venmo or Apple Pay.
- Dependent on Meta ecosystem: Not usable outside Meta-owned apps.
How To Send Money on Facebook: FAQ
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about sending money on Facebook.- Can you send money on Facebook without Messenger?
- No, Messenger is required to send money between individuals on Facebook.
- What payment methods work with Meta Pay?
- You can use debit cards, PayPal and some credit cards, depending on the country and service.
- Is there a limit to how much money you can send?
- Limits are based on the type of payment method you use. Limits can range from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on which payment method you use. You can send the largest amount with a Visa debit card.
- How do I get a refund if I sent money by mistake?
- Facebook will not reverse the transaction. You will have to contact the recipient and see if they will return the funds to you.
- Can you cancel a Meta Pay transaction after sending it?
- You can cancel only if the payment is pending. Once it's completed, you cannot cancel.
Nicole Valentine contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
