# PayPal vs Venmo

The clearest difference is ads: Venmo at none against PayPal's shown. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PayPal against 4.8 for Venmo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.3M and 15M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 21% of PayPal's written reviews are positive against 15% of Venmo's.

PayPal ships an update weekly, Venmo every 11 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PayPal | Venmo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (6.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paypal-pay-send-save/id283646709/reviews) | [4.8 (15M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venmo/id351727428/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6.3M | **15M** |
| Positive reviews | **21.4% of reviews** | 14.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #6 | **#5** |
| Size | 767 MB | 701 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PayPal, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283646712) | [Venmo](https://appshunter.io/developer/351727431) |

## What reviewers say

### PayPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paypal-pay-send-save/id283646709)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Free · Finance, #58 Top Free (US App Store)

Manage your finances with a secure app for online and in-store shopping, sending money globally, and earning cash back. It also offers savings accounts, cryptocurrency trading, and package tracking.

**Highlights:** Send and receive money globally, Earn cash back offers, Request a debit card, Buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency, High-yield savings accounts, Track packages

**Features:** Safari Extension, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Extremely effective and reliable crypto recovery service
- 🔒 Secure payment processing
- 💰 Convenient way to send and receive money
- 👍 Easy to use app with simple interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent customer support responses
- 🕰️ Slow money transfer times
- 💳 Holds on funds for new accounts
- 🤖 Overly automated with lack of human interaction

**Reported bugs**

- Account limitations and freezes with unclear reasons
- Issues linking bank accounts and cards
- Problems with refunds and chargebacks

**Requested features**

- Faster money transfers
- More transparent policies and fees
- Improved dispute resolution process
- Better customer service accessibility


### Venmo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venmo/id351727428)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Finance, #52 Top Free (US App Store)

A fast, safe, and social way to send and receive money with friends and family. Easily split bills, buy crypto, and manage your finances with integrated debit and credit cards.

**Highlights:** Send and receive money, Split payments among friends, Buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrency, Venmo credit and debit cards, Teen accounts, Business profiles, Instant transfers and direct deposit

**Features:** Apple Wallet, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable, user-friendly, and convenient
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 👍 Untrustworthy vendor protection
- 💡 Investing feature built-in

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app
- 🔒 Weak account security
- 🔒 Unreliable customer support
- 💰 Holds funds without explanation
- 💰 Freezes accounts without notice

**Reported bugs**

- Payments getting declined without reason
- Accounts being frozen or deleted unexpectedly
- Delays in fund transfers and withdrawals
- Inability to access own money in account

**Requested features**

- Ability to cancel transactions
- Faster money transfers
- Better account management tools
- Improved customer service


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PayPal free?

PayPal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Venmo free?

Venmo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PayPal or Venmo?

PayPal and Venmo are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6.3M and 15M ratings respectively.

### Do PayPal or Venmo have ads?

PayPal shows ads; Venmo does not.

### Which is updated more often, PayPal or Venmo?

PayPal ships an update weekly, and Venmo every 11 days. Most recently, PayPal was updated on September 25, 2026 and Venmo on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PayPal or Venmo?

PayPal currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and Venmo at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*