# PayPal vs Green Dot

The clearest difference is rating: PayPal at 4.8 against Green Dot's 3.4. PayPal also leads on ratings volume (6.3M vs 12K) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). Green Dot's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

PayPal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PayPal has 6.3M ratings behind it against 12K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 21% of PayPal's written reviews are positive against 8% of Green Dot's.

PayPal ships an update weekly, Green Dot every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PayPal | Green Dot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (6.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paypal-pay-send-save/id283646709/reviews)** | [3.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/green-dot-mobile-banking/id437092808/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.3M** | 12K |
| Positive reviews | **20.7% of reviews** | 7.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 806 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PayPal, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283646712) | [Green Dot Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/437092811) |

## What reviewers say

### PayPal

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Finance, #50 Top Free (US App Store)

Securely shop online and in-store, earn rewards with a debit card, send money internationally, and manage subscriptions. Offers purchase protection and flexible payment options like 'Pay in 4'.

**Highlights:** Purchase protection, Rewards points on purchases, Send and request money, Buy Now Pay Later options, Package tracking, Subscription management, Unified financial overview

**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


### Green Dot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/green-dot-mobile-banking/id437092808)

Manage your finances with a mobile banking app offering early direct deposit, overdraft protection, and cash deposit options. Access features like cash back rewards, high-yield savings, and a free ATM network. Conveniently activate cards, view transactions, and get customer support.

**Highlights:** Early direct deposit, Overdraft protection, Cash deposit via app, No minimum balance, 2% cash back rewards, High-yield savings account, Free ATM network access, Mobile check deposit

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💳 Works fine for basic banking
- 🚀 Fast direct deposit
- 💰 Earns cash back on purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues and errors
- 🤖 Poor customer service
- 💸 High monthly fees
- 🔒 Difficulty accessing funds
- 📱 App frequently crashes or doesn't work

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen not working
- Unable to access account or transfer funds
- App crashes on launch

**Requested features**

- Improve app stability and reliability
- Provide better customer support
- Reduce monthly fees


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PayPal free?

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

### Is Green Dot free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PayPal or Green Dot?

PayPal is rated higher. PayPal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6.3M ratings, while Green Dot averages 3.4 from 12K ratings.

### Do PayPal or Green Dot have ads?

PayPal shows ads; Green Dot does not.

### Which is updated more often, PayPal or Green Dot?

PayPal ships an update weekly, and Green Dot every 5 weeks. Most recently, PayPal was updated on November 11, 2026 and Green Dot on November 8, 2026.

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