# Venmo vs Payactiv

The clearest difference is update cadence: Venmo at every 11 days against Payactiv's every 2 months. Venmo also leads on ratings volume (15M vs 78K) and chart position (#5 vs #140). Payactiv's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (36% vs 15%). On price, rating, ads 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Venmo against 4.7 for Payactiv. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Venmo has 15M ratings behind it against 78K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 15% of Venmo's written reviews are positive against 36% of Payactiv's.

Venmo ships an update every 11 days, Payactiv every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Venmo | Payactiv |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venmo/id351727428/reviews)** | [4.7 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15M** | 78K |
| Positive reviews | 14.6% of reviews | **35.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | #140 |
| Size | 701 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Venmo](https://appshunter.io/developer/351727431) | [PayActiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/792617778) |

## What reviewers say

### Venmo

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Finance, #55 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


### Payactiv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775)

**Currently charting:** #140 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access your earned wages before payday, pay bills on time, and manage unexpected expenses with user-friendly digital tools. This app helps you achieve financial stability and reach your financial wellness goals without predatory loans or interest.

**Highlights:** Early access to wages, Government payment early access, Spending and saving tools, Low balance alerts, Payactiv Visa Card, Integrated bill pay, Touchless payments

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick access to money
- 👍 Convenient feature
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful in emergencies
- 👍 Wonderful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Hours/funds not updating properly
- 🔒 Security and login issues
- 💩 Poor customer service
- 💰 High fees

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading or logging in
- Funds disappearing or not updating
- Issues linking bank accounts and cards

**Requested features**

- Same-day access to funds
- Reduce withdrawal fees
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Better customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Venmo free?

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

### Is Payactiv free?

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

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

Venmo is rated higher. Venmo averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15M ratings, while Payactiv averages 4.7 from 78K ratings.

### Do Venmo or Payactiv have ads?

Neither Venmo nor Payactiv shows ads.

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

Venmo ships an update every 11 days, and Payactiv every 2 months. Most recently, Venmo was updated on September 24, 2026 and Payactiv on September 24, 2026.

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

Venmo currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and Payactiv at #140. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*