PayPal and Venmo to Allow Direct Payments Between Apps Starting in November
Users of PayPal and Venmo will be able to send payments directly between the two platforms beginning in November, ending years of incompatibility between the popular services.
The long-awaited feature will allow users to locate Venmo accounts from within the PayPal app, and vice versa, facilitating direct cash transfers. This integration comes over a decade after PayPal acquired Venmo in 2014. The ability to seamlessly transfer funds between these platforms is expected to streamline transactions for the millions who utilize both services.
Venmo is also introducing a new privacy feature alongside the integration, allowing users to control who can find them through PayPal. Users can adjust their visibility settings under Settings, then Privacy, and finally Find Me options within the Venmo app, though the update enabling this feature won’t be available until November. Concerns have been raised that PayPal users may be able to locate Venmo users simply by having their phone number, potentially increasing the risk of scams or unwanted contact; understanding these consumer protection guidelines is crucial.
Representatives for both PayPal and Venmo have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding potential fees associated with the new feature. Further details regarding the implementation and any associated costs are expected to be released closer to the November launch date. For more information on digital payment security, see the NerdWallet guide to digital payment security.
Officials stated that further updates will be provided as the November launch approaches.
Venmo and PayPal are getting even closer. Here’s everything you need to know about the change.Â
It’s happening at last. After years of wondering why two of the biggest payment apps on the planet couldn’t talk to each other, PayPal and Venmo are letting you send direct payments between them starting in November.
Yes, you read that right. The payment app feature we’ve been waiting for since PayPal bought Venmo in 2014 is becoming a reality. You’ll be able to search for a Venmo user from your PayPal app (and vice versa) and send cash directly, which is about a decade overdue.
Of course, there are still some details to iron out, like whether they’ll hit you with extra fees for the convenience. Representatives for PayPal and Venmo did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. But for now, let’s just celebrate that this basic, common-sense feature is here.
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Keep your privacy and visibility options in mind
Venmo will be adding a privacy feature to limit who can find you with PayPal.
Longtime Venmo users will remember how annoying it was to have Venmo automatically make payment details public to everyone you connect with, something Venmo has improved in recent years, but which can still be a source of frustration.Â
We’ll have to wait until November to investigate every detail but there is a critical visibility setting that all users should know about. It looks like PayPal users can find any Venmo user if they have the correct phone number, which could make specific scams easier or lead to spam.Â
You can adjust this option by heading into your Venmo app, choosing Settings (the gear icon), then Privacy, then navigating to your Find Me options, where you can restrict who can find you on PayPal. Just don’t do it quite yet: Expect a Venmo update in November to make this option available.Â
