Does Venmo Work in Canada?

By Ekxay
7 Min Read
Does Venmo Work in Canada

Many Canadians are interested in using Venmo for various reasons, such as sending money to friends and family or paying for expenses. However, Venmo is primarily a United States-based service, so using it in Canada may not be as straightforward as you think. So, does Venmo work in Canada? Let’s start.

What is Venmo?

What is Venmo, and why is it so popular in the United States? Venmo is a peer-to-peer payment system where users transfer money from their credit or debit card or bank account to their Venmo account and then quickly move the money to other users through the app. It can split expenses between friends, pay rent and bills, and even shop online.

Venmo charges a small 1.75% fee for instant transfers, but standard transactions are free. The app also has a social feature where users can see and comment on other users’ transaction history, which makes it a fun and interactive way to handle money transactions.

Does Venmo work in Canada?

Venmo does not work in Canada. Venmo is currently available only for users residing in the United States. Any attempt to use the app outside the United States will result in an error message asking users to verify their location. Canadians cannot use Venmo to send or receive payments from others in the US or abroad.

Can Canadians use Venmo to pay friends and family in the United States?

Canadians cannot use Venmo to pay friends and family in the United States. Venmo is only available to users residents and citizens with US-issued debit or credit cards. Payments can be made to other Canadians through Interac e-Transfer, which is accepted by major Canadian banks and credit unions.

PayPal, Western Union, or TransferWise can be used to send money to the US by Canadians but these services may charge high fees or unfavorable exchange rates, making them less attractive for frequent or small-value transactions.

Can I send money to Canada with Venmo?

Unfortunately, Venmo is unavailable for international transactions, so it cannot be used to send money to Canada from any country. While Venmo has not yet expanded its operations to include international transactions. Therefore, you must use another method to send money to Canada, which is available for international transactions. Compare different options and evaluate their fees, exchange rates, and transfer speed to find the best solution for your needs.

Alternatives to Venmo in Canada

Although Venmo is unavailable in Canada, alternative digital wallet services can be used for peer-to-peer payments. Here’s a closer look at some of the options:

Interac e-Transfer

Interac e-Transfer is a secure digital payment service offered by Interac, a Canadian debit card system. It enables users to send and receive money electronically through their bank account, eliminating the need for Cash or checks. To use Interac e-Transfer, Canadians need to log into their online banking, select the recipient’s email or phone number and the amount they want to transfer and answer a security question, and that’s it. The money is transferred instantly or within a few hours. Banks charge fees for transactions made with Interac e-Transfer, which vary from bank to bank.

PayPal

PayPal can be used globally, including in Canada. Users can make and receive payments from individuals and businesses worldwide without needing physical Cash or credit cards. You have to sign up to be able to use PayPal link bank or credit card. Once the account is set up, you can transact, send and receive money to other PayPal users by email or mobile number and it comes with fees charges of 3.49% plus a fixed fee of 0.49%.

Wise

Wise service offers fast and low-cost international money transfers for personal or business transactions. Wise offers real-time exchange rates with no hidden fees, making it an affordable option for sending money abroad. Additionally, Wise offers virtual account numbers for hassle-free online payments and a multi-currency account for holding and managing multiple currencies.

OFX

OFX is a leading online international currency exchange and money transfer platform that offers competitive exchange rates for cross-border money transfers, whether for personal transfers, business, or e-commerce. OFX provides easy-to-use tools for international money transfers, including risk management solutions and business payment automation.

Wealthsimple Cash

Wealthsimple Cash is a new service launched by Rudy Adler, Michael Katchen, and Brett Huneycutt in 2014. Wealthsimple provides a convenient way for people to manage their money. A mobile-based account allows users to save and spend money without hidden fees or charges.

Wealthsimple Cash enables users to send and receive money quickly, and it is linked to a debit card which can be used to make purchases at any merchant that accepts Visa. Additionally, Wealthsimple Cash offers other features, such as the ability to automate savings, set personalized financial goals, and the ability to invest in a variety of stocks and bonds.

Plastk

Plastk is another fintech company aiming to disrupt Canada’s traditional financial sector. It is an electronic wallet that allows users to send and receive money easily, and it is linked to a secured prepaid credit card that can be used for online and offline purchases. Plastk also enables users to earn cashback rewards for purchases, allowing users to set up automatic savings plans. The account can be managed through a mobile app, allowing users to view their transaction history and check their balance.

Conclusion

Unfortunately as said already in this article Venmo does not work in Canada currently. Despite being one of the popular mobile payment services among young people in the USA, it has not expanded its services to Canada. However, Canadians can still access similar services like Interac e-transfer, PayPal, and Wise, which offer convenient and secure mobile payment options. While there is no news of Venmo’s plan to expand its services to Canada, it’s only a matter of time before Venmo expands into the Canadian market.

 

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By Ekxay
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My name is Exkay and I enjoy talking about numerous subjects pertaining to services like Venmo, Paypal, Cash App, and others. Disclaimer: The content on Zapluk.com is given solely for informational purposes. No promises or guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the information provided and do not promote any specific product or service.