PayPal review

PayPal is the most flexible option when your friends are not all in the same country. Inside the US, sending a personal payment from your PayPal balance or a bank account costs nothing, while paying with a card costs 2.90% plus a fixed fee. You can send money, request it, share a payment link in a chat or text, and scan a QR code to settle the check in person. PayPal also lets you pool money for group gifts or trips, and you can now pay Venmo accounts from the PayPal app by searching a phone number, where available. For money abroad, PayPal says you can send to 110+ countries and use its Xoom service for cash pickup or bank deposits. International personal payments add a 5% fee with a $0.99 minimum and a $4.99 maximum, which is easy to budget for small amounts. The app does more than pay friends, so it can feel busier than Venmo or Cash App.

Who it is for

People who pay friends and also send money to other countries from one account.

Price

No fee for domestic personal payments from balance or bank; cards 2.90% plus a fixed fee.

PayPal balance (including the PayPal Debit Card) or a bank account No fee Cards 2.90% + fixed fee
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Send and request money, including payment links in chats, texts or email
• Pool money for group gifts and trips
• QR codes for in-person split-the-check moments
• Send between PayPal and Venmo accounts by phone number
• Send to 110+ countries, with Xoom for cash pickup and bank deposits

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Works for both domestic and international friends
• Strength: Pools and QR codes help with group costs
• Strength: Payments reach Venmo users from the PayPal app
• Weakness: Card funded personal payments cost 2.90% plus a fixed fee
• Weakness: International personal payments add 5% (min $0.99, max $4.99)
• Weakness: More menus and products than single-purpose payment apps

Key facts

• Domestic from balance or bank: No fee
• Domestic by card: 2.90% + fixed fee
• International fee: 5% (min $0.99, max $4.99)
• Countries: 110+
• Group tool: Pool money

Where it ranks

PayPal is No. 5 in our Best Payment Apps verdict.