If you’re wondering whether Venmo is available in Canada, the short answer is “no”. But there are easy alternatives that almost anyone can access.
And, if you’re looking for the fastest (and cheapest) way to send and receive transfers, you can also consider using an international debit card.
In this article, we’ll share all of the available options and how to decide which is best for you.
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Is Venmo Available in Canada?
- What Is Venmo?
- Venmo Canada Alternatives
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready to Explore Your Options?
Is Venmo Available in Canada?
Venmo is not available in Canada. In fact, Venmo is only available in the United States, and in order to register for an account you need a US phone number. That said, there are alternatives to Venmo available in Canada.
What Is Venmo?
Before exploring alternatives to Venmo, let’s clarify what Venmo is. Venmo is a financial service provider that allows individuals to send and receive funds. It is intended to be used between related parties like friends and family, instead of commercial transactions like customers and businesses.
Venmo Canada Alternatives
Since Venmo is not available in Canada, we’ll explore possible alternatives below. Importantly, some of these alternatives will not be available to Canadian non-residents, while others are. So, depending on your status in Canada, you may have more limited choices.
Money Transfer Options
Individuals looking to send money to friends or family in Canada can choose to transfer money through e-transfers. An e-transfer can be sent from any individual with an account at a Canadian financial institution via phone or email to any other individual with an account at a Canadian financial institution. Additionally, e-transfers are immediate and have no fees attached.
Send Money via Bank Transfer
Alternatively, since Venmo is not available in Canada, if one party in a transaction does not have an account with a Canadian financial institution, they can send money via a traditional bank transfer. That said, when compared to sending money via an e-transfer, traditional bank transfers typically take longer and have higher fees.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are three of the most common questions that we receive from people unable to use Venmo in Canada. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Is Venmo Available In Canada?
No, Venmo is not available in Canada. In fact, Venmo is only available in the United States. If you try to sign up for Venmo from Canada, you will not be able to proceed. That said, there are suitable alternatives that you can use in Canada to send and receive funds between family and friends that function in a similar way to Venmo.
What Do Canadians Use Instead of Venmo?
Canadians can choose from a number of Venmo alternatives, including e-transfers, fintech solutions like PayPal, bank-to-bank transfers, and more. The specific Venmo alternative that they may choose will likely depend on the purpose of the transfer and the financial institutions involved.
What Other Payment Apps Work in Canada?
While payment apps are available in Canada, many Canadians choose to send transfers via e-transfer, which is a bank-to-bank alternative transfer network that sends payments through phone or email. It is a Canadian alternative to Venmo that can be used by individuals with a Canadian bank account.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
If you would like assistance navigating your banking options at home or abroad, we can help.
You can access GlobalBanks IQ, our international banking intelligence platform, in just a few clicks. Unlock our bank database, individual bank profiles, account opening strategies and reports, banker scripts, and more.
But, if you want a 100% personalized account opening service that taps into our team’s expertise and provides direct banker introductions, you can get started with GlobalBanks Insider.
Of course, if you have any questions, please contact us directly.