We are gradually diving into an ever-evolving landscape of digital transactions — and of course, Venmo and Zelle have emerged as dominant players, simplifying the way we send and receive money.
Whether you're looking to make a simple money transfer, pay bills, or split the cost of a transaction, you've definitely had to use Venmo or Zelle for this task.
While Venmo and Zelle are popular among consumers, there's been many doubts about Venmo's compatibility with Zelle. Of course, this is on the mark since these two are constantly competing in the financial space.
To clear things out, we'll see whether does Venmo work with Zelle and if it is possible to transfer money between these two financial apps.
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Does Venmo Work With Zelle?
No, Venmo does not work with Zelle.
Think of it, Venmo and Zelle have been competing over consumers and a top spot in the financial industry over the years. For those of us who are familiar with using these two apps, do you think a partnership between these two is even possible?
Well, in my opinion, I don't think so. Maybe they'll surprise us in the nearest future.
But as of now, get it clear — Venmo does not work with Zelle. There's no mention of compatibility or partnership between these two apps on any of their support or TOS pages.
However, the amazing part is, you can send money between these two financial apps. Read on to know how.
Can You Send Money From Venmo To Zelle?
Yes, you cannot send money from Venmo to Zelle.
The best and probably, the only way to send money from Venmo to Zelle is by linking your Venmo debit card to Zelle as a funding source.
You'll typically be sending money from your Venmo debit card to another Zelle user from your Zelle app because Zelle can't virtually hold funds.
Most sources might say you can use a linked bank account for the process. Of course, it would have been possible only if Zelle allows you to store funds virtually.
Zelle is a money transfer service that lets you transfer money between U.S. banks. Venmo, on the other hand, is a payment service that allows users not only to send and receive money but to store funds in a virtual wallet, known as the Venmo balance.
The bank account in this case will only let you move money from Venmo to it, but you won't be able to transfer these funds to your Zelle account since this one does not offer a virtual wallet.
How To Send Money From Venmo To Zelle
Sending money from Venmo to Zelle is possible, as earlier mentioned.
However, you'll need to link your Venmo debit card to Zelle and use it as a funding source for your Zelle-to-Zelle transfers — which is very easy.
1. Get Your Venmo Debit Card
The first thing to do when looking to send money from Venmo to Zelle is by getting your Venmo debit card ready. Of course, if you already applied for and received your physical Venmo debit card, you can proceed to the next step.
However, if you don't have a Venmo debit card yet, you should follow these steps to apply and get yours:
- Open the Venmo app.
- Go to the "Cards" tab and look under Venmo Debit Card to get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to apply for your Venmo debit card.
2. Link Your Venmo Debit Card To Zelle
Once you receive your Venmo debit card, the next thing to do will be to link your card to the Zelle app.
To do so:
- Open the Zelle app.
- Tap the gear icon to go to settings.
- Select "ACCOUNT" from the menu that appears.
- Now tap the purple "SWITCH ACCOUNTS" button.
- Add your Venmo debit card details and tap "CONTINUE".
- Next, enter the address associated with your Venmo debit card and tap "CONTINUE".
- If everything you provided looks fine, a success pane will pop up indicating that you've successfully linked your Venmo debit card to the Zelle app.
3. Make Your Zelle Transfers
Once you've linked your Venmo debit card to Zelle, you can now start making your Zelle-to-Zelle transfers.
To do so:
- Open the Zelle app.
- Go to the "Send Money" tab.
- Select your recipient.
- Enter how much you want to send and make the transfer happen.
Can You Send Money From Zelle To Venmo?
Yes, you can send money from Zelle to Venmo.
I know you might be wondering how this is possible since Zelle can't virtually store funds. Yeah, you're probably right.
However, you can send money from Zelle to Venmo by transferring the funds received on Zelle through a linked bank account to Venmo.
Here, you'll typically be adding money to Venmo from the linked bank account.
Which Is Safer Zelle Or Venmo?
Both Zelle and Venmo are safe.
Why? They both use data encryption to protect users against unauthorized transactions and store users' data on servers in secure locations.
In addition to this, Venmo lets users set a PIN which they can use to log in and authorize transactions related to the account.
However, if you're looking for a more secure way to send money between banks, then I'll recommend you use Zelle since it specializes on bank to bank transfers, and of course, it is free!
Zelle vs. Venmo: What's The Difference
While Zelle and Venmo might appear as two similar services, they got a couple of differences that classify them in the market.
1. Speed
In this fast-paced world, speed is one important factor that we often consider when choosing the best payment service.
Zelle transfers are usually instant and are done between U.S. banks.
On the other hand, Venmo transfers to banks usually take 3 business days to complete. However, Venmo-to-Venmo transfers are instant.
2. Fees
Fees are another factor that distinguishes Zelle from Venmo.
Zelle is a free service and does not charge fees for transfers. Venmo, on the other hand, charges standard fees for most transfers, including ACH transfers and online check cashing, among others.
Which Is Best? Venmo or Zelle?
Choosing the best service isn't always obvious for everyone and of course, will depend on your preferences.
With that said, if you're looking for a simple way to send payments to friends and relatives, and split the cost of purchases, then Venmo should be the best option for you.
On the other hand, if you're looking for an easy, free, and fast way to send money between banks, then Zelle should be the best option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Zelle work with Cash App?
No, Zelle does not work with Cash App. However, if you're looking to send money between Zelle and Cash App, you can use a linked bank account as a middleman. Keep in mind that there's no way to directly link Zelle to Cash App.
What banks work with Venmo?
Venmo works with most registered U.S. banks.
Can Zelle send money to PayPal?
No, you cannot send money from Zelle to PayPal.
Can Zelle send money to Chime?
Yes, you can send money from Zelle to Chime by linking your Chime debit card to Zelle. Many users have given positive feedback on Zelle's compatibility with the Chime debit card.
Can you connect Zelle to NetSpend?
No, you cannot connect Zelle to Netspend since Netspend is a prepaid card and Zelle only works with banks and debit cards.
Final Thoughts
Both Venmo and Zelle are two popular payment services that have come with a lot of convenience for managing finances in today's fast-paced world.
Venmo does not work with Zelle — and a gain, sending money between these two apps is tricky and at times, impossible.