Sending money abroad? Venmo compared to Wise for international transfers

Venmo is a popular US payment app for sending money to friends, family and businesses. If you use Venmo, you may be wondering whether you can use it to send money to someone in another country.

The short answer is yes, in some cases. Venmo users can now send payments to eligible PayPal users in the US and a range of international markets. However, this is a cross-platform personal payment feature, not a general-purpose international bank transfer service.^1,3

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Can I send money abroad with Venmo?

Venmo users can send money to eligible PayPal users in supported international markets. You can search for the recipient by entering the phone number linked to their PayPal account. The recipient must be eligible to receive personal payments in their country or region.¹

Venmo is still primarily a US service. You generally need to be in the US to access your Venmo account, and international availability can vary by destination.²

Venmo’s international payment feature is different from sending money to an overseas bank account. The recipient receives the payment through PayPal, rather than directly into a bank account selected by the sender.

Which countries can receive payments from Venmo?

Venmo lists supported markets for cross-platform payments with PayPal. These include Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Singapore and several countries in Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. Availability can change, and the recipient’s PayPal account must be eligible for personal payments.¹

Check the recipient’s eligibility in the Venmo app before sending. If you cannot find the person by the phone number linked to their PayPal account, the feature may not be available for their country or account.

What are my options for sending money abroad?

If Venmo does not support your recipient or the payment method you need, you could consider:

• PayPal: useful when the recipient has an eligible PayPal account, although international fees and currency-conversion spreads may apply.
• An international money transfer provider, such as Wise: often useful when you want the recipient to receive money in a bank account.
• Your bank: familiar, but international wires may involve higher fees and intermediary-bank charges.

Sending money with PayPal

PayPal is Venmo’s parent company and supports international personal payments in more markets. PayPal’s current US fee page lists a 5% international fee for personal payments, subject to a minimum and maximum, in addition to any applicable domestic payment fee. PayPal also says its currency conversion rate includes a spread.³

Check the fee and exchange rate shown for your payment before confirming it. The exact cost depends on the payment method, destination, currency and transaction type.

Using an international money transfer provider

A specialist money transfer service may be a better fit when you need to send money directly to a recipient’s bank account. You can compare the fee, exchange rate, delivery time and payout method before you choose a provider.

Sending money through your bank

Banks can usually send international wire transfers, either online, by phone or at a branch. The options vary by bank. You may pay an upfront wire fee, and intermediary or recipient banks may also deduct charges from the payment.

Can I use Wise to send money abroad instead of Venmo?

Wise is an alternative when you want to send money to a recipient’s bank account. Wise shows its fee upfront and uses the mid-market exchange rate for currency conversion. The fee depends on the amount, currencies and payment method.

To send money online with Wise, enter the amount and destination, review the quote, and choose an available payment method. Your recipient usually does not need a Wise account to receive money in their bank account.

If you make and receive international payments often, you can also use the Wise account to hold and convert 40+ currencies. You may also be able to receive money using local account details in supported currencies.

Send money abroad

How much does it cost to send money internationally?

There is no single international transfer fee. The total cost may include:

• An upfront transfer fee
• A currency-conversion spread
• A fee for using a card or another payment method
• Charges from intermediary or recipient banks

Venmo shows applicable fees and the currency-conversion rate before you complete an international payment. Venmo says the displayed currency-conversion rate typically includes a spread.¹

PayPal also shows the applicable fees and exchange rate before you complete a payment. Its current US fee page lists a 5% international fee for personal payments, subject to a minimum of $0.99 and a maximum of $4.99, plus any applicable domestic fee.³

With Wise, you get the mid-market exchange rate, and the fee is shown separately upfront. Compare the final amount the recipient receives rather than looking only at an advertised transfer fee.

Why exchange rates matter

Providers can charge for an international payment through a separate fee, the exchange rate, or both. A service that advertises a low or zero transfer fee may still cost more if it uses a less favourable exchange rate.

The mid-market rate is the midpoint between the buy and sell rates on the currency market. It is a useful benchmark when comparing providers. Check the rate and the final amount your recipient will receive before you confirm a payment.

How long does an international Venmo payment take?

Payments between Venmo and PayPal users in the US are typically instant. Cross-border payments can take longer depending on the destination, local currency and the recipient’s account. Venmo says international payments usually complete within a few minutes once approved, but reviews or other checks may delay them.¹

You can check the payment status in the Transactions section of the Venmo app.

Can I cancel an international Venmo payment?

Most Venmo payments are sent immediately and cannot be canceled. For eligible cross-border payments of at least $15, Venmo says you may be able to request a cancellation within 30 minutes of starting the payment. Contact Venmo Support through the app as soon as possible.¹

If the payment has already completed or cannot be reversed, you may not be able to cancel it.

Venmo international transfer limits

Venmo lists the following limits for international payments to PayPal users:

Additional limits may apply to your account, payment method or recipient.¹

Choosing an international money transfer service

Before you send money abroad, compare:

• The total fee
• The exchange rate and amount the recipient will receive
• Whether the recipient can receive the money in a bank account or through a digital wallet
• How long the transfer is expected to take
• Whether you can cancel or track the payment

Venmo can be convenient when you are paying an eligible PayPal user. For a bank deposit or a wider choice of transfer routes, compare Venmo with PayPal, Wise and other international money transfer providers.

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Sources checked on 16.09.2026