Is Venmo or Apple Pay safer?

Asked by: Wava Pacocha  |  Last update: February 25, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (51 votes)

It all depends on your needs, but currently, according to experts in this area, the two most secure are Apple Pay and Venmo. Choose whichever you please to use, but remember to take precautions to ensure security when using each platform.

Which is better, Apple Pay or Venmo?

Apple Pay has much larger transfer limits compared to Venmo. Apple Pay allows you to send up to $20,000 in a single week and allows for up to $10,000 per single transaction. Venmo only allows you to send up to $5,000 in a single transaction and caps the limit to $19,999.99 in a single week.

What is the safest payment app?

Our Top Tested Picks
  • Best for Android Users. Google Pay. Jump To Details. ...
  • Best for Buying Stocks and Bitcoin. Cash App. ...
  • Best for Shopping Online. PayPal. ...
  • Best for Instant Bank-to-Bank Transfers. Zelle. ...
  • Best for Purchases iOS and Mac Users. Apple Pay. ...
  • Best for Contactless in-Store Purchases. Samsung Pay. ...
  • Best for Paying Friends. Venmo.

Is Apple Pay the safest way to pay?

Apple Pay is designed with your security and privacy in mind, making it a simpler and more secure way to pay than using your physical credit, debit, and prepaid cards. Apple Pay uses security features built-in to the hardware and software of your device to help protect your transactions.

What is more secure than Venmo?

PayPal is more secure than Venmo because it has advanced fraud detection, supports passkeys, features strong protection programs for buyers and sellers and has a better track record for overall security.

Apple Pay Vs Venmo | Which is Safer?

18 related questions found

Which is safer, Zelle or Venmo?

So, which is better — Zelle or Venmo? Both of the payment services are decently secure, have user-friendly interfaces, and allow you to conveniently send money. Zelle stands out from Venmo with its absence of instant transfer fees, but lacks the wallet feature.

What is the most secure app to send money?

The 9 best apps for transferring money
  • PayPal.
  • Venmo.
  • Cash App.
  • Google Pay.
  • Apple Pay.
  • Zelle.
  • Western Union.
  • Remitly.

What are the downsides of Apple Pay?

Cons of Apple Pay

Apple Pay is not accepted at all retailers and not compatible with all banks or card issuers. Backup may be required, just in case. Apple Pay only works if your phone does. You may still need to carry a physical credit card as a backup in case your battery dies or you misplace your phone.

Can your card info be stolen from Apple Pay?

Plastic cards are vulnerable. They can be stolen, copied, skimmed, and even fraudulently swiped. Apple Pay is designed so that only you can make purchases. And you don't have to worry about your sensitive card details being shared.

Is Apple Pay safe from skimmers?

Apple Pay is unable to be skimmed. Since you cannot use Apple Pay through a regular card reader, there's no risk that someone will skim the card in the process. In terms of skimming, the risk is eliminated for Apple Pay users.

What is the downside to Venmo?

3. Potential scams and hackers. The biggest downside to using Venmo is the potential for your money to be stolen. If a hacker gains access to your Venmo, it's pretty easy to change the associated bank account – so the hacker could change the account to their own and transfer the money in your Venmo to their bank.

What is the safest digital payment method?

Safest online payment methods: Pros and cons
  • Credit cards. Using your credit card to make a purchase is especially straightforward: All you have to do is enter your information at checkout. ...
  • PayPal. ...
  • Digital wallets. ...
  • Venmo. ...
  • Virtual Credit Cards. ...
  • Direct wire transfers. ...
  • Debit cards. ...
  • Online retailers with poor security measures.

Why do people use Cash App instead of Venmo?

Cash App's Key Features

In addition, Cash App offers a free tax filing service. Thus, the most significant difference between Cash App and Venmo is that Cash App provides advanced opportunities for businesses, allowing them to accept payments, track sales, and issue invoices.

What is the safest payment method on Venmo?

Venmo may process debit card transactions through either (a) an ATM debit network such as STAR or NYCE, or (b) a Visa or MasterCard network. Transactions processed through the Visa / MasterCard network may give you additional protection compared to the ATM debit networks.

Is Venmo connected to Apple Pay?

While you cannot connect your Venmo directly to your Apple Wallet, there are two simple workarounds: using a Venmo debit card with Apple Wallet, or transferring your money from your Venmo account into your Apple Cash card, which is free to use with Apple Pay.

What is safer, Apple Pay or Zelle?

It's no wonder that a user may be “freaked out” using Zelle. Inside the Zelle app, there is no way to request a refund. You can cancel a payment only if the recipient is not enrolled in Zelle. Not only is Apple Pay a safe alternative to Zelle, but there are some key differences between the two.

Can your account get hacked through Apple Pay?

Once compromised, attackers can exploit this access to conduct fraudulent transactions or initiate broader identity theft. To help protect your data, avoid using Apple Pay or conducting other sensitive transactions over unsecured Wi-Fi unless you're using a VPN to secure your connection.

Is Venmo safe to use with strangers?

If you use Venmo for personal purposes, only send money to people you know in real life. Don't send money to strangers unless you've taken steps to vet them. Also, never assume a request for money is real if it's only made through the app.

Is putting your card on Apple Pay safe?

Apple Pay provides extra privacy

Apple Pay doesn't share your card number with merchants, nor does it store your details on your device or Apple servers. Instead, Apple Pay uses a unique, one-time passcode whenever you make a purchase. This hides your sensitive account information.

What are common Apple Pay problems?

The most common issue with paying with an iPhone is choosing a card that is incompatible with the system and does not support Apple Pay. So, first of all, make sure your card supports Apple Pay. However, some other issues can also cause malfunctions: There's not enough memory on the device.

Which is safest Apple Pay or PayPal?

Apple Pay has inbuilt advanced security measures like tokenized transactions and biometric authentication, which typically shift the liability for fraudulent transactions to card issuers instead of merchants. These transactions are considered highly secure, so you're less likely to pay for fraudulent chargebacks.

What is the purpose of Venmo?

Venmo allows you to pay and request money from your friends. At its core, Venmo provides a social way to pay your friends when you owe them money and don't want to deal with cash. For example: Splitting a lunch bill.

What is the safest payment method app?

Google Pay

For security, Google Pay enhances security with a virtual account number instead of the actual credit card number during transactions.

How safe is Venmo?

Generally, we can say that your funds with Venmo are safe. That being said, there are associated risks, and while these risks may not originate from the payment app itself, the consequences may directly affect Venmo users. We're talking about scams and fraud committed through the app by cybercriminals.

What is the most secure payment method?

Credit cards are by far the most secure payment method to use when shopping online. Credit cards use security features such as encryption and fraud monitoring to protect you from fraud and keep you safe. Some card issuers and networks have even begun using AI to aid their fraud detection efforts.