We live in a hybrid digital/real world, and the lines are blurring. Soon, it will be impossible to tell where digital reality stops, and the real world begins. Millions of transactions are completed digitally online every single day. As a natural part of this new digital reality, we want, and indeed require the means to move funds from person to person quickly, safely, and securely. Below are some of the best and safest means of transferring money from one person to another online.
Paypal
Paypal remains the defacto standard for internet commerce. Anyone with an email address can set up a free account, and with it, you can transfer money to anyone via email address, assuming of course they they also have a Paypal account for the funds to go. It’s safe, secure, and free provided that you send from an existing Paypal balance. This is as simply as tying your bank account to your Paypal account to move funds back and forth with ease.
The great advantage of Paypal is that virtually everyone accepts it. Even if someone you’re doing business with doesn’t accept it, you can use a Paypal debit card that is free to own and use. It even gives you a kickback in cash for using it at all.
Google Wallet
Similar to Paypal, you can send to anyone funds via their email address. It is safe and secure, but Google Wallet comes with a few downsides you don’t see with Paypal. First, it’s not as widely accepted, so if you receive money this way you’ll want to make sure you can spend it somewhere. The second drawback is that it is surprisingly difficult to get your money from your Google Wallet into your bank account. Safe and secure, but not without its drawbacks.
Chase Quickpay
This is a fantastic service that is completely free to use. No fees for transfers in either direction. Some have complained that this service is completely useless unless both parties have Chase accounts, however, you can still send someone funds if they do not have a Chase account – it simply takes a few extra days. This system is run by a well-known institution, is as secure as it gets, and is rising in popularity day by day.
SquareCash
This is safe and secure, so it certainly satisfies the requirement, but it comes with two caveats. First, it’s by invitation only. The only way you can get an invitation is by someone sending you money. Second, they charge a flat fee per transaction: a whopping fifty cents. That’s not so great if you’re sending small sums, and insignificant if you’re sending larger sums. The invitation requirement seems a bit silly, but in practice, it’s not much different than the others. At the end of the day, both parties in the transaction still need to have an account.
No matter how you decide you need to send money online, you have options. Choose which one you think will fit your needs.
