Should I use Venmo to pay for goods and services?
You may only use Venmo to pay for goods or services when explicitly authorized by Venmo. This would include using a Venmo Mastercard Debit Card at merchants that accept the card, through mobile websites or apps that are approved to offer Venmo as a payment option, or using in-store QR codes at select merchants. The Venmo Debit Card is accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted in the U.S. If a merchant allows Venmo as an option in their online checkout flow, you will see a Venmo-branded payment button at checkout or, in some cases, you may see the option after you first select PayPal as your payment method. You can use your in-store QR code at some stores when checking out at the register. Please visit this page for more information about getting started with in-store QR codes.
Venmo may not otherwise be used to receive business, commercial or merchant transactions, meaning you CANNOT use Venmo to accept payment from (or send payment to) another user for a good or service, unless explicitly authorized by Venmo.
DO NOT USE VENMO TO TRANSACT WITH PEOPLE YOU DON’T PERSONALLY KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF THE TRANSACTION INVOLVES THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF A GOOD OR SERVICE (for example, concert tickets, electronic equipment, sneakers, a watch, or other merchandise), unless explicitly authorized by Venmo. These transactions are potentially high risk, are not allowed under Venmo’s User Agreement and Venmo does not offer a protection program for such transactions. So:
- If you send a Venmo payment to someone for a good or service, you could lose your money without ever getting what you paid for.
- If you accept a Venmo payment from someone for a good or service and we later review the payment, we may reverse the payment, meaning you could lose both the payment and the item sold. This review process may not occur until after you attempt to transfer the funds out of Venmo.
How do I know whether a website or app accepts Venmo?
As a service of PayPal, Inc, you can now pay with Venmo at many places you see the PayPal button while using your preferred mobile web browser. Simply tap the PayPal button on a mobile device to launch the PayPal checkout experience. If we're able to bring you the Venmo experience at this site, a Venmo payment option will appear on the next page.
Other times, you’ll see a Venmo payment option (i.e. a Venmo button) in a merchant app or mobile website during checkout.
Please note you’ll need to opt in to pay with Venmo on the Venmo app.
Will I be charged a fee when I pay online with Venmo at participating businesses?
Venmo does not charge you a transaction fee for purchasing items online from participating businesses, even if those purchases are funded using a credit card. The business pays the transaction fee; not you.
For information about fees, please visit https://venmo.com/resources/our-fees/.
What’s the relationship between Venmo and PayPal?
PayPal is a payment option available at millions of businesses, big and small, in 200+ countries around the world. PayPal and Venmo are services of PayPal, Inc.
What are my limits?
You can read more about your limits here.
Do you use cookies for online purchases?
A cookie is a small file on your computer or mobile device that saves Internet settings. PayPal and Venmo require cookies to be turned on to log in to your account and to save certain settings.
You can read more about PayPal and cookies here.
What information is provided to the merchant for online purchases?
Venmo will provide the merchant with your full name, email address, and phone number (if required by the merchant) associated with your Venmo profile. If a delivery for the purchase is needed, you may be required to supply your shipping address directly to the merchant, or Venmo may supply it automatically. Your personal financial information is not shared with the business.
Can I get a refund to my PayPal account?
In most instances, refunds will be credited to the same payment method that you used for the original online purchase. Sometimes, for various reasons, your refund will be credited to your Venmo account.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to refund your PayPal account if you used Venmo to pay for your item.
If Venmo is a service of PayPal, can I link my accounts and see my payment activity in one place?
You can only view your Venmo activity from the Venmo app or on the web at https://venmo.com/account/settings/. Your PayPal activity can be viewed separately at PayPal.com or in the PayPal app.
Does Venmo offer any protections for my online purchases made at participating businesses?
Yes, When you use Venmo to make purchases on participating websites, your eligible purchases are covered by the Venmo Purchase Program.
To learn more about what the Venmo Purchase Program covers, and how to qualify for it, please check out our User Agreement here: https://venmo.com/legal/us-user-agreement/
I can’t find the Venmo button after tapping PayPal. How do I find it?
The Venmo button will show up automatically where available.
Can I make a purchase using my Venmo account from my computer?
Currently, purchasing online with Venmo is only available on mobile devices through apps or mobile web browsers that are approved to offer Venmo as a payment option. In order to use this feature, you will need to opt-in on the Venmo app. After you have opted-in, simply tap the PayPal button on a mobile web browser to launch the PayPal checkout experience. If we're able to bring you the Venmo experience at this site, a Venmo payment option will appear on the next page.
You may also see a Venmo payment option (i.e. a Venmo button) in a merchant app or mobile website during checkout.
How else can I pay merchants with Venmo?
You can use in-store QR codes at select businesses to complete purchases. Please visit this page for more information.
The Venmo Debit Card can be used anywhere in the US where Mastercard is accepted. You can visit this article for more information.
Venmo should not otherwise be used to complete purchases, unless explicitly authorized by Venmo.