Tag: paypal

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Credit Financial

Can You Use PayPal on Amazon?

Can You Use PayPal on Amazon?

In the world of online shopping, PayPal has become one of the most popular and most convenient payment options. But can you use PayPal to shop on Amazon? The short answer to this is no. There isn’t an option to pay for your Amazon cart directly through PayPal.

However, you can use PayPal indirectly to make Amazon purchases by using the different debit and credit cards PayPal offers. Read on to learn more about how to use your PayPal account to shop on Amazon.

PayPal Card Types

PayPal offers four different cards that connect to your balance: PayPal Cash Card, PayPal Business Debit Mastercard, PayPal Key, or PayPal Credit. Each of these come with there own benefits and drawbacks, all of which will cater to your specific needs and intentions of use. Here’s a quick overview of each card type:

PayPal Cash Card

The PayPal cash card is a debit card that can be used once you set up a PayPal Cash Plus account. The account is free to set up and essentially functions as a bank account. Once you receive your debit card, you can use it anywhere and the balance immediately gets taken from your account balance.

Because it’s a debit card, there are no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. You can also withdraw money at any ATM without being charged a withdrawal fee. When you set up a PayPal cash plus account, you also receive a routing and account number to facilitate direct deposits.

PayPal Business Debit Mastercard

This card works similarly to the PayPal cash card but gives you the opportunity to earn cashback. Unlike the cash card, you have to apply for the business MasterCard and if you’re approved, you’ll receive the card within 7-10 days.

PayPal Key

PayPal Key is a virtual debit card that functions similarly to the other two options mentioned above. When using this option to online shop, you receive a virtual card number expiration date and security code.

PayPal Key is also free to use and doesn’t require a credit check or a complicated application process.

PayPal Credit

PayPal Credit is a revolving credit line that gives you a reusable credit line to make online purchases. Because it’s connected to your PayPal account, you have the option to pay your credit balance right away or over time and it’s easy to apply for too. This option is subject to credit approval through Synchrony Bank.

How to Use PayPal to Shop on Amazon

While you can’t pay for your Amazon cart with PayPal directly, you can use the options we mentioned previously to complete your purchase. You have the ability to use a PayPal cash card, the business counterpart, or PayPal Key to purchase right away. However, Amazon doesn’t allow you to use PayPal credit to directly pay for your cart.

There is a way around this, though. If you only have PayPal Credit, you can visit any major retailer that offers Amazon gift cards and purchase one there. You’ll then be able to use the gift card to purchase your cart.

Despite the inability to directly use PayPal on Amazon, you can certainly cheat your way around the restrictions.

Categories
Tech & Media Technology

Venmo vs. PayPal, which one should you use?

Venmo vs. PayPal

In our largely digital culture, we often need to send someone money or pay for something in person, when we don’t have cash on hand. Luckily, there is no shortage of digital or app-based payment options, but even with all the competition in that particular market, there are two heavyweights that most people use, Venmo and PayPal. This has evolved to the point that both brands have become a common meme verb. “Just Venmo me.”

If you are thinking about picking a new digital payment app, you might be wondering whether PayPal or Venmo is going to be right for you. You will need to consider who you will most often be exchanging funds with. Mostly friends and family? Business use? Splitting the occasional dinner tab? Some of these are certainly more suited to one app over the other, let’s take a look.

Accessibility

Both apps are available for Android and iOS, and both also feature full-featured desktop sites. While PayPal can initiate payments either via app or web, Venmo can only initiate payments on the mobile app. PayPal can also be used by a huge variety of merchants and vendors.

Sending Money

The process for sending money in both apps is more or less the same. You sync your contacts, find the username for the friend you want to pay, set the amount, and off it goes. Both apps also have functionality for sending money to those for who you only have an e,mail address for, or a mobile number, for example.

Requesting Money

Both apps allow anyone to request money from others. In most cases this is done as a reminder, since it will generate a notification and essentially, an invoice. Once the recipient receives the request, they can either act on it and pay, or deny it. In both cases, the balance hits your account nearly instantly.

Fees

Both offer free payments from bank accounts that you’ve already linked and verified, but they also allow credit or debit card payments, with a fee of about 3%. Venmo extends the no-fees to debit cards, whereas PayPal only allows free payments from linked accounts.

Limits

PayPal is a much stronger choice if you need to send larger amounts. PayPal will allow sends of up to $10k in a single payment, with daily caps around $60k, or more with further verification. Venmo’s limits are around $7k per 7-day period, with max of $5k in a day.

Business Features

PayPal is a much better bet for small busiess, or not so small business users. They have a robust array of merchant-oriented tools that can be used to sell online, and accept global payments.

Bells & Whistles

In many ways, PayPal and Venmo have a lot of similarities. There are some places where they vary a bit more. With Venmo, the focus is very much on the social side; you can check out your social feed and who is paying whom and notes sent with the payment, just not the dollar amount.