How to Instantly Send Money from Venmo to PayPal

Want to know how to transfer money from Venmo to PayPal? Until recently, a transfer from Venmo to PayPal (and vice versa) was possible only using a bank account as an intermediary. But we have excellent news for you: now direct transfers are also on the table! It doesn’t mean the good old bank account method is all useless, though. You can still use it for a Venmo-to-PayPal transfer if your recipient’s privacy settings prevent direct transfers.

But first, let’s talk about the platforms we’re dealing with.

What is Venmo?

Venmo is one of the most popular payment apps in the contemporary digital banking market. It was founded in 2009 by Andrew Kortina and Iqram Magdon-Ismail and was acquired by PayPal in 2013. The app’s main selling point is its social feed feature. It lets users add comments to their transactions, insert emojis, and even gift-wrap a payment for a special occasion, surprising the recipient with an animation as they open it. A little human touch can go a long way, and Venmo made it the app’s distinctive feature.

What is PayPal?

Since its founding in 1998, PayPal has been widely recognized as the main player in the fintech app market. This global payment processor has earned universal recognition from both businesses and individuals and still churns out new features more than a quarter of a century after its inception. It can handle money transfers, online purchases, domestic and international payments, and more.

Are Direct Money Transfers from Venmo to PayPal Possible?

Can I transfer money from Venmo to PayPal directly? Until 2025, the answer was a resounding “no.” However, after years of workarounds, the issue has finally been resolved. PayPal’s developers must have grown tired of the whole “Can you transfer Venmo to PayPal” thing. Last November, the digital wallet announced a series of PayPal World partnerships, including an update that allowed users to receive and send money directly from and to Venmo. Currently, it is available only to US users, but that will likely change in the future.

How to transfer money from Venmo to PayPal without a bank account? Well, it is even more complicated and involves using a credit or debit card or third-party services. If you can’t (or won’t) open a bank account, you should probably opt for another transfer method. But, let’s talk about something more foolproof and straightforward.

How to Transfer Money from Venmo to PayPal: A Detailed Roadmap

So, how to send money from Venmo to PayPal directly? Here’s how to initiate a cross-platform transaction in four simple steps.

Step 1. Check your privacy settings in Venmo

Before reaching out to the recipient, make sure they are searchable. Go to Venmo’s Settings, choose the Privacy menu, and find the Find me options. There, you should enable phone number search (if you’re creating a new account, you can do the same thing during account setup). The recipient should also have phone number search enabled, as it’s a precondition for mutual visibility in both apps.

Step 2. Start the transfer

Hit the Pay or Request button in your Venmo app.

Step 3. Search for the PayPal user by phone number

Once you enter the recipient’s phone number, their PayPal account will appear in search results. To avoid confusion, the recipient’s name will be displayed with a PayPal label.

Step 4. Enter the amount and send

Finally, fill in the amount to be transferred, add a note if you wish, hit Pay, and Bob’s your uncle — the funds are sent. Just remember to check everything carefully before completing the transfer, as you won’t be able to reverse the payment — transfers are instant and can’t be cancelled.

How to Transfer Money from Venmo to PayPal via Bank Account?

Can you transfer money from Venmo to PayPal in any other way? If you can’t find the recipient's phone number or prefer to send funds directly to the recipient's PayPal balance, you can do the following.

1. Link your bank account to Venmo. Log in to your Venmo account, choose “Payment Methods” in the Settings, find “Add bank or card”, and select the Bank option. You will then be asked to choose a verification method: either manual or Plaid integration. The latter is preferable if you’re in a hurry, as it can be completed instantly.
2. Link the same bank account to PayPal. The algorithm is similar. Find the “Add card or bank” option in your PayPal account, and locate the “Wallet” menu. Tap it, then choose “Link a card or bank”. Provide the necessary banking details (they should be identical for both the Venmo and PayPal accounts) and make two small deposits to enable transfers.
3. Withdraw funds from Venmo to the bank. Now that the stage is set, simply send the funds to your bank account.
4. Top up your PayPal account via your bank. To complete the transfer, find the “Transfer Money” menu in your PayPal account, hit “Add money to your balance”, select the bank account linked to Venmo, indicate the required sum, and tap Add.

On a side note, the money won’t appear in your PayPal account right away if you use a standard transfer. Regular transactions are processed within 3 business days, so please be patient.

Vital Details to Remember: Transfer Fees, Speed, and Limits

Using the bank account method, you can choose between standard and instant payments. What's the difference, exactly?

Another important factor to consider is the maximum amount you can send. No matter which method you opt for, within the USA, both apps’ transfer limits apply in full.

What You Should Know to Transfer Venmo to PayPal Smoothly

So, we’ve established that initiating a Venmo-to-PayPal transfer is not rocket science. Yet there are a few more things you should keep in mind:

• Payments are non-reversible. Once you have sent it, you can’t cancel the transaction.
• Direct transfers currently work only for US-based users. Make sure both the sender and recipient are in the States.
• Pay attention to the privacy settings on both accounts. If they don’t allow search by phone number, you won’t find the recipient.

Conclusion

Can you send money from Venmo to PayPal directly? As of November 2025, you can. To enable cross-platform transactions, both the sender and the recipient should have US-based phone numbers. Can you transfer from Venmo to PayPal if you don’t know the addressee’s number? Yes, you’ll just have to use the bank account method. It is a bit more complicated and requires a shared bank account, but it still remains a reliable fallback.

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