I use Paypal and like it. I use it for many purchases from Ebay to sending funds to my son. From what I understand, unless one specifically tags a particular payment as a purchase, (and the seller pays a fee) there is no buyer protection with Venmo.

My kids use it to pay each other for things they buy for each other or their joint Amazon prime etc. Was unaware you can use it for commerce.

I stick with Paypal. I tried Venmo, but come to find out it has some privacy/security issues, according to my techie son.

I use it to pay for small tasks. Be sure your settings are private. A lot of people use it for giving their children money, allowances and such, mine all bank at my bank so I avoid that issue.

I use Venmo to pay hairstylist or amongst friends for tickets, hotels, etc. I turned my Privacy setting to Private, but when I only see WHO pays and a description, not HOW MUCH. Still, I don't want people knowing WHO I pay.

Funny thing, I know a previous gorgeous single mom that was very active with me as Homeroom mom... her son was in elementary with my son back in the day... and on Venmo, it sure looks like she is an "escort" now. She doesn't have her privacy settings on LOL

I use different means for different situations-

Small payments to kids, individuals, small service providers- I use Zelle. Zelle was started by large nationwide banks, which I understand still own it. The service is embedded in the apps and sometimes websites of most banks for customer use. Payments are received immediately. The recipients register their email account and bank accounts (and can do so confidently, it's a bank-run activity).

Largish transfers to/from kids - I have one account of each registered for transfers in my checking account. For those with external accounts, payment is made next day by the banking system's electronic ACH method. A few have accounts at the same bank as I do and payment is immediate.

If you already have your daughter's account registered as a transfer destination, why are you looking for a different method? There's nothing easier than a straight transfer.

I use both Venmo and Paypal. Venmo exclusively for transactions to my grandkids or DD or someone else I trust for relatively small amounts. Per their request, I also pay the sewer bill for our condo this way rather than send a check in the mail. Paypal for other things (the rare ebay purchase, some other inline buys).

Strictly Paypal. It does everything I need. I was recently able to pay a person, as opposed to a business, for something I bought from them. I don't do Venmo, I don't do "tapping" a card, nor do I have more than one credit card with one for backup that I never use. I still write checks when I can and use cash only sometimes now. It works for me, easy to keep close track of.

I use PayPal primarily for online purchases. I’ve used it frequently for many years (15? 20?) without a single problem.
I use Venmo occasionally to pay or receive money from a friend. No problems there, and agree that the privacy setting is a must. Why on earth is it NOT the default/ only setting?
My kids and I use the same bank, so transferring money between accounts is simple.

I do use Paypal when possible for small or one-off consumer purchases I wish to pay by credit card. It allows me to do so expediently, without having to reenter card details, and without having to disclose same. My concern is not to avoid misuse but to avoid hassles - I don't always have my credit cards at hand and it's annoying having to make the entries repeatedly.

I used Venmo for a short time to pay a gardener as that was his only payment option. I paid extra to be able to attach Venmo to my credit card rather than my bank account because I didn't want my bank account information on their server. Venmo was annoying because of the service charge for the credit card and because of the extra diligence required to ensure my privacy settings were set at the most private level. Otherwise, it seemed to work fine.

I use it to send money to my kids, pay for things occasionally. Used to pay my dog groomer sometimes for grooming/boarding. Wish my lawncare people used it too then I wouldn't have to send them checks anymore but they don't.

I saw this sign at the Palm Springs Flea Market frequently:

This is the extent of my experience with Venmo, but it seems to be the preferred payment at this flea market. I've seen similar signs at farmers' markets.

When my sister paid me for some work I did for her, she used Zelle to make a payment to my commercial bank account. However, Zelle does not allow me to make payments from this account. My sister is a banking lawyer, and this is what she is most familiar with.

I tend to use Paypal instead, but Paypal does keep a percentage of the payment, just like credit cards do. I found this out when I was an Amazon seller.

When I send money to someone, I use a check, and the only cost is the postage and the cost of the check, but my checks cost more than the postage, and so there is that.

I use PayPal, venmo and cashapp. They are all as easy as each other to use.

I use Venmo quite often. Mostly to send money to my kids, but also recently to pay a handyman and for a bunch of food truck meals in Hawaii. Venmo is owned by Paypal. I have no reservations about the security. I put my settings on private so only the recipient sees my spending.

I also use Venmo or ApplePay with my kids. I didn't want Venmo connected to my checking account so I got a Venmo card and it works great. I pay my hair dresser with Venmo, use my Venmo card on vending machines at work on occasion, I sell items on Marketplace and have used Venmo a few times. Mostly though it super easy with my kids.

I use venmo and found it to be extremely simple to use. I linked to a bank account I use rarely and don’t keep a great sum of money, in a bank where I have no other accounts.

Mostly I use it for transfers to/from my grown kids, one of whom lives 3 hours away. It’s nice to be able to transfer $$ to him immediately with a few clicks on my phone.

Thanks for all the info. I have zelle but can't use it for paying for items that I purchase from facebook etc. I will look into paypal.

There is an interesting article in the NYT today, here is the headline. Worth reading, it explains some of the transactions that are, and are not, characterized as fraud.

Fraud Is Flourishing on Zelle. The Banks Say It’s Not Their Problem.

Zelle, the payments platform used by millions of customers, is a popular target of scammers. But banks have been reluctant to make fraud victims whole — despite owning the system.