PayPal has long been a dominant force in online payments, but the digital landscape is constantly evolving. As we move into 2025, a growing number of robust alternatives offer competitive features, lower fees, and specialised services that might be a better fit for your personal or business needs. Whether you’re sending money to family abroad, running an e-commerce store, operating a real money casino, or simply looking for more flexible ways to manage your digital finances, exploring these options is highly beneficial.
Here are five of the best PayPal alternatives worth considering in 2025.
- Wise (formerly TransferWise)
Wise has cemented its reputation as a leader in international payments, offering a compelling alternative for anyone regularly sending or receiving money across borders. Its core strength lies in its transparent, low-cost international transfers, often utilising the mid-market exchange rate with a small, upfront fee – a stark contrast to the usually opaque fees and markups found elsewhere.
Wise offers a multi-currency account that allows users to hold and manage money in over 40 currencies and receive local bank details for major currencies like GBP, EUR, USD, and AUD. This makes it incredibly convenient for freelancers, digital nomads, and businesses dealing with international clients, enabling them to receive payments as if they were local. Wise also provides a debit card for spending in multiple currencies with low conversion fees.
- Stripe
While PayPal is known for its user-friendly interface, Stripe is the go-to choice for businesses requiring a robust, highly customisable payment gateway. It’s particularly popular with e-commerce sites, software platforms, and startups that need seamless integration and extensive control over their payment flows.
Stripe offers a comprehensive suite of tools for accepting online payments, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Pay), and various local payment methods globally. Its developer-centric API allows for deep customisation, making it ideal for businesses looking to build bespoke checkout experiences. Stripe also boasts strong features for subscription management, fraud prevention (with AI-powered tools), and global payouts, making it a scalable solution for growing businesses with complex needs.
- Revolut
Revolut, a UK-based fintech giant, has rapidly expanded its offerings to become a “financial super app” that goes far beyond simple payments. It’s an excellent alternative for individuals seeking a comprehensive tool for managing their money, especially those who travel frequently or deal with multiple currencies.
Revolut offers multi-currency accounts, competitive exchange rates, and free international transfers between Revolut users. Its features include budgeting tools, spending analytics, savings “Vaults,” and the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrencies and stocks. Revolut also provides physical and virtual debit cards with enhanced security features. While its free tier has limits, its paid plans offer extensive perks, such as travel insurance and higher withdrawal limits, making it a powerful all-in-one financial solution.
- Square
Square has emerged as a formidable competitor to PayPal, particularly for businesses that operate both online and in physical locations. Known for its user-friendly point-of-sale (POS) systems, Square offers an integrated ecosystem for payment processing, business management, and even financial services.
With Square, businesses can accept credit card payments via mobile devices (using card readers), manage inventory, process online orders, and even access business loans. Its online store builder and invoicing tools provide comprehensive solutions for e-commerce. Square’s straightforward pricing and ease of setup make it highly attractive for small businesses, while its expanding suite of features, including business banking and payroll, allows for seamless scalability.
- Venmo
While technically owned by PayPal, Venmo operates as a distinct service with a strong emphasis on social peer-to-peer payments, making it a popular choice for splitting bills, sharing expenses among friends, and casual money transfers. It’s particularly prevalent in the United States.
Venmo’s appeal lies in its simplicity and social feed, allowing users to add notes and emojis to transactions, making payments feel more interactive. You can easily send and receive money from your Venmo balance, linked bank account, or debit card, usually without a fee for standard transfers. While its business features are more limited than those of other alternatives, Venmo now offers business profiles for small merchants, enabling them to accept payments and foster customer relationships through the app’s social interface.
