How to Move Money From Venmo to PayPal

You cannot transfer money directly from Venmo to PayPal

Venmo and PayPal are separate apps owned by the same parent company, but they do not connect to each other. You cannot push money from your Venmo balance into a PayPal account, and PayPal cannot pull from Venmo. If you need money in PayPal, you have to move it through your bank account — which takes an extra step but costs nothing.

The process is straightforward: withdraw your Venmo balance to your bank account, then transfer that money into PayPal. Both apps let you link a bank account, and both transfers are free if you use the standard speed (usually one to three business days). If you need the money faster, Venmo charges a fee for when ready transfer, but PayPal's standard transfer to your bank is always free.

Key Takeaways

• Venmo and PayPal do not connect directly, so you must route money through your bank account as an intermediary.
• Withdrawing from Venmo to your bank account is free and takes one to three business days using standard transfer.
• Transferring money from your bank account into PayPal is also free and takes one to three business days.
• If you need the money in PayPal within hours, you can pay Venmo's when ready transfer fee (usually 1% of the amount) to speed up the first step.
• Both Venmo and PayPal require you to link the same bank account or different accounts at the same bank for the transfers to work.

Step-by-step: Moving money from Venmo to your bank

Open the Venmo app and tap the three horizontal lines (menu) at the bottom right. Select Settings, then tap Transfers. You will see your current Venmo balance and an option to transfer to your bank account. Tap Transfer to Bank.

Enter the amount you want to move. Venmo will show you two options: Standard (free, one to three business days) or when ready (1% fee, usually within 30 minutes). Choose Standard unless you need the money urgently. Confirm your bank account — Venmo will display the last four digits of the account you linked during setup. If you have multiple accounts linked, make sure you are sending to the right one. Tap Transfer to complete the withdrawal.

Venmo will send you a confirmation notification. The money leaves your Venmo balance when ready, but it will not appear in your bank account for one to three business days. You can check the status by going back to Settings > Transfers and looking at your transfer history.

Step-by-step: Moving money from your bank into PayPal

Once the money lands in your bank account, open the PayPal app or website. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Wallet. Look for an option labeled Link a Bank Account or Add Bank Account. If you have already linked your bank account to PayPal, skip this step.

If you are linking for the first time, PayPal will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number. You can find both on a check, or log into your bank's website and look in the account details section. PayPal will make two small test deposits (usually under $1 each) to verify the account is yours. Check your bank account in one to two business days, note the exact amounts of those deposits, and return to PayPal to confirm them. This verification step happens only once.

After your bank account is linked and verified, go to Wallet and select Transfer Money. Choose Transfer to Your Bank (or Add Money if you are moving money into PayPal from your bank). Enter the amount and confirm. The money will arrive in your PayPal account within one to three business days at no cost.

What to do if your bank account is not linked to either app

If you have not yet connected a bank account to Venmo or PayPal, you will need to do that before you can move money. Both apps require the same information: your bank's routing number, your account number, and your full name as it appears on the account. You can find the routing number on the first few digits of a check, or by searching "[Your Bank Name] routing number" online.

Start with Venmo since that is where your money currently sits. Open Venmo, go to Settings > Payment Methods, and select Add Bank Account. Enter your bank details and confirm. Venmo may verify the account by making small test deposits, or it may approve it when ready — this varies by bank. Once Venmo confirms your account, you can withdraw to it.

Then repeat the process in PayPal: Wallet > Link a Bank Account, enter the same details, and verify if PayPal asks you to. You can link the same bank account to both apps without any problem.

Timing: How long each step takes

Standard Venmo withdrawal to your bank: one to three business days. when ready Venmo withdrawal: usually within 30 minutes, but you pay 1% of the amount transferred. Standard PayPal transfer from your bank: one to three business days. There is no when ready option for moving money into PayPal from a bank account.

If you need the money in PayPal within a few hours, your fastest route is to pay Venmo's when ready transfer fee to get the money into your bank account quickly, then transfer it to PayPal using the standard method. The total time would be roughly 30 minutes plus one to three business days. If you can wait, using standard transfers on both steps costs nothing and takes two to six business days total.

Business days do not include weekends or federal holidays. A transfer initiated on Friday evening may not arrive until the following Tuesday or Wednesday.

Common mistakes that slow down the transfer

The most frequent error is entering the wrong bank account number or routing number. Double-check both before you confirm — if you make a mistake, the money may go to the wrong account or bounce back, which delays everything by several days. Write down the numbers from your check or your bank's website and compare them twice.

Another common problem is linking different bank accounts to Venmo and PayPal. If Venmo sends money to Bank Account A but PayPal is linked to Bank Account B, you will have to transfer the money between your own accounts, which adds extra time. Use the same bank account for both apps whenever possible.

Do not assume a transfer is complete just because the app shows a confirmation. Check your bank account or PayPal balance directly to confirm the money actually arrived. Apps sometimes show a confirmation before the transfer fully processes, and delays do happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money from PayPal to Venmo instead?

Yes, using the same method in reverse. Withdraw from PayPal to your bank account, then transfer from your bank into Venmo. PayPal's standard bank transfer is free and takes one to three business days. Venmo's standard deposit from a bank account is also free and takes one to three business days.

What if I do not have a bank account?

Both Venmo and PayPal require a linked bank account to move money out of the app. If you do not have a bank account, you cannot use this method. Some prepaid debit cards work with Venmo and PayPal, but not all — check your card's documentation or contact the card issuer to see if it is compatible.

Does it cost money to transfer between Venmo and PayPal?

No, if you use standard transfers on both apps. Venmo's standard withdrawal is free, and PayPal's standard transfer from your bank is free. You only pay if you choose Venmo's when ready transfer option, which costs 1% of the amount.

Can I transfer a partial balance, or do I have to move all my Venmo money?

You can transfer any amount you want, from a few dollars to your entire balance. You do not have to move everything at once. You can make multiple transfers over time if you prefer.

What happens if the transfer fails?

If a transfer fails, the money returns to where it came from — usually within three to five business days. Check your Venmo or PayPal transaction history to see the status. If a transfer shows as failed, you can try again with the same or a different amount. Contact Venmo or PayPal support if the same transfer fails twice.