There's a reason PayPal is almost always mentioned when people discuss sending money digitally—it works, and it has been doing so for years. The app feels clean, slightly corporate but straightforward, and mostly reliable. Whether it's splitting a dinner bill, paying an online seller, or just moving cash between cards and banks, this app handles it without much drama. The interface isn't cluttered. The biggest plus is the number of merchants and platforms it works with—it's nearly everywhere.

Opening the app shows the PayPal balance, recent activity, and a menu that doesn't try to hide what matters. Buttons are bold, functions are clearly labeled, and there are minimal distractions. No pop-ups trying to upsell extra services every few seconds. Transfers from a PayPal balance to linked accounts are still not instant (unless an extra fee is paid), but this is a known trade-off by now. For saving and investing features, the app has attempted to add small finance tools, but most users seem to stick to the basics—send, request, and withdraw.

Where PayPal really clicks is its ease of sending money abroad. While there's a fee structure in place, the actual process of sending international transfers is easier than most banking apps. Just pick a contact, type an amount, and confirm—done. The downside? The exchange rates can be unkind.

Push notifications are timely, which helps with fraud tracking. If a suspicious charge appears, the app doesn’t wait. It gives immediate alerts and fairly smooth dispute handling. PayPal’s buyer protection still makes it more secure for online purchases than directly using a debit card on some shady website.

The "Save" part of the app is still growing. Users can opt to save cash within PayPal's built-in savings account (U.S. only in most cases). It offers a decent interest rate compared to some older banks, but it's not meant to replace serious financial tools. It's more of a bonus feature for users who already park money in PayPal.

• Send and Request Money Instantly: Transfers are quick and straightforward, whether local or international. Just tap a contact, enter the amount, and it’s done.

• Link Cards and Bank Accounts: Users can connect multiple debit and credit cards, as well as bank accounts, for seamless funding and withdrawals.
• Track Spending and Transactions: Clean dashboard showing history, balances, and transfers, making it easy to keep tabs on activity.
• In-App Security Controls: Enable fingerprint lock, get instant fraud alerts, and manage security settings directly within the app.
• PayPal Savings: An optional savings feature that offers interest on stored balances (U.S.-only) without needing to open a separate account.

• Widespread Acceptance: Works on most online stores, subscriptions, and even some in-person QR payments—especially handy for digital freelancers and eBay users.
• Simple International Transfers: Sending money abroad is easy and supports multiple currencies.
• Quick Refund and Dispute System: If a transaction looks wrong, the dispute resolution and refund system is relatively fast and user-friendly.

• Fee Transparency Needs Work: Fees for converting currencies or transferring to cards aren’t clearly stated until the final steps.
• Slow Standard Bank Transfers: Unless the user pays an extra fee, bank withdrawals can take 1–3 days, which seems outdated in 2025.
• Not Ideal for Offline Use: QR payments and in-store features are still limited to selected locations, unlike some region-specific payment apps.