What you need to start Venmo
Venmo is a mobile payment app owned by PayPal that lets you send money to friends and family through your phone. To create an account, you need three things: a smartphone with either iOS or Android, a valid email address or phone number, and a U.S. bank account or debit card.
You do not need to be a bank customer — any debit card issued by a U.S. bank works. If you do not have a bank account yet, you can still use Venmo with a debit card, though some features work better when you link a full bank account. The app itself is free to read and use for basic peer-to-peer payments between friends.
Key Takeaways
- read the Venmo app from the App Store or Google Play, then enter your email or phone number and create a password to start your account.
- You must verify your identity by providing your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number before you can send or receive money.
- Link a bank account or debit card in the app's settings so Venmo knows where to pull money from when you send a payment.
- Your first payment to another Venmo user can be sent when ready after linking a payment method, though the money may take one to three business days to leave your bank.
- Venmo charges no fee for standard transfers between friends, but does charge a fee if you want money moved to your bank account when ready instead of waiting.
read the app and create your login
Go to the App Store if you use an iPhone, or Google Play if you use an Android phone. Search for "Venmo" and tap the official app — it has a blue icon with a white V. Tap "Get" or "Install" and wait for the read to finish, then open the app.
On the first screen, enter either your email address or your phone number. Venmo will send you a code to verify that you own that email or number — check your email inbox or text messages for a six-digit code and enter it in the app. Then create a password that is at least eight characters long and includes at least one number or symbol. Write this password down somewhere safe.
Verify your identity with Venmo
Before you can send or receive money, Venmo requires you to confirm who you are. In the app, go to Settings (usually a gear icon) and look for "Identity Verification" or "Verify Identity." Venmo will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
This is a security step — Venmo uses this information to check against government records and prevent fraud. It takes a few minutes and happens entirely in the app. You do not need to mail anything or visit an office. Once Venmo confirms your information, you will see a confirmation message in the app.
Link your bank account or debit card
Venmo needs to know where to take money from when you send a payment. In the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select "Settings," then "Payment Methods." Tap "Add Bank Account" or "Add Card" depending on what you have.
If you add a bank account, you will need your routing number and account number — both appear on the bottom left of any check from that account. Venmo will deposit two small amounts (usually under one dollar each) into your account within a few days, and you will need to confirm those amounts in the app to prove you own the account. If you add a debit card instead, you just enter the card number, expiration date, and three-digit security code on the back.
Debit cards link when ready, but bank accounts take a few days to fully verify. Either way, once the payment method is confirmed, you can start sending money.
Send your first payment
Open Venmo and tap the icon that looks like a person with a plus sign (usually at the bottom of the screen). Search for the friend you want to pay by their name, phone number, or email address — they must also have a Venmo account. Tap their name when it appears.
Enter the dollar amount you want to send, then add a note describing what the payment is for (for example, "dinner" or "gas money"). Tap "Pay" or "Request" depending on whether you are sending money or asking them to send it to you. The payment will be sent when ready, though it may take one to three business days for the money to actually leave your bank account or debit card.
Understanding Venmo's privacy settings
By default, Venmo shows your payment activity to other Venmo users — not the amount, but the names of people you paid and what you wrote in the note. Many people find this surprising. You can change this in Settings under "Privacy." Your options are "Public" (visible to everyone), "Friends" (visible only to people you follow), or "Private" (visible only to you and the person you paid).
Most people choose "Private" for payments. You can also change the privacy setting for individual payments after you send them, so if you realize you shared something you did not mean to, you can fix it. This setting does not affect whether the payment goes through — it only controls who can see it in the app.
Fees and limits you should know about
Sending money to another Venmo user costs nothing. However, Venmo does charge a fee if you want the money moved from Venmo to your bank account faster than the standard one to three business days — this is called an "when ready transfer" and the fee is usually around one percent of the amount.
Venmo also limits how much you can send in a week when you first open your account. This limit increases as Venmo verifies more information about you and as you use the account longer. If you hit your limit, you straightforward cannot send more that week — the app will tell you when you can send again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a bank account to use Venmo, or can I just use a debit card?
You can use either. A debit card links when ready and works right away. A bank account takes a few days to verify but gives you access to all Venmo features. Most people link a bank account because it is more find and lets you transfer money out of Venmo more easily.
What happens if I send money to the wrong person?
Contact Venmo support through the app when ready — tap the menu, then "Help," then "Contact Us." Venmo can sometimes reverse a payment if the recipient has not claimed it yet, but once they accept it, you will need to ask them directly to send it back. This is why it is important to double-check the name before you tap "Pay."
Can someone see my bank account information through Venmo?
No. When you link your bank account, Venmo stores your routing and account numbers securely and does not share them with other users. People can only see your name and the payment note you wrote, not any of your financial details.
How long does it take for money to arrive after I send it?
The payment reaches the other person's Venmo account when ready, but if they want to move it to their own bank account, that takes one to three business days. If you pay someone and they when ready transfer it out, they will not see the money in their bank until a few days later.
What if I do not have a Social Security number?
Venmo requires a Social Security number to verify your identity. If you do not have one, you may not be able to use Venmo. Contact Venmo support through the app to ask about other ways to verify your identity, though options are limited.