Best Digital Wallets

Nothing tests your patience more than sneaky fees and sluggish delivery times. Ogvio, the soon-to-launch digital wallet, aims to give you speed and transparency from the start.

Ogvio won’t surprise you with any hidden charges. Instead, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that most transfers will cost you nothing. Even those that do, you won’t see your balance vanish each time you hit send, since Ogvio keeps its rates amongst the lowest compared to other players.

Ogvio will also be incredibly user-friendly. It’ll be designed to feel as intuitive as social media. Even non-tech-savvy users will find the UX as smooth as butter.

But those aren’t the only reasons why Ogvio is set to become the best digital wallet. Ogvio fits the profile of the modern-day digital native, as you can manage your tokens and traditional currencies hand in hand.

📚 Read More: Best Cryptocurrencies to Consider

There’ll even be trading functionality in the mix, and that’s just the beginning. Ogvio plans to make its features available in 160+ countries. Users in Mexico, for instance, will be able to send funds to relatives in the US.

There’s no waiting time, either. Most transfers are settled in seconds - faster than your cousin can ask if the money has arrived yet. Of course, these are merely scenarios, and technicalities may later vary.

Key Features

Ogvio will have many more features, and here’s a sneak peek:

• USD or EUR Holdings. You can maintain balances in some of the world’s strongest and most stable currencies so that inflation won’t eat away at your hard-earned cash.
• Onramp Top-Ups. Ogvio will also support multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfers, and some local options. Adding funds will be easy and stress-free.
• Light KYC. In some countries, you won’t even have to upload your face scan or extra documents, making it quicker to get your funds moving.

• Crypto Support. On Ogvio, you’ll be able to buy tier one tokens, like BTC and ETH, as well as your favorites on the Base network. The catalogue will include meme coin gainers, Web3 staples, and cross-sector projects, from BONK to DOT.
• @username Functionality. Using Ogvio, requesting money or payment links will be as easy as mentioning someone else on X.

If you’re excited for what the future of Ogvio holds, join the waitlist today!

If you’re in the US, you’re likely not a stranger to Venmo. The brand’s name has even become a verb. If you’d like to send money to your friends, you can simply Venmo them.

What I like about Venmo is how much of a breeze it is to navigate the features, whether on desktop or mobile. All it takes to send money to your friends is a few taps. It’s no wonder that people often suggest Venmo as one of the best digital wallets for everyday use.

Venmo transfers usually go through in just a few minutes, which adds another point for ease of use. Depending on your bank, though, the process can extend to 30 minutes. If you’re sending money to your bank account via Standard Transfers, you’ll likely need to wait for 1 to 3 days.

Venmo doesn’t only work in a peer-to-peer setting. When you check out on TikTok Shop, eBay, DoorDash, or even in-store POS, simply link Venmo as a payment option. Each transaction has a digital record, making it easier to split bills and stay connected with friends or family.

Unlike a bank account, Venmo incurs you zero maintenance fees. Instead, there’ll be a 1.75% fee (minimum $0.25 and maximum $25) for every transfer amount.

Key Features

Venmo’s social aspects seem to be its strongest suits, but it also excels in other areas:

• Direct Deposit. Most paychecks require one to two days of processing, but who wants to wait? Especially if you need quick access to your cash. Venmo will make your funds available as soon as the platform receives the salary from your employer. Consequently, you can file for your federal tax refunds earlier.
• Venmo Debit Card. Ideal for everyday purchases, this card allows you to spend directly from your Venmo balance while potentially earning up to 15% cash back from select brands. Plus, there’s no minimum monthly fee to worry about. The Venmo Teen Debit Card is also available for ages 13-17.

• Venmo Credit Card. If you are into earning as much as you are into spending, the Venmo Credit Card offers up to 3% cash back with a zero annual fee. Applying won’t affect your credit score, even if you’re not approved.
• Crypto Buy/Sell. Venmo supports SOL, LTC, PYUSD, and several others. Admittedly, the list is limited to a handful, but you can start building your digital asset portfolio for as little as $1. Mind that crypto transactions on Venmo are not FDIC-insured.
• Venmo at Checkout. Process your payments faster and better with contactless options, including Tap to Pay and QR codes.

One notable feature missing is cross-border remittance. However, for domestic transactions within the US, Venmo remains one of the best digital wallet options.

Revolut is a household name in the digital wallet space. More than 60 million people across North America, Europe, and Africa use this payment solution.

Uniquely, Revolut also offers virtual cards as part of its comprehensive suite of features, enabling users to send, spend, and store assets in both fiat and cryptocurrencies. Although this digital wallet handles local transactions just fine, most people heavily use it for global remittances.

Some of Revolut’s primary selling points include its multi-currency accounts, reasonable exchange rates, and fee-free ATM withdrawals up to certain limits. For starters, sending money to fellow Revolut users or to a local account in your home currency doesn’t trigger any charges.

Meanwhile, card transfers and international payments incur fees, which will be displayed in real-time on your screen. Revolut may not always set the bar for the lowest rates on the market, but it still keeps its services affordable.

On the Standard free plan, you’ll follow a per-transaction pricing model, but most people feel stuck with the limited free currency exchange allowance. If you’re a solopreneur managing payroll for international freelancers, for instance, it might make more sense to upgrade to Revolut paid plans, which will add to your total expenses with a subscription of £3.99 to £45/month.

Key Features

Revolut’s biggest strengths lie in the following features:

• Revolut Cards. Revolut provides prepaid debit cards and credit cards if you prefer borrowing on credit rather than using your personal funds. To spend on the go, you can pair your physical card with a virtual card.
• Revolut Secure. Your digital wallet operates under rigorous safety standards, spanning account protection features like 2FA, round-the-clock monitoring, and advanced fraud detection.

• Savings Account. By retaining your account balance on Revolut, you can earn up to 2% in interest annually, though this percentage may fluctuate depending on market conditions or internal policies.
• Digital or Traditional Assets. On Revolut, you can buy, sell, and hold crypto, stocks, as well as commodities.
• Global Finance. From the moment you plan your trip to the time you arrive at your destination, Revolut covers you end-to-end with travel booking deals, Airline Miles, 0% FX rates, and more.

This digital wallet evidently brings numerous functionalities to the table, so it’s no wonder that it’s recognized as a banking institution in some regions. In most scenarios, though, Revolut is an e-money solution, with tools for budgeting, savings, and investing that you can tap into from a single app.

📚 Read More: Best Money Transfer Apps

PayPal is among the oldest digital wallets around, with a history dating back to 1998. Whether you’re a digital nomad or a casual online shopper, you’ve likely heard its name. It’s one of the most frequently used payment methods for sending funds to family abroad, paying freelancers, handling recurring bills like Netflix subscriptions, and more.

For more than two decades (and counting), PayPal has developed a global network of over 36 million merchants. Netflix is just one of the names that belong to the list, as you can also use PayPal to book flights with Singapore Airlines, shop for electronics at HP’s official store, or even purchase cryptocurrencies.

📚 Read More: How to Buy Crypto With PayPal

Sending and paying aren’t the only options you have with PayPal. Hundreds of cashback offers from the most popular brands are up for grabs. Initially, you can earn up to 5% on your purchases with the PayPal Debit Card, with an additional 5% on select purchases.

Be aware that PayPal’s currency conversions come with relatively steep FX rates. They typically fall into the range of 4 to 4.5%, which is above mid-market standards. As a result, international transfers through PayPal can end up costing noticeably more, even when compared to banks.

Key Features

Pros and cons of PayPal aside, these are where the platform really shines through:

• Buy Now, Pay Later. If you’re eyeing that new iPhone but don’t have sufficient funds upfront, PayPal lets you split the total into smaller installments spread over weeks or months. This method seems enticing, but it carries significant risk, particularly if you miss or fall behind on the payments.
• PayPal Credit and Debit Cards. Wherever Mastercard is accepted, you can travel around the world and pay with PayPal credit or debit cards. No need to worry about your credit score taking a hit when declined.

• Pool Money. Instantly split the budget for a road trip or a group dinner. That way, you can keep track of everyone’s share without messy calculations or awkward payback reminders.
• Crypto Support. Use your PayPal account as a cryptocurrency wallet to store, buy, sell, and send crypto with no frills. That said, the token list isn’t as expansive as on centralized exchanges. Mainly, you’ll find BTC, LINK, and a few more.
• PayPal Savings. Seamlessly move your funds in and out of your PayPal balance any time. No monthly fees or minimums required to get started. Additionally, you may be eligible for a 3.8% APY, which is a competitive rate compared to what traditional banks offer.

PayPal is one of the best digital wallets for financial management, if not for the hefty FX fees. I’d stick to using PayPal for domestic transactions, but I’d look for alternatives when it comes to international transfers.

If you’re after a faster and easier way to pay than using cards or cash, especially if you have an Apple device (or a collection of them), you’ll probably like Apple Pay. It’s integrated into iOS and macOS from day one, so using it will feel like second nature, given Apple’s consistently intuitive UI/UX.

Building on that, Apple Pay’s main proposition revolves around simplicity. Instead of filling out lengthy checkout forms, you can complete a purchase with just a tap, a touch, or even a glance. The integration across Apple devices further streamlines the process, allowing you to make contactless payments with your iPhone’s camera.

And if you’re a dedicated Apple fanboy or fangirl, you can instantly subscribe to the full suite of Apple Services. From Apple Music and Apple TV+ to apps and games on the App Store, all your purchases are conveniently managed under one roof for effortless control.

Apple Pay is accepted in the real world, too. If you’re in the US, nearly 85% of the retailers there accept it as a payment method. In certain regions, however, availability can be hit-or-miss. It’s best to confirm with the store beforehand or look for the Apple Pay logo.

Key Features

Is Apple Pay one of the best digital wallets for everyday use? Let the following features speak for themselves:

• Pay In Full or Split. Choose if you’d like to pay in one go or break your purchase into smaller installments through an eligible card or pay-later service. Use rewards, points, or miles to pay to turn shopping into earning.
• Apple Cash. This feature lets you send money privately to your friends or family members as easy as sending a message. It also works in group chats.

• Privacy at Scale. Apple is renowned for its reputation in upholding privacy, and that same principle extends to Apple Pay. The digital wallet never stores transaction details that can be traced back to you. Information is only retrieved for troubleshooting, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance.
• Tap More, Touch Less. Use your device as a payment terminal to minimize errors from touching buttons or card swipes. Apple Pay verifies your transaction with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode as an extra layer of security.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility. Apple Pay is built right into your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, iPad, and even Apple Vision Pro.

Apple Pay is a clear contender for the best digital wallet apps. Nevertheless, its exclusivity to the Apple ecosystem limits its accessibility to those who can actually benefit from it.

While Apple users have Apple Pay, the Android community turns to Google Pay. Which is better? It all depends on the device you’re using. From what I’ve observed, Google Pay has received a warm response from its customer base with a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

A big part of the positive reception comes from how Google Pay speeds up the payment process. It saves your credit/debit card digits with confidentiality, and thanks to Autofill, you don’t have to manually enter long numbers every time you check out online. This also helps reduce human errors during entry, which is one of the most common security risks in online transactions.

Now, the idea of a third party getting hold of your credentials sounds like a cybersecurity threat in itself. At this point, it comes down to how much you’re willing to trust Google. The company claims to store your data with industry-leading encryption. Merchants or bad actors won’t be able to break through, since your card details are masked by virtual numbers and kept off your device.

A common misconception about Google Pay is that people often confuse it with Google Wallet, and they’re two different programs. One is for payments, and the other is for storing your essential documents, like digital IDs, transit passes, tickets, and loyalty cards.

And it’s easy to understand the confusion, since Google Pay and Google Wallet operate side by side. So, your cards are kept inside Google Wallet, but when it comes to online or in-store checkouts, Google Pay takes center stage.

Key Features

Now that you understand the difference between Google Pay and Google Wallet, let’s find out how the former can make your daily transactions easier:

• Contactless Payments. Use Tap to Pay for a clean and touch-free experience. To make this work, hold your Android device near the card reader. A checkmark will appear, indicating that your payment has been completed.
• Worldwide Availability. Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, you’ll most likely be able to use Google Pay, since it can be found in more than 100 countries.

• International Transfers. For US residents only. Google Pay connects you to third-party channels, allowing you to wire money to your loved ones in India, Mexico, Brazil, and the Philippines. However, the limited cross-border remittance feature pales in comparison to full-on money transfer services.
• Pay Anywhere. Thousands of shops and online platforms, from KFC to Deliveroo, let you buy meals, order to-go, or purchase items with Google Pay. Some exchanges, like Crypto.com, even allow you to buy digital assets with Google Pay.
• Buy Now, Pay Later. Google Pay doesn’t directly support lending or installments, but it partners with Klarna, Affirm, and Zip to provide access to more payment options. This feature is available at select merchants across the US only.

Google Pay ticks all the right boxes, which is why it deserves a place on this list of the best digital wallet apps. Just take note that some features are only accessible in the US to avoid hiccups.

Among the lineup of mobile-friendly digital wallets comes Samsung Pay. The real draw with this one is that you can access your wallet right from your Home or Lock Screen. All you have to do is swipe up once.

Samsung Pay has a wide geographical coverage, but it dominates adoption rates in Asian markets, including Indonesia, India, China, and South Korea, where it was invented. Regardless of the region, Samsung Pay will likely appeal to you if you’re driven by incentives (who isn’t?).

It’s no wonder that many people often call Samsung Pay one of the best digital wallets for saving money. Month after month, you’ll find a steady stream of ready-to-use cashback, discounts, and promos. The wallet works at almost every food and beverage establishment, clothing store, and can even be used for in-app purchases. To redeem your rewards, check out the list of Samsung partners in your region.

Samsung Pay also has its own Samsung Wallet. The latter is a broader app that combines the payment feature of Samsung Pay with digital passes, covering loyalty cards, flight tickets, and personal IDs. Since this is a new rollout (as of writing), whether you can use it or not will depend on your location, device, and carrier.

Key Features

Samsung Pay is close to being a superapp. But to see yourself, take a look at the features below:

• NFC Support. Samsung Pay can make contactless payments through NFC. It also integrates MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) on older Samsung devices, simulating a magnetic card swipe by transmitting magnetic signals from a phone to a standard card reader.
• Far-Reaching Partnership Network. This digital wallet collaborates with major financial institutions, technology providers, and merchants, including Citi and VISA. Users have greater flexibility when it comes to payment method options, loyalty programs, and secure checkout experiences.

• Unified Payment Interface. UPI is India’s real-time payment interface for those who want to instantly transfer money between banks through one mobile app. Samsung Pay UPI is accessible 24/7 and secured by a dedicated PIN.
• Bill Payments. Use the UPI on Samsung Pay to settle recurring bills, from postpaid mobile and electricity to gas and water, well before the due date.
• Cross-Device Access. Aside from mobile access, you can also open Samsung Pay on your Galaxy Watch. Supported in 15 countries (as of now).

There’s one trade-off. If you don’t have a Samsung device, you’re out of luck. Not to worry, as there’s plenty of fish in the best digital wallet sea out there.