Can I transfer money to Apple Pay using my Android phone?

Android
1

I need to send money to a friend who only uses Apple Pay, but I have an Android device. Is there a way to do this, or is it impossible? Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

2

To transfer money to Apple Pay using your Android phone, there are a few workarounds you can consider because there’s no direct way to send money from Android to Apple Pay. Here are some step-by-step options:

  1. Bank Transfer:

    • Contact your friend and ask for their bank account details.
    • Use your mobile banking app or online banking portal to send them money directly to their account.
    • Once they receive the funds, they can add money to their Apple Pay account from their bank account.

  2. PayPal:

    • Send money to your friend via PayPal since both of you can sign up for PayPal accounts.
    • Your friend can then transfer the received PayPal funds to their bank account.
    • They can subsequently add the deposited money to Apple Pay from their bank account.

  3. Cash App:

    • Download the Cash App from the Google Play Store if both you and your friend don’t already have accounts.
    • Use the Cash App to send the money to your friend.
    • Your friend can then transfer that money to their bank account and add it to their Apple Pay from there.

  4. Western Union or MoneyGram:

    • If your friend is okay with it, you can use services like Western Union or MoneyGram to transfer money to them.
    • Your friend can collect the money and then deposit it in their bank account and finally to their Apple Pay.

  5. Google Pay to Apple Pay:

    • Although not a direct transfer, you could send money via Google Pay to your friend’s Google Pay account if they have it set up.
    • Your friend can then transfer that money from Google Pay to their bank account and then to Apple Pay.

  6. Venmo:

    • Both of you create accounts on Venmo (if not already using).
    • Send money via Venmo.
    • Your friend can transfer from Venmo to their bank account and then to Apple Pay.

Using a more technical approach, some users delve into third-party services. However, Exercise Caution with third-party apps handling money as there’s always the risk of fraud and security breaches. Stick to reputable services to avoid any issues.

For those more interested in figuring out new stuff, here’s how you’d set up a money transfer with PayPal through your Android device:

  1. Sign Up/Log In:

    • Open the PayPal app on your Android phone.
    • Sign-up if you don’t have an account, or log in with your credentials.

  2. Link Bank Account/Card:

    • Navigate to settings and link your bank account or card to PayPal.
    • Follow the verification steps, which might take some time.

  3. Send Money:

    • Once setup is complete, tap “Send” in the PayPal app.
    • Enter your friend’s PayPal email or mobile number and the amount you wish to send.

  4. Friend’s Next Steps:

    • Your friend receives the money in their PayPal account.
    • They transfer it to their bank account.
    • Finally, they can add funds to their Apple Pay from their bank account.

Also, familiarizing your friend with managing funds through various financial apps is beneficial because situations like this often crop up when different operating systems meet.

Remember, the key is in transferring through a service both you and your friend have access to, then navigating through to ultimately get the funds into their Apple Pay account. Direct interoperability between Android wallets and Apple Pay isn’t available yet, so we have to improvise with indirect methods.

After all these steps, if your friend consistently finds themselves needing to receive money from Android users, it might be worth them setting up an additional cash-receiving app like PayPal or Venmo directly.

Note: Whenever using a new money-transfer or financial-management service, make sure you both read the terms and conditions to understand any transfer fees or holding periods that might apply.

3

It’s super annoying when you can’t just send money between different platforms directly! Here are some more alternatives to consider:

  1. Wise (formerly TransferWise):

    • Wise offers international bank transfers at low fees, even for domestic.
    • Set up an account, transfer the funds to your friend’s account, and they can fund their bank account.

  2. Samsung Pay:

    • If you have a Samsung phone, you might consider sending money to your friend’s bank account through Samsung Pay.
    • Post this, your friend can transfer it from their linked bank account to Apple Pay.

  3. Zelle:

    • Zelle is direct and often integrated into major banking apps.
    • If both you and your friend have Zelle though your banks, it’s a quick transfer process.
    • Yeh, they’ll need to move it to Apple Pay from their bank account post-receipt.

Be careful with external methods; especially, third-party services not mentioned above, as they can be risky. Personally, I lean towards services that are known and used by many due to their reliability and lower fees.

@byteguru mentioned PayPal and Cash App, which are solid choices. But, I’d move Cash App higher up the list if I were you, it’s generally more straightforward and super fast.

One thing I don’t agree with entirely is the Western Union and MoneyGram suggestion unless it’s like an emergency. They charge hefty fees and are bit cumbersome for such transfers.

Above all, ask your friend if they have or are willing to set up one of these accounts—they’re mostly free, and it’s a good backup for situations like this.

Lastly, here’s a bit of caution—each of these services will have its own fees and processing times. Make sure you read the fine print so you don’t end up getting charged more than you’re transferring, might cost ya a bit more than expected.

Just keep an eye on transaction fees and make sure BOTH you and your friend are comfortable with the chosen method. Good luck!

4

There’s not really a direct way to send money to Apple Pay if you’re on an Android device. All those methods @codecrafter and @byteguru mentioned, like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, work but come with their downsides. Here’s a quick breakdown of the cons and pros:

PayPal:

  • Pros:
    • Widely used and trusted
    • Can be linked to a bank account
  • Cons:
    • Takes a couple of days to transfer money to a bank account unless you pay a fee for instant transfers

Other competitors like Venmo also tie into your bank, but man, this whole process is like going in circles. You still gotta transfer to your friend’s bank first, then Apple Pay—what a hassle!

Cash App:

  • Pros:
    • Fairly easy to use
    • Quick transfers
  • Cons:
    • Charges fees for instant transfers

Western Union/MoneyGram:

Why would you even go for these services unless it’s an absolute necessity? High fees, slow, and complicated. Pretty outdated if you ask me.

One alternative not mentioned could be using Google Pay directly if your friend sets it up, which then they can transfer to their bank and to Apple Pay, but it’s still an extra step.

Honestly, until Apple and Google come up with a way to work directly together, all this workaround stuff seems more of a band-aid solution. It’d be much easier if we had a universally accepted digital transfer method, but here we are.

Anyway, I suggest sticking to PayPal or Cash App but always keep an eye on those transfer fees—could drain your wallet more than you think.