Can You Use Prepaid Cards on Venmo? What Cards Work?
Nowadays, there are many financial options for users all over the world.
Sending money to your friends, and receiving payments from someone, is now easier than ever before.
Google Pay, Cash App, and, of course, Venmo, are just some of the top choices for those who want to receive money, request money, and transfer money to other persons.
But it’s not a secret to anyone that gift cards and prepaid cards are also a valid payment method in our digitalized world.
Maybe you are a Venmo user that received a Visa gift card or a Mastercard prepaid card these holidays and wonders if Venmo accepts them - you are about to find out.
- Can you use prepaid cards on Venmo?;
- How to connect a gift card to Venmo;
- What can you use a prepaid card on Venmo for?
Can You Use Prepaid Cards on Venmo?
So, does Venmo accept prepaid cards or gift cards? The answer is yes, it does!
Venmo users can link bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, and almost any preferred payment method in order to send money or perform transactions.
There isn’t an exception with a Visa gift card or a classic prepaid card - you can add them to Venmo as well.
Using a bank account, a credit or debit card as your primary payment method is the common rule, but that doesn’t mean you are limited to them.
Pro Tip: After adding payment methods to your Venmo account, you’ll be able to purchase goods with it.
Nonetheless, you can still pay with your Venmo balance in case you receive a direct deposit from someone. Learn how to Pay With Venmo Balance by reading our related article.
What Prepaid Cards Work With Venmo?
First of all, the card needs to be network branded (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, etc.).
Luckily, most prepaid cards are issued by American Express, Discover, Mastercard, or Visa, so you shouldn’t have major problems using one of them.
Depending on the card issuer, you will receive some benefits.
Since most card issuers have a prepaid or gift card option, choosing one is not easy.
Among the best ones, we have the following:
| Type of Card | Benefits of the Card |
|---|---|
| PayPal Gift Cards | You can use a Paypal gift card to use the balance on your PayPal account directly on the Venmo App. What’s more, the card issuer (Mastercard) offers excellent cashback benefits. |
| Vanilla Gift Card by Visa | A Vanilla Visa Gift Card is probably one of the most popular Visa Gift Cards out there. To learn more about this Visa Gift Card, click here. |
| Multiple Prepaid Mastercard | Brinks, NetSpend, and other famous issuers have Mastercard prepaid cards that can be linked with Venmo. Usually, the fees on these cards are relatively low, so using them is really efficient. |
How to Add a Prepaid Card or a Gift Card to Your Venmo Account
Now that you know that it is possible to use a Mastercard or Visa gift card in your Venmo account, it’s time to understand how to add one to Venmo!
Firstly, keep in mind that if you want to add bank accounts, credit, prepaid, or debit cards, you need to complete Venmo Identity Verification - there’s no way around it.
Step 1: Open the Venmo App and go to Settings
Firstly, open your Venom account as you usually do.
You need to tap the menu button, which is a three horizontal lines menu icon at the top left corner of the screen, next to the single person icon.
There, you will find plenty of options in the settings menu.
Step 2: Select “Payment Methods”
After you tap on “Payment Methods,” you’ll see a list with your current payment methods verified on your account.
Remember that you can add a savings or checking account to Venmo if you verify your identity.
Step 3: Tap on “Add Bank or Card”
Tap on add a new payment method and the app will give you the options to add either a bank account or a card.
Step 4: Tap “Add Card to Venmo”
Here, you must select “add card” to your Venmo account.
A screen asking you for the card’s zip code, number, and more info, will appear.
Step 5: Type in the Prepaid Debit Card Details
Now, it’s fundamental to carefully type the prepaid card’s information.
Don’t confuse the numbers, expiration date, zip code, and more - otherwise, you won’t be able to add the card.
Alternatively, Venmo provides you with the option to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of the card and add it faster.
Prepaid Cards Registered Not Working
A prepaid card or a gift card might be declined by Venmo for funds availability or fraud prevention reasons.
Among the conditions for using a prepaid or gift card, Venmo clearly states that the card must be registered under your name.
If you fail to comply with this requirement, then the platform will simply reject the card.
Thus, it’s important to take this into account before trying to link a card to Venmo.
There you go! You can now use that gift card that your coworker gave you for Christmas in your Venmo account.
For more Venmo topics, keep tuned in GrowFollowing!
Prepaid Cards on Venmo FAQ
How Does Adding a Bank Account to Venmo Work?
You can add money using your bank, and doing so is elementary.
Firstly, verify your account - then, just add your bank.
Learn how to do it by reading this blog post: Add Money to Venmo.
Can You Delete Your Venmo Card Payment History?
The history related to payment cards, whether we are talking about Visa Gift Cards, a debit card, or a classic credit card, can’t be entirely deleted. Learn more about Deleting Venmo History here.
Steve specializes in cryptocurrency and finance. As a born researcher, he won’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to topics he covers.