Thanks to the popularization of the internet, buying and selling has become increasingly easier: receiving money via cell phone is also possible through several robust and reliable applications. In addition, there is no shortage of online wallets to choose from, such as Apple Wallet and Samsung Wallet, which complement these apps and help facilitate various transactions in everyday life.

Choosing the right one can be a bit tricky. But don’t worry, this article will help you with this task.

Advantages of receiving money via cell phone

But why is having the option to receive money via cell phone so important? Well, there are plenty of reasons:

Convenience

Is your card machine broken? Or do you simply not need the equipment and prefer to receive payments directly on your cell phone? It doesn't really matter: receive money quickly and conveniently in just a few seconds using a virtual wallet app.

Accessibility

Mobile money receiving apps are compatible with all smartphone models on the market. This makes democratizing financial access even easier.

Less costs

Card machines tend to be quite expensive, and they often charge hefty fees on all purchases. On the other hand, mobile apps tend to have lower fees and, in many cases, do not require you to pay any kind of membership fee.

Portability

Receiving money via cell phone is now possible anywhere: just take your smartphone wherever you want.

Security

All mobile money transfer software is protected by state-of-the-art encryption. This means that your financial data is completely unreadable to potential bad actors. Plus, you can use the credit card transfer feature to send and receive money quickly and securely.

5 mobile apps to receive money

IMPORTANT: Remember that to receive card payments via your cell phone, it must support the technology. NFC. Consult your device manual for more information.

Stripe

Image: Fit Small Business

Millions of businesses around the world use Stripe to accept payments. The platform was launched in 2010 by brothers Patrick and John Collison and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

In addition to receiving money via mobile, users can use APIs to integrate Stripe into their online stores as well. If necessary, they can request a card machine.

By default, the company charges 3.99% + R$ 0.39 fee for each successful card charge. However, it is possible to negotiate handsome discounts through tailor-made packages. For this, you need to contact the team directly. 

SumUp

Image: sumup.com

Quite popular in Europe, SumUp is a great and easy-to-use app for receiving money via mobile phone. In addition to offering, of course, the famous card machines, you can use its mobile app to receive payments.

If you are interested in earning extra income, the company offers a system of financial rewards for referrals: you can earn up to R$ 150 for each successful referral!

Its interface is quite clean and pleasant, being suitable for all business profiles. The support is also quite intuitive and straight to the point, as it should be.

The rates are also very attractive: if you pay 3.10% for a cash purchase with a credit card, you will receive the amount in your account within 1 business day. If you decide to receive it within 30 days, the rate drops to 1.90%.

AstroPay

Image: astropay.com

This digital wallet is present in over 100 countries and is an excellent option for receiving international payments. Of course, the entire process for receiving domestic money is equally quick and easy. 

Like SumUp, AstroPay has an affiliate system for those interested in selling their products and services online. 

Additionally, you collect AstroPoints as you use your wallet. These points are part of the AstroPay loyalty program and can be exchanged for numerous exclusive rewards.

Regarding fees, AstroPay charges 2% for each withdrawal.

PayPal (Android/iOS)

Image: Sketch App Sources

Not everyone knows, but PayPal is one of the oldest solutions for receiving money online in the world: the company was founded in 1998 and is present in more than 200 countries. Receive money quickly on your cell phone using this safe and reliable tool!

One of the great advantages of this app is, without a doubt, its huge acceptance: practically everywhere you go you will find people with a PayPal account. This way, you are able to not only receive, but also send money instantly in a very simple way. 

For domestic payments, PayPal charges 4.99% + R$ 0.60 for each transaction. In the case of international payments, the amount increases to 7.4% + fixed fee. It is not exactly the best rate on the market for domestic transactions, but it is one of the most competitive when it comes to transactions outside the country.

Mercado Pago (Android/iOS)

Image: Mercado Pago

Mercado Pago is not just an app for receiving money on your cell phone: it is practically a complete banking ecosystem. Although its interface is not always very intuitive (there are too many buttons and information on each screen!), the range of products and services is considerable. 

This subsidiary of Mercado Livre offers sending and receiving of money, online and offline payments, digital wallet and a robust buyer protection mechanism. Like PayPal, Mercado Pago is widely accepted and is present in more than 200 countries.

Its rates are among the most competitive among its competitors: 0.84% for debit and credit purchases and 9.89% for installments of up to 12x. 

In addition to these, there are other mobile payment services, such as Venmo, Cash App and Zelle (run by PNC Bank, a privately held online bank in the United States), which allow you to receive and send money to anyone who has the app installed.

Final considerations

Receiving money via cell phone is very safe and practical, however, it is important to take some precautions: always remember to keep your operating system updated and install good antivirus/antimalware software to make your device even more secure.

Taking care of the security of your smartphone is a crucial step to avoid major headaches with technical support in the future! Unfortunately, many users still neglect this type of preventative measure.

And you – have you used (or do you use) any of these applications? Tell us about your experience!