What you need to create a Venmo account
You need a US phone number, a valid email address, and a Social Security number or tax ID. Venmo is available only to people 18 and older. You'll also need to link a bank account, debit card, or credit card to fund transfers — Venmo itself doesn't hold your money, it just moves it between accounts.
The whole process takes about 10 minutes. You download the app, enter your personal information, verify your identity, and connect a payment method. Venmo will ask for your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number during signup. This is standard identity verification to comply with federal money transmission rules.
If you're under 18, you cannot create a Venmo account. If you don't have a US phone number or Social Security number, you won't be able to sign up.
Key Takeaways
- Download the Venmo app from the App Store or Google Play, then enter your email, phone number, and password to create your account.
- Venmo will ask for your full name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number to verify your identity.
- Link a bank account, debit card, or credit card to send and receive money; you can add multiple payment methods.
- Your first transfer may take one to three business days to arrive, depending on whether you're sending to a bank account or another Venmo user.
- Set your transaction privacy to private or friends-only during setup, since Venmo defaults to showing transactions to other users.
Download the app and create your login
Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) and search for "Venmo." Download the official app made by PayPal. Open it and tap "Sign up." Enter your email address, create a password, and enter your phone number. Venmo will send a verification code to that phone number — enter it in the app to confirm you own the number.
Your password should be at least eight characters and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Venmo will reject weak passwords. Once you've verified your phone number, you'll move to the identity verification step.
Verify your identity with personal information
Venmo will ask for your full legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This information is checked against federal databases to confirm you are who you say you are. Venmo does not store your full Social Security number — only the last four digits are kept in your account.
If Venmo cannot verify your identity automatically, it may ask you to upload a photo of your driver's license or state ID. Take a clear photo of the front and back of your ID and upload it through the app. Verification usually completes within a few minutes, but can take up to 24 hours if Venmo needs to review your documents manually.
If verification fails, Venmo will tell you why — usually because the name or date of birth doesn't match what's in the system. You can try again with corrected information, or contact Venmo support through the app.
Link a bank account or card to fund transfers
After identity verification, Venmo will ask you to add a payment method. You have three options: link a bank account directly, add a debit card, or add a credit card. Linking a bank account is the fastest and cheapest way to send money — transfers to other Venmo users are instant and free. Debit card transfers are also free and instant to other Venmo users. Credit card transfers to other Venmo users cost 3% of the amount sent.
To link a bank account, enter your routing number and account number. You can find these on a check or by logging into your bank's website. Venmo will make two small test deposits to your account (usually under $1 each) within one to two business days. Once those deposits arrive, you'll need to confirm the amounts in the Venmo app to prove you own the account. This is called microdeposit verification.
If you prefer to add a debit or credit card instead, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV. Venmo will verify the card instantly. You can add multiple payment methods and choose which one to use for each transfer.
Set your privacy settings before your first transfer
Venmo defaults to showing your transactions to other Venmo users — they can see who you sent money to, how much, and the note you added (like "dinner" or "rent"). This is a major privacy difference from other payment apps. Before you send your first transfer, change this setting.
Open the app, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), go to Settings, then Privacy. You'll see three options: Public (visible to all Venmo users), Friends (visible only to people you've added as friends), and Private (visible only to you and the person you sent money to). Choose Private or Friends, depending on your comfort level. You can change this setting anytime, and it applies to all future transactions.
Note that changing your privacy setting does not hide past transactions — only future ones. If you've already sent money with public privacy, those transactions remain visible until you delete them individually.
Send your first payment
Tap the payment icon (usually a dollar sign or arrow) at the bottom of the screen. Search for the person you want to send money to by their name, phone number, email, or Venmo username. If they're already on Venmo, their profile will appear. Tap their name, enter the amount, add a note if you want, and tap "Pay."
If you're sending to another Venmo user, the money arrives instantly and is added to their Venmo balance. They can keep it in Venmo or transfer it to their bank account. If you're sending to someone who isn't on Venmo yet, Venmo will send them an invitation to download the app and claim the money.
If you're transferring money from Venmo to your own bank account, tap "Transfer to Bank," choose your bank account, enter the amount, and confirm. Standard transfers take one to three business days. Instant transfers to a debit card cost 25 cents per transfer (this fee varies and Venmo may change it).
What happens if something goes wrong
If you send money to the wrong person, contact Venmo support immediately through the app. Go to Settings, tap "Get Help," and select "Transaction Issues." Describe what happened. Venmo can cancel a pending transfer if the recipient hasn't claimed it yet, but once money is claimed or transferred to a bank account, Venmo cannot reverse it. You'll need to ask the recipient to send the money back.
If your account is hacked or you notice unauthorized transactions, change your password immediately and contact Venmo support. Venmo offers fraud protection similar to credit cards — if you report unauthorized activity within 60 days, Venmo will investigate and may refund the money. However, if you shared your login or PIN with someone, Venmo may not cover the loss.
If you forget your password, tap "Trouble logging in?" on the login screen. Venmo will send a reset link to your email. If you no longer have access to your email or phone number, contact Venmo support and be ready to verify your identity with your Social Security number and ID.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Venmo without a bank account?
No. You must link at least one payment method — a bank account, debit card, or credit card — to send money. You can receive money without linking anything, but you won't be able to transfer it out of Venmo without adding a bank account first.
How long does it take to verify my identity?
Most verifications complete instantly. If Venmo needs to review your ID photo, it can take up to 24 hours. Microdeposit verification for bank accounts takes one to two business days for the deposits to arrive, then a few minutes to confirm them in the app.
Is Venmo safe to use?
Venmo uses encryption to protect your data and offers fraud protection if you report unauthorized activity within 60 days. The main risk is privacy — your transactions are visible to other users by default unless you change your settings. Never share your PIN or login with anyone, and enable two-factor authentication in Settings for extra security.
What's the difference between sending to a Venmo user and a non-user?
Sending to another Venmo user is instant and free (if you use a bank account or debit card). Sending to a non-user means Venmo invites them to download the app and claim the money — they have 30 days to claim it or the money returns to you. You cannot send directly to a non-user's bank account through Venmo.
Can I send money internationally with Venmo?
No. Venmo only works within the United States and is limited to US phone numbers and bank accounts. If you need to send money internationally, you'll need a different service like Wise or OFX.