Alexis Kestler
If you‘re an avid Venmo user like me, you may have wondered – can I use prepaid cards and gift cards on Venmo too?
I used to think Venmo only worked with bank accounts and physical debit/credit cards. But it turns out you have more payment options than you think!
In this in-depth guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about using prepaid cards on Venmo in 2023. Consider me your Venmo prepaid card guru! I‘ve done tons of research and testing to figure out which ones work and how to set them up properly.
Here‘s what we‘ll cover:
- Quick answer: Yes, you can use prepaid cards on Venmo!
- What types of prepaid cards work on Venmo
- Step-by-step instructions for adding a prepaid card
- Troubleshooting when your card is declined
- Weekly and monthly spending limits
- Prepaid card tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions
Let‘s get started!
Can You Use Prepaid Cards on Venmo?
The quick answer is yes, Venmo does allow prepaid debit cards and gift cards!
This is great news if you have a Visa gift card from the holidays or always use prepaid cards for online shopping.
However, there are a few limitations and guidelines you need to follow:
- The prepaid card must be registered and in your name
- There‘s a $299.99 weekly spending limit
- Only major card networks like Visa, Mastercard, Amex are accepted
As long as your card says Visa, Mastercard, etc. and is registered to you, it will work with Venmo. Retail gift cards like Amazon and virtual card numbers do not work.
Keep these rules in mind and you can successfully use a prepaid card to send money, make purchases, and manage funds on Venmo.
Next let‘s look at the specific types of prepaid cards that work on Venmo.
What Prepaid Cards Work on Venmo in 2023
In my testing, I found that most major gift cards and prepaid debit card brands are compatible with Venmo:
Visa
- Visa gift cards – The most common gift cards purchased from grocery/retail stores
- Visa prepaid cards – Such as those from MovoCash and Netspend
- Reloadable Visa prepaid debit cards – Like GreenDot and Ace Elite
Mastercard
- Mastercard gift cards – General purpose gift cards
- Netspend, Brink‘s, Ace Elite – Major prepaid Mastercard issuers
American Express
- Amex gift cards – Famous for restaurants and shopping
- Amex Serve – FDIC insured prepaid account
Discover
- Discover gift cards – Can be used for shopping and food
- Discover prepaid debit cards – Such as Discover Cashback Debit
PayPal
- PayPal gift cards – Easy to transfer balance to Venmo account
As you can see, most of the major prepaid card brands and issuers work great with Venmo.
The key things to look for are:
- Card network logo (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
- Your registered name on the card
- Available balance – needs funds!
Avoid using retail or virtual gift cards as those are not compatible. Stick to the major issuers listed above and you‘ll have no problems.
Next I‘ll walk through how to add a prepaid card to Venmo in simple steps.
How to Add a Prepaid Card to Venmo in 4 Easy Steps
I‘ll show you just how quick and easy it is to add a prepaid card to Venmo:
Step 1: Open Venmo and Tap Your Profile
- Launch the Venmo app and tap the profile icon in the top right corner
- This brings up your account settings
Step 2: Tap "Payment Methods"
- From your profile, select "Payment Methods"
- You‘ll see options to add a bank account or card
Step 3: Tap "Add Card"
- Now tap the "Add Card" button
- This will open the form to enter your card details
Step 4: Enter Your Prepaid Card Details
- Carefully enter your prepaid card info:
- Card number
- Expiration date
- Security code (CVV)
- ZIP code
- Ensure your name matches Venmo account name
That‘s it! Just 4 simple steps and your prepaid card will be added to Venmo in seconds.
Once it verifies, you‘ll see it listed under Payment Methods and can start using it right away. Super easy process!
Troubleshooting When Your Prepaid Card is Declined
Sometimes prepaid cards get declined by Venmo even after entering the right details. Here are some reasons why and how to fix:
Wrong cardholder name – Make sure to register gift cards to your name for Venmo.
Expired card – Double check the expiration date entered hasn‘t passed.
Insufficient funds – Reload more money onto the card balance.
Hit weekly limit – Venmo has a $300 weekly limit for prepaid cards (more on this later).
Incorrect security code – Re-enter the 3 or 4 digit CVV number.
Wrong ZIP code – Enter the correct billing ZIP associated with the card.
Fraud prevention flag – Very rarely Venmo will falsely flag valid cards as fraudulent. You may need to contact support to override this.
Card brand not accepted – Unfortunately retail and virtual gift cards can‘t be added to Venmo.
Taking a minute to troubleshoot will often reveal the issue – an expired card, wrong security code, etc. But if not, reach out to Venmo‘s excellent customer service for help.
Now let‘s go over the weekly and monthly spending limits enforced for prepaid cards.
Venmo Prepaid Card Transaction Limits to Know
To prevent fraud and abuse, Venmo enforces limits when using prepaid cards:
- Weekly limit – $299.99 maximum per 7 day rolling period
- Monthly limit – $799.99 maximum per 30 day rolling period
These limits reset every Monday at midnight and on the 1st of each month.
So even if your prepaid card has a higher balance, you can only spend up to $300 per week and $800 per month using it on Venmo.
Good security practice, but something to be aware of if you plan to use a prepaid card frequently with Venmo. You may hit the limit at times.
Here are some tips to make the most of your prepaid card with Venmo while staying under the limits:
- Track your spending – Monitor to avoid hitting the max limits
- Time larger purchases – Make bigger payments at start of week/month
- Use for smaller amounts – Best for paying back friends or splitting smaller bills
Okay, let‘s wrap things up with some commonly asked questions about prepaid cards and Venmo!
Prepaid Card Tips and FAQs for Venmo
Can I transfer my Venmo balance to a prepaid card?
Unfortunately no – you can only transfer Venmo balances to linked bank accounts, not back to prepaid cards.
Do Visa gift cards work on Venmo?
Yes! As long as registered in your name, Visa gift cards work great with Venmo.
What‘s the weekly transaction limit for prepaid cards?
$299.99 per 7 day rolling period. The limit resets every Monday.
Can I use virtual Visa cards on Venmo?
No, Venmo requires the physical card number. Virtual card numbers don‘t work.
Why are some gift cards declined on Venmo?
If not registered to your name or incorrect details entered, gift cards will be declined by Venmo.
How long does it take to verify a prepaid card on Venmo?
Adding a prepaid card only takes seconds! As long as all details entered correctly, it‘s a super fast process.
And there you have it! As a fellow Venmo addict, I hope this guide gave you a complete overview of using prepaid cards with Venmo.
The key takeaways:
- You can use major gift cards and prepaid debit cards on Venmo
- Make sure to register cards in your name and enter details carefully
- Follow the $300 weekly and $800 monthly limits per card
- Contact Venmo support if your card won‘t verify or is declined
Now you can use those gift cards and prepaid cards for sending money to friends, shopping, and managing funds on Venmo! Have fun and use your cards wisely within the limits.
Let me know if you have any other Venmo or prepaid card questions! Happy to help out a fellow Venmo user.
