3 Trusted Alternatives to Zelle Canada

Does Zelle Work in Canada?

Zelle is not available in Canada at this time and there is no indication that it will be available in Canada in the future.

Zelle has become popular for its fast and easy payments.

It’s also free.

For those who simply want to transfer money to close friends and family, Zelle has become a popular transfer method.

The app facilitates peer-to-peer transfers and has experienced enormous growth year-over-year. However, for Canadians, the main issue is that the app isn’t available in Canada.
 

  • Excellent alternative to Zelle for sending money
  • Secure & rapid transfers
  • Works well for personal and business needs
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Is Zelle Coming to Canada?

Unfortunately, Zelle has not announced any plans to expand its service to Canada.

Without any current plans for such an expansion, Canadians shouldn’t hold their breath.

Of course, Canadians can use Zelle, with the main caveat being that they must have a US bank account.

Both the sender’s and the recipient’s bank account must be in the US.

Apart from that, there aren’t any limits on who can use the app.

Of course, this makes Zelle an impractical choice for most Canadians.

Without any regular service available for Canadian bank account holders, Canadians are forced to seek alternatives.

Alternatives to Zelle for Canadians

There are several alternatives to Zelle available to Canadians.

Wise Logo

Wise

Pros

  • No markups on international exchange rates.
  • Available in dozens of countries.

Cons

  • Standard fees can add up.
  • There are faster and cheaper options for domestic transfers.
Zelle Logo

Zelle

Pros

  • No receiving limits.
  • Convenient for on-the-go transfers.

Cons

  • Only available in the US.
  • Payment limits for senders.
Wealthsimple Logo

Wealthsimple Cash

Pros

  • High interest for deposited cash.
  • Easy-to-use.

Cons

  • Only available in Canada.
  • Lacks some typical account features.

1. Wise

Wise is a US-based international money transfer provider.

It is available in many countries, including Canada and can be used to send money around the globe.

Users with more international transfer needs can use Wise for their international availability and many currencies.

Among international money transfer providers, Wise stands out for its transparency.

They don’t mark up currency conversion rates.

Wise is a fast service to use, making it comparable to Zelle and other fast money transfer options.

Wise is worth considering as an alternative to Zelle, especially if you’re planning on sending money to other countries.

2. Wealthsimple Cash App

Wealthsimple offers its own cash app which operates as a money transfer service and mobile bank.

It’s a convenient app that makes it easier to quickly send money, split a bill, pay someone back, or whatever other kind of transaction you need.

Deposited money in a Wealthsimple Cash App account generates interest of 0.5%.

There are no minimum deposits and sending or receiving money is free.

Wealthsimple Cash App can be considered the Canadian equivalent of Zelle.

It’s a Canadian service that is designed for Canada-to-Canada transfers.

3. Interac e-Transfer

Interac is a Canadian network that connects the many chartered banks in Canada.

It enables electronic transactions for other financial institutions as well.

For the average Canadian, they also offer e-transfers, a fast and (normally) free option for sending money.

The specific cost and transfer times of an e-transfer depend on the bank you send money from.

Some banks facilitate completely free e-transfers that are delivered in a matter of seconds.

Some other banks will charge a fee for an e-transfer.

Service times are also quite high with some banks and may take a couple of hours.

What is Zelle and Why is it so Popular?

Zelle is a free domestic money transfer service in the US.

It’s an app-based service, making it easy to use on the go.

Zelle’s rising popularity can be attributed partly to the overall rise in the popularity of peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers.

But Zelle also offers a unique proposition in several ways.

Zelle integrates with many other banking apps, offering extensive interoperability with other financial services popular among Americans.

There are also no limits for how much money users can receive.

While there are limits on how much users can send, Zelle offers quite a lot of value for an app that is free to use.

With that in mind, it’s clear why Zelle is popular and expected to keep growing.

Holding phone with Zelle app

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you e-transfer from the US to Canada?
  • Why is Zelle not available in Canada?
  • How do you use Zelle in Canada?
  • Is Zelle available in Canada?
Myles Leva

With a focus on business management and financing, Myles takes a proven approach to financial writing that's structured in a format to engage business owners and individuals struggling with debt and managerial challenges.

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