Collecting money from a group should not feel like herding cats in a thunderstorm. Yet that is exactly how it can feel when you are planning a birthday gift, a trip, a team dinner, or a shared Airbnb. PayPal Money Pools used to make this easier. But since PayPal shut down Money Pools, people need other ways to collect, track, and share money without building a spreadsheet monster.
TLDR: The best PayPal Money Pools alternatives depend on what you are collecting for. Use Splitwise for shared expenses, Venmo or Cash App for quick payments, and GoFundMe for public fundraising. For example, if 8 friends are buying a $240 gift, Splitwise can show that each person owes $30, while Venmo can help everyone pay in seconds.
Why Did People Like PayPal Money Pools?
PayPal Money Pools was simple. One person created a pool. Others added money. Everyone could see the goal. It worked well for group gifts, parties, trips, and office snacks.
Then it disappeared. Sad trombone.
The good news is this: there are many tools that can do the same job. Some are even better. You just need to pick the right one for your situation.
Think of it like choosing a vehicle. A bike is great for a short ride. A van is better for moving a couch. A rocket is fun, but probably too much for pizza night.
What To Look For In A Money Pool Alternative
Before you choose an app, ask a few quick questions.
- Is the money for friends or the public?
- Do you need to track who paid?
- Do people need accounts to join?
- Are there fees?
- Do you need international payments?
- Do you want a goal meter?
If you answer these first, you avoid chaos later. Chaos is bad. Especially when Aunt Linda says she paid, but nobody can find the transfer.
1. Splitwise: Best For Shared Expenses
Splitwise is great when people owe different amounts. It is not really a money collection app by itself. It is more like a smart scoreboard for who owes what.
Use it for trips, roommates, group dinners, and family holidays. You add expenses. Splitwise calculates who owes whom. It keeps everything neat.
Example: Four friends spend a weekend away. Mia pays $300 for the hotel. Leo pays $120 for groceries. Sam pays $80 for gas. Splitwise works out the balance. No napkin math needed.
Best for: trips, roommates, dinners, ongoing group costs.
Not best for: collecting donations from strangers.
2. Venmo: Best For Fast Friend Payments
Venmo is very popular in the United States. It is fast, friendly, and easy to use. People can send money with a note, an emoji, or a tiny message like “taco debt.” That alone is worth something.
Venmo works well when everyone knows each other. You can request money from people. You can also see payment activity, depending on privacy settings.
It is a strong pick for casual collections. Think birthday gifts, dinner bills, concert tickets, and fantasy football dues.
Best for: friends, small groups, quick payments.
Not best for: international groups or formal fundraising.
3. Cash App: Best For Simple Money Transfers
Cash App is another easy choice. It is clean and quick. People send money using a $Cashtag, phone number, or email. It is popular with younger users and casual groups.
Cash App is good when you do not need fancy tracking. If the goal is “send me $25 for the party bus,” it works.
But keep records. Cash App is simple, which is nice. It also means you may need to track the group goal somewhere else.
Best for: quick collections and simple group payments.
Not best for: detailed expense splitting.
4. Zelle: Best For Bank To Bank Payments
Zelle is built into many banking apps in the United States. This makes it very handy. Money often moves fast from one bank account to another.
There is no social feed. No emojis. No glitter. Just money moving from point A to point B. Sometimes that is perfect.
Use Zelle for trusted people only. Payments can be hard to reverse. If your cousin’s new “business partner” wants Zelle for a mystery investment, maybe run away.
Best for: trusted friends and family with U.S. bank accounts.
Not best for: public collections or risky transactions.
5. GoFundMe: Best For Public Fundraising
GoFundMe is a great choice when you need to collect money from many people. It is often used for medical bills, emergencies, memorials, charities, and community help.
It gives you a public page. You can tell a story. You can add photos. People can share the page. That makes it stronger than a simple payment request.
If you need $5,000 for a community project, GoFundMe is much better than texting 200 people one by one. Your thumbs will thank you.
Best for: public fundraisers and emotional causes.
Not best for: splitting pizza money.
6. Wise: Best For International Groups
Wise is useful when people live in different countries. It supports many currencies. It also shows fees clearly. That matters when your group includes people in the U.S., the U.K., Europe, Australia, and beyond.
PayPal can work internationally too. But fees and exchange rates can get confusing. Wise is often praised for being more transparent.
Use it for global clubs, international gifts, remote teams, and destination weddings.
Best for: cross-border payments and currency exchange.
Not best for: fun group pages with goal meters.
7. Revolut: Best For Travel Groups
Revolut is another strong option for people who travel. It supports multiple currencies. It also has features for splitting bills and sending money to contacts.
If your group is backpacking through Europe, Revolut can be very handy. You can split dinner in Paris, train tickets in Rome, and coffee in Amsterdam. Coffee will probably cost more than expected. It always does.
Best for: travelers and international friends.
Not best for: people who only need one simple U.S. payment method.
8. Cheddar Up: Best For Schools, Clubs, And Teams
Cheddar Up is made for organized collections. Schools, sports teams, clubs, and parent groups can use it to collect money and forms.
This is useful if you need more than cash. You may need shirt sizes, permission slips, meal choices, or event registrations. Cheddar Up keeps those details together.
Best for: PTA groups, coaches, teachers, clubs, and team managers.
Not best for: tiny friend collections.
9. Collection Pot And GroupTogether: Best For Group Gifts
Collection Pot and GroupTogether focus on group gifting. They are built for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, retirements, and work farewells.
These tools can feel more festive than a plain payment app. People can add messages. The organizer can collect contributions. Then the recipient gets a gift, card, or money option.
This is much nicer than passing an envelope around the office. Also, nobody has to pretend they have exact change.
Best for: group gifts and workplace celebrations.
Not best for: detailed trip expense tracking.
Quick Match Guide
Still not sure? Use this cheat sheet.
- Trip with friends: Splitwise or Revolut.
- Fast payment request: Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle.
- Public fundraiser: GoFundMe.
- International collection: Wise or Revolut.
- School or team fees: Cheddar Up.
- Office gift: GroupTogether or Collection Pot.
Watch Out For Fees
Fees can sneak in like a raccoon at a picnic. Always check before you collect money.
- Card payments may cost extra.
- Instant transfers may have a fee.
- International payments may include exchange costs.
- Fundraising platforms may charge processing fees.
A small fee is not always bad. It may be worth it for easier tracking, better sharing, or less stress. But know the cost first.
Final Thoughts
PayPal Money Pools may be gone, but group collecting is not. You have many choices. Some are fast. Some are social. Some are made for travel. Some are built for big public fundraising.
The best option is the one that matches your group. If you are buying tacos, keep it simple. If you are raising money for a cause, use a real fundraising page. If you are planning a trip, track expenses before everyone forgets who paid for the giant airport sandwich.
Simple rule: choose the tool that causes the fewest confused texts. Your group will be happier. Your money will be easier to track. And you can spend less time chasing payments and more time enjoying the thing you collected money for.