Trying to collect money from friends can feel like herding cats in party hats. Someone forgets. Someone pays in coins. Someone says, “I’ll send it later,” and then vanishes into the group chat fog. PayPal Money Pools used to make this simple, but since it is no longer available, you need a new way to gather funds without turning into the group accountant.

TLDR: The best alternatives to PayPal Money Pools are Venmo, Splitwise, Cash App, GoFundMe, Revolut, and Google Sheets with payment links. For example, if 10 friends need to pay $25 each for a birthday gift, Venmo or Cash App can collect the $250 fast. For shared trips, Splitwise is better because it tracks who paid for what and who still owes money. Pick the tool based on your group size, country, and whether you need simple payments or detailed expense tracking.

Why PayPal Money Pools Was Popular

PayPal Money Pools was a handy tool. You could create a shared page, set a goal, and invite people to chip in. It worked well for birthday gifts, office lunches, vacations, charity drives, and fantasy football dues.

But the tool was discontinued. So now people need other options. The good news? There are plenty. Some are faster. Some are better for tracking. Some are better for big public fundraisers.

The trick is choosing the right one. A family pizza night does not need the same setup as a $5,000 community fundraiser.

1. Venmo: Best for Casual Group Payments

Venmo is one of the easiest choices if you live in the United States. It is great for friends, roommates, and casual groups. You can request money from several people at once. You can also add a note like “Beach house snacks” or “Anna’s birthday gift.”

Venmo feels social. Payments can show up in a feed, unless users make them private. That can be fun, but it may not be for everyone.

Best for:

  • Birthday gifts
  • Group meals
  • Roommate bills
  • Small trips

Watch out for: Venmo is mainly for U.S. users. Also, instant transfers may have fees.

2. Splitwise: Best for Trips and Shared Expenses

Splitwise is not just a payment app. It is more like a friendly math wizard. It helps groups track who paid, who owes, and how much is left to settle.

Let’s say four friends go on a weekend trip. Mia pays $320 for the hotel. Leo pays $90 for gas. Sam pays $140 for groceries. Nobody wants to do math on vacation. Splitwise sorts it out and shows the simplest way to settle up.

This is where Splitwise shines. It is perfect when people pay for different things at different times.

Best for:

  • Group vacations
  • Roommates
  • Couples splitting bills
  • Long-term shared costs

Watch out for: Splitwise tracks expenses, but payments usually happen through other apps like Venmo, PayPal, or bank transfer.

3. Cash App: Best for Fast and Simple Collections

Cash App is simple. That is its superpower. You send money. You request money. Done. If your group already uses it, Cash App can be one of the quickest PayPal Money Pools replacements.

It works well for small collections. Think concert tickets, sports league dues, group gifts, or shared takeout. You can send your $Cashtag to the group chat and ask people to pay their part.

Best for:

  • Quick money requests
  • Small groups
  • Friends who already use Cash App
  • Simple one-time collections

Watch out for: Like Venmo, Cash App is not a full group fund page. You may need to track payments yourself.

4. GoFundMe: Best for Public Fundraising

If you need to raise money from more than just close friends, GoFundMe is a strong choice. It is built for fundraising. You can create a page, tell your story, add photos, set a goal, and share the link.

This works well for medical costs, memorial funds, community projects, school causes, and emergency help. It feels more official than a random payment request in a chat.

For example, if a local sports team needs $2,000 for travel costs, GoFundMe gives supporters a clear goal. People can see progress and donate even if they do not know the organizer well.

Best for:

  • Charity campaigns
  • Medical fundraisers
  • Emergency support
  • Community projects

Watch out for: GoFundMe may have payment processing fees. Also, it is best for donations, not splitting a dinner bill.

5. Revolut: Best for International Groups

Revolut is useful when your group is spread across countries. It supports multiple currencies and easy transfers between users. This makes it handy for international friends, travel groups, remote teams, and expats.

You can create payment requests and split bills. If everyone uses Revolut, settling up can be smooth. No one has to panic about exchange rates like they are solving a secret code.

Best for:

  • International trips
  • Friends in different countries
  • Multi-currency payments
  • Travel groups

Watch out for: Features and fees can vary by country and plan. Always check before using it for large amounts.

6. Zelle: Best for U.S. Bank-to-Bank Transfers

Zelle is built into many U.S. banking apps. That makes it very convenient. If your friends already have Zelle through their banks, they can send money straight from account to account.

Zelle is fast. In many cases, transfers happen within minutes. It is great for trusted people, like family or close friends.

Best for:

  • Family collections
  • Rent shares
  • Trusted friend groups
  • Fast bank transfers

Watch out for: Zelle payments are hard to reverse. Do not use it with strangers or random online buyers.

7. Google Sheets Plus Payment Links: Best DIY Option

This one sounds boring. But wait. It can be powerful.

You can create a simple Google Sheet with names, amounts owed, payment status, and notes. Then add payment links for Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or bank transfer details. Share the sheet with the group.

This is not as fancy as PayPal Money Pools. But it is flexible. It works for school events, office gifts, clubs, and trip planning.

Best for:

  • People who like clear records
  • Office collections
  • Club fees
  • Custom payment tracking

Watch out for: You must update the sheet. Yes, the spreadsheet goblin must be fed.

How to Pick the Right Tool

Here is the simple version. Do not overthink it.

  • Use Venmo if your U.S. friend group wants quick casual payments.
  • Use Splitwise if many people are paying for different things.
  • Use Cash App if you want fast one-time money requests.
  • Use GoFundMe if you are raising money from the public.
  • Use Revolut if your group is international.
  • Use Zelle if you trust the people and want bank-to-bank speed.
  • Use Google Sheets if you need custom tracking.

Safety Tips Before Collecting Money

Money can make people weird. Even nice people. So keep things clear.

  • Write the purpose. Say exactly what the money is for.
  • Set a deadline. “Pay by Friday” works better than “whenever.”
  • Track payments. Use an app, a note, or a spreadsheet.
  • Confirm names. Make sure you are paying the right person.
  • Avoid strangers. Use safer platforms for public fundraising.
  • Check fees. Small fees can add up on bigger collections.

Final Thoughts

PayPal Money Pools may be gone, but group payments are not doomed. You have many good options. The best one depends on your group and your goal.

For casual collections, Venmo and Cash App are easy winners. For trips and roommates, Splitwise is the hero with a calculator cape. For public fundraising, GoFundMe is the better fit. For international groups, Revolut can save the day.

The golden rule is simple: make it clear, make it easy, and make it trackable. If people can pay in 30 seconds, they are much more likely to do it. And if they do not? Well, that is what friendly reminder texts are for.