How to Send and Receive Money Using Gmail

By Althea Chang
published

Google is pitting itself against PayPal, Facebook and even some banks by letting users send and receive payments straight from Gmail.

Google has introduced a new, easy way to send and receive money via Gmail, turning the mail app into a potential competitor to similar services available from PayPal, Venmo, Facebook and banks like Chase. Here's how to use it.

Sending Money via Gmail

Credit: Google

(Image credit: Google)
  1.     Set up Google Wallet with a debit card.
  2.     In your Gmail app or on the web, click on Compose to write a new email.
  3.     Click on the dollar sign if you're sending money through Gmail in a browser or the paperclip icon if you're using the Gmail app.
  4.     Select the Send Money option.
  5.     Type in the amount you'd like to send.
  6.     Select your payment method. If you have a Google Wallet account, you'll already have one saved.
  7.     If you'd like, you can add a note with your payment.
  8.     Hit send, and you're done.

Requesting and Receiving Money via Gmail

  1.     Set up Google Wallet with a debit card.
  2.     Click on Compose to write a new email.
  3.     Type in the email address of the person you want to request money from.
  4.     Click on the paperclip or dollar sign.
  5.     Select Request Money.
  6.     Type in the amount of money you'd like to request.
  7.     Add a memo if you'd like.
  8.     Tap Attach.
  9.     Hit send.
Althea Chang

Althea Chang is Associate Director of Content Development for Consumer Reports and was previously a Senior Writer for Tom's Guide, covering mobile devices, health and fitness gadgets and car tech.