Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

PayPal vs Western Union

PayPal 4.8★ · Free to download 40
Winner Western Union
Western Union 4.8★ · Free to download 65

Western Union is generally preferred for international money transfers due to its speed and competitive exchange rates, while PayPal faces significant criticism regarding customer service, account holds, and app functionality.

Full reviews: PayPal · Western Union

Western Union is praised for its quick and secure international money transfers, often offering good exchange rates, though some users find its fees expensive. PayPal, despite its widespread use, struggles with customer service, frequent account holds, and app bugs, leading to user frustration.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Western UnionR6R9R10R12
PayPal PayPal users appreciate features like 'Pay in 4' for breaking down payments and cash back offers . However, many report significant app issues, including being unable to move money, send funds to others, or make credit payments after updates R6. Some find the app lacks full website functionality, such as recovering chat history R15, and others report issues with logging in or the app not opening R9R12. There are also complaints about outdated features like being stuck in portrait mode R10 and missing options like discounts on invoices .
Western Union Western Union is highly valued for its core function of sending money quickly and easily, especially for international transfers R62R74. Users appreciate the ability to send money to banks in other countries R77R80. However, some users experience difficulty with the app accepting debit cards , issues with canceling or editing transfers , and problems connecting to banks . There are also complaints about the app being slow and requiring frequent updates .
Ease of Use edge: Western UnionR9R11R12R15
PayPal PayPal is generally considered easy to navigate and use for payments and saving money R11. However, users report frustration with issues like the app not opening R12, difficulties signing in R9, and problems with payment processing . Some find the process of linking or unlinking bank accounts problematic R15.
Western Union Western Union is frequently described as very easy and convenient to use for sending money . Users appreciate the straightforward process for transfers . However, some find the site hard to manage , especially when dealing with password resets or card re-submissions . Issues with the app being unresponsive or slow also hinder ease of use .
Reliability & Performance tieR6R12R19R24
PayPal PayPal's reliability is a major concern for users. Many report money being held for weeks or months, sometimes without clear reasons R24R25R35. Accounts are sometimes suspended or permanently disabled due to inactivity or alleged fraud, with no recourse . Payments often fail to process R6, and the app is prone to not opening or crashing R12. Users also complain about unwanted push notifications for ads that cannot be turned off R19.
Western Union Western Union is generally seen as reliable for quick and secure transfers R62. However, a significant number of users experience delayed transfers, sometimes for days or even a week, with no clear explanation . The app is also criticized for being glitchy, slow, and requiring frequent, unnecessary updates . Some users report issues with face login after updates .
Price & Value tieR22R24R25R42
PayPal PayPal users report issues with hidden currency conversion charges R60 and fees when sending money internationally R24. There are also complaints about PayPal Credit holding money ransom and impacting credit scores R25R42. Some users feel the age restriction of 18+ is too high, preventing younger individuals from using it for jobs or hobbies R22.
Western Union Western Union is frequently criticized for its high fees and expensive service . Users report being ripped off by incredibly horrible exchange rates, especially for certain countries like Japan or Iraq, which can negate any perceived savings from promo codes R69R75. Some users feel they are charged for no reason . However, others find the fees affordable and the exchange rates among the highest .
Customer Support tieR3R7R15R35
PayPal PayPal's customer support is a major point of contention. Users frequently describe it as unhelpful, pathetic, and unresponsive R3R7R35R52. Many report having to call for issues that chatbots or online agents cannot solve R7R15. There are complaints about support not keeping promises and AI interfaces offering limited help R52. Users also report long hold times .
Western Union Western Union's customer service also receives significant negative feedback. Users describe staff as hard to work with, clueless, rude, and sometimes dishonest . There are complaints about poor customer service and an inability to resolve issues quickly, especially with delayed transfers . Some users found the AI unhelpful .
Pick PayPal if

You frequently use 'Pay in 4' for purchases or value cash back offers, and you are willing to navigate potential app bugs and customer service issues.

Pick Western Union if

You need to send money internationally quickly and securely, especially if you prioritize speed and often find good exchange rates for your specific transfer corridors.

Evidence note: PayPal has a significantly larger number of reviews, which contributes to a broader range of reported issues, particularly concerning app functionality and customer service. Western Union's reviews, while fewer, highlight consistent problems with transfer delays and exchange rates.

Frequently asked

Which app is better for international money transfers?
Western Union is generally considered better for international money transfers, with many users praising its speed and ease of use for sending money overseas R62R74R77R80.
Do PayPal and Western Union have good customer service?
Both PayPal and Western Union receive significant criticism for their customer service, with users describing PayPal's support as unhelpful and pathetic R3R7R35R52, and Western Union's staff as hard to work with, clueless, and sometimes dishonest .
Are there hidden fees with these apps?
PayPal users report hidden currency conversion charges R60 and international transfer fees R24, while Western Union users complain about being ripped off by poor exchange rates that negate promo code savings, especially for certain countries R69R75.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R6] PayPal 3/5 · US Issues since last update: Never had a problem with this app until the latest update. Now I’m rarely able to move money around and it takes forever to get my Cash back points. The app won’t let my husband and I send money to each other and I still have points pending from almost a month ago. I hope this gets fixed soon 😕
  2. [R9] PayPal 3/5 · US Cool: It’s fine, but it won’t let me sign in. It’s says 4+ and it says I’m to young.
  3. [R10] PayPal 1/5 · US STUCK IN PORTRAIT??: This app stays stuck in portrait mode on my iPad. It is 2026, what kind of nonsense is this???
  4. [R12] PayPal 3/5 · US app: since last week i loved my pay pal now everytime i go to open my app it will not open i’ve done everything. I close the account like the account of my Facebook off my phone reinstall it shut my phone off to Noeville PayPal. I cannot get into anymore so I don’t like them.
  5. [R11] PayPal 5/5 · US Great: I use this get my pay Check and to save money
  6. [R15] PayPal 3/5 · US Lacks full functionality: The app lacks the functionality of the website. I can’t use the app to recover a chat with customer service. Must use the website. I have one huge beef that’s with PayPal rather than the app: For “security” PayPal randomly automatically unlinks bank accounts from a PayPal account without notice if the bank account was initially connected a long time ago. This is done by t
  7. [R19] PayPal 1/5 · US Ad push notifications: Started sending push notification ads today after years of trusting it for financial urgency. Turned off now.
  8. [R24] PayPal 3/5 · US It’s good: PayPal is great but sometimes they put my money on hold which is very annoying. I get it’s for security purposes but at times it’s annoying because they keep my money for weeks. And also, I use euro and my friend uses usd and when I send I get a fee but when see sends she doesn’t. But overall the app is good
  9. [R22] PayPal 1/5 · US Let it be 16+: Idk why we're acting like teens don't have jobs or need money for sports or hobbys or legit anything. I feel like y'all should lower the price.
  10. [R25] PayPal 1/5 · US PayPal Mastercard: PayPal Mastercard tries to hold your money ransom if you pay your card off in full. I paid my card off 7/2/26 and called today to see why the available balance hasn’t changed. They said they will release the “hold” 7/17/26 because my account was opened less than 6 months ago. When I paid $80 or so for the payment they released the “hold” after a couple days. They clearly just wa
  11. [R42] PayPal 1/5 · US Credit card stinks: They will give you a credit limit and take half of the amount back after a month, messing up your credit, pay off your balance with PP cash and it takes a month to clear, smh
  12. [R3] PayPal 3/5 · US PayPal: I find PayPal very unhelpful I have moved to another country and need to either change or open a new PayPal account not really sure what to do because no one from PayPal will assist me
  13. [R7] PayPal 1/5 · US Digital company but no online support: Every time I have some issue I have to call as the chatbot and agents from support don’t solve anything. Only in the USA a digital company for online payments still living in the phone age.
  14. [R35] PayPal 5/5 · US VERY DISAPPOINTED: Have been holding my money against me for two months saying ill get it in 120 days they stole 52$ dollars from me and i never seen it again and customer support is no help at all if this is what users deal with I honestly don’t recommend this app at all
  15. [R62] Western Union 5/5 · US Muy buena: Es muy segura y muy rápida recomendada 100 por ciento
  16. [R74] Western Union 5/5 · US Me encanta: Mi dinero al instante
  17. [R77] Western Union 5/5 · US Very Easy: Me facilita la vida, Desde mi teléfono puede hacer envíos a Bancos en en El Salvador
  18. [R80] Western Union 5/5 · US Thank you!: Now that I have a designated bank account specifically used for transferring funds to the orphanage in Uganda, I must say this works very smoothly and I appreciate this tool to help them! Thank you!
  19. [R52] PayPal 2/5 · US Be Cautious!!: When everything goes right, it’s GREAT! However, if there is an issue with a seller you’re screwed! Real reviews are based on HOW a company acts when things don’t go right. Good luck contacting a person. PayPal only has an A.I. interface with limited help. Their system is not designed for business that engage in fraudulent practices.
  20. [R60] PayPal 1/5 · US Hidden currency conversion charges: The app is a scam. It will show your charges in one currency and charge in another using a very terrible conversion rate.
  21. [R69] Western Union 3/5 · US Beware of the "discount" promo code trick!: I noticed something shady while sending money. When I applied their promo code to waive the $1.99 transfer fee, the app quietly dropped the exchange rate from 94.0515 INR to 93.2008 INR per USD. My family would have received 255 INR less, which is actually more than the $1.99 fee I "saved." So the promo code is not actually a discount. They simply shift
  22. [R75] Western Union 3/5 · US Don’t Send Money to Japan: Do not send money to Japan via WesternUnion. They will rip you off on a incredibly horrible exchange rate. I thought I was paying about a $12 fee but I lost another $300 in the terrible exchange rate they gave me.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store