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

Western Union vs PayPal

Western Union 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner Western Union
PayPal 4.8★ · Free to download 65

For international money transfers, Western Union generally offers faster and more reliable service, while PayPal is better for everyday online payments and domestic transfers, despite recent app issues.

Full reviews: Western Union · PayPal

Western Union excels in international money transfers, with many users praising its speed and ease for sending money abroad. PayPal, while widely used for online payments, faces recent complaints about app functionality, customer service, and delayed transfers.

Head to head

International Money Transfer edge: Western UnionR9R11R13R15
Western Union Western Union users frequently highlight the app's speed and ease for international transfers, with money often arriving instantly or quickly R11R23R31. However, a significant number of users complain about poor exchange rates and high fees, sometimes feeling ripped off R9R13R15R21.
PayPal PayPal users mention using it for international transfers but also report issues with money being held or delayed, especially when sending between different currencies R95. Some users also note that the app lacks full functionality compared to the website for certain tasks, which could impact international transfers .
App Functionality & Reliability tieR1R2R3R4
Western Union Western Union receives mixed reviews for its app. Many users find it easy to use for transactions . However, a substantial number report issues like cards not being accepted, difficulty with security checks, slow performance, glitches, and inability to edit or cancel transfers R1R2R3R4.
PayPal PayPal users have recently reported significant issues with app functionality, including inability to move money, delayed cash back points, login problems, and payments not processing . Some also note that the app lacks full functionality compared to the website . Despite these recent issues, many users still find it secure and convenient for online payments .
Customer Support & Issue Resolution tieR25R38R42R44
Western Union Western Union users report difficulties with customer support, including staff being hard to work with, lying, being clueless, and failing to resolve issues quickly R25R38R42R44. Some transfers are delayed for days with no clear explanation from support R25.
PayPal PayPal users frequently criticize customer service, describing it as unhelpful, pathetic, rude, and unable to solve problems R63R67R95. Many report that the chatbot and AI agents are ineffective, requiring phone calls that often result in long holds and no resolution R67R113.
Fees & Exchange Rates tieR1R9R13R15
Western Union Western Union is frequently criticized for high fees and poor exchange rates, with users feeling that the company 'double dips' by charging both transaction fees and an unfavorable exchange rate R1R9R13R15. Some users report promo codes reducing the fee but also quietly lowering the exchange rate R15.
PayPal PayPal users mention fees for international transfers and issues with their credit card services, including money being held or limits being reduced . There are also complaints about money being held for weeks or months for security purposes R95.
Security & Trust tieR7R11R33R39
Western Union Western Union users generally consider the service safe and secure for transfers R11R33R39. However, there are serious complaints about fraud, unexplained charges, and money not being recovered after scams R7R44.
PayPal PayPal is widely praised for being secure and safe for online payments . However, some users report accounts being disabled for inactivity or 'scamming concerns' without clear resolution . There are also instances of money being held for security purposes R95.
Notifications & User Experience edge: Western UnionR12R16R28R52
Western Union Western Union users complain about constant, unnecessary updates R16 and slow notices of transfer completion or failure R12. The app is also criticized for being slow and buggy R28R52.
PayPal PayPal users are highly frustrated by unwanted push notifications for ads and credit card offers, even when marketing notifications are turned off in settings R79R88R91R94. The app is also criticized for being stuck in portrait mode on iPad and generally feeling slow and clumsy .
Pick Western Union if

you need to send money internationally quickly and reliably, especially to specific bank accounts or for cash pickup, and are willing to navigate potential issues with exchange rates or occasional app glitches R11R31.

Pick PayPal if

you primarily need a secure and convenient way to make online payments, receive payments from games, or use features like 'Pay in 4' for purchases, and are comfortable with the app's current functionality issues and push notifications .

Evidence note: Both apps have a high volume of reviews, but recent negative feedback for PayPal regarding app functionality and customer service is prominent. Western Union's negative reviews often focus on fees and exchange rates, alongside app glitches.

Frequently asked

Are Western Union's exchange rates competitive?
Western Union's exchange rates are frequently criticized by users for being unfavorable, with some reporting significant losses due to poor rates, such as losing $300 on a transfer to Japan or a P2.00 peso difference compared to the real rate in the Philippines R9R15R21R34.
Does PayPal have good customer support?
PayPal's customer support is widely reported as unhelpful, with users frequently stating that chatbot and AI agents do not solve issues, requiring calls that often involve long hold times and no resolution R63R67R95R113.
Can I trust Western Union for urgent transfers?
Many Western Union users praise the app for quick and instant transfers, making it suitable for urgent needs R11R23R31. However, some users report significant delays, with transfers remaining 'in progress' for days or even a week, which can be problematic for urgent situations R25.
Does PayPal send unwanted notifications?
Yes, PayPal frequently sends push notifications for advertisements and credit card offers, even when users have explicitly turned off marketing notifications within the app and on their phone settings R79R88R91R94.

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. [R9] Western Union 3/5 · US Rates: Exchange rate is incorrect! So makes money of the exchange rate and transaction fees. Been using this service for over 7 years
  2. [R11] Western Union 5/5 · US Muy buena: Es muy segura y muy rápida recomendada 100 por ciento
  3. [R13] Western Union 2/5 · US Servicio carísimo: Lamentablemente, mi profe de piano usa este sistema que me mata con las comisiones. Usureros.
  4. [R15] 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
  5. [R1] Western Union 1/5 · US Frustrating: Cannot get it to accept my debit card so charged way more fees. Looking for new way to send money.
  6. [R2] Western Union 4/5 · US Visa: CAN YOU GET VISA TO STOP SECURITY CHECK WITH A CODE?! Visa WONT SEND OT TO MOBILE AND WHEN BISA SENDS TO EMAIL IT GOES TO JUNK MAIL. I CALLED MY BANK COMPLAINING TO THEM BUT THE PROBLEM WAS VISA
  7. [R3] Western Union 3/5 · US Unresponsive: It seems like you may be experiencing some difficulty on the chrome browser. I got tired of waiting so I went to my app to complete the transaction
  8. [R4] Western Union 1/5 · US The app is trash: I cannot cancel a edit the transfer or edit the receiver name anymore, even the receipt says the money is ready to pick up, on the app it shows the transfer status it’s not ready or completed The app is trash now, I don’t what changed
  9. [R25] Western Union 1/5 · US No resuelven rápido: Tuve una experiencia muy poco agradable realicé un envío el viernes y no se ha completado no me pueden decir cuál es el motivo por el cual la persona a la que envío no puede recibir el dinero esto es por tarjeta bancaria. Deberían solucionar más rápido. A veces los envíos son urgentes y las personas necesitamos el dinero rápido. Muy insatisfecha con el servició.
  10. [R38] Western Union 2/5 · US They don’t know: If you are in a foreign country and lose your bank card or wallet - make sure YOU find out if there’s a cap on how much cash can be sent to you there. Western Union allows members to send over the cap and then the money must be refunded and sent again if it was too high. This left me without cash for days and then another fee to send again. It’s a necessary evil as it’s still hard
  11. [R42] Western Union 1/5 · US The staff are hard to work with. I can’t send money.: I can’t send money and the staff have lied to me when I call to ask why things are not going through. The tech and it help are clueless. That company may be good. Until you have a problem that needs to be fixed. Then you are going to have to endure rude and at times , staff that lies.
  12. [R44] Western Union 1/5 · US My money: I was scammed a few yrs back and they made wait for 3 yrs just tell me that I’m not getting back what I lost after I took all the steps to get my money Definitely feel like we’re in on the scam too.
  13. [R7] Western Union 1/5 · US Fraud: They charged me $54.60 for no reason
  14. [R33] Western Union 5/5 · US Easy: my transfere are very easy. I am using it all the time and it feels safe. Thank you
  15. [R39] Western Union 5/5 · US Best of the best!: Easy and secure way to take care of what I really care!
  16. [R12] Western Union 3/5 · US Inelegant amount entry. Slow notices of completion or failures.8: I have to do while driving but small fonts and hard to place cursors make it tougher.
  17. [R16] Western Union 1/5 · US Garbage: Doesn’t work. Another day, another unnecessary update. Complete piece of garbage that needs to be updated over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over every single day and every single
  18. [R28] Western Union 1/5 · US Worst app and website ever: One of the worst abs and websites ever so slow every time I never had a good experience with their website or application
  19. [R52] Western Union 2/5 · US Technology is too slow: Slow app takes forever to do a transfer and they cage too much.
  20. [R21] 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 $300 in the terrible exchange rate they gave me.
  21. [R34] Western Union 1/5 · US Rate: Your Phillipine peso to dollar rate is P2.00 pesos lower than the real western union
  22. [R63] PayPal 3/5 · US PayPal: I find PayPal very unhelpful I have moved to another country and need to either change or open a new PayPal account not really sure what to do because no one from PayPal will assist me
  23. [R67] PayPal 1/5 · US Digital company but no online support: Every time I have some issue I have to call as the chatbot and agents from support don’t solve anything. Only in the USA a digital company for online payments still living in the phone age.
  24. [R95] PayPal 5/5 · US VERY DISAPPOINTED: Have been holding my money against me for two months saying ill get it in 120 days they stole 52$ 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
  25. [R113] 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.
  26. [R23] Western Union 5/5 · US Me encanta: Mi dinero al instante
  27. [R31] Western Union 5/5 · US Great: This was so easy and convenient!
  28. [R79] PayPal 1/5 · US Ad push notifications: Started sending push notification ads today after years of trusting it for financial urgency. Turned off now.
  29. [R88] PayPal 1/5 · US Bad Behavior Notifications: PayPal app has badly behaving notifications. Two categories for notifications under ‘You’re receiving…’ that are unchecked, but are still sending notifications. I assume the category is ‘announcements offers and incentives tailored to you’ but it’s just trash promotions.
  30. [R91] PayPal 1/5 · US Sends you junk push notifications: The app sends you advertisements for PayPal garbage. There’s a setting to turn these notifications off, but it ignores that setting.
  31. [R94] PayPal 1/5 · US Spam push notifications: It’s important to get transactional notifications from an app like this, but you should not abuse that by spamming me with credit card offers.

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