Our Pick: The #1 PayPal Alternative
You many not agree as to what our top pick is -- you don't have to agree. Remember, what might not work for you, might work for somebody else and vice versa. Picking what we think is the #1 PayPal alternative out there today was a very tough choice to make. The decision goes beyond what we liked and didn't like -- the decision is based on what we think users need in a service. That being said, we could only pick from a limited amount of products and services. While there are a lot of "PayPal alternatives" out there -- there are very few that are actually any good.
We had to take a close look at the ones that were good and put them to the test. Screw-PayPal.com has already gone on record saying there is no service out there today that can match PayPal. Why? The biggest reason is PayPal is allowed on eBay and many other good services are not. Since the majority of people who use PayPal in some way use it for eBay, they need a way to be able to accept online payments and send online payments. People also need a way to send and receive money to each other as well. In short, people need the "total package." And right now, PayPal is just not an option.
Therefore, we had to pick a service that was backed by a strong company, a service that could be used by as many persons as possible, have a strong brand name and brand recognition, a service that was flexible enough for users to customize it for their own purposes, a service that would allow sellers and buyers to receive and send online payments, and a service that would be able to expand its offerings and be a real viable competitor to PayPal. Current potential was taken into account as much as FUTURE POTENTIAL.
So, while perhaps controversial, Screw-PayPal.com announces its Top Pick for the #1 PayPal alternative today:
Top Pick: The Best PayPal Alternative -- Google Checkout
Google Checkout -- Recommended for ALL
Numerous factors propelled Google Checkout to our # 1 spot -- among which was our belief that a court will order eBay to allow more competition against its payment provider PayPal. The current anti-trust litigation is based on sound and compelling legal principal. Second, the judge hearing the case has already ruled against PayPal in a previous case. If the lawyers take this case all the way, there is a high probability a judge and/or jury will rule in favor of eBay's guilt (violating anti-trust laws). Such a ruling would allow Google Checkout to be available on eBay. Once done, Google Checkout would be able to stand toe-to-toe with PayPal. The two could fight it out on an even playing field. We therefore advise all of users to jump on the Google wagon and ride it to the bank. There's no better time to sign up with Google than now...
The company that administers this program needs no introduction. Google is a rock solid company whose reach spans the entire globe. The company's financials put them in the top 10 most of America's most valuable companies. Google Checkout is clearly Google's answer to PayPal. It is doubtful Google would have started this service had PayPal been burdened with so few "problems." This service was started as a direct challenge to PayPal: Since you guys cannot provide a top notch service, we will. Google's answer is Google Checkout. Launched in mid 2006, this service allows users to pay for goods online, for sellers to receive payments online, and of course be able to send money person to person. Right now, Checkout has user agreements for over 10 countries -- if your country is NOT listed, you can still signup!
THE SERVICE: Not only is Google Checkout NOT PayPal, Checkout is the real deal and TOTAL PACKAGE. The only thing missing is their ability to be able to be used as a payment alternative on eBay (that is sure to come in time when a decision is reached on the current anti-trust lawsuit against eBay). Here is how the service works: You go to Google.com and login to your page. Then you choose to signup for Checkout. Once there, buyers can surf the internet and make payments to ANY business (online or bricks-and-mortar) that accepts Google Checkout. Buyers use the service free. For sellers, they can integrate Google Checkout into their website or online business. Google lets you use buttons, email links and other features to allow buyers to send their payments. Checking out is so easy, no instructions are needed. If you want to send money to somebody, you can do it with Google Checkout as well. The control panel is well designed and easy to navigate. Funds were taken out of our Google Checkout account with no problems. Funds were deposited with no problems. Customer service is available via email. No phone support is currently available. Fraud protection for both buyers and sellers is excellent -- and there are no worries about frozen accounts or limited access. Google does protect against fraud, so fraudsters watch out! For the rest of us, we don't have to worry.
PROS: The service is 100% free -- yup, for sellers as well. Until 2008, all seller transactions are fee and commission free! Buyers will always get the service for free. The signup process is easy with a limited amount of information that you must provide. Buyers can use this service without any problems. Funding their Google Checkout account is simple and fast. Sellers can use this service in so many ways! Google Checkout is accepted on all the major auction sites (except eBay), Checkout is perfect for online businesses and websites. All a seller has to do is put the payment buttons in place and let the buyers do the rest. People can send money to each other as well. The control panel is well designed and easy to find. Customer service takes about 24 hours to get back to you. All emails are read and all emails relate to what was asked. The user agreements for the countries available (example: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, China, Japan, etc.) are written with the customer in mind. The user agreement for all other countries is general because of the lack of jurisdiction, but it is fair. One can only get excited when thinking about new features Checkout will be rolling out in the months and years to come. Finally, the company is very responsive to its users and customers. You can be sure they will listen to our input.
CONS: Not available on eBay -- yet. No phone support. Not known how Google users your information in relation to its Google Search feature. While backed by a strong company, this service is only a year old. It will take another couple years to work out the kinks and expand services.
OVERALL: Excellent e-commerce solution backed by a solid company. While still growing, Google Checkout can be used by residents of every major market in the world. Online sellers, websites looking for ways to accept donations, auction sellers (all except eBay), and online buyers can find an excellent home with Google Checkout. Recommended for ALL.
NO LINK TO Google Checkout: You must go to Google's homepage and login to your user account.
RUNNER UP #1: MoneyBookers
Moneybookers -- Recommended for ALL
Considering the fact that this service is allowed on eBay and the service does offer close to "total package" features, we felt this a good runner up selection. Users can still take advantage of this service on eBay while still using the service for their private money sending needs or online website needs. As more users sign up with this great service, more features and more benefits will be added in the future. That would make this service a very strong PayPal competitor.
Moneybookers is a company based in the United Kingdom. With close to 3.5 million users and growing, this London headquartered service is backed by a reputable company with above average financial resources. This service allows you to send and receive payments from around the globe.
THE SERVICE: You can send and receive money using a person's email address. You can send and receive money into your Moneybookers wallet. This eBay approved service can be used to send money person-to-person, receive payments for your online business, send payments online to make a purchase (such as on eBay or other online auction site) and so much more.
PROS: Service is available to persons around the world. It is free to signup -- once you get going the whole thing is set up in under 10 minutes. The user interface is easy to use and offers no challenges to finding the features you are looking for fast. The website is available in multiple languages. The service can be used to send money person-to-person (to an email account) as well as used for auctions and other online business activities. You sign up and you are approved. The user agreement is customer oriented with no worries about frozen or limited accounts. Receiving money is free and sending money is 1% of the total amount sent (person-to-person). You account can be funded in many ways and in most cases is free to fund your account. Withdrawing funds can be done by check or directly to your bank account. A person selling on eBay won't have to worry about excessive fees eating into profits. Buyers have a great flexible option here. Customer service emails took on average 24 hours to reply, phone support was helpful and friendly -- downright professional. Additionally, buyer and seller protection is offered with very reasonable conditions.
CONS: I found the "request a check" fee a little high at Euro 3,50 (almost 5 Dollars US) -- however that fee is the same around the world. So considering printing costs, envelope, postage and handling, the fee might not be so bad. The service is not widely used -- yet. While it is approved by eBay, it will take more users signing up and using this service to bring more attention to it.
OVERALL: Highly recommended as an alternative to PayPal and as an alternative to sending and receiving online payments. This is one of my personal favorites. Sign up and take it for a test drive -- you won't be sorry!
RUNNER UP #2: AlertPay
AlertPay -- Recommended to ALL
PayPay and AlertPay were considered for this spot. Both offered near "total package" services and both are able to service a very diverse, international crowd -- what propelled this service over PayPay was the fact that users -- should they choose -- can use this service in conjunction with "restricted" products such as those for mature audiences. So if a user wanted a way to collect payments for his or her adult website or adult business, that user could turn here. That extra service put it over the top.
While this service has been around only since 2004, it seems very promising. This company is headquarted in Montreal, Canada and is pretty close to offering a "total package" service. With AlertPay you can send money to anyone with an email address and accept payments online via auction sites (not eBay) or your online business. If you need to send money, make an online payment, be able to receive money, or receive online payments from customers around the world for your product or service, AlertPay can fill your needs.This is another service that could take away significant business from PayPal were it allowed on eBay.
THE SERVICE: Users sign up for one of three accounts: a personal account, a business account, or a secure account. The secure account is a business account that lets you receive money for more "risky" products and services such as multi-level marketing and adult content. All accounts are free to sign up for. Users can send money person-to-person, member-to-nonmember, nonmember to member, make online payments and receive online payments for their services and products. The service is available to an international audience. The service allows you to have total flexibility in meeting your individual needs. Credit cards are not accepted for funding payments -- every other way of funding your account is available. Credit cards are accepted for buyers to make payments to online sellers.
PROS: This was a service that I looked forward to trying out. It met most of my expectations. All accounts are free to sign up for. Fees are low and not unreasonable. The service will be issuing VISA Debit Cards in the near future. Taking money out of your account is fast and easy. The method of taking money out of your AlertPay account differs from country to country. However, all major markets are served with bank deposits. Strong buyer and seller protection is offered -- including chargeback protection. AlertPay is a BBB member among other places. Sellers can use the service to receive online payments from a world wide audience for virtually any product or service they can think of. Buyers can pay for their product or service easily and with no hassle. Signing up with AlertPay is a quick and easy process. AlertPay is available for use by an international audience. The user agreement is written in plain English with no surprises. Customer support is excellent -- fast email replies and phone support. Customer support is done through email, a phone number (not free to call) or through snail mail. Finally, the website is well designed and user friendly. Excellent, but not obtrusive, security features.
CONS: The company has been around only since 2004. Not available for use on eBay. Customer support could be expensive to call should you ever need to call them (phone number is not free and is Canadian).
OVERALL: This service is a pleasure to use. If I had to dump most of the services that I use now, I would dump the others and keep this as one of my top PayPal alternatives. This service is awesome for both buyers and sellers. If you need something close to the "total package," AlertPay should be a service at the top of your list. Recommended for ALL to use.
HONORABLE MENTION: PayPay
PayPay -- Recommended for ALL
PayPay is another service that would fit great as an eBay payment alternative. I think this is the only reason why it is not allowed on eBay -- it could make a dent in some of PayPal's business. PayPay is a service that offers a total package that every user could need. If you had to make a choice to use this service or only one other service right now, PayPay would be an excellent choice. PayPay lets users send and receive money using their PayPay accounts (even receive through email, SMS, bank accounts, online or through payment buttons). The bottom line is: you can send and receive money anywhere, anyplace using your PayPay account.
THE SERVICE: PayPay offers free business and personal accounts. Buying using the PayPay service is always free. A buyer (who doesn't even have to have a PayPay account) makes their payment via a payment button a seller posts on his or her auction or website, makes their payment from phone to phone or email to email. You can even download their fee desktop software to keep track of everything -- including sending and receiving payments! Sellers have so many flexible options to receive payments, there are too many to list here. You get all the PayPay buttons you can handle -- all customizable. The system then walks your buyer through the short payment process. This service can be used on many auction sites (not eBay), personal websites, business websites and so much more. The service is available in ALMOST as many countries as PayPal. A user can withdraw his or her funds as often as they like via check or directly into their bank account.
PROS: Very easy to register and use -- users can sign up and be using the service in under ten minutes. Business and personal accounts are free. The service is available to an international audience. The whole service is designed towards meeting the needs of buyers and sellers. Fees are low and comparable with PayPal fees. A seller can make a profit using this service without the worry of high fees. Buyers can use this service free. Money can be sent person-to-person (like PayPal). Somebody who wants to use this service to send money to others, sell products online only need this one service as a total package solution. Very well designed user interface. Responsive customer service and customer oriented terms of use. Unlike any other service out there -- including PayPal -- you can download free software to your desktop that will monitor any changes in your account as well as you being able to actually work within your account from your desktop. A great feature. Plus, you get a merchant tools area. Very practical.
CONS: Not available for use on eBay.
OVERALL: Highly recommended to ALL. This service is a small hidden gem that will only get better with time. Should it ever be allowed for use on eBay, it would give PayPal a run for its money. If you have to make ONE choice only, this service is the total package. Perfect for online sellers and buyers. Perfect for persons who want to send money person-to-person.
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