Practice Sending
Real Money Online
Not sure how to send money through PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or crypto? Test it right here with just $1. See exactly how it works before you need it for something important.
Choose a Payment MethodEvery payment is a voluntary donation to help keep this site running. We recommend sending $1, but you may send any amount you like. All payments are final, with no refunds. Please make sure you're comfortable with this before sending a payment.
Send $1 to practice before you need to pay rent, split a bill, or send money to family.
Confirm it's linked correctly and working before it matters.
Send a tiny amount to a real address and watch it go through on the blockchain.
See how Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other wallets work in real life.
Step 1
Choose a Payment Method
Pick the app or method you want to test. Each card shows you the fees, step-by-step instructions, and exactly where the money goes.
Bitcoin is digital money that lives on a global network with no bank involved. Transactions are publicly recorded on the blockchain, which you can look up to verify your payment went through.
Fee: Varies by network congestion (usually $0.50–$3)- Open your Bitcoin wallet app (Coinbase, Trust Wallet, etc.).
- Tap Send and paste the address below.
- Enter your amount (we suggest $1 worth of BTC).
- Confirm. Your transaction will appear on the blockchain within minutes.
bc1qzejucmx9zcrpg52jp7de9t4l6zlj0fmy8hprl7
Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency and the backbone of most apps built on blockchain technology. Sending ETH is a great way to test a wallet that supports many coins and tokens.
Fee: Varies (called "gas," usually $0.50–$5)- Open your Ethereum wallet (MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Trust Wallet).
- Tap Send and paste the address below.
- Enter your amount in ETH or USD equivalent.
- Review the "gas fee" (transaction fee), then confirm.
0x971BBcBdc1256B401101FD04144f5De065816057
Monero is a cryptocurrency focused on privacy. Unlike Bitcoin, Monero transactions are not publicly traceable, so your balance and activity stay hidden. Popular with people who value financial privacy.
Fee: Very low (usually under $0.01)- Open your Monero wallet (Cake Wallet, Monerujo, or the official Monero GUI wallet).
- Tap Send and paste the address below.
- Enter your amount. Monero fees are very small.
- Confirm the transaction. It will confirm in a few minutes.
88gTeETpiuZbz4JbshFjNwhh1JFG6oymSiqJnxeqMMFRPstWV4QXnfbcmWgkxwNdgPcfwzUzmykPoVkufAyy14pfMsL8YAw
The most common way to pay online. Works with any Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or debit card. No account needed, just enter your card number.
Fee: ~$0.33 on a $1 payment (2.9% + $0.30)- Click the button below.
- Enter your card number, expiry date, and the 3-digit code on the back.
- Enter your name and billing zip code.
- Click Pay. You're done!
PayPal has been around since 1998 and is accepted almost everywhere. You can pay with your PayPal balance, a linked bank account, or a card. Great for online shopping and sending money to friends.
Fee: Free from PayPal balance or bank (Friends & Family)- Open the PayPal app or go to paypal.com.
- Tap Send and search for donate@paytest.org.
- Enter your amount (we suggest $1) and select Friends & Family to avoid fees.
- Confirm and send. You'll get a receipt by email.
Venmo is owned by PayPal and is hugely popular for splitting bills with friends (dinner, rent, events). It has a social feed that shows payments, and you can set yours to private.
Fee: Free from Venmo balance or bank- Open the Venmo app (required, no web payments).
- Tap the pay/request icon and search @paytest.
- Enter your amount and add a note like "test payment."
- Tap Pay. Done! Check your activity feed to confirm.
Cash App (by Block/Square) is one of the fastest-growing payment apps in the US. Payments between individuals are instant and free. It also lets you buy stocks and Bitcoin.
Fee: Free person-to-person, 3% with credit card- Open the Cash App.
- Tap the $ icon and enter your amount.
- Search for $paytest (the dollar sign is part of the name).
- Tap Pay and confirm. It's instant!
Zelle is built directly into most major US bank apps (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and hundreds more). Money moves directly between bank accounts with no middleman. Completely free.
Fee: Always free- Open your bank's app and look for Zelle in the menu (or download the Zelle app if your bank doesn't have it).
- Tap Send Money and enter donate@paytest.org.
- Enter your amount and a memo, then confirm.
- Money typically arrives within minutes.
Step 2, the Most Important Part
How to Verify Your Payment Worked
Sending money is only half the test. Here's exactly how to confirm your payment actually went through for each method.
- You will see a green "Payment successful" message on screen immediately after paying.
- A receipt is sent to the email address you entered. Check your inbox (and spam folder).
- Your bank or card app will show a pending charge, usually within minutes.
- The charge will say something like "PAYTEST" or "Stripe" on your statement.
- After sending, PayPal shows a confirmation screen with a transaction ID number.
- You receive a confirmation email from PayPal immediately.
- Open the PayPal app, tap Activity, and you'll see the payment listed.
- The status should say Completed (not Pending).
- After sending, you'll see a confirmation screen with a checkmark.
- Tap Me at the bottom, then Transactions to see your payment history.
- The payment will appear at the top of the list with the amount and recipient.
- Your Venmo balance or linked bank balance will reflect the change.
- Cash App shows a confirmation page with a "Cash sent!" message.
- Tap the Activity tab (clock icon) to see your transaction history.
- The payment will show as Sent with the recipient's name and amount.
- You can also tap the payment to see a receipt and transaction ID.
- Your bank app shows a confirmation message and a reference number.
- Check your bank's Transaction History or Recent Payments section.
- The payment shows as Delivered once the recipient has received it.
- You'll also get a notification from your banking app confirming delivery.
- Your wallet app immediately shows the transaction as Pending.
- Copy the transaction ID (TXID) from your wallet's send confirmation screen.
- Go to blockchair.com/bitcoin and paste the TXID in the search bar.
- Once you see 1+ confirmations, your payment is complete and irreversible.
- Your wallet shows the transaction as Pending immediately after sending.
- Copy the transaction hash (Tx Hash) from the confirmation screen.
- Go to etherscan.io and paste it in the search bar.
- A green Success status means the transaction went through.
- Your Monero wallet shows the transaction as Unconfirmed first.
- After about 10 minutes it will change to Confirmed in your wallet.
- You can look up your transaction key at xmrchain.net for proof of payment.
- Note: Monero amounts and addresses are private and not publicly visible.
Background
Learn the Basics
Not sure which app to use or how they compare? Here's a plain-English guide to each payment method and who each one is best for.
Stripe powers the credit card checkout you see on millions of websites. You don't need an account, just your card. It's extremely secure and the most standard way to pay online.
PayPal works in 200+ countries and is accepted at more places than any other digital wallet. Great for buying from individual sellers online (eBay, Etsy, etc.) and for sending money to people abroad.
Venmo is the most popular app for splitting dinner, rent, and group expenses among friends. It has a social feed and is very easy to use. US only, owned by PayPal.
Cash App is extremely fast and simple. It also lets you get a free debit card, buy stocks with as little as $1, and buy Bitcoin directly inside the app. US and UK only.
Zelle is already inside most major US bank apps, so no separate account is needed. Money moves directly between bank accounts within minutes, completely free. Best for paying people you already know and trust.
Bitcoin is digital money that works without a bank. You hold it in a "wallet" app. It's accepted worldwide with no geographic restrictions. Transactions take 10 to 60 minutes to fully confirm.
Ethereum is the blockchain that most NFTs, DeFi apps, and smart contracts run on. Sending ETH is faster than Bitcoin (usually under 2 minutes) and great for exploring the world of crypto apps.
Monero is designed so that only the sender and receiver know a transaction happened. Unlike Bitcoin, no one can look up your balance or history. Very low fees, ideal for privacy-conscious users.
Fees at a Glance
You always send exactly $1. Any processing fees on our end come out of the donation, not your pocket. The one exception is crypto: your wallet charges a small network fee on top of whatever you send, so you may need a little extra in your wallet to cover it.
| Method | You Send | We Receive | Who Pays the Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe (card) | $1.00 | ~$0.67 | We do (deducted from donation) |
| PayPal (Friends & Family) | $1.00 | $1.00 | Nobody |
| Venmo (bank or balance) | $1.00 | $1.00 | Nobody |
| Cash App (bank or balance) | $1.00 | $1.00 | Nobody |
| Zelle | $1.00 | $1.00 | Nobody |
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $1 + ~$0.50–$3 wallet fee | $1.00 | You do (charged by your wallet) |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $1 + ~$0.50–$5 gas fee | $1.00 | You do (charged by your wallet) |
| Monero (XMR) | $1 + <$0.01 fee | $1.00 | You do (negligible) |
Important
Stay Safe from Scams
Digital payments are safe when used correctly. But scammers take advantage of people who are new to them. Read this before you send money anywhere online.
IRS / Government Scams
The IRS will never call you and demand immediate payment. They always send a letter first. No government agency will ask you to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, Venmo, Cash App, or cryptocurrency. If someone claims to be from the government and demands money, hang up, then call the agency directly using the number on their official website.
Tech Support Scams
A pop-up or phone call says your computer has a virus and tells you to call a number. They may ask you to install remote access software (like AnyDesk or TeamViewer) and send payment to "fix" your device. Microsoft, Apple, and your antivirus software will never contact you this way. Close the pop-up, disconnect the call, and contact your provider directly.
Romance Scams
Someone you met online (dating app, Facebook, etc.) seems perfect but lives far away, never meets in person, and eventually asks you for money for an emergency, a plane ticket, or medical bills. These scammers are professionals who do this full-time. Once you send money, it is gone. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
Grandparent Scams
You receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild (or their lawyer) saying they're in trouble (arrested, in a car accident, in the hospital) and need money urgently. They beg you not to tell your family. Always hang up and call your grandchild directly on their real phone number to verify before doing anything.
Lottery / Prize Scams
You "won" a lottery, a prize, or an inheritance, but you need to pay taxes or fees first to claim it. Real lotteries never require upfront payments. Real prizes don't ask for your bank account to "deposit your winnings." If you didn't enter a contest, you did not win one.
Rental / Job Scams
A rental listing asks you to Venmo or Zelle a deposit before you've seen the property in person. A job offer asks you to buy equipment with your own money or cash checks they send you. Never send money to secure a rental or job you haven't verified in person. Real landlords and employers don't do this.
Overpayment Scams
Someone "accidentally" sends you more money than agreed and asks you to send the overage back. Their original payment later bounces or is fraudulent, and you're on the hook for the full amount you sent back. Never send money back to someone you don't know personally because of an "overpayment."
Fake Payment Links
You receive a link by text or email that looks like PayPal, Venmo, or your bank, but the web address is slightly different (like "paypa1.com" or "venmo-secure.net"). Always type the address directly into your browser or open the official app. Never click payment links from strangers or unexpected texts.
Golden Rules for Safe Digital Payments
- Only send money to people you know and trust in real life.
- Never send money to claim a prize, avoid an arrest, or help a stranger.
- No legitimate business asks for gift cards as payment.
- Verify unexpected requests by calling the person back on a known number.
- Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App transfers are instant and usually irreversible.
- Use Goods & Services (not Friends & Family) when buying from strangers on PayPal.
- Legitimate companies never ask you to install remote access software to get paid.
- If it feels rushed or urgent, that's a scam tactic. Slow down.
- When in doubt, call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 or visit reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- You can report phone scams to the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.