Skrill.com is a popular online payment gateway and e-wallet. According to the company itself, Skrill may have as many as 40 million users in 200 countries. It is widely accepted by a large number of online merchants, but there are some aspects to the service that may make it unsuitable for some customers.
Skrill, which used to go by the name Moneybookers, is a company that has been in operation for more than two decades. For international, cross-currency transfers, Skrill charges slightly above the average rate. For customers who make a lot of these transactions, an alternative service may be preferable. There are also some niche activities where Skrill might not be the best choice – for example, customers using Skrill for online casino payments cannot take advantage of casino promotions.
Luckily, there are a lot of services available in 2022 that are similar to Skrill. So, if you are looking for a change, you can try some of these alternatives.
PayPal
For name recognition and scope, few payment services can rival PayPal. One of the original digital payment gateways, PayPal is known and trusted the world over. The company has continued to update and improve its services in response to the needs of its users. In the case of online casinos that accept PayPal, players at these types of sites can still claim a bonus when using this provider.
There are quite a few advantages to PayPal, including access to a Mastercard with no annual fees. The company also has a reliable reputation and can be used almost everywhere online. Customers do not need a bank account to use PayPal, but they can link to credit and debit cards if they wish. The company also has dependable customer service.
Revolut
Since launching in 2015 the UK-based Revolut has become an incredibly successful payment provider. The private organization functions similarly to an online bank, allowing customers to send money to other users and to bank accounts. Revolut also provides cards which can be used online or in person, and which support ATM withdrawals.
Revolut functions via a handy app that allows users to manage money and services all in one place. Account holders can make transfers in the app in 26 currencies, and the service includes an account number, IBAN, and sort code.
If you are resident in one of the participating countries – all European Economic Area (EEA), Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Canada, or the USA – then chances are you use Revolut or know someone who does. In the EEA and Switzerland, business accounts are also available.
Monese
Monese launched the same year as Revolut, but have not managed to make quite the same impression internationally. This is mainly because the company has not expanded into as many markets as their competitor, but if you live in a supported jurisdiction this could be a great alternative to Skrill.
Monese is more than just an e-wallet, offering services in line with a traditional bank. Customers can make contactless payments supported by Google Pay or Apple Pay, and of course it can be used for many online transactions.
Neteller
If for some reason you do not get on with Skrill, then the answer could be Neteller. Functionally the two services are very similar, with just a few minor differences to distinguish them. If you are more likely to be making more payments and transactions in dollars than euros, then Neteller can work out cheaper when it comes to fees.
Otherwise, Neteller is another example of a good e-wallet that is simple to use and widely accepted. If a Neteller customer wishes to send money to another individual they can do so via email. The recipient then needs to open their own Neteller account to access the funds.
Venmo
This is a service available exclusively to US residents, and the primary service is peer-to-peer transactions. If what you are looking for is an easy way to send money to friends, for example to split a restaurant check or pay someone back for a cab fare, then Venmo is the app for you. This payment service has revolutionized the way that people make micropayments to peers.
Venmo is a completely free service for individuals, so it has that advantage over Skrill, although it may not provide as many payment services. More recently Venmo has branched out and can be used at a number of physical and online merchants via the use of QR codes. The PayPal-owned company makes money by charging businesses a small fee, while individual customers pay nothing more.
Zen.com
ZEN is another European company serving customers all across the EEA. This is another of the so-called neo-banks, alongside Revolut and Monese, that provides users with many of the functions of a traditional banking institution.
Customers have their own account number and IBAN, as well as a digital or physical Mastercard. These cards can be linked with a Google Pay or Apple Pay account and used to make online and contactless in-store payments. Users can pay for goods and services with no fees in over thirty currencies.
ZEN also provides users with some added perks. For example, any goods purchased with a ZEN Mastercard get an automatic one year warranty extension to any existing policy.
Paysafecard
This last Skrill alternative solves a modern problem. Online transactions are basically an essential part of life in the 21st century, but there are still a lot of people that do not want to or cannot make payments online. Paysafecard is almost like paying online with cash, and it is one of the safest and most anonymous ways to conduct an online transaction.
Customers purchase a prepaid voucher and use a 16-digit unique code to verify the payment. It can all be done without the need to provide any banking details. Even someone without a bank account can pay for something online using Paysafecard.
These are just a few of the many online payment services – payment gateways, e-wallets, neo-banks and more – that can be used as an alternative to Skrill in 2022.
