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Zelle is a popular digital payment platform that enables you to send and receive money almost instantly without having to pay fees. Zelle uses a simple and clean interface to make payments easy to complete. All you need is the phone number or email of the person receiving the money.
Zelle integrates with many major banks and allows you to connect your bank account or debit card. However, one thing we don't like about the platform is that it doesn't allow credit cards. Similar platforms, such as Cash App and Venmo, allow you to use credit cards for a fee.
In this Zelle review, we take a closer look at Zelle's features, usability, and security measures to help you decide if it's the right payment service for you.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Up to $300New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found athttp://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Minimum Opening Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money with eligible direct deposit
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
Only requires a phone number and an email address to send money
Cons
Doesn't allow credit cards
Doesn't support some banks
Doesn't work internationally
Verdict
Zelle offers a convenient method for sending and receiving money within the U.S. We like that we can use it for quick payments at $0 cost. It's also easier to use than wire and other bank transfers. However, it doesn't support credit cards and doesn't work internationally so we couldn't use it to send money to loved ones abroad.
What is Zelle?
Zelle is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a peer-to-peer mobile payment service that has been facilitating payments between users since it was founded in 2016. It is owned by Early Warning Services, a private financial services company. It allows for direct payments between U.S. bank accounts with just the mobile phone number or email of the recipient.
Many banks and credit unions participate in Zelle, which means you can use the service directly from your mobile banking app.
Zelle continues to grow in popularity. According to Zelle, in 2024, consumers and small businesses sent 3.6 billion transactions totaling $1 trillion.
How does Zelle work?
You can use Zelle to send, receive, or request money. Users typically link their checking account to their Zelle account.
When sending money with Zelle, all you need once you're enrolled is the recipient's email address or mobile phone number. Unlike some other money transfer apps, the money becomes available to enrolled recipients within minutes.
You can expect a quick and easy process, even if you've never used Zelle. There are hundreds of banks that work with Zelle, so you can send money directly from your mobile banking app.
How to send money with Zelle
Sending money with Zelle only takes a few minutes. Make sure to have the phone number or email address of the person you want to send money to, then follow these steps:
Log into your bank's mobile app or web portal with your username and password and choose the Zelle service, which is usually found in the sending money section.
Enroll in Zelle using your phone number or email address.
Once you're enrolled, enter the phone number or email address of the person you want to send money to then choose send.
Your recipient will receive a text message or a notification with instructions on accessing their money, even if they're not yet enrolled.
Which banks use Zelle?
Zelle is used by banks and credit unions from coast to coast. Over 2,200 banks have incorporated Zelle into their banking apps. Big bank names you might recognize include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase. But there are also many smaller financial institutions that use Zelle.
Here are 20 major U.S. banks that incorporated Zelle into their apps or online banking portals:
Zelle is different than other money transfer services, and in many ways, it's better. It allows money to move directly between bank accounts, but it's faster than using an account transfer. Here are some of the reasons we like using Zelle:
It allows us to move money to our recipients in minutes as long as they are enrolled.
It charges no fees to send or receive money.
We can access it via our mobile banking app and web portal.
It only requires the U.S. mobile number or email address of the recipient, making it easy to use.
It offers a good level of safety and security from hacks and unauthorized transfers.
Zelle also supports small businesses. You can send money to a small business as a consumer or accept Zelle payments for products and services if you are a business owner. Zelle also supports business-to-business transfers if both businesses are enrolled and have a linked business bank account.
What Zelle could do better
Zelle makes it easy to send money quickly, but this has a few drawbacks:
Scammers sometimes use Zelle to target their victims, which is why you should only send money to people you know personally. If you fall victim to a scam through Zelle, you'll have no recourse. Payments are typically final once you authorize them.
Some banks have mobile apps that are easier to navigate than others, so sending and receiving money is not always a seamless experience for Zelle users. Some other payment apps feel more user-friendly.
Zelle doesn't accept credit cards from all networks, including Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.
You can only cancel a payment if the recipient has not yet enrolled in Zelle.
What are some alternatives to Zelle?
Though Zelle is one of our favorite payment apps because it is quick and safe, it might not be the best bank app for you to use. For example, if you need to make a credit card payment, you're better off using one of these alternatives:
PayPal: Allows you to send money with a credit or debit card to friends, family, and businesses, even internationally (fees apply for credit cards). It takes 1-3 days for a standard transfer to your bank account, and instant transfers are subject to fees.
Venmo: Lets you pay a friend with a credit card, debit card, or from your bank account. All you need is their phone number or email address. Standard transfers take 1-3 days, and fees apply for instant transfers and credit card payments.
Cash App: Allows you to send money to anyone in the U.S. with a phone number or email address. Fees apply for credit card payments and instant transfers. Learn more in our Cash App review.
5.0
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank6 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.7 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks8 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer
When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.9 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 1/21/2026.
Yes. Money sent with Zelle is never held by a third party, which means it is always FDIC-insured.
That said, you should only use Zelle to send money to people you know and trust, and ensure that their phone number or email address is still accurate. You can't cancel a payment, and you'll have no recourse or fraud protection if you get scammed by a stranger. So use caution when sending money with Zelle.
What banks use Zelle?
Chase
Bank of America
Citi
Wells Fargo
Morgan Stanley
Charles Schwab
PNC Bank
Truist
TD Bank
Capital One
U.S. Bank
Citizens
Fifth Third Bank
USAA
M&T Bank
Ally Bank
Huntington Bank
Santander Bank
Northern Trust
Regions Bank
Can I use Zelle without a bank account?
No, you can't use Zelle without a bank account. The account you use must also be a U.S. bank account that works directly with Zelle or has a supported Visa or Mastercard debit card. Keep in mind that Zelle doesn't support credit cards, but some of its alternatives do such as Venmo and Cash App.
Is there a fee to use Zelle?
No, there is no fee to use Zelle. While Zelle charges a small fee to the financial institution, you'll never have to pay Zelle to send or receive money. However, Zelle does recommend checking with your bank or credit union to make sure they don't charge any additional fees for the service.
Can I use Zelle without a debit card?
If your bank or credit union supports Zelle, you'll just need a U.S. checking or savings account to send or receive money. However, if you aren't a bank customer with any financial institution that supports Zelle, you won't be able to use Zelle to send or receive money transfers.
How long does it take to get money from Zelle?
Enrolled recipients will receive their money within minutes. People who aren't yet enrolled will receive enrollment instructions, and it can take one to three business days for the money to be transferred. If the recipient doesn't enroll within 14 days, the payment expires.
How do I contact Zelle customer support?
Zelle's customer support can be contacted via their online form or by phone. The number for Zelle support is 1-844-428-8542. They operate from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week except for some holidays.
Bottom line
While other apps might provide additional features, such as credit card payments, there are fees to use these tools. Most other apps also charge a fee for instant transfers, while sending money with Zelle is always fast. And with Zelle, your money remains FDIC-insured via the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation instead of being held by a third party before it goes to your recipient's bank account.
For these reasons, Zelle is one of the fastest and safest payment options available. Just remember to only send money to people you know and trust with Zelle.
If you're looking to open a new bank account, make sure to check out our list of the best banks and pick one that allows you to access Zelle.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network10 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>
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