I know they’re all bad for privacy to an extent, which is why I specified “least bad.”

This is for casual use, as someone concerned about surveillance capitalism, digital privacy, social cooling and the like. I do not have a high threat model. I am looking to balance privacy and convenience. I am not going to teach my grandma how to use monero, and it isn’t always a reasonable option to use cash or mail a check.

The big services in the US I know of are:

  • PayPal: shares your data with 600+ companies
  • Venmo: owned by PayPal
  • Apple Cash: Requires an Apple device, not an option for many
  • Google Pay: it’s Google, and it doesn’t work on custom ROMs like GrapheneOS
  • Facebook Messenger: apparently you can send money on there, but I think “there’s zero chance I’m making a Facebook account and I’m especially not linking my bank to it” needs no explanation in this community
  • Cash App: owned by Square, might be a decent option?
  • Zelle: Not supported by all banks (I don’t think it’s supported by mine and I definitely have friends that use unsupported banks)

If anyone knows of better options, or tips to minimize shared data while using any of the above options, please elaborate.

  • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 days ago

    Huh, I thought Zelle was ubiquitous.

    I gave up this fight a few years back

    • if you want privacy, use cash
    • prepare to use multiple services because some people are stuck on one and it’s never the same one
    • if you give in for the convenience, which one is as much up to whom you need to pay as it is to you

    I used Venmo to pay my kids driving instructor, Zelle to pay a house cleaner, and Apple Cash to send my kids money at school