The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To create a standard personal Venmo account, sign up in the Venmo app or on Venmo’s signup page, enter your details, and verify your U.S. mobile number and email address. You can defer adding a debit card during setup, but you’ll need an appropriate linked payment method to use some features and a bank account or eligible debit card to transfer money out. Venmo is for people physically located in the United States.
What you need before signing up
- Location and age: You must be physically in the United States and at least 18, or the age of majority in your state. Venmo does not promise access to people traveling abroad, even if they are U.S. citizens. See Venmo’s account requirements.
- Phone: A U.S.-based cell phone that can receive short-code text messages. The number cannot already be associated with another Venmo account.
- Email: An address you can open during signup to click Venmo’s verification link.
- Device: Venmo’s requirements page lists Apple devices running iOS 17 or later and Android devices running Lollipop/API 26 or later, along with app version 7.38.2 or newer. These requirements can change; update the app through the App Store or Google Play and check the current requirements page if your device is rejected.
- Account details: Your accurate legal information and a unique, secure password. Venmo’s signup instructions specify a password of 8–20 characters with at least one number or symbol.
- Payment method, if available: A bank account or debit card is useful for funding payments and transferring money out. You can start signup without adding one immediately.
You do not necessarily need an SSN or ITIN at initial signup. Venmo may ask for identity verification later, and users who cannot complete it have limits on some balance-related features.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $54.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee) | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $206.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Visa Physical Gift Card $100 (plus $5.95 Purchase Fee) | $105.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Visa Virtual eGift Card | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
How to create a personal Venmo account
- Download the official Venmo app for iPhone or Android, or open Venmo’s signup page.
- Open the app and choose the option to create a personal account. If asked for a signup method, select one of the methods offered.
- Create a password that is 8–20 characters long and contains at least one number or symbol.
- Enter your U.S. mobile number and submit the SMS code Venmo sends to verify it.
- Enter an email address you can access, then click the verification link Venmo emails you.
- Provide the requested legal and personal information and accept Venmo’s terms.
- Add a bank account or card if you are ready. If Venmo offers a debit-card prompt and you want to wait, select Not now or Try later if that option appears.
- Complete identity verification if Venmo prompts you or you need a feature that requires it.
- Check that your phone and email are verified and that the intended bank account or card appears among your payment methods.
Venmo’s screens and button labels can vary by app version, so the exact sequence may differ. The core steps—personal signup, password creation, phone and email verification, and payment-method setup—are described in Venmo’s personal-account signup instructions.
Verify your phone number and email
Phone verification
Venmo sends a verification code by SMS; the message may come from short code 86753. If it does not arrive, check that the number is correct, request another code, and ask your carrier whether short-code texts are blocked. Venmo also suggests texting START to 86753 if needed. Its stated requirement is a U.S. cell phone that can receive short-code messages, so do not assume a landline, temporary number, or every internet-based phone number will work.
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#1 Best Overall
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
If Venmo says the number is already registered, first try signing in with that number, your email, or your username, then use account recovery if necessary. A number already in use may belong to an account you previously created; repeatedly opening new accounts can make the problem harder to resolve. Do not use someone else’s number.
Email verification
Open Venmo’s message and click the verification link; replying to the email does not verify the address. Check spam or junk if you do not see it. If Venmo says the address is already associated with an account, try signing in or recovering that account rather than creating a duplicate. Venmo’s phone and email verification help page explains these steps, including its web flow for adding or verifying another email address.
Rank #2
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Do you need a bank account or card?
No bank account or debit card is necessarily required at the moment you create the account, and Venmo says unverified users may receive money subject to restrictions. But receiving money is different from being able to use or withdraw it freely: to transfer funds out, you will need a linked bank account or an eligible debit card.
- Bank account: Can fund payments and receive withdrawals. A standard transfer to a linked bank account is free and typically takes 1–3 business days, according to Venmo’s fee schedule.
- Debit card: Can be used as a payment method and may be eligible for faster transfers. Eligibility varies; check the transfer options Venmo shows for your card.
- Credit card: Can fund payments, but Venmo lists a 3% fee for sending with a credit card. Sending with a bank account, debit card, or Venmo balance is listed at $0 on Venmo’s signup page.
If you skip adding a debit card during signup, you can return to payment methods in Settings later. Venmo’s U.S. User Agreement describes restrictions that can apply to unverified users.
Rank #3
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
When Venmo may ask you to verify your identity
Creating an account and completing identity verification are separate steps. Venmo may ask you to verify your identity to use money held in your balance for payments, send $300 or more in a rolling seven-day period, transfer $1,000 or more to a bank in a week, receive payments for goods or services, or access additional transaction functionality. The prompt depends on your activity and circumstances; not every new user is asked to submit documents immediately. See Venmo’s identity-verification guidance.
To start verification in the app, go to Me → Settings gear → Identity Verification. Venmo says this process must be completed in the mobile app, not on its website. If automatic verification does not work, you may be asked for documents such as a driver’s license, passport, government ID, proof of address, or SSN/ITIN evidence. Venmo says document review can take up to three business days; its document requirements page explains what it may accept.
Rank #4
- Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
- This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
- To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
- To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
- Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.
Without an SSN or ITIN, you may still be able to make payments funded by a linked bank account, debit card, or credit card, receive payments, and transfer received money to a bank account. You cannot complete Venmo’s identity-verification process without the required information and may not have access to all balance features.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if Venmo won’t let you sign up
| Problem | What to try first |
|---|---|
| SMS code does not arrive | Confirm the number, resend the code, check with your carrier about short-code texts, or text START to 86753. |
| Phone number or email is already in use | Try signing in with your phone, email, or username and use account recovery before attempting another signup. |
| Email is not verified | Click the verification link in Venmo’s message and check spam or junk. Do not reply to the message as a substitute. |
| App or device is unsupported | Update Venmo through the App Store or Google Play and update your operating system; check Venmo’s current requirements page. |
| Identity check does not pass | Follow the in-app request and submit clear, current documents of the types Venmo accepts. |
| You cannot transfer money out | Link a bank account or eligible debit card, check whether identity verification is requested, and confirm the transfer type and account limits. |
If SMS verification remains blocked, Venmo says signing in on another computer with your email and password can also verify the phone after SMS authentication. For unresolved issues, use Me → Settings → Get Help → Chat With Us. The exact labels may vary by app version.
Best Value
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Personal account, business profile, or Teen Account?
| Account type | Best for | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Personal account | Adults splitting bills, paying friends, receiving reimbursements, or shopping with participating merchants | The standard path described above. |
| Business profile | Sellers accepting payment for goods or services | It is linked to a personal Venmo account rather than replacing it. Business payments carry seller fees and may involve tax-reporting requirements. See Venmo’s business-profile signup instructions. |
| Teen Account | Eligible users ages 13–17 | Created or approved with a parent or legal guardian’s Venmo account; it is not an adult personal account. Details are on Venmo’s Teen Account page. |
Use a business profile for commercial sales rather than disguising them as personal payments. Venmo distinguishes payments for goods and services from ordinary peer-to-peer payments.
How much does it cost to create and use Venmo?
Venmo lists a $0 setup fee and $0 monthly personal-account fee. Sending with a bank account, debit card, or Venmo balance is listed at $0; sending with a credit card costs 3%. A standard bank transfer is free, while an eligible instant transfer typically arrives within 30 minutes and costs 1.75%, with a $0.25 minimum and $25 maximum, according to Venmo’s instant-transfer FAQ. Transfer timing and eligibility depend on the destination bank or card.
Quick Recap
What to do after signup
- Confirm that your phone number and email show as verified.
- Check that the linked bank account or card is the one you intend to use.
- Choose a username and review your display name. Your display name can differ from the legal name Venmo collects for identity verification.
- Review payment privacy settings before sending or receiving payments.
- Send a small test payment only to someone you trust, and confirm the recipient before sending.
- Use a unique password, never share SMS verification codes, and be wary of fake support messages or payment screenshots.
- Turn on security options available in the app, such as a device passcode or biometric lock.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
