Best payment method for online group?

September 6, 2021 12:11 AM

I will be facilitating an online writing workshop. I'm looking for the best way for group members to pay the group fee.

I've used PayPal in the past and would strongly prefer not to use it for this. I have used Venmo too, and they are owned by Paypal, so I'd prefer not to use that either.

It will need to be workable by people in different countries (USA, Canada, New Zealand, maybe others). I prefer the fees to be low, obviously.

I will be offering just one e-payment option, and also allowing people to send paper checks.

posted by Flock of Cynthiabirds to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

Perhaps Stripe? I'd also say TransferWise, but that requires you to give ACH information (I believe) which you may not want to give to randos?
posted by wooh at 2:18 AM on September 6, 2021

Revolut instead of Venmo?
posted by DarlingBri at 3:05 AM on September 6, 2021

CashApp?

Or, to be That Guy, I have used bitcoin as a solution to exactly this problem.
posted by ToddBurson at 6:04 AM on September 6, 2021

actually cancel that CashApp suggestion, it looks like internationally it only works between the US and UK
posted by ToddBurson at 6:15 AM on September 6, 2021

Best answer: I've been down this road and it is a total pain. Your only option that will work for these countries is Paypal, unfortunately. I looked at this and the fees/agony of other options, and it was completely untenable. Once I accepted this though, I decided to stop worrying further about it. This is for repeated payments, btw. If yours is a one off, I'd definitely go with Paypal and save yourself the trouble and move onto other things. I say this as someone who very, very much dislikes Paypal!!!
posted by iamkimiam at 7:26 AM on September 6, 2021 [1 favorite]

If the participants need to register, you can do all of this in Eventbrite. Best solution I've found.
posted by ndg at 11:32 AM on September 7, 2021