Mike's NBC-TV stories

Apps to pay for stuff and transfer money

Whether splitting the dinner bill, chipping in on gas, or settling up any other kind of debt, everyone needs to pay their fair share.

However, fewer and fewer are carrying cash these days. That’s OK, though, because a number of apps can make transferring money to another person easy.

Square Cash is about as easy as it gets when it comes to sending money. There’s no need to even set up an account. It’s as simple as one person sending an email to another. Link a debit card and money transfers instantly to the recipient’s bank. Credit cards can be used, too, though there is a small fee. And Square Cash is secure, using the same technology as major credit card companies to protect sensitive information. The app is free for iOS and Android.

Venmo has become a verb, as in “I’ll Venmo you for dinner.” Users can instantly pay others for dinner, drinks, rent, or anything else and it’s easy to collect money from those who owe. Venmo also uses data encryption to protect financial information. The app is free for iOS and Android.

Google Wallet is an app offering easy money transfer and the backing of Google. Users connect Google Wallet to their debit card one time. Then, simply enter the amount to send and the recipient’s email or mobile phone number. The app is free for iOS and Android.

Mike is a veteran journalist whose video "PC Mike" reports have been distributed weekly to all 215 NBC-TV stations since 1994, making him one of the most experienced tech reporters in the country. His tech stories and videos have appeared on MSNBC, CNBC, the Today Show, The New York Times, USA Today and in numerous national newspapers and magazines. In addition to the PC Mike tech blog, he also publishes the Roadtreking.com RV Travel Blog in which he travels North America in an RV reporting about interesting people and places.