PayPal vs. Neteller –Top Online Casino Banking Methods 2019

Introduction

Back in the early days of interactive gambling, banking method options were few and far between. People depended on the institutions they have known and trusted for decades earlier, and stayed with them for quite some time after the rise of online payment transfers. Nevertheless, the specifics of the online gambling industry, as well as their individual needs and preferences of players and merchants alike looking to maximise their profits, has brought about a whole new generation of these services.

PayPal was arguably the leader...

... in terms of the innovation, although a range of additional companies followed suit, reaching the same standards or setting new ones. Either way, online payment processors appeared as a response to the newly created needs of the customer pool and can nowadays be found on all kinds of e-commerce platforms, not only online casino and gambling sites.

Nowadays...

... the options are all the more varied, yet people still flock to the few highly renowned and convenient payment methods with a proven track record over the years. In this regard, many end up weighing in the pros and cons between PayPal and Neteller as some of the top choices; read on and learn about the ins and outs of the services, and make the best choice for your needs.

About PayPal

What started out as Confinity back before the turn over the century is nowadays known as one of the largest Fintech companies. It boasts a 100+ million user network in almost every country around the world, with a massive transaction volume reached thanks to its application in all kinds of merchant businesses.

The payment processor has a range of features...

... that make it an attractive and beneficial choice for merchants and customers both. It continuously aims to improve and advance its services, and has consequently added a number of features to its offering, as illustrated below.

About Neteller

Alternatively, Neteller has appeared...

... as a response to the growing need for more reliable payment processors, and is currently owned and operated by the globally established Paysafe Financial Services Limited. This service may have a somewhat different focus the first one, but they are essentially the same in providing online value-stored accounts that enable holders to transact in a number of currencies, across multiple borders.

You can open a Neteller account here.

PayPal vs. Neteller

Both companies are greatly dedicated to providing top-notch services under their brand, often leaving players and customers alike confused about the right choice for them. Even with the similarities in mind, there are still a range of characteristics which set them apart and help potential users determine the best choice for them.

Account Features

Learn all about the different accounts you can hold, and to what extent, as well as the number of fees attached to this service.

PayPal

Starting off with PayPal, in terms of accounts...

... interested holders will be happy to know that they can have 2 accounts registered with the service – both personal and business. Merchants can benefit from the latter, while individual users will find all the options they need for an enjoyable online payment transfer experience in the former.

Bear in mind that there are no fee charges in terms of registration, activation or maintenance; users will not be charged an inactivity fee as well. Nevertheless, there are some charges in terms of transactions, as illustrated below, and a general charge for currency exchanges. So far, the PayPal e-wallet boasts up to 25 different currencies, allowing users from all over the world to purchase, transact and get paid in the one closest to their local legal tender.

Neteller

Accounts are not as varied in Neteller as they are in PayPal – users can hold only one account per individual. However, they can add currencies to their existing account, in order to be able to make payments in any of them without converting them beforehand.

Speaking of currency conversion...

... Neteller is also known to charge a fee like its main contender. The amount is set at 3.99% of the amount being converted, although this differs depending on the user’s country of residence, currency, as well as ranking on the Neteller VIP network described in details below.

Bear in mind that users have about 22 currencies at their disposal, and will be able to make use of them right after registration which is free for Neteller users. Just remember that they are subject to an account maintenance fee of USD 5.00 after 12 months of inactivity.

On a final note, the currencies available at Neteller...

... have recently come to include cryptocoins among others. This shows the services dedication towards innovation and keeping track with all the latest options available to their user pool. You can buy and sell crypto – Bitcoin, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and more – all with the help of a local payment method, considering that 100+ options are available.

Just consider the fact that crypto purchases and sales made with USD or EUR are subject to 1.50% fee, whilst those made with any other currency – 3.00%.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Payment transfers are the primary service provided by these services – find out the ways to fund your account, manage finances and withdraw them.

PayPal

Sending money from your PayPal account is completely free of charge, but you will need to pay a small fee when receiving funds from other senders. T

hose transfers performed between PayPal accounts or direct bank wiring are exempt, while those made from credit cards are subject to 2.9% + 0.30 USD, i.e. 7.4% + 0.50 USD for international transfers (US to Brazil accounts).

Still, in order to get to these transfers, you will initially need to fund your PayPal account. This is done through a range of methods, and most of them are also available for players looking to get the funds out of their e-wallet into other accounts.

Neteller

While PayPal charges for the process of receiving money, Neteller allows users to perform the action free of charge. Nevertheless, it makes up for this lack of fee through the charges made for sending money – 1.45% regardless of the type of account it is directed at.

Deposits and withdrawals...

... are both accompanied with specific fees; the former spans across a rather varied range of deposit options, from regular bank transfers, through intermediary services, online and mobile payment processors, other e-wallets, all the way to cryptocurrencies. All these methods can be used by potential users looking to store value into their Neteller accounts, with a general 2.5% fee charge per deposit.

Withdrawals are also performed through a selection of options, each featuring a different fee.

Thus, when withdrawing from your Neteller account to a partnering merchant, the fee is 0%; for money transfers, the fee is as mentioned above – 1.45%, with a set minimum of 0.50 USD. Member fund transfers within the network are charged 12.75 USD, while direct bank transfers are subject to a 10 USD fee.

User Benefits

Apart from the fact that gambling operators and other merchants may provide customers with bonuses /ask-the-wizard/online-gaming/bonuses/ and discounts for using a select payment method, the processors themselves often offer a range of benefits to their user pool.

PayPal

There are no direct user benefits for those that have decided to store and transact value through a PayPal account. Many would actually claim that the experience is smooth enough and does not in fact require further boosts; yet, even if that is the case, users are still able to benefit from a specific segment of the service – the PayPal Prepaid MasterCard plastic card and its points structure.

Neteller

As for Neteller users, the card is a completely separate convenience, while user benefits are part of the overall account holder experience. To be more precise, anyone that registers for the service automatically qualifies for the range of perks and advantages spanning across 5 levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

Users will need to transfer a specific amount of funds through the service in order to climb levels, starting from $10,000 per year for Bronze, $50,000 and $100,000 for Silver and Gold, up to $500,000 and $2,000,000 for the final two. While these may arguably seem like massive amounts, the benefits are definitely worth the dedication to the service, as Neteller VIPs get to enjoy much lower transaction and exchange fees, greater limits, personalized service and much more.

Physical Card Availability & Features

In an era where all the services are turning virtual, the dependence on the traditional payment methods is still largely evident. These services have aimed to attract a much wider user pool by providing them with a plastic card that would be familiar, and provide a range of extra payment processing features at the same time.

PayPal

The PayPal Prepaid MasterCard is a physical card of your existing PayPal account, allowing you to use it for direct bank withdrawals into cash, as well as payments at any POSs where MasterCard is accepted.

Considering the widespread network of MasterCard...

... users shouldn’t have a problem finding a place where they can be charged on their prepaid card. Nevertheless, the fees associated with this card are a good point to keep in mind at all times. For one, ATM withdrawals see users get charged with a 1.00 USD + 2.5% FX in the US, or 1% + 2.5% FX outside the US, while ATM declines charge a single US dollar. These withdrawals are limited to 940 USD a day, while a higher limit of up to 5,000 USD is available for daily expenses at POSs.

The PayPal card expires after 3 years, so make sure you check the date regularly in order to avoid being declined your next transaction.

Neteller

The Net+ Prepaid MasterCard...

... is the physical card issued by MasterCard as a means for Neteller users to link it to their existing accounts.

You can apply for it free of charge, but will need to pay a ‘shipping and handling’ fee of 10 USD. The Prepaid card normally arrives between 2 and 10 business days, which is much shorter than the 2-4 weeks users normally wait for the PayPal one. What is more, Paypal charges users with a membership fee of 4.95 USD per month, making up for the lack of initial fee, which is the only charge imposed on Neteller users.

For the Net+ Prepaid MasterCard, there is...

... an annual 10 USD fee, as well as a regular fee charge (3.99%) for exchange conversion in case the ATM or POS handle business in a currency other than the ones you use for your account.

Ultimately, it’s good to know that you can link up to 5 Net+ Virtual Prepaid MasterCard accounts to a single card without any charge, while each additional comes at 3 USD/ 2.5 EUR/ 2 GBP.

Security

With all the conveniences, user benefits and advantages they have to offer, the choice between PayPal and Neteller, as with most other pairs of banking services ultimately goes down to security. After all, users trust these companies with their hard earned cash, and it takes quite a stable and secure service to ensure this in today’s cyber-criminal environment.

PayPal

At a single charge of 29.95 USD, the PayPal payment processing service provides its users with a top secure feature known as the PayPal Security Key. While it may seem pricey at first, it provides users with a safety net by taking over liability for most potential situations which occur during online payment processing.

Neteller

For Neteller users, there is the choice...

... between a two-step authorization feature and the Secure ID. Both of these provide an additional layer of protection to the regular username and password system; in the case of dual-factor authorization, users logging into their accounts will receive one-time generated codes (normally to their linked mobile devices) in order to make sure no one else gains access to the account. On the other hand, the Secure ID is a unique 6-digit number assigned to each account holder, and required for approval of all operations.

Both companies behind these payment processing services comply with the most rigorous security standards of the Financial Conduit Authority in the UK, which is proof enough of reliable services.

Anyway, the choice is bound to come down to personal preference, and occasionally geographical availability. Still, with both services getting massive global recognition and achieving coverage across the world, there is hardly a thing such as making the wrong choice.

Related banking method reviews:

• Neteller
• PayPal Casinos

Written by: Shelly Schiff