Facebook pay is a payment service introduced by Facebook in 2019 as a way for people to send and receive money across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Since its launch, there have been some questions around whether Facebook pay transactions are truly instant or if there is a delay.
What is Facebook Pay?
Facebook Pay allows users to link their payment methods like debit and credit cards, PayPal accounts or Facebook payment accounts to their Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp profiles. Once linked, users can easily send, receive and request money from others with just a few taps.
Some key features of Facebook Pay include:
- Linking payment methods – Add debit/credit cards, PayPal, etc to be used for payments
- Sending/receiving money – Send money to friends and family or request payments
- Checkout option – Check out faster on apps/websites that accept Facebook Pay
- Security features – Use PIN, touch ID, etc to authenticate payments
- Seller tools – Business pages can accept payments via Facebook Pay
The goal of Facebook Pay is to provide an easy, secure payment experience across the Facebook family of apps. This eliminates the need to enter payment information every time you need to send money or checkout.
Are Facebook Pay Transactions Instant?
When Facebook Pay was first introduced, it was advertised as allowing users to send and receive money instantly. However, in practice users have reported varying experiences with how fast payments are processed.
Here are some key factors that impact the speed of Facebook Pay transactions:
- Linked payment method – The type of payment account linked impacts speed. Debit cards and PayPal tend to be fastest, bank transfers can take days.
- Network congestion – During times of high traffic, transfers may be delayed as system capacity is limited.
- Security reviews – Facebook may hold payments at times to review for suspicious activity and prevent fraud.
- Transfer limits – Caps on daily or monthly transfer amounts can lead to delays if exceeded.
- Bank/processor policies – The policies and processes of the bank or financial processor may affect timing.
So while Facebook designed the system to allow instant transfers, the realities of banking, payment networks and security considerations means the speed can vary significantly.
Speed Comparison of Payment Methods
Looking at specific payment types linked to Facebook Pay provides more insight into the expected timing:
| Payment Method | Speed |
|---|---|
| Debit Card | Typically within minutes if funds available |
| Credit Card | Within minutes in most cases |
| PayPal | Instant transfer between PayPal accounts, within minutes to debit card |
| Bank Account | 1-3 business days for bank transfer |
As shown, debit cards, credit cards and PayPal linked accounts will generally provide the fastest experience. Bank account transfers take the longest due to the legacy ACH transfer system used.
Factors That Can Delay Facebook Pay Transfers
While the above methods tend to be fast, there are some scenarios where Facebook Pay transfers may be delayed beyond expectations:
- New recipients – When sending to someone new, the first payment may be held for review.
- Large transfer amounts – Payments over certain threshold amounts could trigger holds.
- Suspicious patterns – Unusual activity like multiple requests from new users may be flagged.
- Limited history – Those with limited Facebook Pay history may see holds more frequently.
- Unpaid debts – Negative account balances need to be resolved before transfers.
- Legal holds – Payments may be held due to court orders or investigations.
These policies are in place to prevent fraudulent use of Facebook Pay. The downside is honest users sometimes have their transfers delayed as false positives do occur.
Tips to Speed Up Facebook Pay Transfers
If you find your Facebook Pay transfers taking longer than expected, here are some troubleshooting tips that may help:
- Link a debit card or PayPal – This links a faster payment method
- Avoid bank transfers – These will always be slow due to how the ACH system works
- Transfer smaller amounts – Large transfers may trigger extra security reviews
- Only pay trusted parties – Payments to new recipients tend to be held more
- Resolve unpaid debts – Settle any outstanding balances on linked accounts
- Avoid suspicious activity – Large transfers between unconnected parties for example
Additionally, building up a history of legitimate Facebook Pay activity can improve your trust profile and lead to fewer payment holds over time.
Facebook Pay Vs. PayPal Transfer Speed Comparison
PayPal is another popular online payment option. So how does their transfer speed compare to Facebook Pay?
For transfers between PayPal accounts, the money is instantly available to the recipient. This is because it is an internal transfer within PayPal’s system.
For withdrawals from PayPal to a bank account, transfers typically arrive in 1-3 business days via ACH transfer. Though PayPal does offer an Instant Transfer option for a fee.
Facebook Pay linked to a PayPal account essentially piggybacks on the PayPal transfer timing. PayPal to PayPal is instant. And PayPal to bank takes 1-3 days unless Instant Transfer is paid for.
So PayPal does have some speed advantages for internal transfers. But for external bank transfers, Facebook Pay and PayPal are quite similar in timing as both rely on ACH transfer.
Conclusion
In summary, while Facebook Pay aims to provide instant transfers between users, the system is not without limitations. Factors like linked payment methods, security reviews and bank policies can delay payouts in many cases. Debit/credit transactions tend to be fastest, while bank transfers are slowest.
Users looking for the most instant experience should link PayPal accounts or debit cards, transfer small amounts, maintain a clean history, and only transact with trusted parties. Following security best practices allows the system to work as designed and keep transactions moving smoothly.
So Facebook Pay may not be quite as instant as advertised in all cases. But the convenience and ease of use still provide significant value to users across Facebook’s family of apps. And when working optimally, it does enable users to send money to others in just seconds with a couple of taps.