Meta Pay is the payment feature that was launched by Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2020. It allows users to send and receive money across Meta’s apps including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. However, many users have had trouble finding where exactly the Meta Pay feature is located within the Facebook app. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to find Meta Pay on the Facebook app along with some background information on Meta Pay.
What is Meta Pay?
Meta Pay is a payment service that was launched by Meta in an effort to unify payments across its family of apps. It allows users to send and receive money securely without any fees. Some key things to know about Meta Pay:
- It is available in the Facebook app, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp
- Users can send/receive money domestically and internationally
- Transactions are free for consumers
- Funds can be loaded onto Meta Pay via debit cards, PayPal, etc.
- Merchants can receive customer payments via Meta Pay
Initially launched as Facebook Pay in November 2019, the service was rebranded to Meta Pay in May 2022 as part of the company’s overall rebranding from Facebook to Meta. The goal is to eventually allow users to send money between any of Meta’s apps using Meta Pay.
Where to find Meta Pay in the Facebook app
If you’re wondering where to find the Meta Pay feature within Facebook’s iOS or Android app, follow these steps:
On iOS
- Open the latest version of the Facebook app
- Tap on the More tab (three horizontal lines icon) at the bottom right
- Scroll down and tap on “Meta Pay”
This will open up the Meta Pay section where you can see your activity, add money, and change settings.
On Android
- Open the latest version of the Facebook app
- Tap on the Hamburger menu (three horizontal lines icon) at the top right
- Scroll down and tap on “Meta Pay”
Similar to iOS, this will open the Meta Pay dashboard within the Facebook app.
So in summary, Meta Pay can be found in the menu/settings area of the Facebook app – just look for the “Meta Pay” option.
Sending money via Meta Pay
Once you access the Meta Pay section, sending money to friends or family is easy:
- Open a chat with the person you want to send money to
- Tap on the Meta Pay icon (selector with a $,¥,€ symbol)
- Enter the amount you want to send
- Confirm the details and send
The recipient will get a notification that they’ve received money which they can then add to their own Meta Pay balance or cash out.
Key things to know about sending Meta Pay payments:
- You can send up to $299/day via Meta Pay
- Money is sent from your connected debit card or Meta Pay balance
- Transactions are free and usually complete within minutes
- Works across Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp in addition to Facebook
So Meta Pay provides a quick, easy way to send money to friends and family right within your Facebook messaging conversations.
Receiving money via Meta Pay
In addition to sending payments, you can receive money from others via Meta Pay in just a few taps:
- When someone sends you money, you’ll get a notification
- Open the notification, review the details and tap “Accept Money”
- Choose if you want to add the funds to your Meta Pay balance or cash out to your bank account
And that’s it! The money will be added to your Meta Pay balance or deposited to your connected bank.
Key things to know about receiving Meta Pay money:
- There are no fees for receiving money
- Funds are usually available within minutes
- You can cash out money received at any time
- Works across Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp in addition to Facebook
So Meta Pay makes it very quick and convenient to receive money from friends and family right in your Facebook app.
Adding money to your Meta Pay balance
To send Meta Pay payments, you’ll need to add money to your balance. This can be done in a few ways:
- Debit card – Instantly add money via a debit card connected to your Facebook account
- Bank account – Free ACH transfers from a linked bank account
- PayPal – Transfer PayPal funds into your Meta Pay balance
- Receiving money – Money received via Meta Pay goes into your balance
To add money via debit card or bank account:
- Go to the Meta Pay section in Facebook
- Tap “Add Money”
- Choose your amount and payment method
- Complete the details and confirmation
Once added, the money will be available in your Meta Pay balance for sending payments.
Key things to know about adding money:
- Minimum add is $1
- Maximum balance allowed is $299
- Debit card adds are instant, bank transfers take 2-3 days
- No fees for adding money
So it’s easy to add funds via connected payment methods in order to send Meta Pay money.
Withdrawing money from Meta Pay
If you have a Meta Pay balance, you can instantly cash out the funds to a connected bank account or debit card:
- Go to the Meta Pay section in Facebook
- Tap “Cash Out”
- Select your payout method and amount
- Confirm the details
The money will typically be deposited to your bank or credited to your card within 1-3 business days.
Key things to know about cashing out:
- No fees for withdrawals
- Minimum withdrawal is $1
- Daily withdrawal limit is $299
- Withdrawals take 1-3 business days to process
So withdrawing your Meta Pay balance is easy and fee-free whenever you need access to the funds.
Transaction history and statements
To view your history of Meta Pay payments sent, received, added or withdrawn:
- Go to the Meta Pay section
- Tap on “Activity”
This will show your full statement of Meta Pay transactions with details on:
- Date
- Type (sent, received, add, withdraw)
- Description
- Status
- Amount
You can tap into any transaction to view additional details. Important things to note:
- Full transaction history for life of your Meta Pay account
- Download or share statements
- Activity syncs across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp
So your full Meta Pay transaction history is viewable anytime within the Facebook app.
Managing your Meta Pay account
Within the Meta Pay section of Facebook, you can manage settings and preferences for your account:
Connecting payment methods
Add or remove debit cards, bank accounts, PayPal accounts connected to your Meta Pay balance for sending/receiving money.
Facebook Pay PIN
Optional 4-digit PIN can be enabled for an extra layer of security when sending payments. Must be entered each time you send money.
Notifications
Manage notification settings for payment receipts, withdrawals, balance updates, etc. Choose how (email, push, in-app) and frequency.
Privacy
Control whether your Meta Pay activity and transaction information is used for ads targeting.
Legal
View service terms, privacy policy, help resources, contact support, and file disputes for any issues.
So you have full control over account settings, security, notifications, and privacy via the Manage section.
Meta Pay security
Meta Pay utilizes several measures to keep your money and data safe:
- SSL encryption for data transmission
- No card numbers are stored on Meta’s servers
- PIN code can be enabled as an extra step for sending money
- Notifications for account changes and withdrawals
- 24/7 monitoring for fraudulent activity
- Support for reporting unauthorized transactions
In the rare case of any unauthorized payments or account access, you should immediately contact Meta Pay support via the in-app chat.
So you can feel confident Meta Pay utilizes bank-level security measures to protect your account.
Customer Support
If you have any issues with Meta Pay transactions, balance, connecting a payment method, or questions about how it works, there are a few ways to get help:
- In-app chat – Tap “Get Support” in the Meta Pay section of Facebook app
- Help Center – Visit the Meta Pay Help Center online
- Email – Email [email protected] for help
- Call – Call 1-833-295-1682 to reach Meta Pay support
Support is available 24/7 to troubleshoot any issues or answer questions you have about Meta Pay services.
Pros and cons of Meta Pay
Some of the key advantages of using Meta Pay include:
- Seamless money transfer within Facebook apps you already use
- No fees for peer-to-peer payments
- Fast domestic and international transfers
- Simple integration and management within Facebook
Potential disadvantages to consider:
- Data/privacy concerns given Facebook’s history
- Limited payment methods compared to PayPal or Venmo
- $299 daily/balance limit
- Must have a Facebook account
So Meta Pay offers convenient Facebook-based money transfer, but has some limits compared to other services.
Meta Pay vs. Other Payment Apps
How does Meta Pay stack up against other payment services like PayPal, Venmo or Cash App? Here’s a comparison:
| Meta Pay | PayPal | Venmo | Cash App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | None for P2P payments | 2.9% + $0.30 for merchant payments | None for P2P payments | None |
| Transaction Limits | $299 daily, $299 balance limit | $10,000 daily | $4,999.99 weekly | $7,500 weekly |
| Linked Services | Facebook only | PayPal merchants, eBay, Slack | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter | Snapchat, Twitter, Apple Pay |
| Other Features | None | Shopping, bitcoin | Venmo Card debit card | Cash Card debit card, bitcoin |
So while convenient for Facebook users, Meta Pay has lower limits and fewer features compared to more robust payment apps like PayPal or Cash App.
The future of Meta Pay
Meta Pay is still in the relatively early stages, but Meta has big plans to expand the service over time:
- Allowing users to send/receive money between Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger seamlessly
- Expanding to more countries globally
- Adding ability to pay local businesses via Meta Pay
- Potentially integrating with Meta hardware like AR/VR headsets
- Expanding payment methods like buy now, pay later
- Offering different tiers of Meta Pay accounts
The goal seems to be building a “super app” with Meta Pay as the unified payment platform across all of Meta’s services worldwide. This would make it a more robust financial ecosystem to compete with the likes of Alipay or WeChat.
But for now, Meta Pay focuses on convenient peer-to-peer payments through Facebook messaging. It will be interesting to see how Meta Pay evolves in the coming years.
Conclusion
Meta Pay provides a simple way for Facebook users to send money to friends and family directly within the Facebook app. To find it, just tap on the Meta Pay option within the app’s menu. Key features include no-fee payments, money requests, withdrawals to bank, and transparent transaction history.
While convenient for those already on Facebook, Meta Pay does have lower limits and fewer options compared to more advanced platforms like PayPal or Venmo. But it offers a basic money transfer option directly integrated into Facebook messaging.
Look for Meta Pay to expand over time across more Meta apps and add capabilities like business payments, crypto, stored balances, and tighter integration with Facebook commerce tools. Meta is betting big on Meta Pay eventually becoming the default payment option across its family of social media and metaverse services.