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Personal Finance · head to head

Apple Pay vs Skrill

Apple Pay logo

Apple Pay

Personal Finance

The easier way to pay and send money

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Skrill logo

Skrill

Personal Finance

Fast and secure money transfer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Pay apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets; Skrill a currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Secure payments, Skrill covers Money transfers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Pay and Skrill actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Pay and Skrill differ
AttributeApple PaySkrill
Pricing modelfreetransaction
PlatformsIOS, WatchOS, MacOSWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20142001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Pay

  • Secure payments
  • Contactless transactions
  • P2P money transfers
  • Debit cards
  • WatchOS support
  • MacOS support

Only in Skrill

  • Money transfers
  • Currency conversion
  • Prepaid card
  • Web support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Digital wallet
  • Credit cards
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Pay

  • Contactless in store payment from iPhone and Apple Watchnot Skrill
  • Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot Skrill
  • Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot Skrill

Skrill

  • Sending money internationally from a prepaid digital walletnot Apple Pay
  • Funding and withdrawing from online merchants and gaming sitesnot Apple Pay
  • Buying and selling cryptocurrency inside a wallet accountnot Apple Pay

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Pay

  • Apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
  • Apple Cash is available only in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
  • Apple Cash Family accounts and Tap to Cash transactions are each capped at 2000 USD within a rolling seven day period
  • Mac support requires a Touch ID equipped model
  • A card works only if the issuing bank supports Apple Pay, and banks may charge their own overseas usage fees

Skrill

  • A currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • An inactivity fee of EUR 5.00 is deducted monthly after six months with no login or transaction
  • Card deposits carry a 2.50 percent fee
  • SWIFT bank withdrawals cost 2.80 percent with a minimum fee of EUR 3.5
  • Skrill to Skrill transfers cost 2.99 percent with a EUR 0.50 minimum on standard accounts, reduced to 1.45 percent only for True Skriller accounts
  • Crypto trading fees are tiered by VIP status, from 1.50 percent standard down to 1.30 percent at Gold and Diamond VIP

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Pay

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Secure payments
    • P2P transfers
    • Transit passes

Skrill

Free
  • Free AccountFree
    • Money transfers
    • Digital wallet
  • Premier Account$undefined/month
    • Higher limits
    • Special rates

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Pay if

  • You need secure payments.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
  • You also want contactless transactions.
Apple Pay review

Choose Skrill if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want currency conversion.
Skrill review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Pay or Skrill better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and Skrill at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or Skrill?
Apple Pay starts at Free and Skrill at Free.
Does Apple Pay or Skrill run on more platforms?
Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. Skrill runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Apple Pay for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apple Pay best used for?
Apple Pay is most often used for contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch, paying in apps and on the web without entering card details, sending money between apple users with apple cash and tap to cash. Of those, contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch and paying in apps and on the web without entering card details are not what Skrill is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Pay do that Skrill cannot?
Apple Pay covers Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers, Debit cards. Skrill covers Money transfers, Currency conversion, Prepaid card, Web support. Both handle Digital wallet, Credit cards, Bank accounts, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Pay: Does Apple Pay charge fees?

No. Apple does not charge any fees when you pay with Apple Pay in stores, online, or in apps.

Source
Skrill: Is Skrill free to use?

Skrill operates on a freemium model. The digital wallet is free to open and use for basic features. The site refers to a fees page where transfer, conversion, and service fees are disclosed.

Source
Apple Pay: What are the transaction limits for Apple Cash Family?

Apple Cash Family accounts have a maximum transaction limit of $2,000 within any rolling seven-day period for sending or receiving money. The same $2,000 rolling 7-day limit applies to Tap to Cash peer-to-peer transfers.

Source
Skrill: What are Skrill's fees for transfers and conversions?

Skrill lists transfer, conversion, and service fees but does not display the specific amounts on the homepage. Detailed fee structures are available on Skrill's dedicated fees page at /en/siteinformation/fees/.

Source
Skrill: What services does Skrill offer?

Skrill provides international money transfers, online payment processing, cryptocurrency buying and selling, loyalty rewards through the Knect points program, and a mobile app. These services are included in the free account.

Source
Skrill: Is Skrill regulated?

Yes. Skrill Limited is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 for issuing electronic money and payment instruments. It is also registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset firm.

Source
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