Alternatives to PayPal: The best tips

GiroPay is a widespread and frequently used online payment service from the German banking industry.

• Registration: You do not need to register separately for this service. However, you will need an account with one of the following banks. This account must also be activated for online banking . The cooperating banks are the Postbanks, the Sparkassen, the Volks- and Raiffeisenbanken, as well as the PSD and DKB banks.
• Procedure: If you select payment via GiroPay in the online shop, you will be asked to enter your bank code. You will then be taken to your banks online banking, where you must log in. The transfer form is already filled out in this form. All you have to do is confirm this with a TAN.
• Security: Since you are redirected directly from the shop to your bank, there are no security risks here.
• Advantage: People under 18 can also use this service.

There are around 25 million credit cards in circulation in Germany. They are also a popular means of payment on the Internet.

• Registration: You can request a credit card from your bank. It is not uncommon for you to receive this when opening a new account. You must ask your bank about any costs for a credit card.
• Procedure: Here you just need to provide your name, card number, expiry date and card verification number.
• Security: The " 3-D Secure process ", where you need an additional password, is not yet mandatory for all users. If you lose your credit card, strangers can use the data to pay online and on site.
• Disadvantages: Credit cards usually incur a fee and cannot be used by minors.

Bitcoins and LiteCoins are digital currencies that are traded similarly to real currency. Bit and LiteCoins have now developed into an emerging alternative currency.

• The coins are generated by the computing power of computers and can be converted into real currencies such as the euro.
• The big advantage of Bitcoins is their anonymity, as no government organization monitors trading. However, there is also a big disadvantage here. The stability of the currency cannot be guaranteed. Incorrectly executed transfers cannot be canceled.
• Very few online shops, especially small ones, accept Bitcoins as currency.Some stores in trendy areas of large cities also offer payment. Bitcoins are therefore more suitable for payment transactions between two private people.

In addition to the options mentioned, there are other Paypal alternatives.

• PaysafeCard : The PaysafeCard is a suitable online payment service, especially for minors without a bank account. The credit cards can be bought in supermarkets or at gas stations and redeemed online using a code. Age and identity do not play a role with this payment method.
• PostPay : PostPay is also being offered for payment in more and more online shops. This is a payment service from Deutsche Post. The delivery address and method of payment are recorded once during registration; when paying in the online shop, you simply need to log in with your password.
• Amazon Payments : If you generally buy a lot from Amazon, Amazon Payments can be a welcome service for you. Even if you shop at an Amazon partner shop, you can still complete the purchase via your Amazon account if you wish. This means you can be sure that you bought from a reputable shop and, if in doubt, you can simply get your money back.

In the next practical tip we will show you how secure PayPal really is .