Side-by-side comparison
For gun-related transactions, GunTab is better on usability, protection, and price.
| PayPal G&S | Venmo G&S | |
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| Guns & ammo allowed |
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| Gun parts allowed |
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| Card payments |
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| Bank payments |
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| Unlimited amounts |
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| Buyers safe |
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| Sellers safe |
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| Guaranteed |
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| Guided steps |
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| Automations |
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| Service fee | 2.9% or less | 3% | 3% |
| Card fee | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Reviews | Compare | Compare |
What are other options?
There aren't many options for gun-related payments on GunBroker, Armslist, etc. You can't use PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or any of the other payment platforms. Checks and money orders are tedious, slow, and risky for the buyer (and sometimes the seller too). Cryptocurrency is dangerous for the buyer. There is only one option that is safe for both sides.
Payment platforms (very dangerous)
All payment platforms prohibit gun-related transactions. Every gun-related dollar you send through them is at risk of being seized. Also, you're at risk of scams regardless whether you pay for buyer protection, because buyer protection isn't enforced when you violate their policy.
- Apple Pay
- Cash App (compare to GunTab)
- Facebook Payments
- Google Pay
- PayPal (compare to GunTab)
- Venmo (compare to GunTab)
- Zelle (compare to GunTab)
Checks and money orders (slow, dangerous)
Before payment platforms existed, people mailed money orders and personal checks. However, it is tedious to generate these payments, slow to mail them, and also slow to clear them (4-7 days). Further, they have no buyer protection. Personal checks are especially bad because they expose sensitive information, and make sellers vulnerable to chargebacks.
- Cashier's checks
- Money orders (compare to GunTab)
- Personal checks (compare to GunTab)
Wire transfers (expensive, dangerous)
Wire transfers are fast. However, you probably need to visit your bank to send one, they cost around $30 each, and they have no buyer protection.
Cash (local, dangerous)
Cash is best for privacy. However, it can only be used for face-to-face transactions, so it restricts you to your local area. Also, it can be dangerous to bring a pocketful of cash to meet a stranger with a gun.
Cryptocurrency (limited, dangerous)
Cryptocurrency payments are fast and fairly low-cost. However, most people don't want to use cryptocurrency. Further, crypto payments are usually non-reversible, meaning they have no buyer protection. Worse, some cryptocurrency platforms do allow payments to be reversed, making them more dangerous for sellers without making them completely safe for buyers.
- Bitcoin (compare to GunTab)
- GunBroker Pay (compare to GunTab)
Escrow platforms
Escrow payments are safe for both buyers and sellers. However, most escrow platforms prohibit gun-related transactions.
- Escrow.com (compare to GunTab)
- GunTab.com
- Tradiator.com (now recommends GunTab)
GunBroker protection isn't sufficient
The biggest problem with gun-friendly payment options is the lack of buyer and seller protection. You may think, "No problem, I'm using GunBroker." Unfortunately, GunBroker's protection is incomplete. When dealing with scammers, buyers always lose at least some of their payment, and sellers aren't protected at all.
GunTab is the best option
GunTab is the best option for gun-related transactions, because it is the only option that is safe for both sides. That's because GunTab is gun-friendly escrow. For buyers and sellers online, escrow is "the one sure-fire way to protect themselves" from all the possible scams.
Also, GunTab is the only service that automates your transactions and supports you with step-by-step guidance. It was build from the ground up to serve the firearms community.
The proof is in the data. The side-by-side comparisons above shows that GunTab is almost always your best option.