Boku and PayPal are two perfectly secure online payment processing service providers commonly accepted at the checkout or cashier section of eCommerce sites and iGaming sites.
Most of you will be familiar with PayPal but may have never heard of Boku, so I thought I would bring Boku to your attention, just in case you’re looking for a new payment method.
I’ve used it more and more frequently in the past 6 months or so, but only when my PayPal account has no available funds, isn’t accepted, or, for whatever reason, isn’t working properly – like when I forget my password. Totally not my fault…
In other words, I rely on it more as a backup, which I think many other Boku users do as well. Still, there’s always a justification for a backup up your sleeve.
What are the main similarities and differences between the options?
I’ve used both at my favourite sites more times than I can remember, and I’ve become fairly familiar with both.
IMO, nothing ever really changes with Boku, which is what I like about it – the pure simplicity. PayPal is completely different. It always seems to be changing its terms and conditions, adding or getting rid of certain website settings and features, and altering terms and policies, which is annoying but essential in the modern world.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I’ll run through some of the main similarities between the two, as I’ve encountered them. I decided to devise this list because I think it is important to know, especially if you are considering using one or both of these reliable payment methods, and my experience gives me a handy vantage point from which to consider all this.
The main similarities and differences between the two are …
- There aren’t as many gambling sites that accept Boku compared to how many sites accept PayPal
- PayPal is classed as an eWallet (although some say digital wallet, electronic wallet or web wallet). Boku is a mobile payment method
- PayPal can be connected to your bank account, credit or debit card and can act as the go-between to send money to your gambling account from your bank or directly from your PayPal account. Boku doesn’t have a digital wallet system. It doesn’t hold money and cannot be connected to your bank account, credit or debit card
- When depositing with Boku, all you need is your personal [valid] mobile number as a reference at the checkout. When sending money, you enter your deposit amount and your mobile number. You then confirm these two are correct to receive an instant SMS message, which you must reply to within 15 minutes by sending only the letter ‘Y.’ The money you send will then either come out of your current mobile phone credit or it will appear on your next mobile phone bill
- PayPal deposits range from $/€/£10 to around $/€/£5,000 (or equivalent currency value). Boku deposits are capped at $/€/£30 because they don’t want you racking up huge debts for when your next mobile phone bill arrives
- Both process instant deposits (typically within 1 to 5 seconds at most)
- Boku can only be used for deposits. PayPal can be used for deposits AND withdrawals
- Boku doesn’t require any credit or debit card information, personal information, or bank details, whereas PayPal does. Also, Boku doesn’t require a lengthy sign-up process or proof of ID/address to use its services. In comparison, anyone who wishes to use PayPal must send them a scanned colour copy of their ID and proof of address to adhere to the AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) account verification requirements
- PayPal is super secure these days and uses 2FA (two-factor authentication), plus the high levels of SSL encryption enhance your account security and protect your payments
- Both are easy to use, and I find that the entire process of depositing funds to receiving them takes around the same amount of time, so there’s no contest there…
As you can see, Boku and PayPal are completely different, but they both get the job done. I like using both methods for different situations, sort of like hedging my bets but better.
However, I will always prefer using PayPal or my Visa debit card because these two universally accepted online payment solutions can both be used for deposits and withdrawals.
I don’t like using two different methods (one for deposits and another for withdrawals) unless I really need to. When PayPal lets me down, I turn to Boku because I know I can rely on it.
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer to the question, ‘Is Boku better than PayPal?’ They are both secure, convenient, user-friendly, and reliable in their own unique ways.
In fact, I’d say they’re pretty equal, especially when it comes to depositing, but when it comes to withdrawing, Boku doesn’t enter the equation because it can’t be used for cashing out your winnings. Therefore, PayPal wins hands-down.
When deciding whether to use Boku or PayPal for depositing, it all boils down to which type of payment method you prefer to use at the checkout. Some people will prefer the simplicity of Boku, whereas others, myself included, prefer eWallets like PayPal.
The good news is that there are now hundreds of sites out there today that accept both, but you are more likely to find a website that accepts PayPal than Boku, so always check that your preferred payment method is accepted before signing up anywhere.