Buyers frequently get scammed with Zelle, but not with GunTab.

What is Zelle?

Zelle is an alternative to GunTab. It is a payment platform that transfers money from one party to another through your banking app or the stand-alone Zelle app. Zelle describes itself as "an easy way to send and receive money with friends and family."

Do scammers use Zelle?

Yes, scammers frequently request payment by Zelle because it does not protect buyers. As indicated by StopGunScams.com, Zelle is one of the most commonly accepted payment methods for gun scams.

Side-by-side comparison

	GunTab	Zelle
Guns/ammo/parts allowed	✓	X
Online	✓	✓
Bank payments	✓	✓
Card payments	✓	X
Payments not limited	✓	X
Buyers safe	✓	X
Sellers safe	✓	X
Safety guaranteed	✓	X
Guidance	✓	X
Automations	✓	X
Service fee	2.9%	None
Fee on success only	✓	X

How good is Zelle?

Zelle is fairly popular online. But it prohibits gun-related transactions and makes users vulnerable to various scams.

Guns and ammo prohibited

Like all the payment platforms, Zelle strictly prohibits gun-related transactions. It requires: "you will not use the Service to request, send or receive money related to ... firearms, ammunition or other weapons". If Zelle catches you violating its policy, it can permanently ban you and may even seize your money.

Buyers extremely vulnerable

Zelle does not protect buyers. In fact, it isn't supposed to be used by "buyers" at all, only friends and family. The Zelle user agreement puts this warning in all-caps:

YOU SHOULD NOT USE THE ZELLE® SERVICE TO SEND MONEY TO PERSONS WITH WHOM YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR OR YOU DO NOT TRUST. ZELLE® DOES NOT OFFER A PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR AUTHORIZED PAYMENTS MADE WITH THE SERVICE (FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE GOODS OR SERVICES THAT YOU PAID FOR, OR THE GOODS OR SERVICES THAT YOU RECEIVED ARE DAMAGED OR ARE OTHERWISE NOT WHAT YOU EXPECTED).

If you do get scammed, it's not even clear if you could file a chargeback. "Since you authorized the payment, you may not be able to file for a chargeback with your bank. It depends on the institution and its policies."

Sellers may be vulnerable

Sellers may be vulnerable to chargebacks. Zelle does not mention "chargebacks" or "disputes" in its user service agreement, but it is reported that buyers can issue chargebacks with the cooperation of their bank.

Which is better?

In short, using Zelle for guns or ammo is a big mistake. You have no protection from scams, and you even put your money at risk of being seized by Zelle. GunTab is totally safe, and even helps you complete your transactions. GunTab is clearly the better choice.