Banking Banking Basics

How to Avoid Cash App Fees

Learn about Cash App fees and how to save money on transactions

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Updated April 8, 2025
Fact checked

Cash App is a popular financial platform for sending money to friends and family, similar to Venmo or Zelle. The app doesn't charge any account, maintenance, or annual fees and standard transfers from a linked bank account cost $0. Instant transfers from a linked debit card cost 0.5% to 1.75%, with a minimum of 25 cents per transfer. You can also link and use a credit card for a 3% fee.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to cost you something to use the app. I use peer-to-peer (P2P) mobile payment services like Cash App and Venmo in my everyday life for both personal and professional reasons. In doing so, I've learned that Cash App can be an immensely helpful and that you can use it in a way that doesn't cost you a penny.

How much does Cash App charge?

Cash App doesn't charge account, maintenance, or annual fees, but you might incur a charge depending on how you use the app. Here are a few fees to watch out for.

Cash App fee Amount
Send money via a bank account $0
Instant transfer via a debit card 0.5%-1.75% (minimum of 25 cents)
Send money via a credit card 3%
Investing $0 commission fees from Cash App, though government agencies could charge fees for trades
Buying/selling cryptocurrency May range between 0.75% to 3%, but it varies by total exchange amount
ATM withdrawals $2.50 per withdrawal without direct deposit (additional operator fees may apply at out-of-network ATMS)

$0 per withdrawal for customers who receive $300 or more in qualifying direct deposits per month

How to avoid fees on Cash App

Cash App isn't free, but there are plenty of ways to avoid fees on the app. I use Cash App as a simple money exchange app, and I have never paid a fee to use it. Here's how I do that:

  • I don't link the app to a credit card. Cash App doesn't charge a fee for transactions when you link your Cash App account to your bank account or debit card.
  • I wait 1-2 days to receive money on the app. Cash App charges up to a 1.75% fee when you rush a money transfer. This won't necessarily work for everyone, but I tend to exchange smaller amounts of money that I don't need to access as quickly.
  • I don't use Cash App for ATM withdrawals. My bank reimburses me for ATM withdrawals, so I stick with my banking debit card for this.

Fee to get money faster

Cash App provides two options to cash out your Cash App balance. This includes a standard deposit to a linked bank account or an instant deposit to a linked debit card.

The standard deposit option is free and typically takes one to three business days to process. If you go for the instant deposit, you'll have to pay a Cash App instant transfer fee of 0.5%-1.75% (minimum of 25 cents) to instantly receive the money on your debit card.

I often exchange smaller amounts of money, so waiting a couple of days for a transaction to go through is fine, and I have never opted for the instant transfer feature.

Alternatively, you could request Cash App's in-house debit card, the Cash Card, and spend your Cash App balance without having to transfer it to a bank account or other debit card.

Fee for using a credit card to send money

If you want to send money through Cash App using a credit card rather than a linked bank account or debit card, you'll have to pay 3% of the total amount.

This is similar to most P2P payment apps, including Venmo. Cash App supports credit cards from most major card networks as a payment method, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Again, though, if you want to avoid paying to use the app, I'd recommend not using a credit card to send money.

Investing fees

Cash App doesn't charge a fee for opening a Cash App investing account. It also doesn't collect commission fees or require you to maintain a minimum balance on your account.

However, certain government agencies may charge fees for any trades you make, which will be disclosed to you before the confirmation of the trade.

Bitcoin fees

You'll likely see a fee from Cash App when you buy or sell bitcoins through its app. This fee can vary based on the total amount of the exchange, so it makes sense to input how many bitcoins you want to buy or sell and check what the fee is before moving forward. Any fee will show up on the trade confirmation screen before you complete the transaction.

Cash app fee bitcoin purchase.

For a full accounting of Cash App's Bitcoin exchange fees, see the table below:

Exchange total Cash App fee
$0-$9.99 3%
$10-$100 2.25%
$100.01-$200 2%
$200.01-$1,000 1.75%
$1,000.01-$2,000 1.5%
$2,000.01-$3,000 1.25%
$3,000.01-$5,000 1%
$5,000.01+ 0.75%

ATM fees

Cash App charges $2.50 per ATM withdrawal. This doesn't include the additional fee you'll likely be charged by the ATM itself for making a withdrawal with a card from a different bank.

If you want to avoid some ATM fees with Cash App, set up direct deposit to your Cash App account and pass the threshold of $300 or more of qualifying direct deposits per month. Each month you meet the threshold, you'll qualify for unlimited free withdrawals. Keep in mind that this only applies to the Cash App side, and certain ATMs may charge operator fees.

The Cash App card

Though I have my Cash App connected to a bank account, you can also use Cash App's debit card for additional features. You may want the Cash App card to utilize funds more easily at places that don't accept Cash App, so you can avoid having to withdraw from your Cash App balance via an ATM and in doing so avoid paying the associated fees. 

The Cash Card is free and available to anyone 13 or older. It's connected to your Cash App balance and can be added to digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.1

Meet the Cash App Card screen.

This could be a great option for older children who want to have access to a debit card that you can quickly add money to for things like allowance. But Cash App's Cash Card doesn't offer other features that a debit card linked to a true bank account may provide or all the educational and monitoring features that something like the Greenlight debit card offers.

Warning
Note that the card does come with a 2% foreign transaction fee and has a transaction limit of $7,000 per transaction, per day, a limit of $10,000 per week, and a limit of $15,000 per month.

Venmo vs. Cash App fees

I use Venmo more than Cash App because the people I exchange money with use Venmo. The features I utilize on both apps have the same fees, so for me that's not what make the difference between the two services.

Here's a comparison of the fees on Venmo versus Cash App:

Venmo fees Cash App fees
Send money (via linked bank account) $0 $0
Send money (via credit card) 3% 3%
Receive money $0 $0
Standard transfer $0 $0
Instant transfer 1.75% (minimum 25 cents, maximum $25) 0.5%-1.75% (minimum 25 cents)
Investing N/A $0 from Cash App, though government agencies could charge fees for trades
Buying/selling cryptocurrency Varies (minimum 49 cents) Varies (0.75% to 3%)
ATM withdrawals $0 in network

$2.50 out of network (all non-MoneyPass ATMs)

$2.50 per withdrawal or $0 if you receive $300 or more in monthly direct deposits

You could qualify for ATM fee reimbursements with qualifying direct deposits

Overall, the fee structures are fairly similar between Venmo and Cash App, especially with the main features most users are likely to use. Both Venmo and Cash App users are charged a 3% standard fee for credit card payments. One main difference between the two services is that you can invest in stocks with Cash App, but not Venmo.

Since both apps are free to use at the basic level of sending and transferring money, I have an account on both platforms. As both platforms gain prominence and stay comparable, you may see the people you exchange money with using different platforms.

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FAQs

What is the Cash App fee for sending or receiving $100?

Cash App doesn't typically charge a fee for sending or receiving $100, with a few exceptions. If you use a credit card to send money through Cash App, you'll pay a 3% fee, which is $3 for a $100 transaction. If you receive money on Cash App and want to cash it out immediately, you'll pay up to a 1.75% fee for an instant deposit. That would be $1.75 for cashing out $100.

How much does the Cash App withdrawal fee cost?

Cash App doesn't charge a withdrawal fee for cashing out your balance unless you choose the instant deposit option — in which case there's up to a fee between 0.5%-1.75%. The standard deposit, which takes one to three business days, is free.

Cash App charges $2.50 per ATM withdrawal. This fee is waived if you receive $300 or more in qualifying direct deposits in a month to your Cash App account.

How do you avoid fees on Cash App?

To avoid fees on Cash App when sending or receiving money, don't use a credit card to send payments and don't use the instant deposit option when cashing out your balance.

To avoid some ATM withdrawal fees, receive $300 or more in eligible direct deposits to your Cash App account.

Bottom line

Cash App is a popular option for sending and receiving money, and it's made inroads into the worlds of investing and cryptocurrency.

Keep in mind that Cash App is a financial services company and not a bank. This could mean a bank might have a wider range of services to offer you. For more information, check out our list of the best banks.

You can get a lot out of Cash App if you use it as a peer-to-peer money payment system, though. And it's especially useful if your personal or professional circles use the app, too. I use it to exchange money just as easily as cash. It stops me from having to get cash out of an ATM, make change, or delay payments. But if you don't feel like Cash App has the services or features you need, you have other options to consider, including those that made our list of the best money apps.

Disclaimer: All rates and fees are accurate as of April 8, 2025.

No minimum balance or monthly fees
Peer-to-peer payments as well as banking services
Direct deposit and possible to get paycheck up to two days early
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