Follow These Steps to Use Cash App

Are you looking for a new payment platform to streamline the way you send and receive payments, with additional banking and investing features? Cash App may fit the bill. Learn more about how to use Cash App and how it compares to other popular apps in the peer-to-peer payment space.

Cash App is a financial services platform owned by Block (formerly Square) that allows you to send or receive cash, bitcoin or stocks. You can also get the Cash Card debit card, connect direct deposits to your Cash App account, and use your account like a savings account.

If you want to know how to use Cash App, here’s a breakdown to get you set up.

Cash App works like other payment platforms in that you download an app, add a funding source and then you can begin using it for cash transactions. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how to use Cash App:

Note: There are other ways to add cash to your Cash App account if you prefer not to link your bank. Instead, you can deposit paychecks or tax returns, or you can visit a participating retailer to deposit actual cash into your Cash App.

Once you have money in Cash App, you can start using the app for everyday transactions in place of cash. You can also use it to send and receive bitcoin and to buy and sell stocks.

Cash Card is a Visa card and works anywhere Visa is accepted. If you don’t have or don’t carry the card, though, you can still use Cash App. One way is to add Cash App to your Apple Pay or Google Pay wallet so you can use your Cash App balance as a funding source for in-person and online purchases.

Cash App is a completely free app, whether you’re sending or receiving money. Even international transactions do not have a fee. If you are using a Cash Card to take out money at an ATM, you will be charged a $2.50 fee by Cash App, however.

Though Cash App is not a bank, it does offer banking features like debit cards and a savings account. Sutton Bank is Cash App’s debit card partner. Your cash balance is also FDIC-insured through a partnership with Wells Fargo.

If Cash App seems like it has more features than you need, or you prefer another app that more people in your social circle are using, here are some others to explore.

If you and your friends and family have iPhones, Apple Cash lets you text cash payments and receive money from other users.

How Apple Cash compares to Cash App: Apple Cash is only for Apple users, whereas Cash App works across platforms.

Venmo is a popular payment app that feels like a social media platform. It lets you send and receive money to other users (funded from a linked bank account), but isn’t really useful for making online purchases or in-store shopping.

How Venmo compares to Cash App: Many people use Venmo, making it very convenient to use with your contacts, but it lacks Cash App’s additional functions like the Cash Card and investing options. Venmo is also only for domestic transactions, while Cash App can be used internationally.

Zelle has over 100 million users and partners with more than 1,800 banks and credit unions. This allows for instant transfers between accounts.

How Zelle compares to Cash App: Zelle doesn’t offer products and services like the Cash Card or Cash App Investing. Instead, it’s an intermediary between banks.