You can spend your Cash App balance in several ways: using a Cash Card at stores and online, paying with Cash App Pay at participating retailers, sending money to friends, transferring funds to your bank account, or withdrawing cash at an ATM. The method you choose depends on whether you’re shopping in person, buying something online, or just want the money in your regular bank account.
Use Your Cash Card at Stores and Online
The Cash Card is a free Visa debit card linked directly to your Cash App balance. You can order one through the app if you don’t already have it, and it typically arrives within two weeks. Once activated, it works anywhere Visa is accepted, which covers the vast majority of retailers, restaurants, gas stations, and online merchants.
For in-store purchases, you swipe, tap, or insert the card just like any other debit card. For online shopping, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV found on the card or in the app. You can also add the Cash Card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments from your phone. Before the physical card arrives, you can use the virtual card details in the app to start spending online right away.
One thing to keep in mind: if you have a teen or child account, certain merchant categories are blocked. Accounts for users under 18 cannot use the Cash Card at bars, liquor stores, hotels, casinos, dating services, or car rental agencies. Accounts for children under 13 have additional restrictions covering transportation services like taxis, airlines, and tolls, as well as gas stations and massage services.
Pay Directly With Cash App Pay
Some online retailers let you select Cash App Pay as a checkout option, so you can pay straight from your balance without entering any card numbers. Participating retailers include American Eagle, Aerie, Tommy Hilfiger, Finish Line, JD Sports, Shein, Savage x Fenty, thredUP, and Wish, among others. The list continues to grow.
When you choose Cash App Pay at checkout, the retailer sends a notification to your phone. You confirm the payment in the Cash App, and the transaction goes through. You can also browse participating brands through the Discover tab inside the app. This option is especially handy if you haven’t ordered a physical Cash Card yet or prefer not to share card details with individual websites.
Send Money to Other People
If you owe someone money or want to split a bill, you can send funds directly from your Cash App balance to anyone else with a Cash App account. Open the app, tap the dollar sign, enter the amount, and search for the recipient by their $cashtag, phone number, or email address. The money transfers instantly from your balance to theirs. There’s no fee for sending money from your balance to another person.
Withdraw Cash at an ATM
Your Cash Card works at any ATM if you need physical cash. Cash App charges a $2.50 fee per withdrawal, and the ATM operator often tacks on its own fee as well, so a single withdrawal can cost $4 to $6 total.
You can avoid those fees entirely by qualifying for Cash App Green benefits. To qualify, you need to either spend $500 or more in a given period using your Cash Card or Cash App Pay, or receive $300 or more in qualifying direct deposits from a paycheck. Once you qualify, you get unlimited free withdrawals at in-network ATMs. Note that Cash App no longer reimburses out-of-network ATM operator fees, so sticking to in-network machines matters if you want to avoid charges completely.
Transfer to Your Bank Account
If you’d rather move the money out of Cash App and into your regular checking account, you have two options. Standard transfers are free and typically arrive within one to three business days. Instant transfers send the money to a linked debit card right away, but they come with a fee of 0.5% to 2.5% of the transfer amount (with a minimum of $0.25 to $1 and a maximum of $75). The exact fee is displayed before you confirm, so you’ll know the cost upfront.
To initiate a transfer, tap your balance on the home screen, select “Cash Out,” enter the amount, and choose either Standard or Instant. You’ll need a bank account or debit card linked to your Cash App before you can transfer.
Save Money With Boosts
Before you spend, it’s worth checking for Boosts (now called Offers) inside the app. These are instant discounts that apply automatically when you use your Cash Card at specific merchants, including coffee shops, restaurants, and other retailers. To activate one, go to the Card tab, tap “Add offer,” browse the available deals, and select one to add. When you pay with your Cash Card at that merchant, the discount applies immediately.
Each offer has its own terms, including where it works and when it expires. You can only have a limited number of active offers at once, so pick the ones that match where you actually plan to spend. It’s essentially free money off purchases you’d make anyway.