There’s no direct transfer option between Cash App and PayPal. The two platforms don’t connect to each other, so you can’t send money straight from one to the other. You can, however, move your Cash App balance to PayPal by routing it through a shared bank account or by adding your Cash App debit card (called a Cash Card) to PayPal. Both methods work, and each has different tradeoffs in speed and cost.
Route 1: Use Your Bank Account as a Bridge
The most common method is to withdraw your Cash App balance to a bank account, then use that same bank account to fund PayPal transactions or add money to your PayPal balance. You’ll need the same bank account linked to both apps. Here’s how the full process works.
Link Your Bank to Cash App
If your bank isn’t already connected, open Cash App and tap your profile icon. Select “Linked Banks,” then “Link Bank,” and follow the prompts to connect your checking or savings account.
Cash Out From Cash App
Tap the Money tab in Cash App, then press “Cash Out.” Enter the amount you want to withdraw, choose a deposit speed, and confirm with your PIN or Touch ID. You have two speed options:
- Standard (free): Takes 1 to 3 business days to land in your bank account.
- Instant: Arrives within minutes to a linked debit card and costs 0.5% to 2.5% of the transfer amount. The minimum fee ranges from $0.25 to $1, and the maximum is $75. Cash App shows you the exact fee before you confirm.
Link Your Bank to PayPal
Log into PayPal and go to your Wallet. Click “Link a card or bank,” then “Link a bank account.” Search for your bank or pick it from the list, and enter your login details to connect it. PayPal may make small test deposits to verify the account, which can take a day or two if you haven’t linked it before.
Use the Funds in PayPal
Once your Cash App withdrawal lands in your bank, the money is available to PayPal. You can either spend directly from PayPal by selecting your bank as the funding source, or you can add money to your PayPal balance by transferring it in from the linked bank. Either way, PayPal draws from the same pool of funds you just moved out of Cash App.
The total timeline for this method depends on the deposit speed you chose. If you pick the free standard transfer from Cash App, expect the full process to take roughly 2 to 4 business days, accounting for the Cash App withdrawal and any PayPal processing time. With an instant Cash App withdrawal, you can cut that down to a day or less.
Route 2: Add Your Cash Card to PayPal
If you have a Cash Card (the free Visa debit card from Cash App), you can add it to PayPal as a payment method. This lets you spend your Cash App balance through PayPal without moving money to a bank first.
In PayPal, go to your Wallet and choose “Add banks and cards.” Select the debit card option, then enter your Cash Card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address. PayPal will verify the card, which sometimes involves a small temporary charge.
Once added, you can select the Cash Card as your funding source when making PayPal purchases or sending money. PayPal pulls the funds directly from your Cash App balance through the card. This skips the bank account entirely and works almost immediately. The main limitation is that this only works for PayPal payments. You can’t use a linked debit card to add money to your PayPal balance itself, so if you specifically need funds sitting in PayPal, the bank account method is the way to go.
Cash App Limits to Keep in Mind
How much you can move out of Cash App depends on whether your account is verified. Unverified accounts can send and receive up to $1,000 within a rolling 30-day window, with a total account limit of $1,500. The balance on an unverified account is also capped at $1,000.
Verified accounts get significantly higher limits: up to $40,000 in sends over a rolling 30-day period, with no cap on your cash balance. If you’re trying to move a large amount and hit a wall, Cash App will prompt you to verify your identity within the app. Verification typically requires your full legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Which Method to Choose
If you need money in your PayPal balance (for example, to send a PayPal payment to someone who doesn’t use Cash App), the bank account bridge is your only real option. It takes longer but puts actual funds into your PayPal account.
If you just need to pay for something through PayPal and don’t care where the money technically sits, adding your Cash Card to PayPal is faster and simpler. There’s no withdrawal step, no waiting for bank transfers, and no fees from Cash App’s side. PayPal treats the Cash Card like any other debit card in your wallet.
For the bank route, choosing the instant Cash App withdrawal saves days but costs a small percentage. If time isn’t critical, the free standard transfer gets you to the same result for zero fees on both ends.