Personal Finance · head to head
Apple Pay vs Square Cash
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Apple Pay apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets; Square Cash cash App Green status (higher savings rate, free in-network ATM withdrawals, overdraft coverage) requires spending $500 or depositing $300 in Qualifying purchases/deposits per month, per the App Store listing
- They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Square Cash covers Money transfers.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Pay and Square Cash actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Pay | Square Cash |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | IOS, WatchOS, MacOS | IOS, Android |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance), founded (2014).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Apple Pay
- Digital wallet
- Secure payments
- Contactless transactions
- P2P money transfers
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- WatchOS support
- MacOS support
Only in Square Cash
- Money transfers
- Instant deposits
- Transaction history
- Customer support
- Android support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apple Pay
- Contactless in store payment from iPhone and Apple Watchnot Square Cash
- Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot Square Cash
- Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot Square Cash
Square Cash
- Budget Managementnot Apple Pay
- Expense Trackingnot Apple Pay
- Investment Trackingnot Apple Pay
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apple Pay
- Apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
- Apple Cash is available only in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
- Apple Cash Family accounts and Tap to Cash transactions are each capped at 2000 USD within a rolling seven day period
- Mac support requires a Touch ID equipped model
- A card works only if the issuing bank supports Apple Pay, and banks may charge their own overseas usage fees
Square Cash
- Cash App Green status (higher savings rate, free in-network ATM withdrawals, overdraft coverage) requires spending $500 or depositing $300 in Qualifying purchases/deposits per month, per the App Store listing
Pricing, plan by plan
Apple Pay
Free- FreeFree
- Secure payments
- P2P transfers
- Transit passes
Square Cash
Free- FreeFree
- P2P transfers
- Instant deposits
- Mobile app
Which should you pick?
Choose Apple Pay if
- You need digital wallet.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
- You also want secure payments.
Choose Square Cash if
- You need money transfers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want instant deposits.
Questions people ask
- Is Apple Pay or Square Cash better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and Square Cash at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or Square Cash?
- Apple Pay starts at Free and Square Cash at Free.
- Does Apple Pay or Square Cash run on more platforms?
- Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. Square Cash runs on IOS, Android.
- Can I use Apple Pay for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Apple Pay best used for?
- Apple Pay is most often used for contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch, paying in apps and on the web without entering card details, sending money between apple users with apple cash and tap to cash. Of those, contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch and paying in apps and on the web without entering card details are not what Square Cash is typically brought in for.
- What can Apple Pay do that Square Cash cannot?
- Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. Square Cash covers Money transfers, Instant deposits, Transaction history, Customer support. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.