Software · head to head
Cash App vs Apple Pay
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Cash App the App Store listing states free ATM withdrawals and up to 200 dollars in free overdraft coverage on the Cash App Card are only available once a user qualifies for Green status, not to all users by default.; Apple Pay apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
- They diverge on capability: Cash App covers Money transfers, Apple Pay covers Digital wallet.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cash App and Apple Pay actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Cash App
- Money transfers
- Direct deposit
- Bitcoin trading
- Stock investing
- Cash Card
- Android support
Only in Apple Pay
- Digital wallet
- Secure payments
- Contactless transactions
- P2P money transfers
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- WatchOS support
- MacOS support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cash App
- Budget Managementnot Apple Pay
- Expense Trackingnot Apple Pay
- Investment Trackingnot Apple Pay
Apple Pay
- Contactless in store payment from iPhone and Apple Watchnot Cash App
- Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot Cash App
- Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot Cash App
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cash App
- The App Store listing states free ATM withdrawals and up to 200 dollars in free overdraft coverage on the Cash App Card are only available once a user qualifies for Green status, not to all users by default.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Cash App
Free- FreeFree
- Money transfers
- Direct deposit
- Mobile app
- Cash App Investing$undefined/month
- Stock trading
- Bitcoin trading
Apple Pay
Free- FreeFree
- Secure payments
- P2P transfers
- Transit passes
Which should you pick?
Choose Cash App if
- You need money transfers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want direct deposit.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Cash App or Apple Pay better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cash App starts at Free and Apple Pay at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cash App or Apple Pay?
- Cash App starts at Free and Apple Pay at Free.
- Does Cash App or Apple Pay run on more platforms?
- Cash App runs on IOS, Android. Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
- Can I use Cash App for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Cash App best used for?
- Cash App is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Apple Pay is typically brought in for.
- What can Cash App do that Apple Pay cannot?
- Cash App covers Money transfers, Direct deposit, Bitcoin trading, Stock investing. Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.