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Personal Finance · head to head

Vanguard vs Cash App

Vanguard logo

Vanguard

Personal Finance

Investing for your future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cash App logo

Cash App

Personal Finance

Money sent in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cash App has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Vanguard a 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds, Cash App covers Money transfers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Vanguard and Cash App actually diverge.

Attributes where Vanguard and Cash App differ
AttributeVanguardCash App
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidIOS, Android
Founded19752013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

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 Vanguard

  • Low-cost index funds
  • Commission-free trading
  • Retirement accounts
  • Financial advisors
  • Investment accounts
  • Web support

Only in Cash App

  • Money transfers
  • Direct deposit
  • Bitcoin trading
  • Stock investing
  • Cash Card

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Vanguard

  • Holding low cost index mutual funds and ETFs for long term investingnot Cash App
  • Running IRAs and taxable brokerage accountsnot Cash App
  • Employer retirement plan participationnot Cash App

Cash App

  • Budget Managementnot Vanguard
  • Expense Trackingnot Vanguard
  • Investment Trackingnot Vanguard

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Vanguard

  • A 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets
  • Broker assisted trades cost 25 USD each, waived only at 1 million USD in qualifying assets or with an advisory service
  • Options trades carry a 1 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • Transaction fee mutual funds cost 20 USD per online trade below 1 million USD in qualifying assets, falling to 8 USD only at higher tiers
  • Outgoing wire transfers cost 10 USD unless the account is a retirement account or holds 1 million USD or more
  • Commission levels are tied to a Qualifying Assets balance, so the cheapest rates require 1 million USD or more

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.

Pricing, plan by plan

Vanguard

On request
  • Self-Directed Investor$undefined/month
    • Low-cost index funds
    • Commission-free trading
  • Advisory Services$undefined/month
    • All Self-Directed features
    • Financial advisors

Cash App

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Money transfers
    • Direct deposit
    • Mobile app
  • Cash App Investing$undefined/month
    • Stock trading
    • Bitcoin trading

Which should you pick?

Choose Vanguard if

  • You need low-cost index funds.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want commission-free trading.
Vanguard review

Choose Cash App if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want direct deposit.
Cash App review

Questions people ask

Is Vanguard or Cash App better?
Neither clearly leads. Vanguard starts at On request and Cash App at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Vanguard or Cash App?
Cash App has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Vanguard and Free for Cash App.
Does Vanguard or Cash App run on more platforms?
Vanguard runs on Web, IOS, Android. Cash App runs on IOS, Android.
Can I use Cash App for free?
Yes. Cash App has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vanguard starts at On request.
What is Vanguard best used for?
Vanguard is most often used for holding low cost index mutual funds and etfs for long term investing, running iras and taxable brokerage accounts, employer retirement plan participation. Of those, holding low cost index mutual funds and etfs for long term investing and running iras and taxable brokerage accounts are not what Cash App is typically brought in for.
What can Vanguard do that Cash App cannot?
Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds, Commission-free trading, Retirement accounts, Financial advisors. Cash App covers Money transfers, Direct deposit, Bitcoin trading, Stock investing. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support, Android support.
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