Cash App vs Venmo: Which is Better?
Cash App vs. Venmo: Which is Better?
Cash App and Venmo are two of the most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) payment apps, but they have key differences. Hereβs a detailed comparison to help you decide which one suits your needs best.
1. Overview
Feature | Cash App | Venmo |
---|---|---|
Founded | 2013 (by Square, now Block) | 2009 (by PayPal) |
Main Use | P2P payments, investing, banking | P2P payments, social payments |
Availability | U.S. & U.K. | U.S. only |
Debit Card | Yes (Cash Card) | Yes (Venmo Card) |
Crypto Support | Yes (Bitcoin) | Yes (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash) |
Stock Investments | Yes | No |
International Use | Limited (U.S. & U.K. only) | No |
Instant Transfers | Yes (with a fee) | Yes (with a fee) |
Business Payments | Yes | Yes |
Social Feed | No | Yes (shows transactions to friends) |
2. Key Features Comparison
π Ease of Use
- Both apps are simple to use for sending and receiving money.
- Venmo has a more social feel, showing payments in a public or private feed.
- Cash App is more focused on financial services (banking, investing, etc.).
π Payment Methods
- Cash App: Linked bank accounts, debit/credit cards, Cash App balance.
- Venmo: Linked bank accounts, debit/credit cards, Venmo balance, and PayPal (indirectly).
π Speed of Transfers
- Standard transfers (to a bank) take 1β3 business days on both apps.
- Instant transfers cost 1.75% (Cash App) and 1.75% (Venmo) with a minimum fee.
π Fees
Service | Cash App | Venmo |
---|---|---|
Sending Money (Bank/Debit) | Free | Free |
Sending Money (Credit Card) | 3% | 3% |
Receiving Money | Free | Free |
Instant Transfer | 1.75% fee | 1.75% fee |
Standard Bank Transfer | Free (1-3 days) | Free (1-3 days) |
3. Unique Features
π Cash App Unique Features
β
Stock Investing β Buy & sell stocks with as little as $1.
β
Bitcoin Trading β Buy, sell, and withdraw Bitcoin.
β
Direct Deposits β Use Cash App as a bank account with routing & account numbers.
β
Cash Boosts β Discounts for purchases with the Cash Card.
π¬ Venmo Unique Features
β
Social Payments β See your friends’ transactions (if public).
β
Split Bills Easily β Great for roommates or group expenses.
β
More Crypto Options β Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.
β
Integration with PayPal β Can transfer funds between Venmo and PayPal indirectly.
4. Security
Both apps offer:
βοΈ Encryption to protect transactions.
βοΈ Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for extra security.
βοΈ Fraud protection, but neither app is FDIC-insured for balances.
5. Which One is Better?
π Choose Cash App if:
βοΈ You want to invest in stocks or Bitcoin.
βοΈ You want a direct deposit feature to use it like a bank.
βοΈ You prefer a more private payment app (no social feed).
π Choose Venmo if:
βοΈ You like a social payment experience with public/private transaction feeds.
βοΈ You need to split bills with friends & roommates easily.
βοΈ You want PayPal integration.
Final Verdict
- For investing & crypto: Cash App π
- For social payments & splitting bills: Venmo π
- For business transactions: Cash App (supports more features)
It all depends on what you need! ππ° Which one are you leaning towards?