Cash App is a very popular peer-to-peer (P2P) money app, but it also offers a debit card, cash advances, investing, tax filing and more. Zelle is a payment service that integrates directly with US banks and credit unions, allowing for fast transfers between deposit accounts without needing to download another app — but that’s about it. So, do you need to have both Zelle and Cash App, or is one better than the other?
Zelle vs. Cash App: A quick comparison
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Allows P2P payments | Yes | Yes |
| Offers debit card | No | Yes |
| Available on App Store and Google Play | No | Yes |
| Supports external account connection | Directly integrated into US bank and credit union apps in its program | Yes |
| Sending limits | Depends on institution, typically $500 to $1,000 per day |
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| Branches | Online only | Online only |
Cash App vs. Zelle: Peer-to-peer payments
Both Cash App and Zelle offer the ability to send cash to trusted friends and family, often called P2P payments or transfers.
How to send money with Cash App
You can download Cash App on either the App Store or the Google Play Store at no cost. Once you download the app, you can create a Cash App account if you’re at least 18. Cash App also offers a teen account, which requires an adult sponsor with an existing Cash App account.
With your Cash App account set up, you can load your Cash App balance to send money to friends or family via external account or card transfers, or set up direct deposit. You can also send funds directly to other Cash App users with linked cards and accounts. To send money, enter the receipt’s $Cashtag, phone number or email address.
Funds in your Cash App balance remain there until you either use them to send a P2P payment, make a purchase with the Cash App Card or transfer them to a linked account or card.
How to send money with Zelle
Zelle’s P2P transfers work a little differently than apps like Cash App. Unlike Cash App or Venmo, Zelle transfers are sent and received directly from US deposit accounts, so there’s no in-app balance you need to cash out or refill.
You can only use Zelle in your existing bank’s mobile app if it’s compatible, since it doesn’t have a standalone app anymore. If you’re a customer of a bank that supports Zelle, you can use the service to send funds directly to other US deposit accounts within your bank’s mobile app. To send money to someone with Zelle, you’ll need their US phone number or email address.
Zelle works with over 2,200 banks and credit unions. Some banks that support Zelle include Chase, Discover, SoFi and U.S. Bank, just to name a few.
Zelle vs. Cash App: Sending limits
Zelle’s sending limits vary by institution, but they are typically generous and easy to locate. For the most part, plan on $500 to $1,000 in sending limits per day or week. For example, SoFi’s daily Zelle limit is $1,000, while Discover only allows up to $600 in Zelle transfers per day.
With Cash App, there’s less clarity on sending limits. They vary by user and depend on whether your account is verified. If you’re an “unverified” Cash App user, meaning you haven’t verified your identity yet, you have a $1,000 sending and receiving limit in a 30-day period. If you’re a verified user, your limits are based on your app activity, and you can review your limits in the app.
Cash App is the clear winner when it comes to extra features outside of P2P payments.
Zelle’s only function is for money transfers — it doesn’t even have a standalone app anymore. Cash App has P2P transfers, plus all these additional features and services:
Cash App and Zelle customer reviews
Comparing customer reviews, Cash App gets more positive ratings than Zelle.
Zelle’s parent company, Early Warning Services, receives mostly negative reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. The most commonly reported complaints are about fraud claims and frustration with Zelle’s incompatibility with smaller institutions. Many users also say they get bounced around by the customer service, as they’re often redirected to talk to their own bank about issues instead of directly through Zelle.
Cash App has thousands more reviews and ratings than Zelle — and we mean thousands more. On Trustpilot, it has a stellar 4.4-star rating out of nearly 13,000 reviews, with users praising the extra features, early direct deposit, discounts using the Cash App Card, fast P2P transfers, and overall, reporting it’s a handy and useful app. That said, it still sees a fair share of negative reviews, which are often complaints about accidentally sending funds to the wrong person or struggling to get funds back after falling for a scam.
Final verdict: Cash App is better
If we’re comparing Zelle and Cash App by functionality, accessibility and customer reviews, Cash App is the winner.
Cash App isn’t just limited to P2P transfers, unlike Zelle. And since Zelle discontinued its standalone app, you can only use Zelle if you already bank with an institution that supports it.
You can link Cash App external accounts, including debit and credit cards, to send money to friends and family fast and with no fees. There’s a free debit card that you can link to your Cash App balance, and depending on where you live, you may be eligible for the Cash App Borrow feature to borrow small amounts. At no additional cost, you can also file your taxes through the app in most US states.
However, Zelle gets points for convenience. If you already have an account with a big-name bank, there’s a very good chance Zelle is already included in your banking app. You don’t need to download another app, since you just have to do a one-time verification of your Zelle account to send money instantly to US deposit accounts. And in most cases, banks don’t charge anything to send or receive money with Zelle.
Cash App Cash Card
- $0 monthly fees
- Get paid up to 2 days early
- Earn up to 4% APY on Savings
- Free overdraft coverage up to $200
- Instant reimbursement for ATM fees with Cash App Card
Alternatives to Cash App and Zelle
If Zelle and Cash App aren’t the right fit, compare these other options:
- Chime®. Chime® is a fintech company. If you have a Chime Checking account, you can use the Pay Anyone feature to send money to anyone with a debit card in the US for no fees.
- Venmo. Owned by PayPal and probably Cash App’s biggest competitor, Venmo functions very much the same as Cash App with its P2P transfers.
- Apple Pay. If you’re an Apple user, Apple Pay is a digital wallet and payment service you can set up to send money to other Apple users using the Messages app. You can also set up the wallet for contactless payments or even store things like insurance cards or concert tickets.
