Cash App vs Venmo
Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Cash App
US money app from Block for sending money, banking, investing and buying bitcoin.
Venmo
PayPal-owned US app for splitting bills and paying friends and businesses.
The short answer
Both are free US apps for paying friends. Venmo, owned by PayPal, is built around splitting bills, has a social feed and works at many online checkouts. Cash App, owned by Block, leans further into personal finance, adding commission-free stocks, bitcoin and free tax filing. Pick Venmo if your friends already use it to split costs; pick Cash App if you want payments and investing in one app.
Cash App or Venmo: our take
Cash App and Venmo both started as ways to send money to friends in the US, and both still do that for free. Venmo lets you send from your balance, a bank account or a debit card at no cost, and charges a 3% fee when you pay with a credit card. Cash App's peer-to-peer payments are free too, and its debit card has no monthly fees. Neither works outside the United States.
The difference is in what sits around the payments. Venmo is social: an optional feed shows payments between friends, which many people like for splitting rent, dinners and trips, though the feed is public by default and worth locking down. Venmo is also accepted at checkout in many online stores and apps, can pay US PayPal accounts, and offers teen accounts, a credit card, purchase protection on eligible payments and business profiles for small sellers. Cash App, from the company behind Square, is closer to an all-in-one finance app: direct deposit with early paychecks, savings with interest, small loans, Afterpay, free tax filing, and commission-free stock and bitcoin buying. It reports 59 million+ active accounts.
Neither is a bank; card and deposit services run through partner banks, and Cash App's investing and bitcoin balances are not FDIC insured. Both run on iOS and Android with a web presence.
In practice, the right choice often depends on what the people you pay already use. Roommates and friend groups who split costs constantly, or anyone who wants to pay online stores and PayPal users from the same balance, will find Venmo a better fit. People who want a debit card, direct deposit, investing and bitcoin in a single app should look at Cash App. Plenty of people keep both installed.
Which should you pick?
Choose Cash App if…
- People in the US who want peer-to-peer payments, a debit card, stocks and bitcoin in one app
- Free peer-to-peer payments and no monthly card fee
- Commission-free stock and bitcoin buying in the same app
Choose Venmo if…
- US friends and roommates splitting bills and paying each other back
- Free to send money from balance, bank or debit card
- Can pay US PayPal accounts as well as Venmo users
About each app
What is Cash App?
Cash App is a US mobile money app owned by Block, the company behind Square. It began as a way to send money to friends by $cashtag and has grown into an all-in-one finance app: you can receive your paycheck by direct deposit, spend with the Cash App Card debit card, save with interest, borrow small amounts, pay over time with Afterpay, file taxes for free, and buy stocks or bitcoin. Sending money to other users is free, and the card has no monthly fee; the Green status unlocks extras such as free overdraft coverage and in-network ATM withdrawals. Cash App itself is not a bank: card and deposit services are provided through partner banks. It runs on iOS and Android with a web dashboard, and is available in the United States.
What is Venmo?
Venmo is a US peer-to-peer payment app owned by PayPal. People use it to split rent, dinners and trips, with an optional social feed showing payments between friends. Sending money from your Venmo balance, a bank account or a debit card is free, while paying with a credit card adds a fee, and instant transfers to your bank cost extra. Beyond paying friends, Venmo has a debit card, a credit card, direct deposit, teen accounts, crypto buying, purchase protection for eligible payments, and checkout at online and in-app stores that accept it. Small businesses can create business profiles to accept payments. It can send money to US PayPal accounts too. The app is available on iOS and Android with a limited website, and only for people in the United States.
Side by side
| Attribute | Cash App | Venmo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
| Best for | People in the US who want peer-to-peer payments, a debit card, stocks and bitcoin in one app | US friends and roommates splitting bills and paying each other back |
| Status | Active | Active |
Cash App vs Venmo pricing
Cash App: free
We couldn't verify Cash App's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Venmo: free
We couldn't verify Venmo's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Venmo pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Cash App | Venmo |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Cash App facts
5 of 5 verified- Owner
- Block, Inc.
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
- “Offers provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.”
- Stock trading
- No commission fees
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
- “Buy stocks with no commission fees”
- Card fees
- No monthly fees
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
- “No hidden or monthly fees ever”
- Bank status
- Not a bank
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
- “not an FDIC-insured bank.”
- Active accounts
- 59 million+
- Checked Nov 8, 2026cash.app(opens source in a new tab)
- “* Learn about security * See legal disclaimers The money app trusted by 59 million+ active accounts”
Venmo facts
3 of 3 verified- Monthly fee
- None
- Checked Nov 8, 2026venmo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Monthly fee $0.00 No monthly fees.”
- Sending money
- Free from balance, bank or debit card
- Checked Nov 8, 2026venmo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “PayPal account using your balance, debit card or bank account $0.00 No fee to send money to a Venmo account or U.S. PayPal account using your Venmo balance, debit card or bank account.”
- Credit card fee
- 3%
- Checked Nov 8, 2026venmo.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “PayPal account using your credit card 3.00% There’s a 3.00% fee for sending money to a Venmo account or U.S. PayPal account using your credit card.”
Pros and cons of Cash App
- Free peer-to-peer payments and no monthly card fee
- Commission-free stock and bitcoin buying in the same app
- Free tax filing and early direct deposit
- Not a bank itself; services run through partner banks
- Available in the US only
- Investing and bitcoin balances are not FDIC insured
Pros and cons of Venmo
- Free to send money from balance, bank or debit card
- Can pay US PayPal accounts as well as Venmo users
- Accepted at checkout in many online stores and apps
- 3% fee when you pay with a credit card
- US only
- Public-by-default social feed needs privacy settings changed
Other apps to consider
Apple WalletInstead of Cash App
Apple Cash sends money inside Messages and Wallet, a simple choice for iPhone users.
PayPalInstead of Cash App
Sends money to friends and pays at millions of online shops, with buyer protection and wider international reach.
Google WalletInstead of Cash App
Android tap-to-pay and card storage built into the phone, if you mainly used Cash App's card in stores.
WiseInstead of Venmo
For paying people in other countries, with mid-market exchange rates instead of marked-up ones.
ZelleInstead of Venmo
Sends money straight between US bank accounts from your bank's own app, with no separate balance.
SplitwiseInstead of Venmo
Tracks running group balances over weeks or trips, not just one-off payments.
Cash App vs Venmo: common questions
Is Cash App better than Venmo?
Both are free US apps for paying friends. Venmo, owned by PayPal, is built around splitting bills, has a social feed and works at many online checkouts. Cash App, owned by Block, leans further into personal finance, adding commission-free stocks, bitcoin and free tax filing. Pick Venmo if your friends already use it to split costs; pick Cash App if you want payments and investing in one app.
Is Cash App free?
Yes, Cash App is free.
Is Venmo free?
Yes, Venmo is free.
Is Cash App or Venmo open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Cash App and Venmo support?
Cash App: iOS, Android and Web. Venmo: iOS, Android and Web.