Comparison

PayPal vs Cash App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PayPal

Manage your finances with a secure app for online and in-store shopping, sending money globally, and earning cash back. It also offers savings accounts, cryptocurrency trading, and package tracking.

Highlights
  • Send and receive money globally
  • Earn cash back offers
  • Request a debit card
  • Buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency
  • High-yield savings accounts
  • Track packages
Features
Read full description

PayPal is a smart way to securely shop in-store and online, earn rewards points on brands you love, send money and much more.​ SHOP WITH PURCHASE PROTECTION Get built-in protection before and after you buy, with support when something doesn't go as planned. *PayPal Purchase Protection is available on eligible transactions. See terms and limitations: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/paypal/buyer-protection​ EARN POINTS ON EVERYDAY PURCHASES WITH THE PAYPAL DEBIT CARD   Choose a monthly category and earn 5% back in rewards points on up to $1000 spend/month. Terms apply: http://paypal.com/rewardspal  No monthly fees. The PayPal Debit Mastercard® is issued by The Bancorp Bank N.A. ("The Bancorp"), pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated and may be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. The Bancorp is issuer of the Card only and not responsible for the associated accounts or other products, services, or offers from PayPal. PayPal is a financial technology company, not a bank. The Card is linked to your PayPal Balance account. See PayPal Balance Terms and Conditions: https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/pp-balance-tnc#holding​ SEND AND REQUEST MONEY, SECURELY & IN SECONDS Send money fast within the US and internationally to 110+ countries. Encrypted payments help keep financial details private and secure.​ BUY NOW PAY LATER In store single-use card is valid for one purchase and must be used within 24 hours of loan approval. *Pay in 4 is available upon approval for purchases of $10 - $2000 and is currently not available to residents of MO. 18 years old or older to apply. The lender for Pay in 4 is PayPal, Inc. (NMLS #910457).  Loans to CA residents are made or arranged pursuant to a CA Financing Law License. RI Small Loan Lender Licensee. NM residents: Go to paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/campaigns/newmexicodisclosure. Learn more at paypal.com/payin4. TRACK YOUR PACKAGES View orders and delivery status until they arrive safely at your door. Not all sellers are participants.​   MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION ALL IN ONE APP The easy way to link and track all your subscriptions. ALL YOUR MONEY AND TRANSACTIONS IN ONE PLACE The new Me Tab lets you navigate your money, accounts, and settings right where you’d expect them. PayPal 2211 N 1st St San Jose, CA 95131

About

Cash App

Easily send and receive money or bitcoin instantly. Save by rounding up change, invest in stocks or bitcoin, and get paid up to two days early with direct deposit. Features a customizable debit card with exclusive discounts.

Highlights
  • Send & receive money/bitcoin instantly
  • Round up spare change to save
  • Invest in stocks, ETFs, and bitcoin
  • Direct deposit for early paychecks
  • Customizable debit card with discounts
  • Free Lightning Network transfers
Features
Read full description

The easy way to spend, save, and invest. Pay anyone in cash or bitcoin instantly and enjoy free Lightning Network transfers with compatible wallets. Start saving by rounding up spare change to the nearest dollar or invest in stocks, ETFs, or bitcoin.**** Experience a faster, simpler way to bank.* Set up direct deposit and get your paycheck up to 2 days early. Order a customizable debit card for free** and add it to your digital wallet. Save on everyday spending with exclusive offers. Download Cash App and create an account in minutes. CASH APP FEATURES P2P PAYMENTS • Send & receive money or bitcoin for free instantly • Pay people using their phone number, email, $cashtag, or QR code • Keep your money safe from fraud with advanced security features CUSTOMIZABLE DEBIT CARD • No hidden fees: Your card works where Visa® is accepted • Customizable: Make it personal & add it to your digital wallet • Safe & secure: Receive real-time transaction alerts & 24/7 fraud monitoring • Instant discounts: Save on spending & check out securely in person & online SIMPLIFIED BANKING SERVICES* • Set up direct deposit & get paid up to 2 days early • Get paid in bitcoin with no fees • No monthly balance minimums or activity requirements • Withdraw from in-network ATMs for free when you earn Green status*** • No overdraft fees & up to $200 in free overdraft coverage on Cash App Card transactions when you qualify for Green status *** EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS & SAVINGS • Earn up to 3.5% when you have Green status*** • Round up your spare change to the nearest dollar to start saving • Enjoy exclusive discounts on top brands & events with your Cash App Card • Get access to concert presales & exclusive events STOCK & BITCOIN INVESTMENTS • Buy stocks with no commission fees • Automatically buy bitcoin with zero fees, zero spread • Buy stock & bitcoin with custom orders or auto invest Cash App offers simplified financial services for everyone 13 and up with an account sponsored by a parent or guardian.***** Do more with your money and download Cash App today. — *Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions at cash.app/legal. Discounts, Round Ups, Direct Deposit, Offers, Savings, P2P and Cash App Green features provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc brand. Offers may not be affiliated with third party merchants. **Card use fees apply. Free cards come in black or white. ***Customers can qualify for Cash App Green by spending $500 in Qualifying Purchases using your Cash App Card or Cash App Pay per month, or by depositing $300 of Qualifying Deposits per month. Eligibility restrictions apply to some benefits. See Terms and Conditions for more information on borrowing, free overdraft coverage, savings interest, free in-network ATM withdrawals. ****Brokerage services by Cash App Investing LLC, subsidiary of Block, Inc. For additional information, see cash.app/CAIdisclosures. Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. Bitcoin services are not licensable activity in all U.S. states and territories. For additional information, see Bitcoin disclosures. Additional fees for securities may apply such as regulatory fees and fees to transfer securities externally. See house rules for details. *****Teens 13 to 17 can use Cash App with sponsorship by an eligible parent or guardian. See eligibility requirements at cash.app/legal. Contact Cash App Support by phone at (800) 969-1940 or mail at: Block, Inc. 1955 Broadway, Suite 600 Oakland, CA 94612

Screenshots

PayPal4 screens
Cash App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cash App at none against PayPal's shown. Cash App also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 21%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PayPal against 4.8 for Cash App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.3M and 8.7M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 21% of PayPal's written reviews are positive against 55% of Cash App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
PayPal versus Cash App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPayPalCash App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6.3M ratings)4.8 (8.7M ratings)
Positive reviews21.4% of reviews54.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.3M8.7M — better
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#4 — better#5
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size767 MB425 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPayPal, Inc.Block, Inc.

Customer experience

PayPal

All ratings6,298,685 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.8%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews5,622 reviews
Positive21.4%
Neutral5.1%
Negative73.4%

Cash App

All ratings8,707,991 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral2.0%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews5,981 reviews
Positive54.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative40.6%

User reviews

PayPal

From 6.3M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Extremely effective and reliable crypto recovery service
  • 🔒 Secure payment processing
  • 💰 Convenient way to send and receive money
  • 👍 Easy to use app with simple interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent customer support responses
  • 🕰️ Slow money transfer times
  • 💳 Holds on funds for new accounts
  • 🤖 Overly automated with lack of human interaction

Cash App

From 8.7M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💳 Easy money transferring
  • 🚀 Convenient and user-friendly app
  • 🤑 Referral bonuses and discounts
  • 🤑 Free tax filing
  • 🤑 Borrow money feature

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Security issues and account hacking
  • 🤖 Poor customer service and lack of live support
  • 💰 Unexpected fees and charges
  • 🔍 Unclear account restrictions and limits
  • 🐛 App crashes and technical issues

Bugs and requests

PayPal

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Account limitations and freezes with unclear reasons
  • Issues linking bank accounts and cards
  • Problems with refunds and chargebacks

Requested features

4 requests
  • Faster money transfers
  • More transparent policies and fees
  • Improved dispute resolution process
  • Better customer service accessibility

Cash App

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Recurring issues with direct deposits and money transfers
  • Inconsistent app behavior and unexpected account restrictions
  • Problems with mobile check deposits and cash withdrawals

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improve customer support with live chat or phone options
  • Provide more transparency on account policies and limitations
  • Enhance security features to prevent fraud and unauthorized access
  • Streamline the refund and dispute process for users

In-app purchases

None

PayPal

No in-app purchases

None

Cash App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PayPal free?
PayPal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cash App free?
Cash App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PayPal or Cash App?
PayPal and Cash App are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6.3M and 8.7M ratings respectively.
Do PayPal or Cash App have ads?
PayPal shows ads; Cash App does not.
Which is updated more often, PayPal or Cash App?
PayPal ships an update weekly, and Cash App weekly. Most recently, PayPal was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cash App on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, PayPal or Cash App?
PayPal currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Cash App at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons