You probably know Cash App as an instant payment app that you can use whenever you need to send someone money or get a few bucks sent your way. And that’s because it’s great for this, with some of the lowest fees out there and same-day transfers. You can even send money to people who don’t have a Cash App account, making this a perfect option for sending your technologically-challenged relatives the cash you owe them they keep reminding you about.
But for all the benefits of using Cash App for peer-to-peer transfers, this is only a fraction of what the app can do. For example, did you know you can also use Cash App to do your taxes? Save money? Invest?
Let’s talk about just a few of the best Cash App features you’ve probably never heard of – and how to get started using them.
Early direct deposit
How many times have you checked your bank account waiting for your paycheck only to be disappointed that it hasn’t landed yet? With Cash App, you can get paid just a little earlier, which can make a lot of difference when money is tight.
All Cash App users may be eligible to receive their paycheck up to two days earlier than scheduled.
All you need to do to qualify to get paid early is make sure your account is set up to receive direct deposits from your employer. Then, you don’t have to do anything at all – if your direct deposit can be processed early, it will be. Cash App is able to process some direct deposits more quickly because they take out the pending period after a transaction is approved.
Just know that to get your paycheck faster, your employer has to be on board too. You won’t get it any earlier if there are issues verifying a payment or your company is late paying you. The first payment from your employer may also take a little longer.
Debit card
Have you heard of the Cash Card? Normally, we don’t get that excited about debit cards. But this one is different.
The Cash Card by Cash App is a Visa debit card that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted and digitally with Apply Pay and Google Pay. It’s linked to your Cash App account instead of a bank account or debit card and uses your Cash App balance. You can think of it like a prepaid debit card.
The Cash Card requires you to be at least 18 years old to apply on your own, but you can also apply with the help of a parent or guardian if you’re between 13 and 17 years old.
This is an especially good choice for teens because it:
- Doesn’t charge fees for things like transfers and card customization.
- Prohibits spending at certain merchants like casinos and liquor stores.
- Sets transaction limits for everybody.
- Doesn’t require a separate bank account.
If you’re under 18 years old and open this card, you’ll share your account with the adult you recruited to do this solid for you. They’ll be able to see all of your transaction history, block merchants, and even lock your card if needed. To add money to your account, you can ask your parent or guardian to transfer some money to you, deposit cash yourself, or receive direct deposits from an employer. Your balance is FDIC-insured up to $250,000, so you don’t have to worry about security.
You can also use the Cash Card to score discounts at select merchants. With these offers, you’ll automatically save money on purchases made using your Cash Card if they fall within the offer you’ve added in the Cash Card tab from the home screen. You can see these offers ahead of time and choose the best one for your spending habits. You can only have one offer active at a time, but free money is free money. The savings, especially if you were going to shop at a relevant merchant anyway, can be significant.
Tax filing
If you need help getting your taxes filed correctly and want to be sure you’re getting as much money back as possible, Cash App Taxes can help. This free tax-filing program lets you file all your state and federal taxes online, and it’s available to every user who downloads Cash App.
To take advantage of this handy feature, you just need to log into the app and upload any tax forms you have like W2s. Then, you’ll estimate your refund and get your documents filed, with the help of experts if needed. You can even get your refund up to five days early if you opt to have it deposited into your Cash App account.
This service is best for people with pretty simple financial and living situations. For example, if you have just one stream of income and standard deductions, you’d be a perfect fit for using Cash App Taxes.
If your taxes are more complicated and confusing, you might find another top tax software, with personalized support or other offerings, to be more appropriate.
Cash App Pay
Cash App Pay is just another feature you might not have known Cash App had. This service lets you make payments to merchants using your Cash App balance, as long as they’re set up as a Square Seller. Cash App works in-person and online and all you have to do is scan a seller’s QR code to find them. It’s contactless and doesn’t cost you anything extra.
As an added perk, Cash App Pay builds in limited-time offers as an incentive to reach for your phone instead of your wallet when buying stuff. To see what kind of deals are out there, go to the Discover screen of the Cash App. This will show all participating merchants and the discounts they’re giving Cash App users, as well as rules and restrictions. Sometimes, you’ll even find giveaways and sweepstakes you can enter here.
Any available discounts are applied automatically when you check out using Cash App Pay.
Not all merchants accept Cash App as a form of payment, but when they do, it’s an alternative option to your credit or debit card.
Bitcoin investing
Yes, you can trade bitcoin with Cash App. You can also store it, send it to other people for free, use it for purchases, and more.
If you’ve wanted to learn how to invest in cryptocurrency but didn’t know where to start, Cash App makes it pretty easy to get into bitcoin investing.
There are three different ways to buy bitcoin: one-time purchases, automatic purchases, and custom orders.
Standard orders: For one-time purchases, you’ll use the balance in your Cash App account, which can either come from payments people have sent you or from a linked credit or debit card. These orders are placed immediately and there’s no limit to how many you can make.
Auto invest orders: For automatic purchases, you’ll need to set up direct deposit for your account and enable the Bitcoin Auto Invest feature. This lets you invest a percentage of your paycheck in bitcoin, but there’s no commitment and you can change the percentage whenever.
Custom orders: Custom orders essentially let you schedule orders to go through when prices are optimal for you. More experienced crypto investors are likely to appreciate this feature. It’s similar to a limit order for those more familiar with trading stocks.
Cash App stores your bitcoin for you using cold storage. This means your coins are stored offline to keep them safer from cyber attacks, but you can still access and withdraw them any time you want.
Don’t already have Cash App?
Wait! What if you don’t already have Cash App but this all sounds really cool?
Well, you’re in luck because you can Download Cash App today and now you already know about these features so you’re doing it right from the start.
Cash App is a safe, low-cost payment app option that lets you transfer money, make purchases, and more from your mobile device. Expanded offerings including free tax services, trading capabilities, and a teen-friendly debit card set it apart from other money transfer apps.
- Offers instant deposits
- Free transfers from bank account
- Early direct deposit
- Low limits on unverified accounts
- Credit card transfer fees
- Deposit fees on instant transfers
Summary
Cash App is a lot more than just one of the best payment apps. If you take full advantage of all its features, it can be a useful finance app to have in your corner (or the corner of your screen). With features to help you save time, save money, and meet your other financial goals, you definitely want to download Cash App if you haven’t already.
And if you do have the app, start poking around to find new ways to use your account. Because chances are, you’re probably not using Cash App for everything you could be.
» Still want to learn more? Read our full Cash App review.
