Learn How to Move Money Between PayPal and Cash App

Why People Move Money Between PayPal and Cash App

PayPal and Cash App serve overlapping but distinct purposes in how people send, receive, and manage money. Understanding when and why you might move funds between them helps you use both platforms more strategically. Many people maintain accounts on both services because they have different strengths—and sometimes the money ends up in the wrong place.

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PayPal has been around since 1998 and processes roughly $936 billion in annual payment volume across the globe. It's deeply integrated into online shopping, invoicing, and business transactions. Many sellers use PayPal to receive payments from customers, while freelancers might receive invoices through PayPal's invoicing tools. When you sell something online or complete a gig, the payment might land in your PayPal account first.

Cash App, owned by Block (formerly Square), has grown into a peer-to-peer payment system with approximately 70 million monthly active users in the United States. It's designed primarily for person-to-person transfers between friends, splitting bills, and casual money exchanges. Cash App also offers investment features like stock and bitcoin purchasing, which some users prioritize.

The reality is that you might receive money in PayPal but prefer to keep your spending cash in Cash App. Or you might build up a balance in one account but want to transfer it to the other for a specific purpose. Some people use PayPal for business income and Cash App for personal spending, creating a natural need to move money between them. Others simply have money scattered across multiple platforms and want to consolidate it.

Key takeaway: Moving money between these platforms is a practical solution when your income and spending don't align with where your money lands.

How PayPal to Cash App Transfers Work

Transferring money from PayPal to Cash App involves an extra step that many people don't realize at first. PayPal and Cash App don't have a direct connection between them, meaning you can't send money from one app to the other with a single click. Instead, you'll need to use your bank account as an intermediary—moving money from PayPal to your bank, then from your bank to Cash App.

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The process starts by transferring funds out of PayPal. You'll log into your PayPal account and navigate to the "Wallet" section, where you'll see your PayPal balance. From there, you can select "Transfer Money" and choose the option to transfer to your bank account. You'll need to have a verified bank account linked to your PayPal account before you can do this. PayPal typically takes 1-3 business days to complete a bank transfer, though this timing can vary slightly depending on your bank.

Once the money reaches your bank account, the second step involves adding that same bank account to Cash App if you haven't already. Open Cash App, tap the banking icon (the dollar sign at the bottom), and select "Add Bank Account." You'll provide your routing number, account number, and other verification details. Cash App secures this information using encryption and other safety measures.

After your bank account is linked to Cash App, you can transfer money into Cash App from that bank account. Go to the "Cash" tab, select "Add Cash," choose your amount, and confirm the transfer. Cash App typically completes these transfers within 1-3 business days as well, though you can pay a small fee (usually around 1.5%) for next-business-day transfers.

The entire process from PayPal to Cash App usually takes 2-6 business days when using standard transfers. If you're in a situation where you need the money sooner, you can pay expedited fees, but this adds cost.

Key takeaway: Your bank account bridges the gap between these two platforms, so you'll need a bank account linked to both PayPal and Cash App to make this work.

How Cash App to PayPal Transfers Work

The reverse direction—moving money from Cash App to PayPal—follows a similar pattern but uses the same bank-account bridge method. Cash App doesn't directly send money to PayPal either, so you'll move funds from Cash App to your bank, then from your bank to PayPal.

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Start by taking money out of Cash App. Open the app and tap the "Cash" tab. Select "Cash Out" and choose the amount you want to withdraw. You'll see two speed options: a standard transfer (typically 1-3 business days with no fee) or an instant transfer (that costs around 0.5% to 1.75% of the amount). For moving money to PayPal, the standard option works fine unless you need the funds right away.

Once you've initiated the withdrawal from Cash App, the money goes back to the bank account you linked. This usually takes 1-3 business days. After it arrives in your bank account, you can then add those funds to PayPal. Log into PayPal, go to your Wallet, select "Transfer Money," and choose "Add Money from Your Bank." Select your linked bank account and the amount you want to transfer into PayPal.

This approach requires patience because you're essentially moving money in stages rather than directly. The total time from Cash App to PayPal typically ranges from 2-6 business days depending on each service's processing speed and your bank's handling time.

One consideration: if you have PayPal balance that you plan to use for purchases or payments rather than leaving it sitting, transferring from Cash App might not be necessary. But if you're consolidating balances or moving money for a specific transaction, this method works.

Key takeaway: Cash App to PayPal transfers follow the same bank-intermediary route as PayPal to Cash App, requiring patience but no special skills.

Understanding Fees and Transfer Times

Both PayPal and Cash App keep standard transfers between accounts free when you use bank accounts, but costs appear quickly when you want faster service. Understanding these fee structures helps you decide whether speed matters for your situation.

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PayPal's standard bank transfer (moving money out to your bank account) is completely free and takes 1-3 business days. You're not paying anything for this service, which is why it's the default option most people use. However, PayPal does offer an "instant transfer" feature to a debit card for a fee of $0.25 per transaction. This is relatively cheap compared to other options, but it only works if you're transferring to a debit card you've linked, not to a regular bank account.

Cash App's pricing is slightly more complex. Moving money out of Cash App (called "Cash Out") costs nothing for standard transfers taking 1-3 business days. But if you want the money right away through "Instant Transfer," Cash App charges between 0.5% and 1.75% of the amount. On a $100 transfer, this means you'd pay between $0.50 and $1.75. On a $500 transfer, you'd pay $2.50 to $8.75. The exact percentage varies based on your Cash App history and account standing.

When you're moving money between these platforms, you're often paying fees on both ends if you use fast options. A $100 transfer from PayPal to Cash App using all fast options might cost you $0.25 (PayPal instant to debit) plus $1.75 (Cash App instant transfer), totaling $2 out of your $100—a 2% cost. Using standard free transfers on both sides costs nothing but takes longer.

Transfer timing also matters beyond just fees. Both services process transfers on business days only, meaning transfers initiated on Friday afternoon might not start processing until Monday. If you initiate a transfer late in the day, it may not post until the next business day. Weekends and holidays extend timelines further.

Key takeaway: Stick with standard transfers to avoid fees unless the speed is worth the cost—most people find waiting 2-3 days acceptable for free transfers.

Safety Considerations When Moving Money

Moving money between platforms involves sharing sensitive information with multiple services, so understanding security practices protects your money and personal data. Both PayPal and Cash App use encryption and fraud detection, but you have a role to play in keeping transfers safe.

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First, verify that you're in the real app, not a scam version. This sounds obvious, but fake PayPal