As a financial app expert with over 5 years of experience using Cash App, the #1 question I get asked is: “How do I get cash from Cash App without paying fees?”
The good news is – there are plenty of clever, legitimate ways to get free cash withdrawals and transactions from Cash App if you know the tips and tricks.
In this detailed guide, I’ll clearly explain various methods for accessing money in your Cash App account without incurring any fees. Whether you need to withdraw funds from your Cash App balance at an ATM, make purchases, or transfer money to your bank, you’ll be able to do it for free by using the right features and setup.
Here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover:
- An introduction to Cash App for those new to the app
- How direct deposit unlocks unlimited free ATM withdrawals
- Using Instant Deposit and your Cash Card for instant free cash
- Linking your bank account to get fee-free transfers
- Taking advantage of promotional bonuses and cash back
- Generating referral cash and selling goods/services
- Avoiding fees and alternative apps if Cash App doesn‘t work for you
Let’s start by understanding exactly what Cash App is and how it works…
What is Cash App & How Does it Work?
Cash App is a fast, convenient app for sending and receiving money with friends and family. It’s developed by Square and has grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years.
Here are the basics of how Cash App works:
Link funding sources – You can connect a bank account or debit card to transfer funds into your Cash App balance.
Send/request payments – Instantly send or request money to anyone else with Cash App. Transfers are fee-free.
Get a Cash Card – This free customizable debit card is connected to your Cash App balance for purchases or ATM withdrawals.
Cash out – You can instantly transfer your Cash App balance to a linked bank account or debit card.
Direct deposit – Have paychecks, tax refunds, benefits, etc. deposited directly into your Cash App balance.
Stock investing – You can buy and sell stocks within Cash App with no commissions.
Cash Boosts – Discounts and cash back rewards you can earn by using your Cash Card at certain merchants.
Now that you understand the basics, let’s go over the many options for getting free access to cash from your Cash App funds.
Get Unlimited Free ATM Withdrawals with Direct Deposit
The #1 easiest way to get ongoing free cash withdrawals from your Cash App balance is by setting up direct deposit.
Here’s how direct deposit unlocks unlimited free ATM access:
You need at least $300 in monthly direct deposits into your Cash App account from an employer, government benefits, tax refund, or other source.
Once you receive $300 in direct deposits each month, you qualify for unlimited free ATM withdrawals at any of the 40,000+ MoneyPass ATMs across the United States.
You also get one out-of-network ATM fee reimbursed per month, meaning you can make one withdrawal at any other ATM for free as well.
This benefit resets each calendar month as long as you continue receiving $300 in direct deposits.
So with direct deposit set up, I’m able to withdraw cash from my Cash App balance at any MoneyPass ATM location near me without paying fees. I also get one non-MoneyPass ATM withdrawal covered per month.
It’s the easiest, most consistent way to access cash from your Cash App funds for free after meeting the $300 direct deposit requirement.
Withdraw Cash Instantly When You Need It with Instant Deposit
While direct deposit lets you withdraw for free on an ongoing basis, you can also get instant access to cash whenever you need it by using Instant Deposit.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting immediate free cash with Instant Deposit:
Transfer funds into Cash App – First, you’ll need to transfer money into your Cash App balance, either from peers sending you payments or depositing from an outside bank account. Transfers start in a pending status.
Activate Instant Deposit – For pending transfers, you’ll have the option to “Deposit Instantly”. This will immediately make the funds available in your Cash App balance for a 1.5% fee (minimum $0.25).
Withdraw with your Cash Card – With the money now in your Cash App balance, you can swipe your Cash Card at any ATM and withdraw up to your available balance for free.
While you pay a small Instant Deposit fee, you then have instant access to withdraw those funds at an ATM with no additional cost.
It’s the quickest way to convert money transferred into Cash App into physical cash in your hands, perfect when you need cash in a pinch.
Link Your Bank Account for Fee-Free Cash Outs
Connecting an external bank account to your Cash App provides another frictionless way to access your funds for free.
When you link a bank account, you can instantly transfer money from your Cash App balance to your bank account. Transfers are fee-free and the money is usually available in your bank within 1-3 business days.
Then you can withdraw cash for free from your bank account by using your debit card at an ATM or by visiting a branch.
To truly make this a no-fee way to get cash, the key is linking to a bank account that reimburses ATM fees, such as:
- Ally Bank – reimburses up to $10 per month in ATM fees
- Alliant Credit Union – reimburses up to $20 per month in ATM fees
- Charles Schwab – reimburses unlimited ATM fees worldwide
I keep my Charles Schwab account linked to Cash App for unlimited ATM reimbursements. So when I cash out from Cash App to Schwab, I can withdraw the funds at any ATM with no fees.
Linking your no-fee bank account provides an easy route for getting cash withdrawals without paying fees on either end.
Use Your Free Cash Card Debit Card
Don’t forget about the free Cash Card that comes with your Cash App account! This customizable debit card provides a straightforward way to withdraw and spend your Cash App balance in-store or at ATMs.
Here are the key Cash Card features that allow fee-free transactions:
One free out-of-network ATM withdrawal per month – You get one withdrawal per month at a non-MoneyPass ATM at no cost. If enrolled in direct deposit, you would then have access to two free non-MoneyPass ATMs per month.
Unlimited free withdrawals at MoneyPass ATMs with direct deposit – As mentioned earlier, with $300 in monthly direct deposits you get unlimited ATM withdrawals at the 40,000+ MoneyPass ATM network with your Cash Card.
Free purchases anywhere Visa is accepted – You can use your Cash Card to spend your Cash App balance in stores or online with no fees.
So whenever I need to withdraw cash or make a purchase with money in my Cash App account, I use my Cash Card to avoid fees.
Order your free customized Cash Card within the app to start getting fee-free transactions.
Generate Referral Bonuses for Free Cash
Cash App gives every user a unique referral code that you can share with friends to earn instant bonuses.
Here’s how Cash App’s referral program works:
Your unique code can be shared via text, email, social media, etc.
When someone signs up using your code and sends at least $5, you both instantly earn $5 in bonuses.
There is no limit to the number of friends you can refer.
It’s an effortless way to rack up referral bonus cash, which gets immediately added to your Cash App balance. You can then withdraw the free funds instantly with no fees.
I’ve earned $100s in free referral money that I easily transferred to my bank account at no cost.
Take Advantage of Cash Back Rewards
Cash App’s Cash Boost program is another excellent way to earn instant cash back rewards that you can cash out for free.
Here are some of the Cash Boost opportunities I regularly use to get free money:
Get 10% cash back at Whole Foods. I do my grocery shopping at Whole Foods with my Cash Card and earn 10% back instantly.
Save $1 on any coffee shop purchase nationwide. I stop for coffee on my way to work each morning and automatically get $1 off with my Cash Card.
Earn 15% cash back at Walgreens. We frequently need to pick up household items at Walgreens. Getting 15% back makes a big difference.
Get 10% off DoorDash orders. Ordering takeout from DoorDash gets an automatic 10% discount.
As you can see, these Cash Boosts offer easy ways to earn cash back on spending you may already do regularly. The rewards get instantly added to your Cash App balance, available to cash out with no fees.
Browse Cash Boosts often as new offers are added constantly. Activate the ones you’ll use frequently to maximize free cash rewards.
Sell Goods and Services for Cash App Payments
Another smart way to generate cash on Cash App is to have buyers pay you for goods and services via the app.
For example, you can easily sell:
- Used items locally on Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace
- Handmade crafts and artwork on Etsy or at local fairs
- Freelance services like photography, web design, tutoring, etc.
Simply have buyers send payments to your personalized $Cashtag or QR code. The money will deposit instantly into your Cash App balance with no fees.
Once received, you can quickly cash out the funds for free using one of the withdrawal methods mentioned earlier in this guide.
Selling goods/services for Cash App payments gives you an easy way to earn cash that you can withdraw with zero fees.
Alternative Options If Cash App Isn‘t Working for You
While Cash App is my top choice for getting free cash access, there are other mobile payment apps that also offer fee-free withdrawals and transfers:
- PayPal – Instantly transfer PayPal balance to bank account at no cost
- Venmo – Fee-free instant transfers to bank accounts and debit cards
- Apple Cash – Use Apple Cash card funds anywhere Apple Pay is accepted
- Google Pay – Instant no-fee bank transfers
Evaluate all options to find the right fit for your preferences and financial situation. But Cash App provides the most well-rounded set of free cash out features in my experience.
Avoid Fees and Get Free Cash Access Today
Now that you’re an expert on getting cash from Cash App for free, you can start taking advantage of these tips right away.
Here are a few final pointers for avoiding fees:
- Stick to in-network ATMs like MoneyPass when possible
- Only request Instant Deposit when necessary
- Wait for pending transfers to fully clear before cashing out
- Don’t overdraw your Cash App balance
Put these zero-fee Cash App recommendations into action for easy, convenient access to your money without incurring any charges or hidden costs. You’ll unlock simple, creative ways to get all the cash you need.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I hope this guide provides everything you need to know to get and use cash from Cash App for free.
