CashApp Features: Cash Card, Bitcoin, Stocks, Borrow & Cash Back

My Cash Card has earned me $237 in cash back over the past year. It’s a free debit card that gives me instant discounts at restaurants, retailers, and online stores — and I didn’t have to do anything except sign up. That’s one of CashApp’s most underrated features, and most people have never even heard of it.

But Cash Card is just one of the features hidden inside CashApp. The app has become a financial Swiss Army knife: you can buy Bitcoin, invest in stocks, borrow money, earn cash back, and even get a tax refund — all without leaving the app. Some of these features are brilliant. Some are traps. Knowing the difference is what separates people who use CashApp to build wealth from people who use it to spend money they don’t have.

Here’s what I learned after testing every feature CashApp offers: the Cash Card is one of the best free debit cards available, Bitcoin buying through CashApp is convenient but expensive, stock investing is fine for beginners but limited, and Cash App Borrow is a last-resort loan that you should avoid if possible. This article breaks down every CashApp feature — what it does, what it costs, whether it’s worth using, and how to get the most out of each one.

The Cash Card: CashApp’s free debit card with cash back

The Cash Card is a Visa debit card linked to your CashApp balance. It’s free to order, free to use, and it earns cash back on purchases. Here’s everything you need to know:

How to get a Cash Card:

1. Open CashApp and tap the Cash Card icon (card emoji) at the bottom.
2. Tap “Get Free Card.”
3. Customize your card design (choose a color, add your signature, pick a design).
4. Enter your mailing address.
5. Your card arrives in 7-10 business days.

What the Cash Card does:

• Works anywhere Visa is accepted. Use it online or in stores, just like any debit card.
• Earns cash back through “Boosts.” Boosts are instant discounts at specific merchants. You activate a Boost in the app, then use your Cash Card to get the discount automatically.
• Free ATM withdrawals (if you receive $300+/month in direct deposits). Otherwise, $2 per ATM withdrawal.
• Works with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Add your Cash Card to your phone’s digital wallet for contactless payments.
• Virtual card available instantly. Before your physical card arrives, you can use the virtual card number in the app for online purchases.

How CashApp Boosts work:

Boosts are one of the best features of the Cash Card. Here’s how they work:

1. Open CashApp and tap the Cash Card icon.
2. Tap “Boosts.”
3. Browse available Boosts. They change regularly, but common ones include:
   • 10% off at restaurants (Chipotle, Subway, etc.)
   • 5% off at grocery stores
   • $5 off a purchase of $50+ at select retailers
   • 1% cash back on all purchases
   • Discounts on streaming services, rideshare, and more
4. Tap a Boost to activate it.
5. Use your Cash Card at the qualifying merchant. The discount is applied instantly.

My experience with Boosts: I’ve saved $237 over the past year using Boosts. Most of my savings came from restaurant discounts (I eat out 2-3 times a week) and the 1% cash back on all purchases. It’s not life-changing money, but it’s free money. I don’t change my spending habits — I just use the Cash Card instead of my regular debit card.

Cash Card fees:

Is the Cash Card worth getting? Yes, absolutely. It’s free, it earns cash back, and it works anywhere Visa is accepted. There’s no downside. Even if you don’t use CashApp for anything else, the Cash Card alone is worth signing up for.

Buying Bitcoin on CashApp

CashApp lets you buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin directly in the app. It’s one of the easiest ways to buy Bitcoin — but it’s not the cheapest.

How to buy Bitcoin:

1. Open CashApp and tap the “Investing” tab (graph icon).
2. Tap “Bitcoin.”
3. Tap “Buy.”
4. Enter the amount you want to spend (in dollars, not Bitcoin).
5. Review the fee and the amount of Bitcoin you’ll receive.
6. Confirm with your PIN or Touch ID.

How to sell Bitcoin:

1. Tap the “Investing” tab → “Bitcoin.”
2. Tap “Sell.”
3. Enter the amount of Bitcoin to sell (or the dollar amount).
4. Review the fee.
5. Confirm.

The fees: CashApp’s Bitcoin fees are variable and depend on the Bitcoin price and transaction size. Here’s what I’ve seen:

These fees are higher than dedicated crypto exchanges like Coinbase (0.5-1.5%) or Kraken (0.25-0.5%). CashApp charges a premium for convenience. You’re paying for the ease of buying Bitcoin in an app you already use, rather than setting up a separate exchange account.

Is it worth buying Bitcoin on CashApp?

Pros:

• Extremely easy to use — you already have CashApp.
• You can buy small amounts ($1 minimum).
• No separate account to set up.
• Bitcoin is FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (through CashApp’s partner bank) — but only the USD balance, not the Bitcoin itself.

Cons:

• Higher fees than dedicated exchanges.
• Limited to Bitcoin only (no Ethereum, Solana, etc.).
• You can’t transfer Bitcoin off-platform easily (though CashApp now supports external wallets).
• Bitcoin is volatile — you can lose money.

My take: If you want to buy a small amount of Bitcoin occasionally and don’t want to deal with a separate exchange, CashApp is fine. The convenience is worth the slightly higher fees for small amounts. But if you’re buying $500+ at a time or trading frequently, use a dedicated exchange like Coinbase or Kraken — you’ll save significantly on fees.

Investing in stocks on CashApp

CashApp lets you buy and sell stocks without commission. It’s a simple way to start investing — but it’s not for serious investors.

How to buy stocks:

1. Tap the “Investing” tab.
2. Search for a stock by company name or ticker symbol.
3. Tap “Trade” → “Buy.”
4. Enter the dollar amount (you can buy fractional shares starting at $1).
5. Review and confirm.

How to sell stocks:

1. Tap the “Investing” tab → “Stocks.”
2. Tap the stock you want to sell.
3. Tap “Sell.”
4. Enter the amount to sell.
5. Confirm.

What you can invest in:

• Individual stocks (Apple, Tesla, Amazon, etc.)
• ETFs (exchange-traded funds)
• Fractional shares (you can buy $5 worth of a $3,000 stock)

What you can’t invest in:

• Mutual funds
• Bonds
• Options
• International stocks (limited selection)
• IRA or retirement accounts

Fees:

• No commission on stock trades.
• Small regulatory fees (SEC fee on sales, typically $0.01-$0.05 per trade).

Is it worth investing in stocks on CashApp?

Pros:

• No commission — trades are free.
• Fractional shares let you invest with as little as $1.
• Simple interface — good for beginners.
• Automatic investing (set up recurring investments).

Cons:

• Limited selection (no mutual funds, bonds, options).
• No retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k)).
• No research tools or advanced charts.
• Not suitable for active traders.
• CashApp is not a registered broker-dealer — stocks are held through their partner, DriveWealth.

My take: CashApp is fine for casual, long-term investing. If you want to put $50/month into Apple and forget about it, CashApp works. But if you’re serious about investing — retirement accounts, diversification, research — use a dedicated brokerage like Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard. They offer more options, better research tools, and retirement account tax advantages that CashApp doesn’t have.

Cash App Borrow: a short-term loan feature

CashApp offers short-term loans called “Borrow” to eligible users. Here’s how it works:

How Borrow works:

• If you’re eligible, you’ll see a “Borrow” option in the app.
• You can borrow between $20 and $200.
• The loan must be repaid within 4 weeks.
• There’s a flat fee of 5% of the loan amount.
• After the 4-week period, there’s a 1.25% weekly interest rate.

The math on a $100 Borrow loan:

Is Borrow worth it?

Almost never. Here’s why:

• The 5% flat fee is expensive. On a $100 loan, $5 sounds small. But that’s 5% for 4 weeks — which annualizes to about 65% APR. That’s payday loan territory.
• The 1.25% weekly interest after 4 weeks is even worse. If you don’t repay in 4 weeks, you’re paying 1.25% per week — which annualizes to 65% APR on top of the 5% fee.
• The loan amounts are tiny. $20-$200 isn’t enough for most real emergencies. If you need $1,000 for a car repair, Borrow won’t help.
• It can trap you in a cycle. If you borrow $100 and can’t repay it in 4 weeks, the fees add up fast. You end up paying more than you borrowed.

When Borrow might make sense:

• You need $50 to cover a bill and you’ll get paid in 2 weeks.
• You have no other options (no credit card, no bank overdraft, no friends to borrow from).
• You’re 100% certain you can repay in 4 weeks.

Better alternatives to Cash App Borrow:

1. Credit card cash advance. Yes, cash advances are expensive (typically 5% fee + 25%+ APR). But they’re usually cheaper than Borrow for amounts over $100.
2. Bank overdraft protection. Many banks offer overdraft protection for a flat fee ($10-$35 per overdraft). That’s cheaper than Borrow for small amounts.
3. Ask a friend or family member. Borrowing from someone you know is almost always cheaper than Cash App Borrow.
4. Build an emergency fund. This is the real solution. If you have $500-$1,000 in savings, you won’t need to borrow $100 for emergencies.

Does Cash App Borrow build credit?

No. CashApp doesn’t report Borrow activity to credit bureaus. Using Borrow won’t help your credit score, and missing a payment won’t hurt it (though CashApp may restrict your account if you don’t repay).

CashApp referral program: earn money by inviting friends

CashApp has a referral program that pays you when friends sign up through your link. Here’s how it works:

How to refer friends:

1. Open CashApp and tap the profile icon.
2. Tap “Invite Friends.”
3. Share your referral link (via text, email, or social media).
4. When a friend signs up through your link and sends $5+ within 14 days, you both get a bonus.

How much do you earn?

• The referral bonus varies — typically $5-$15 per referral.
• CashApp changes the bonus amount frequently. Sometimes it’s $5, sometimes $10, sometimes $15.
• The bonus is deposited into your CashApp balance.

Is it worth it?

Sure, if you have friends who want to use CashApp. You’re not going to get rich — a few dollars per referral. But if you’re already using CashApp and your friends are looking for a payment app, why not share your link? It’s free money.

The catch: Your friend must send $5+ within 14 days of signing up. If they just download the app and don’t use it, you don’t get the bonus. Make sure your friend knows they need to send money to trigger the bonus.

CashApp promotions and discounts

CashApp occasionally runs promotions — usually small bonuses for using certain features. Here are the ones I’ve seen:

• Boost promotions: Extra cash back at specific merchants for a limited time.
• Stock promotions: Free stock (worth $1-$50) when you buy your first stock.
• Bitcoin promotions: Small Bitcoin bonus (usually $1-$5) when you buy Bitcoin for the first time.
• Referral bonuses: As described above.

These promotions change frequently. Check the app for current offers. They’re usually small — a few dollars here and there. Nothing life-changing, but free money if you’re already using CashApp.

CashApp Cash Back rewards (separate from Boosts)

In addition to Boosts, CashApp sometimes offers a flat 1% cash back on all Cash Card purchases. This is separate from Boosts and works like a traditional cash-back debit card.

How to check if you have 1% cash back:

1. Tap the Cash Card icon.
2. Look for “Cash Back” or “1% Cash Back.”
3. If it’s available, tap to activate it.

How it works:

• You earn 1% cash back on every Cash Card purchase.
• Cash back is deposited into your CashApp balance automatically.
• There’s no minimum threshold — you earn from the first purchase.

Is 1% cash back good? It’s not amazing (credit cards offer 2-5% cash back), but it’s free and it’s on a debit card. Most debit cards offer 0% cash back. So 1% is better than nothing. Combined with Boosts, you can earn significant savings over time.

The bottom line

CashApp has evolved from a simple payment app into a full financial platform. Here’s how I’d rate each feature:

My top recommendations:

1. Get the Cash Card. It’s free, earns cash back, and works everywhere Visa is accepted. No-brainer.
2. Set up direct deposit. Get paid 2 days early and get free ATM withdrawals. Worth the 10 minutes of setup.
3. Use Boosts. Check the app before eating out or shopping. The discounts are instant and free.
4. Invest in stocks if you’re a beginner. Start with $10-$50/month in a stock or ETF. It’s a good way to learn. But for serious investing, use a dedicated brokerage.
5. Avoid Cash App Borrow. It’s expensive and can trap you in debt. Build an emergency fund instead.
6. Buy Bitcoin only in small amounts. The fees are high. If you’re buying $500+, use a dedicated exchange.

I use CashApp every day. The Cash Card is in my wallet. I get direct deposit. I use Boosts when I eat out. I’ve bought a little Bitcoin. I’ve invested a little in stocks. But I never use Borrow — and neither should you.

CashApp is a great tool when you understand what it offers and what it costs. Use the good features. Avoid the traps. And always read the fees before you commit.

That’s what I learned. Now you know it too.

Revised by: James Mallone
James writes about debt elimination, credit repair, and budgeting systems — the practical side of getting your finances in order. He paid off $38K in debt in 22 months and learned that most financial problems have simple solutions if you’re willing to do the work. This isn’t professional advice — it’s experience and research. If your situation is complex, talk to a qualified professional.