Want your own numbers? The Cash App calculator shows every fee and your profit as you type.
Open the Cash App US fee calculatorCash App and PayPal are both easy ways for customers to pay you, but their fees and protections are quite different. Here is how they compare for US small businesses. Run exact numbers in the Cash App fee calculator and the PayPal fee calculator.
The headline rates
- Cash App business: 2.75%, no fixed fee.
- PayPal goods and services: 3.49% + $0.49.
- PayPal QR code (in person): 2.29% + $0.09 over $10.
Side by side
| Price | Cash App business | PayPal goods & services | PayPal QR code |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $0.28 | $0.84 | $0.32 |
| $25.00 | $0.69 | $1.36 | $0.66 |
| $50.00 | $1.38 | $2.24 | $1.24 |
| $100.00 | $2.75 | $3.98 | $2.38 |
| $250.00 | $6.88 | $9.22 | $5.82 |
| $500.00 | $13.75 | $17.94 | $11.54 |
For remote payments, Cash App is cheaper at every amount. On $100, Cash App keeps $2.75 and PayPal keeps $3.98. For in-person sales, PayPal’s QR code rate beats Cash App on most amounts.
Protection
PayPal’s Seller Protection covers eligible sales against unauthorised payment claims and items not received, when you follow its shipping rules. Cash App does not offer an equivalent seller protection programme. If you ship goods to people you have never met, PayPal’s extra cost buys real peace of mind.
Reach and trust
PayPal works in many countries and is accepted at checkout on millions of websites. Cash App is US and UK only, but it is very popular with younger customers for quick local payments.
Which to use
- Local services and face-to-face sales: Cash App or PayPal QR codes.
- Shipping goods to strangers: PayPal goods and services.
- International customers: PayPal, as Cash App cannot take payments from most countries.
Many small businesses offer both. For more detail on each, read Cash App fees explained and PayPal fees explained.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cash App cheaper than PayPal?
For remote business payments, yes. Cash App charges 2.75% versus PayPal’s 3.49% plus $0.49.
Which is safer for selling, Cash App or PayPal?
PayPal, because goods and services payments can qualify for Seller Protection.
Run your next sale through the calculator before you commit.
Open the Cash App US fee calculatorRelated guides
- Cash AppCash App Fees Explained: When You Pay and How Much
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- Cash AppCash App Business Account Fees: The 2.75% Explained
What a Cash App business account costs US sellers, how the 2.75% fee compares, what you get in return and how to price for it.
- Cash AppCash App Instant Deposit Fee: Is It Worth It?
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- Cash AppCash App Credit Card Fee: What the 3% Means
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- SquareSquare vs Stripe Fees: Which Is Cheaper in the US?
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