Zelle and Cash App are among the money transfer services dominating the market. Since they are competitors, choosing which one to use comes down to preference after analyzing the advantages that either offers. For people who have used or use both you might wonder if you can send money from Zelle to Cash App.
Can I send money from Zelle to Cash App? Yes, it is possible to send money from Zelle to Cash App but not directly. You will have to link both apps to a bank account and use the account as a bridge for transactions between the two (Zelle>bank account> Cash App)
Zelle and Cash App have been competitors since their launches in 2011 and 2013 respectively. It has always been a close race but recently Cash App has become a bigger name and it is partly because of their Cryptocurrency purchase feature.
However, in terms of peer-to-peer transactions, they are on the same level and individuals can choose based on preference.
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How to Send Money From Zelle to Cash App
Cash App and Zelle are competitors in the market so there is no way of linking the two for a transaction directly, at least at the time of writing. However, there is a way to work around that and still be able to transfer funds from one to the other, for whatever reasons you might need to do it. Our workaround involves using a bank account as the holding account and the intermediary between the two.
Link Cash App to Your Bank Account
Cash App users normally already have a bank account linked for transfers but if you haven’t done it yet here are the steps you should follow.
- Open the banking tab in Cash App; it is located at the bottom of the screen
- Add your bank from the different options provided
- Follow the prompts from Cash App and provide the details they request
- Once you complete their steps your account should be linked.
Link Zelle to the Same Bank Account
Zelle is used by several banks as a third-party service and thus linking your account should be a smooth process. First, you need to confirm whether your bank works with Zelle from this list. To link Zelle to a bank account here are the steps to follow.
- Sign in to your bank’s online banking and select “Transfer and pay”
- Select the option “ Send money with Zelle
- Read the terms and conditions and click accept
- Enter your information, namely your phone number, email, and bank account number.
- Wait for the confirmation message/email or verification code to be sent via text and use it
Now that both Zelle and Cash App are linked to the bank account, transfer the money from Zelle to the account. From there, the process is quite simple as you only need to send that money from the bank account to Cash App.
Zelle Vs Cash App: Which Is for You?
Zelle and Cash App are both decent options for sending money but their features can determine which one you prefer among the two.
Zelle
To start, Zelle is the most basic option among the two and its main feature is that users can transfer money between bank accounts. Furthermore, if both accounts support Zelle, the transfer will be almost instant but will take a few business days if the bank does is not part of Zelle Network.
Zelle allows users to pay directly from the bank and sometimes users can send money without having the app. It is because most banks currently already support Zelle. Alternatively, a user can download the app and connect it to their bank account if their bank does not already support Zelle.
Zelle offers no fees for transactions which saves people money over the long term. In addition, a person who wants to send you money through Zelle just needs your email phone number.
The platform falls short in a few areas for example; It is impossible to cancel a payment if the payee has not signed up with Zelle. Then, the app requires a user to have a bank account. Simply put, you cannot use Zelle if you don’t have a bank account and for faster transactions, it needs to be a bank that integrates with the platform. You can only send and receive money through a bank account.
Zelle’s design is also centered around sending money to people that the sender knows and not strangers.
Cash App
Cash App offers a wider array of services such as allowing users to pay for transfers with a debit card. Users can also buy and trade stocks and cryptocurrencies directly from the App which is a game-changer for users who want a simpler way to do it.
Like with Zelle, Cash App transactions are instant and will sometimes take a couple of days depending on whether a bank is involved. Users are also not charged any fees for peer-to-peer transactions. Cash App is quite flexible and can be used for small bills such as paying for meals and making purchases where merchants allow Cash App.
With Cash App, it is easy to send money to anyone, whether friends, family, and even strangers as you only need to know their $cashtag. Cash App offers more ways to pay and receive money which includes; bank accounts, credit and debit cards, ATMs which makes it more flexible.
The only major cons about Cash App are that there are some charges incurred based on some of the choices you make. For example, when you choose an instant deposit for money, you will be charged 1% of the amount. Users also pay a fee of 3% for using credit cards.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between Zelle will mostly depend on your needs. If you just want to send money between family and friends, and your bank already supports it, use Zelle. Users who want the extra features will lean towards Cash App for the free Wallet for crypto and the ability to purchase and sell stocks and crypto. If you are still unsure, you can always try out both of them and see which one works for you.