Cash App vs PayPal for buying crypto: Fees, speed, safety

One of the best perks of living in 2025 is crypto intertwining into products we already use. From Visa debit cards to digital wallets, you can already easily use your crypto in your daily life.

Even better, you don’t need a separate app for your crypto assets, as you would have needed several years ago. For beginners, the best apps to buy crypto in 2025 would actually represent the list of the most popular digital wallets, including PayPal, Cash App, Venmo, and Zelle. Even Walmart and Amazon are exploring stablecoins as potential payment methods.

In this overview, we’ll help you choose the best digital wallet for your crypto endeavors. Regardless of your expertise on the topic, our Cash App vs PayPal crypto capabilities comparison will help you understand which one to pick for your needs.

Cash App vs PayPal: basic crypto capabilities

Let’s begin with the basics: what exactly can you do with Cash App and PayPal when it comes to crypto?

PayPal, being the oldest digital wallet on the market, offers a wide range of use cases for crypto within its ecosystem. You can:

• Buy and sell a range of cryptocurrencies.
• Pay with any of them at any merchant that accepts PayPal.
• Send crypto to other users’ wallets (PayPal, Venmo, and crypto exchanges).
• And even earn by just holding their native stablecoin PYUSD in the wallet.

Cash App, which was developed later, took a different approach. They focused solely on Bitcoin, but with the goal of making it as easy and fast as possible. Cash App offers users the following features:

• buying and selling Bitcoin directly in the app;
• setting up automated purchases of Bitcoin;
• sending Bitcoin to other users’ wallets.

While the range of capabilities might not seem that wide for Cash App, there’s one good feature you should know about: they use the Lightning network, which basically bypasses the chunky and often clogged Bitcoin network to make Bitcoin transactions much faster and cheaper for users.

Cash App vs PayPal for buying crypto: a beginner’s guide

Now that we are familiar with the capabilities both apps offer, let’s review one of the most important aspects: the buying experience. In this section, we will provide a beginner's guide for CashApp vs PayPal crypto buying.

Cash App offers a straightforward flow for buying Bitcoin directly in the app. The steps are the following:

• Tap the Money tab
• Find the Bitcoin tile
• Press Buy
• Enter the desired amount.
• Confirm… And you’re all set!

For those seeking an automated, regular buying experience, the app offers an Auto Invest option: you can set up the USD value you want to spend on Bitcoin and the frequency of purchases for Cash App to automatically buy crypto for you.

Also, there is a more sophisticated option. In the same Bitcoin tile:

• Go to the Get paid in Bitcoin section.
• Adjust the percentage of your paycheck’s value that would be automatically turned into Bitcoin.

A great option for those who think of putting aside some money regularly but often forget to do so.

While PayPal doesn’t offer a feature like automatically turning a part of direct deposits into crypto, you still have options. For the web version, you’ll need to:

• Go to the Finances section.
• Click Buy.
• Proceed with choosing the cryptocurrency, its amount, and frequency of purchases (if you don’t want them to recur, the default One-time option will work).

On mobile, the steps are pretty much the same, but you’ll access your buying options by tapping Accounts and finding the Crypto section there.

Cash App vs PayPal fees: Which is cheaper in 2025?

When using crypto, final transaction fees are one of the biggest concerns. For example, during the last Bitcoin halving, the average transaction fee almost reached $128, while normally it would be (and is) around $1.

Cash App Bitcoin fees

Generally, CashApp’s fee system consists of three parts: a fixed fee, a percentage fee, and a spread. 

The spread is a constant fee that can be applied to any on-the-spot transaction you initiate (so your Paid in Bitcoin funds or recurring investments are safe).

The fixed and the percentage fees, on the other hand, replace each other depending on the value of your transaction in USD. Fixed fees vary from $0.25 to $1.99 for transactions of $1–$100. Percentage fees cover everything below $1 and above $100 and vary from 0.75% to 3% of your transaction volume in USD.

If you’re using the Auto Invest feature, however, each trade includes a percentage fee, which also varies from 0.75% to 3% depending on the USD amount you’re trading.

In addition, you will need to cover a network fee if you send Bitcoin from your Cash App wallet to another one. Depending on urgency, this transaction can cost you from nothing to the network’s current fee plus $3.

PayPal crypto fees

PayPal charges users a percentage fee on purchases, sales, and conversions, varying from 1.5% to 2.2% per transaction. The fee includes a margin.

PayPal doesn’t apply any fees to buying or selling its native stablecoin, PYUSD. But in case of converting it to another cryptocurrency, the transaction will still be subject to fees.

What those who use crypto often will find mindful is the absence of fees for transfers to other PayPal and Venmo accounts. However, you will still be required to cover network fees for transferring cryptocurrencies to external wallets and add 1% of the USD value of the transferred funds on top of that.

Cash App vs PayPal speed: how fast are transactions?

When it comes to sending or receiving crypto, any user would want instant transactions. In the crypto world, it’s not always the case, although there are technologies that allow sending funds in a matter of minutes and even seconds.

The speed of crypto transactions relies on the network you’re using and the fees you’re paying. You can pay a bit more to speed up your funds, but sometimes the right approach is to choose an overall faster blockchain.. So, how long will it take to send Bitcoin with Cash App vs PayPal?

Cash App crypto transaction speed

With the focus solely on Bitcoin, Cash App also has another benefit for its users: the system uses the Lightning network. It’s not the main Bitcoin network but a faster alternative that allows users to send and receive Bitcoin in a matter of seconds.

Another speed benefit is that when you want to withdraw funds from your Cash App wallet to a separate one, you can speed up your Bitcoin to appear in your other wallet in under ten minutes by paying a Pro Rata fee and up to $3.

PayPal crypto transaction speed

PayPal might be a tougher case to crack. With a variety of coins spread over separate networks, there’s no uniform speed at which the transactions occur.

• Bitcoin – around ten minutes to confirm the transaction.
• Ethereum – between 15 seconds and five minutes.
• Litecoin – 2.5 minutes on average.
• Solana – usually under a second.
• Chainlink’s – typically around 5–10 seconds.
• PYUSD – near-instant within the PayPal ecosystem and usually takes seconds when sent to other blockchains.

The fact that you typically cannot speed up transactions results in possible waiting times if you try to send Bitcoin through a congested network.

On the other hand, unlike Cash App, PayPal offers options to pay merchants with your crypto balance directly, which offers a whole new level of usability for your assets.

Safety first: Cash App and PayPal crypto payment apps compared

The cornerstone of any financial app, be it a crypto wallet or a traditional digital bank, is security. Users need to be sure their funds won’t just disappear one morning without a trace, and every digital wallet app offers a set of security measures to prevent malicious actors from accessing your accounts.

If we put together these two crypto payment apps compared by safety, both offer a robust set of security features to protect your accounts from malicious activity. This includes encryption, two-factor authentication, fraud detection, and activity monitoring. However, both apps are more advanced security-wise in different directions.

PayPal, for instance, offers a wider range of two-factor authentication methods, including passkeys generated directly on your mobile device. Also, while purchases of cryptocurrencies aren’t covered by PayPal’s Buyer Protection program, malicious activities with your crypto funds are still protected if you report the case.

Cash App, in its turn, invested in advanced fraud detection algorithms and PCI-DSS Level 1, which is the highest standard for processing and storing payment card data. When you perform a Cash App crypto transfer to another wallet, you’ll go through multiple authentication layers, and you will have multiple chances to ensure this transaction is correct.

Important! While all the security measures add a certain level of protection to your assets, you should always remember to stay vigilant. Any transaction on blockchain is irreversible, and if you perform a Cash App or PayPal crypto transfer to wallets not associated with you or anyone you know, there might be little to nothing you’ll be able to do to get your money back. Check your links, email names, wallet addresses, and usernames on social networks before taking any action that would result in sending money in any form.

Additionally, certain restrictions the apps enforce could help you not lose everything even if your account gets hijacked:

• Cash App’s Bitcoin withdrawal is limited to $2,000 worth of BTS in 24 hours and $5,000 within 7 days.
• PayPal sets weekly limits for buying with crypto at $100,000 and caps the value of crypto you can send at $25,000 per week.

Cash App vs Coinbase vs PayPal: Where do they fit in 2025?

With digital wallets expanding their offerings with crypto, questions emerge: where will they find themselves in a market already full of crypto exchanges and separate crypto wallet apps? Are they direct competitors? Will they become the next best apps to buy crypto in 2025?

Let’s take a look at each of these three and see how they cater to the crypto market in 2025.

Cash App

Cash App is a great all-around solution for both beginners and intermediate crypto users. While offering only Bitcoin as a crypto option, the set of features the app offers makes managing it seamless and understandable. This makes Cash App possibly best app to buy Bitcoin in 2025 for beginners.

Pros:

• Friendly UI.
• A range of automated crypto purchase features.
• Fast Lightning network.

Cons:

• The pool of cryptocurrencies is limited to Bitcoin only.
• Somewhat complex fee structure.
• Transferring funds from the Lightning network to the Bitcoin network would require some knowledge and third-party services.
• App features are limited to the US and UK.

PayPal

The oldest digital wallet, PayPal, offers a number of robust features for users of every skill level. Whether you’re just investing or plan on using your crypto in daily life, the application is a great tool to put your assets to use.

Pros:

• Simpler fee structure.
• A wider pool of cryptocurrencies.
• 4% earnings on PYUSD held in a PayPal account.
• The ability to use crypto as a payment method for merchants in the ecosystem.

Cons:

• Using coin-native networks may affect transaction speeds.
• The fees are generally higher.
• The crypto services are currently limited to the US and UK.

Coinbase

One of the most popular crypto exchanges, Coinbase, is a tool for crypto users of intermediate and advanced skill levels. While it has good UI and is generally beginner-friendly, the amount of digital assets users can trade poses a risk of financial loss for less knowledgeable users. If you aim to use the platform for basic coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDT, however, it’ll still be a great tool with more advanced analytics tools and the ability to try earning mechanisms like staking.

Pros:

• Global availability.
• A wide range of cryptocurrencies.
• A good Learn section filled with beginner-friendly guides and explanations.
• A dedicated mobile Base App that provides full custody over your funds and access to social features.
• The ability to issue a Visa crypto debit card.

Cons:

• Without proper guidance, the beginner experience can be overwhelming and risky.
• Less transparent fee structure.
• Transaction speeds vary depending on the cryptocurrency you’re working with.
• Low chances of funds being recovered if lost due to fraudulent activity.

Crypto isn't the only asset moving on-chain

Real-World Assets (RWAs) are bringing traditional financial products into blockchain ecosystems. Among the most popular examples are tokenized stocks linked to major public companies such as Alphabet, Apple, and NVIDIA.

Cash App Bitcoin vs PayPal crypto review

Each service offers its own unique set of features. With the UX being relatively good for all three of the platforms (Cash App, PayPal, Coinbase), the only three questions you need to ask are the following: where you are located, how you want to work with cryptocurrencies, and how advanced your crypto skills are.

Conclusion

With all the information above, you should be well-equipped to choose the crypto platform that will suit your needs best.

Whether you’ll pick Cash App for its simplicity and fast Bitcoin transactions, PayPal to use crypto as a payment method, or for a wider variety of beginner-friendly options, or Coinbase for advanced tools and the Visa crypto debit card, you won’t be disappointed if you know what to expect from each platform.

Are you a Cash App user already? Check out our short guide on how to borrow money from Cash App to learn more about it functionality.