Apple Cash Fee Calculator
Calculate Apple Cash fees: FREE with debit/balance, 3% credit card fee, 1.5% instant transfer (max $15). Complete guide for iPhone users sending P2P payments via iMessage.
Apple Pay Cash Calculator
Calculate Apple Cash transfer fees for sending money via iMessage
Sending money via iMessage with debit card or Apple Cash balance is always FREE
đź’ˇ Send Money FREE: Use your debit card or Apple Cash balance to send money via iMessage with zero fees.
⚠️ Credit Card Fee: Funding payments with a credit card incurs a 3% fee. Use debit cards to avoid this.
⚡ Instant Withdraw: 1.5% fee (min $0.25, max $15) for instant transfers to debit card. Standard bank transfers are FREE.
Apple Cash: The iPhone User's Payment Guide
Here's the truth about Apple Cash (formerly called Apple Pay Cash): sending money is 100% FREE when using a debit card or your Apple Cash balance. When you tap that Apple Cash button in iMessage and send $50 to your friend using your debit card, they get the full $50. No percentages, no processing fees, no surprises. It's Apple's answer to Venmo, baked directly into your iPhone's Messages app.
However, there are TWO scenarios where fees apply: (1) Sending money with a credit card costs 3% of the transfer amount. (2) Cashing out instantly—transferring money from your Apple Cash balance to your bank account within 30 minutes—charges 1.5% (minimum $0.25, maximum $15). Standard bank transfers take 1-3 business days but are completely free.
Apple Cash launched in 2017 and has grown quietly but steadily, with over 50 million active users in the US. Unlike Venmo's social feed or Cash App's investing features, Apple Cash keeps it simple: it's just money, living in your iPhone's Wallet app, ready to send via iMessage. You can also use it to buy stuff with Apple Pay anywhere contactless payments are accepted. For iPhone users, it's the most frictionless P2P payment experience—no separate app to download, no username to create, just your phone number or email.
Apple Cash Fee Breakdown (2025)
Sending Money (Debit Card/Balance - FREE)
When you send Apple Cash to friends or family through iMessage using a debit card or your Apple Cash balance, there are ZERO fees regardless of amount.
Example: Send $100 to a friend using your debit card = $0 fee. They receive the full $100 instantly.
đź’ł Sending Money (Credit Card - 3% Fee)
If you fund a payment with a credit card, Apple charges a 3% fee on the transfer amount. This is to cover credit card processing costs.
Example: Send $100 using a credit card = $3.00 fee. You pay $103 total, recipient gets $100.
đź’ˇ Tip: Use a debit card instead to avoid this fee entirely.
Instant Transfer to Bank (1.5% - Max $15)
Real Fee Examples:
- • Transfer $50 → Pay $0.75 fee (get $49.25)
- • Transfer $100 → Pay $1.50 fee (get $98.50)
- • Transfer $500 → Pay $7.50 fee (get $492.50)
- • Transfer $1,000 → Pay $15 fee (get $985 - max fee caps here)
âś… Standard Bank Transfer (FREE - 1-3 Days)
Wait 1-3 business days and pay zero fees. Most transfers arrive the next business day.
Apple Cash vs Apple Pay: What's the Difference?
Apple Cash
Send money to people via iMessage
- âś… Like Venmo/Cash App
- âś… FREE P2P transfers
- âś… Built into Messages
- âś… Instant delivery
Apple Pay
Pay businesses in stores/online
- âś… Tap to pay feature
- âś… Uses your cards
- âś… Works globally
- âś… Face ID/Touch ID
Apple Cash vs Competitors (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle)
| Feature | Apple Cash | Venmo | Cash App | Zelle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Send Money Fee | FREE (debit) | FREE (bank/debit) | FREE (bank/debit) | Always FREE |
| Credit Card Fee | 3% | 3% | 3% | Not supported |
| Instant Transfer | 1.5% (max $15) | 1.75% (min $0.25, max $25) | 1.75% (min $0.25, max $25) | N/A (instant & free) |
| Platform | iPhone/iPad only | iPhone & Android | iPhone & Android | iPhone & Android |
| Social Features | None (private) | Social feed | Investing, Bitcoin | None (private) |
| Best For | iPhone users | Social payments | Investing & P2P | Bank-to-bank |
All fees accurate as of 2025. Apple Cash's 1.5% instant transfer fee is lower than Venmo/Cash App's 1.75%.
How to Avoid Apple Cash Fees (Save Money)
âś… FREE Sending
- • Always use debit cards or Apple Cash balance to send money—never credit cards (3% fee)
- • Link your bank account or debit card in Wallet app (one-time setup)
- • Before sending, check which payment method is selected (appears below amount)
- • If it shows a credit card, tap it and switch to debit/bank account
đź’° FREE Withdrawals
- • Choose standard transfer (1-3 days) instead of instant to pay $0
- • Plan ahead: most standard transfers arrive next business day
- • Only use instant transfer (1.5% fee) for true emergencies
- • Pro tip: Keep money in Apple Cash to spend with Apple Pay—no withdrawal needed
⚠️ Avoid Credit Cards
Funding with a credit card costs you 3% AND your credit card company may charge a cash advance fee (up to 5%) + interest. A $100 payment could cost $8+ in total fees. Always use debit.
Real-World Scenarios: When to Use Apple Cash
âś… PERFECT Use Cases
- • Split dinner bill: Friend paid $120, you owe $40 → send via iMessage = FREE
- • Roommate rent: Send $1,200 rent share from bank account = FREE
- • Concert tickets: Friend bought 2 tickets for $150, venmo $75 instantly = FREE
- • Parents sending allowance: Mom sends you $200 emergency fund = FREE both ways
- • Pay babysitter: Send $80 for 4 hours of babysitting = FREE
⚠️ DON'T Use Apple Cash For
- • Paying Android users: They can't receive Apple Cash—use Venmo/Cash App instead
- • Business payments: No buyer protection—use PayPal Goods & Services
- • International transfers: US only—use Wise or Remitly for cross-border
- • Urgent cash needs with credit card: 3% fee + cash advance fee = expensive
Apple Cash: Pros & Cons
âś… Advantages
- • 100% free P2P payments
- • Built into iMessage (no app needed)
- • Instant delivery
- • Apple's security (Face ID)
- • Free standard bank transfers
- • Private (no social feed)
❌ Limitations
- • iPhone only (no Android)
- • US only
- • 1.5% instant transfer fee
- • $3,000 weekly send limit
- • Both people need iPhones
- • Less popular than Venmo
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Cash free?
Sending Apple Cash via iMessage is FREE when using a debit card or Apple Cash balance. However, funding payments with a credit card incurs a 3% fee. Withdrawing money to your bank account is FREE with standard transfers (1-3 days), but instant transfers cost 1.5% (minimum $0.25, maximum $15).
How much does Apple Cash instant transfer cost?
Apple Cash charges 1.5% for instant transfers to your debit card, with a minimum fee of $0.25 and maximum of $15. For example, instantly transferring $100 costs $1.50, while $1,000 costs $15. Standard bank transfers (1-3 days) are completely free.
Can I use Apple Cash without an iPhone?
No, Apple Cash (formerly Apple Pay Cash) requires an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch with iOS 11.2 or later. It's integrated into iMessage and the Wallet app, so it only works within the Apple ecosystem. Android users cannot send or receive Apple Cash payments.
What's the difference between Apple Pay and Apple Cash?
Apple Pay is the payment technology for buying things in stores and online using your credit/debit cards. Apple Cash (formerly Apple Pay Cash) is a P2P payment service for sending money to friends via iMessage. Think of Apple Cash as Apple's version of Venmo, built into your iPhone.