does cash app charge for stocks?

Does Cash App charge for stocks?

If you’re searching for "does cash app charge for stocks", the short answer is: Cash App does not charge commission fees for buying or selling U.S. stocks and ETFs. This guide explains what that means in practice, which government or regulatory fees can still apply, other possible charges (like outbound transfers and crypto fees), where fees are disclosed, and practical tips to minimize costs.

In the sections below you’ll find clear, beginner-friendly explanations of Cash App Investing’s products and account features, the commission policy, typical regulatory fees (with examples), outbound transfer rules, settlement and protections, payment-for-order-flow and order routing notes, and a concise FAQ. If you want a non-Cash-App alternative for crypto or trading features, consider exploring Bitget’s exchange and Bitget Wallet for advanced market and wallet options.

Overview of Cash App Investing

Cash App Investing is the self-directed brokerage service available inside Cash App (a product of Block, Inc.’s consumer apps). It offers a mobile-first investing experience focused on simplicity for new and casual investors.

Key features at a glance:

• U.S. stocks and ETFs: Trade fractional or whole shares of many U.S.-listed equities and exchange-traded funds.
• Bitcoin trading: Cash App supports Bitcoin buys and sells in the app, which have different fee mechanics than stock trades.
• Fractional shares: No need to buy a whole share; purchase partial shares down to low-dollar amounts.
• Low barrier to entry: No account minimum is typically required to open an investing account.
• Mobile-first interface: Buying, selling, and monitoring positions is done primarily via the Cash App mobile app.

As of June 2024, according to Cash App’s Investing help pages, Cash App positions itself as a simple, commission-free broker for basic U.S. equity and ETF trading. Cash App uses a third-party carrying broker to hold and clear securities on behalf of customers.

Commission policy — are there per-trade commissions?

A direct answer to "does cash app charge for stocks": Cash App does not charge commissions for buying or selling U.S. stocks and ETFs. That means there are no per-trade commission fees or account-opening/maintenance commissions charged by Cash App for standard stock and ETF trades.

What commission-free means in practice:

• You won’t see a platform commission line item added by Cash App on standard stock/ETF buy or sell orders.
• Cash App may still show small government or regulatory fees (see next section) that are passed through to customers.
• There’s normally no inactivity fee, account maintenance fee, or minimum balance required specifically for the investing product.

This commission-free model is why many retail users ask "does cash app charge for stocks" — the answer is that Cash App’s business model does not rely on direct trade commissions from retail users.

Government and regulatory fees (what can still be charged)

Even though Cash App charges no commission for stock trades, certain government- or regulator-imposed fees may still apply. These fees are not commissions retained by Cash App; they are pass-through charges levied by regulators or self-regulatory organizations and collected by broker-dealers.

Important points:

• Regulatory fees most commonly apply to sell transactions (covered sales) and are typically small on a per-trade basis.
• The exact fee amounts and whether they apply can change periodically; Cash App discloses applicable regulatory fees on the trade confirmation screen.
• Cash App does not retain these government fees for profit—these amounts are collected on behalf of regulators or exchanges.

Trading Activity Fee (TAF / FINRA fee)

• What it is: The Trading Activity Fee (TAF) is a fee assessed by FINRA on broker-dealers for certain equity sales. It is commonly passed through to customers by retail brokers.
• Typical basis: The TAF is usually charged on a per-share basis for shares sold. As an example figure (illustrative), a per-share rate might be in the range of $0.0001 to $0.0002 per share sold, with statutory rounding rules and a statutory cap on the fee per transaction (for example, not to exceed around $8.30). These exact figures change over time.
• Rounding and caps: Brokers typically calculate the charge based on share count and round according to the regulatory method. There is often a maximum fee per trade.
• Disclosure: Cash App shows any TAF charged on your trade confirmation.

Example phrasing addressing the question "does cash app charge for stocks": While Cash App doesn’t charge commissions, regulatory charges such as the TAF may appear on sell transactions and are outside Cash App’s control.

SEC fee (transaction fee charged to brokers)

• What it is: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) assesses a small fee on the dollar value of certain covered sales. Brokers pass this fee through to customers when applicable.
• How it’s calculated: The SEC fee is typically calculated as a small amount per dollar of covered sales. The per-dollar multiplier is set by the SEC and can vary; at times the effective SEC fee rate has been extremely low or temporarily zero depending on SEC fee rate changes.
• Disclosure: Cash App indicates the SEC fee amount (if any) on the trade confirmation page prior to order completion.

Important note on variability and disclosure

• Regulatory fees change periodically. For example, the SEC adjusts its transaction fee rate, and FINRA may update TAF rates.
• Cash App discloses the precise regulatory fees applicable to each trade on the trade confirmation screen and in trade confirmations sent after execution. Always review the confirmation before finalizing a sell order.
• Cash App does not profit from these government or regulatory fees; they are remitted to the appropriate authorities.

Other fees and charges (non-commission)

Beyond regulatory fees, a few other charges or constraints can apply to a Cash App Investing account. These are not commissions for trading but are relevant for account logistics or other products like crypto.

Outbound stock transfer (ACATS) fee

• What it is: If you ask Cash App to transfer securities (your positions) out to another broker via ACATS, Cash App currently assesses an outbound transfer fee for a completed ACATS transfer.
• Typical amount: Cash App’s current outbound ACATS transfer fee is $75 for a full, completed transfer. This fee is charged to the transferring account to offset transfer processing costs.
• Fractional shares and ineligible holdings: Some fractional shares and certain holdings may not be transferable; such positions may remain in the Cash App account after an ACATS transfer.
• Practical tip: If you expect to consolidate positions, factor the $75 cost into your decision about whether to transfer.

External broker or market fees

• Receiving brokers and some market participants can impose fees that are not controlled by Cash App. For example, the receiving broker may assess incoming transfer fees or other charges.
• If you transfer shares out of Cash App, check the receiving broker’s fee schedule to understand any inbound charges.

Crypto / Bitcoin transaction fees (separate)

• Cash App’s Bitcoin transactions are handled differently from stock trades. Cash App applies transaction or volatility fees on Bitcoin buys/sells, which are disclosed in the Bitcoin buy/sell workflow.
• If you trade Bitcoin inside Cash App, review the Bitcoin fee disclosures in the app before completing the trade.
• These crypto fees are separate from the commission-free stock/ETF trading model and can be comparatively larger in percentage terms depending on trade size and market conditions.

How Cash App handles proceeds, settlement, and protections

When you sell a stock or ETF in Cash App, proceeds and settlement timing, as well as account protections, are important considerations.

• Proceeds: Sale proceeds from securities trades are typically made available in your Cash App balance. Depending on settings and the size of the sale, some or all of the proceeds may be available for withdrawal or other uses shortly after settlement rules are met.
• Settlement timing: Trades are subject to standard market settlement rules (e.g., T+1 or T+2 depending on asset type and regulatory framework). In many cases, Cash App indicates that settlement may take up to one business day or more depending on market activity and the security type.
• SIPC protection: Securities held in your Cash App Investing account are held by the carrying broker and are protected by SIPC up to applicable limits for securities and cash held in brokerage accounts, subject to SIPC rules and limits. SIPC protects against loss of securities in the event of a broker-dealer failure, not market losses.
• Cash balance: The Cash App balance (the app’s cash or spending balance) is not SIPC-protected in the same way brokerage securities are; it may have different protections (for example, bank deposit insurance if Cash App deposits funds at partner banks), so review Cash App’s disclosures for details.

Always review Cash App’s investing disclosures and your account statements to understand how proceeds and protections apply to your specific account.

Payment for Order Flow, order routing, and conflicts of interest

A frequent follow-up to "does cash app charge for stocks" is how Cash App executes orders and whether there are potential conflicts of interest.

• Carrying broker: Cash App relies on a carrying broker (for example, firms such as DriveWealth or Apex have historically been used by retail apps) to clear and settle trades and to custody securities on behalf of customers.
• Payment for Order Flow (PFOF): The carrying broker may receive payment for order flow from market makers or trading venues. PFOF is a common industry practice where market makers pay broker-dealers for the right to execute retail order flow.
• Impact on execution: Regulators require brokers to consider execution quality factors (price improvement, speed, likelihood of execution) when routing orders. Many brokers disclose PFOF practices in required documents and provide Rule 606 order routing reports.
• Disclosures: Cash App publishes disclosures about order routing, PFOF, and execution quality in its regulatory filings and customer disclosures (for example, Rule 606 disclosures and Form CRS). Reviewing these documents can help you understand how orders are routed and whether PFOF is involved.

If execution quality is critical for your strategy (for example, for large institutional-style trades), consider those factors when selecting a trading platform. For most retail users executing small orders, the impact of PFOF is often limited but still worth understanding.

Where and how fees are disclosed

Cash App provides multiple disclosure points for fees and important trade information:

• Trade confirmation screen: Prior to confirming an order, Cash App displays any applicable regulatory fees (TAF, SEC fee) and crypto fees for Bitcoin trades.
• Post-trade confirmations and statements: After trade execution, confirmations and account statements list executed trades and any fees applied.
• Help and disclosure pages: Cash App’s Investing Fees help article, Cash Investing House Rules, and Form CRS contain details about fees, order routing, custody, and protections.
• In-app notices: For crypto trades, Bitcoin-specific disclosures are provided during the buy/sell flow.

Always review the pre-trade confirmation to see the exact fee amounts that will be charged for a specific trade.

How to minimize or avoid fees

Although regulatory fees are typically small, here are practical steps to reduce the number of times you pay fees or otherwise minimize costs:

• Trade less frequently: Since some regulatory fees apply on sell transactions, reducing turnover can lower the number of times fees are applied.
• Use limit orders carefully: Limit orders can help you control execution price and reduce slippage, though they don’t eliminate regulatory pass-through fees.
• Avoid unnecessary outbound transfers: If you don’t need to consolidate accounts, skipping ACATS transfers avoids the $75 outbound transfer fee.
• Review confirmations: Check the trade confirmation before completing a transaction to confirm the exact regulatory fee amounts.
• Consider product choice: For crypto trading, compare Bitcoin fee disclosures and use a platform (such as Bitget) if you need advanced crypto fee structures or custody options.

Remember: government fees are typically small per trade but can add up with frequent selling.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does Cash App charge a commission to buy stocks?

A: No — Cash App does not charge per-trade commissions for buying U.S. stocks and ETFs. That said, regulatory fees are possible on certain transactions (see next answer).

Q: Are there any fees when I sell stocks?

A: Government or regulatory fees (such as the FINRA Trading Activity Fee or the SEC transaction fee) may apply to sell orders. Cash App will disclose the applicable amounts in the trade confirmation.

Q: How much is the transfer fee to move stocks off Cash App?

A: Cash App currently assesses a $75 fee for a completed outbound ACATS transfer. Fractional shares and certain holdings may not transfer.

Q: Are my securities insured?

A: Securities held in your Cash App Investing account are kept by the carrying broker and are generally protected by SIPC up to applicable limits. The Cash App cash balance itself is not necessarily SIPC-protected in the same way—review Cash App’s disclosures for the specifics of cash protection.

Q: Are there any commissions for international stocks or foreign ETFs?

A: Cash App primarily supports U.S.-listed securities (U.S. stocks and ETFs). For other asset types or international access, check Cash App’s product scope and disclosures. Additional fees or limitations could apply for assets outside the standard offering.

Q: Where does Cash App disclose fees and order routing practices?

A: Fee disclosures are shown on trade confirmations, investing help pages, the Cash Investing House Rules, and regulatory filings such as Form CRS and Rule 606 order routing reports.

Legal and regulatory references

For the most current and binding details, consult Cash App’s official disclosures and regulatory filings. Key documents include:

• Investing Fees help page (Investing/Fees disclosures)
• Cash Investing House Rules (terms governing investing accounts)
• Form CRS (customer relationship summary)
• Trade confirmations and account statements
• ACATS transfer help page (outbound transfer rules and fees)

Third-party coverage and reviews can provide context and comparisons. As of May–June 2024, reputable personal finance sites summarized Cash App’s commission-free stock trading model and noted the presence of regulatory pass-through fees.

As of June 2024, according to Cash App’s Investing help pages, Cash App continues to offer commission-free U.S. equity and ETF trading while disclosing applicable regulatory fees at trade confirmation.

History and changes over time

Regulatory fee rates (especially the SEC transaction fee) and industry practices like PFOF have changed over time, and brokers periodically update disclosures and fee schedules. Historically, the SEC fee rate and FINRA TAF rates have been adjusted, so a fee that was once non-zero can be temporarily reduced or changed by regulators.

Cash App updates its house rules and fee disclosures when relevant. If you rely on small differences in execution cost, re-check the fee pages and regulatory filings periodically.

References and further reading

Primary Cash App sources and representative third-party summaries used for context and verification include:

• Cash App Investing Fees help article (Investing/Fees)
• Cash App Buy and Trade Stocks help page
• Cash Investing House Rules and account agreements
• Cash App Form CRS and regulatory disclosures
• ACATS transfer help page (outbound transfer information)
• Third-party coverage and reviews from sources such as SmartAsset, NerdWallet, and Business Insider for comparative context (search by publication name and article title to find the exact write-ups).

As of May–June 2024, those sources described Cash App’s commission-free trading model and noted regulatory fee pass-throughs and the $75 outbound ACATS transfer fee in their coverage.

Further exploration and next steps

If you want to trade stocks with minimal friction and transparent disclosures, Cash App offers commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trading with clear pre-trade disclosures for any regulatory fees. For crypto-focused or alternative custody needs, consider exploring Bitget’s exchange and Bitget Wallet for expanded crypto features and wallet controls.

To stay current, always check Cash App’s Investing Fees help page and trade confirmation details before you execute trades.

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If you’d like, I can produce a printable checklist summarizing where to find each disclosure in the Cash App interface, or compare Cash App’s fee disclosures side-by-side with Bitget Wallet and Bitget exchange fee structures for stock-adjacent crypto products.