How Cash App Payment Links Work and When to Use Them
What a Cash App Payment Link Does
A Cash App payment link is a URL you create and send to someone so they can pay you money without needing your $Cashtag or phone number. You generate the link inside the Cash App, set an amount (or leave it blank so the payer chooses), and share it however you want—text, email, social media, or a website. When someone clicks the link, they land on a page where they enter their payment details and send the money to your Cash App account.
The link itself does not contain your personal information or bank details. It is a one-time request that routes through Cash App's servers, so the person paying never sees your account number or routing number. You can create multiple links, set different amounts for each one, and track which link was used to pay you.
Cash App payment links are different from requesting money through the app itself. A request goes to a specific person and shows up in their Cash App notifications. A link is a public URL that works for anyone who has the link, whether or not they use Cash App yet.
Key Takeaways
- Cash App payment links let you share a URL instead of your $Cashtag, and the payer can send money without knowing your account details.
- You set the amount when you create the link, or you can leave it blank and let the payer decide how much to send.
- The person paying does not need to have a Cash App account yet, but they will need a debit or credit card to complete the payment.
- Payment links expire after 30 days of no activity, and you can delete a link at any time to stop accepting payments through it.
- Cash App charges the sender a small fee for credit card payments, but bank transfers through the link are usually free for both sides.
How to Create and Share a Payment Link
Open Cash App and tap the Cash or Money tab at the bottom of the screen (the icon looks like a dollar sign). Tap Request or Charge, depending on your app version. Enter the amount you want to receive, or leave it blank if you want the payer to choose. Tap Create a Link or Share Payment Link—the exact wording varies by phone type and app update.
Cash App generates a link that looks like cash.app/pay/[random string of characters]. You can copy it, share it directly through text or email, or post it on social media. The link works on both phones and computers. Anyone who clicks it will see your Cash App display name and the amount (if you set one), then enter their own payment method to send you money.
You can create as many links as you want. Each one is independent, so you can send different amounts to different people, or create one link for a specific purpose—like a link for rent that you share with roommates, or a link for a group dinner that you post in a chat.
Who Can Pay You Through a Link and What They Need
Anyone with a debit or credit card can pay you through a Cash App payment link, even if they do not have a Cash App account. They do not need to download the app or sign up for anything. They click the link, enter their card details, and the payment goes through.
If the payer already has a Cash App account, they can log in through the link and send money from their Cash App balance or linked bank account, which is usually faster and may not include a fee. If they do not have an account, they enter their card information as a guest, and Cash App charges them a fee for the transaction—typically 1.5% plus $0.15 for credit cards, though this varies.
The payer will see your Cash App display name and profile picture on the payment page. They will also see the amount you requested (if you set one) and can change it if you left the amount blank. After they complete the payment, they receive a confirmation, and you get a notification in your Cash App that money arrived.
Fees and What Gets Charged
Cash App does not charge you a fee to receive money through a payment link. The cost depends on how the payer sends the money. If they use a linked bank account or Cash App balance, there is usually no fee for either of you. If they pay with a credit or debit card, Cash App charges them a fee—typically around 1.5% of the amount plus $0.15, though the exact percentage varies by card type and region.
The payer sees the fee before they confirm the payment, so they know what they are being charged. Some people will choose to pay with a bank account instead to avoid the fee, or they will ask you to cover it. You have no control over the fee amount—it is set by Cash App based on the payment method used.
If you are receiving money regularly through payment links—for example, collecting rent from roommates or payments for a service—ask people to use bank transfers instead of cards. That way, neither of you pays a fee, and the money moves faster.
When Payment Links Expire and How to Delete Them
A Cash App payment link stays active for 30 days from the date you create it, as long as someone uses it during that time. If no one clicks the link or sends money through it for 30 days, the link expires and stops working. You can create a new link anytime if you need to share a fresh one.
You can also delete a link manually at any time. Open the link details in your Cash App, tap the menu (three dots), and select Delete Link or Remove. Once deleted, the link no longer works, and anyone who tries to click it will see an error. This is useful if you posted a link publicly and later want to stop accepting payments through it, or if you shared a link with someone and changed your mind.
Deleting a link does not affect payments that already came through it. Money that arrived before you deleted the link stays in your Cash App account.
Payment Links vs. Other Cash App Payment Methods
Cash App gives you several ways to receive money, and each one works differently. A payment link is a URL anyone can use without knowing your $Cashtag. A $Cashtag request goes to a specific person and shows up in their notifications—it is more direct but requires you to know their $Cashtag or phone number. A QR code lets someone scan your unique code with their phone camera to send you money, which works well in person or on a printed receipt.
Payment links are best when you want to share a payment option widely—on a website, in an email to multiple people, or on social media. $Cashtag requests work better when you know exactly who you are asking and want a notification to remind them. QR codes are fastest for in-person transactions, like at a farmers market or a small business.
You can use all three methods at the same time. For example, you might post a payment link on your website, send a $Cashtag request to a friend who owes you money, and display a QR code at your cash register.
Security and Privacy With Payment Links
A payment link does not expose your bank account number, routing number, or full legal name. The person paying only sees your Cash App display name and profile picture. The link itself is a random string of characters that does not contain your personal information, so even if someone intercepts it, they cannot reverse-engineer your account details.
However, a payment link is not private. Anyone who has the link can use it to send you money, and if you post it publicly, strangers can click it. This is usually fine—you want people to pay you—but it means you should not share a link in a context where you do not want to receive payments. For example, do not post a payment link in a public forum if you are not prepared for random people to send you money.
If someone sends you money through a link by mistake, you can refund it. Open the transaction in your Cash App, tap the menu, and select Refund. The money goes back to their original payment method within a few business days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a payment link to expire sooner than 30 days?
No, Cash App does not let you set a custom expiration date. Links expire after 30 days of no activity, or you can delete the link manually to stop accepting payments through it immediately. If you need a link to stop working on a specific date, delete it on that date.
What happens if someone pays me the wrong amount through a link?
You receive whatever amount they send, even if it is different from the amount you requested. If they overpaid by mistake, you can refund the difference. If they underpaid, you can send them a new request or ask them to send more money.
Do I need a business account to use payment links?
No, payment links work on any Cash App account, personal or business. If you are collecting payments for a business, you may want to use a business account so the transactions are separate from your personal money, but it is not required to create or use a link.
Can I see who paid me through a payment link?
Yes, each transaction shows the payer's name or display name in your Cash App history. If someone paid as a guest without a Cash App account, you will see limited information, but you can still see the amount and the date.
What if someone disputes a payment made through my link?
Cash App handles disputes the same way regardless of how the payment was sent. If the payer claims the transaction was unauthorized or fraudulent, Cash App investigates and may reverse the payment. Keep records of what the payment was for—a screenshot of your link, a message confirming the arrangement, or an invoice—so you can defend the transaction if needed.