Do You Have to Be 18 for Cash App? The Age Rule Just Changed

For years, Cash App required users to be at least 18 years old. But that’s no longer the case. The mobile payment service recently announced it’s lowering the minimum age requirement to 13 in the United States, marking a significant shift in how the company is approaching younger demographics.

This means teenagers aged 13 to 17 can now open their own Cash App accounts—with a key catch: parental approval is mandatory. The move reflects Square’s broader strategy to get Gen Z involved in digital finance early, especially as traditional banking continues its pivot toward mobile-first solutions.

Why Cash App Lowered Its Age Requirement

The short answer: personal finance is going digital, and Cash App wants teens to have access to the same payment tools as adults. According to the company, the goal is to “help level the playing field and equip teens with the tools they need to participate in the economy.”

It’s not a lonely move. Other fintech companies have already jumped on the teen market. Greenlight focuses on parental oversight of kids’ debit cards, letting parents set spending rules and encourage savings habits. Step offers fee-free bank accounts for teens with an adult sponsor backing the account. Meanwhile, Venmo and PayPal have stuck with their 18-year minimum, showing there’s no industry-wide consensus yet.

Setting Up a Cash App Account for Teens: The Step-by-Step Process

Getting a teenager set up on Cash App is straightforward:

1. Download the app and create a free account
2. When requesting a Cash Card or attempting peer-to-peer payments, the app prompts identity verification
3. Enter a parent or guardian’s email, phone number, or $cashtag username
4. Cash App contacts the adult to request approval
5. Once approved, order a physical Visa debit card (delivery takes about two weeks)
6. Start using the account immediately through Apple Pay or Google Pay while waiting for the card

Critical requirement: The parent or guardian must have their own verified Cash App account to approve the teen’s request. Also worth noting—the adult legally owns the account. The teen is just an authorized user, meaning parents can view all transaction records and deactivate the account anytime.

What Teens Can Actually Do (And What They Can’t)

Allowed activities:

• Send, receive, and request up to $1,000 in payments every 30 days
• Add up to $7,500 monthly to their balance
• Cash out up to $25,000 once per week
• Set up direct deposit
• Withdraw from ATMs
• Use Boosts for rewards at retailers like Starbucks, Burger King, and DoorDash

Restricted features:

• No investing or cryptocurrency transactions (Bitcoin buying/selling blocked)
• No check deposits or international transfers
• Cash Cards won’t work at bars, nightclubs, liquor stores, hotels, casinos, car rental counters, or for purchasing cigars, dating services, and bail payments

The restrictions are designed to keep teen accounts within guardrails while still providing meaningful access to digital payments.

The Bottom Line: Is Cash App Right for Your Teen?

Do you have to be 18 to have Cash App anymore? No—but you do need parental permission if you’re under 18. For parents considering the platform, the parental oversight features and transaction visibility offer peace of mind. For teens, it’s an entry point into digital finance that goes beyond basic peer-to-peer transfers, though the usage caps and feature restrictions remind users this isn’t a full-service account like adults get.

The real question isn’t age—it’s whether your family’s needs align with what Cash App offers versus competitors.