You cannot get cash with Afterpay through its standard buy-now-pay-later service, but the integration with Cash App allows eligible users to convert past eligible purchases into a cash deposit to their Cash App balance, making it the only verified way to get cash with Afterpay.
Can you really get cash with Afterpay?
Afterpay is primarily a buy-now-pay-later service designed for purchasing goods and services from partner merchants. It is not a cash advance service, and you cannot walk into a store or use the Afterpay app to withdraw physical money. However, Afterpay is integrated with Cash App, which creates a specific path to receive cash. This integration allows eligible Cash App users to use Afterpay to pay over time for past Cash App Card purchases or payments sent to people, which results in money being deposited back into their Cash App balance. This is the only method that delivers a cash-like result.
How the Afterpay and Cash App integration works
The partnership between Afterpay and Cash App enables a unique transaction flow. Instead of using Afterpay at checkout to split a new purchase, you select a past transaction you already made with your Cash App Card or a payment you sent to someone. Afterpay then covers the cost of that past transaction upfront, and the money you originally spent is returned to your Cash App balance. You then repay Afterpay over time. These loans are offered and originated by First Electronic Bank, not Afterpay directly. This means you are effectively converting a past expense into a cash deposit in your Cash App account.
Eligibility requirements for converting transactions
Not every Cash App user or every transaction qualifies. To use this feature, the transaction you want to convert must meet three specific criteria. First, the transaction must have occurred within the last 30 days. Second, the transaction must be fully processed, meaning it has cleared and is no longer pending. Third, the transaction amount must be at least $25. If a transaction does not meet all three of these conditions, it will not appear as an option to convert through Afterpay on Cash App.
Costs and repayment terms to expect
Converting a past purchase to cash through Afterpay on Cash App is not free. These loans typically have a flat finance fee, for example 7.5%, which is added to the amount you repay. The repayment terms are set at six weeks. This is a different structure from standard Afterpay purchases, which are split into four equal installments over six weeks with no interest. With the Cash App integration, you agree to repay the loan amount plus the finance fee over that six-week period. The exact fee percentage and repayment schedule will be shown to you before you confirm the conversion.
Step-by-step: converting a past purchase to cash
If you are an eligible Cash App user with a qualifying transaction, follow these steps to get cash deposited back to your balance:
- Open the Cash App on your mobile device.
- Navigate to the section where you can use Afterpay on Cash App. This is typically found within the banking or card activity area.
- Select the eligible transaction from the last 30 days that you want to convert. The app will show which transactions qualify.
- Review the loan details, including the finance fee and the six-week repayment schedule.
- Confirm the conversion. Afterpay will pay the amount of the past transaction, and the same amount will be deposited back into your Cash App balance.
- Repay Afterpay according to the agreed schedule, typically in installments over six weeks.
What to do if you are not eligible
If you do not see the option to convert past transactions on Cash App, or if you do not use Cash App at all, Afterpay cannot otherwise provide you with cash. There is no workaround to get physical cash or a direct bank deposit through the standard Afterpay service. In this case, your only option is to use Afterpay for its intended purpose: shopping at stores that accept Afterpay. You can browse the Afterpay app directory or check retailer websites to find stores that accept Afterpay and use the service to split purchases into installments, and you can even get walmart on Afterpay to cover everyday essentials. This will not give you cash, but it can help manage your cash flow on items you need to buy.
