Apple Cash’s updated fee structure will make instant transfer pricier for users who want quick access to their money. The change goes into effect in less than a month from now, on February 18, 2026.
From that day, Apple will charge a 1.7% fee for an Instant Transfer.
Apple wants more for Apple Cash instant transfers
Apple Cash is Apple’s built-in peer-to-peer payment system, deeply integrated into the Wallet app and iMessage. It allows you to send and receive money instantly, with funds held on a virtual Apple Cash card. Think of it as an alternative to PayPal or Venmo.
You can spend Apple Cash anywhere Apple Pay is accepted or move it to your bank account.
For the latter, Apple offers two paths: a free ACH transfer that typically takes one to three business days, or Instant Transfer. True to its name, it credits the fund to your account within minutes, but comes at a cost.
Since its introduction, Apple has charged a 1.5% fee on Instant Transfers, with a minimum charge of $0.25 and a maximum of $15 per transaction.
This will change starting February 18, 2026. The fee will increase to 1.7% of the transaction amount, capped at $25.
Apple Cash Changes Coming February 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/XtvoTR9BdF
— iDeviceHelp (@iDeviceHelpus) January 23, 2026
ACH transfers remain free
The good news is that Apple isn’t touching its free transfer option. You can still move Apple Cash funds to your bank account using an ACH transfer at no cost, with deposits arriving in one to three business days.
To initiate a transfer, open the Wallet app, select your Apple Cash card. Then, tap the More button > choose Transfer to Bank, enter the desired and available amount and then select either Instant Transfer or the free ACH option.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
