Hi everyone,

I ran into an issue using Engage where my email + SMS messages were blocked because they contained a CashApp link (https://cash.app/$example).

Here’s what happened:

The link worked fine for me in test SMS and email—it opened CashApp directly.

But when sending to my recipient list, Engage flagged the link as “broken” since it gives a 404 error in a desktop browser.

Support told me the system prevents these from going out, even though the link works for most mobile users.

This was the explanation I received from Givebutter support:

“Our engineering team confirmed that the link included in the email was broken. Specifically, the ‘$example’ button was pointing to a page that doesn’t exist: https://cash.app/$example

, which returned a 404 Page Not Found error. That’s why they suggested removing it, so the system wouldn’t be blocked from sending the email properly.”

The problem is that CashApp links are designed to work on mobile (they open the app or prompt download). On desktop they do give a 404, but that doesn’t mean the link is invalid—it just behaves differently by device.

*Suggestion: It would be great if Engage could allow “mobile-app-only” links (like CashApp, Venmo, etc.) or give an override option. Many donors give from their phones, many people view their emails from mobile devices, and SMS messages are only received on mobile devices with cell service, so blocking these links limits our ability to meet people where they are.

Has anyone else run into this? Would love to see this updated to better support mobile-first giving.

Competitor note: Platforms like Klaviyo, Braze, and Customer.io support universal/app links and deep-linking in email and SMS, allowing device-aware routing (app opens on mobile; fallback on web if needed). Several fundraising platforms (e.g., Donorbox) also support mobile app payment flows (like Venmo) and Givebutter itself supports Cash App donations on campaigns — so this is a common industry expectation. (See: Klaviyo docs; Braze docs; Customer.io docs; Givebutter Cash App feature; Donorbox Venmo docs.)

Who loses / who wins: Small nonprofits, peer-to-peer fundraisers, and social-media-driven campaigns (mobile-first donors) lose when Engage blocks app-only links. Allowing mobile-app-only links — or at least offering a “send anyway / trusted link override” and device-aware checking — would help retain and win customers who rely on app-native CTAs.