11 Cash Advance Apps That Are Better Than Payday Loans + Tips for Borrowing [Updated Nov. 2023]

If you think a payday loan is your only option, think again. A cash advance app — also known as a paycheck advance app — can help.

But how do you know which are best to help get you back on your feet? Read on to learn which option is best for you.

Here are the 11 Best Loan Apps For (Almost) Instant Cash

While so many new cash advance apps are on the market, not all are worth downloading. Here are our top recommendations:

1. Best for Simplicity: Albert
2. Best for Offering Extra Financial Tools: Brigit
3. Best for Building Credit: Cleo
4. Best for Paying as Little as Possible: Earnin
5. Best for Extra Perks: Empower Finance
6. Best for Taking Out a Large Cash Advance: Possible Finance
7. Best for Improving Other Financial Areas: Dave
8. Best for Flexibility: MoneyLion
9. Best for Speed: FloatMe
10. Best for Transfers with Other Customers: Varo
11. Best for Increasing the Total You Can Borrow: Klover

Read on to learn the specifics of each recommended app.

READ MORE: Need money now? Check out these options

Best for Simplicity: Albert

Albert touts itself as the simple way to bank, save and invest. It’s important to note that even though Albert uses the word bank, Albert is not a bank. Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, provides Albert’s banking services. There’s no fee for Albert’s primary service, but for cash advances, you must subscribe to Albert’s Genius program, and that will set you back $14.99 per month.

Albert charges no interest on cash advances but instead requests tips. Tipping, however, is optional.

Pro tip: Albert will offer you a free trial of Genius, including some extra budgeting tools and alerts about your account balance. However, if you forget to cancel Genius before the trial ends, you will be charged for an entire year the next month. To prevent this — this is a significant out-of-pocket cost for someone looking to borrow $150 — you must contact Albert directly.

You also will need to plan ahead. Becoming eligible for a small loan takes a few weeks until payday.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $200 for 14 days and pay the monthly fee of $14.99 (but don’t tip), you’re paying an APR equivalent of about 195%. If you borrow the same amount and tip $2, the APR increases to 221%.
• Minimum Credit Score: N/A
• Loan Amount: $100 to $250
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: B

READ MORE: Albert review

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Best for Offering Extra Financial Tools: Brigit

Brigit connects with your bank account and analyzes two years’ transactions. It then assigns you a “Brigit score.” Your score will determine whether you’re eligible for a cash advance. If you qualify, Brigit will deposit your money by electronic funds transfer (EFT). On your designated repayment date, Brigit automatically withdraws the amount of your advance directly from your bank account. Brigit offers a free plan, but to be eligible for cash advances, you must sign up for a paid monthly subscription, which will cost $9.99 a month. However, a paid membership doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to borrow funds immediately. That will depend on your assigned score. Brigit also offers credit-builder products to help you boost your credit score.

Brigit doesn’t ask for tips. The monthly fee should be your only out-of-pocket cost, as long as you repay the advance as scheduled.

November 2, 2023 update: After the Federal Trade Commission alleged that Brigit used deceptive advertising practices and made the paid subscription difficult to cancel, the company agreed to pay $18 million in customer refunds and to simplify the cancellation process. A court must still approve the settlement agreement.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $200 for 14 days and pay the $9.99/monthly fee, the APR equivalent is about 130%.
• Minimum Credit Score: No
• Loan Amount: $250
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: B-

READ MORE: Brigit review

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Best for Building Credit: Cleo

Cleo brands itself as a money app with a snarky personality. Cleo will even mock you about your spending habits via text to incentivize you to save money. If that sounds fun, download the mobile app and create an account. You’ll need to connect your bank account through the Plaid platform. Cleo will then analyze your bank activity to decide whether you qualify for an advance and, if you do, how much you can borrow. If you accept the advance, the total will be automatically deducted from your next direct deposit.

Pro tip: First-time borrowers can qualify for up to $70.

There are no interest charges. If you need an “express” advance, you’ll pay a $4 fee, but regular ACH transfers are free. To be eligible for cash advances, you must subscribe to Cleo+, the paid version that costs $5.99 per month. Cleo also offers a secured credit-builder credit card and a cashback program.

• Estimated APR: If you borrow $70 (the maximum for a first-time borrower) for 14 days and pay the $5.99 monthly fee, you’re paying an APR equivalent of 223.10%. If you pay the $4 fee for “express” service, it increases to 372%
• Minimum Credit Score: None
• Loan Amount: Cash advances up to $100
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: F

READ MORE: Cleo review

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Best for Paying as Little as Possible: Earnin

Formerly ActiveHours, the goal of Earnin’s founders is to give workers a better alternative to payday loans. Earnin allows users to borrow against their upcoming paycheck, as long as they only borrow less than $100 per day and less than $750 per pay period. Then, on payday, you will get paid whatever you’ve earned minus whatever you’ve borrowed.

You are not required to pay a monthly subscription fee for this service, though Earnin does charge a fee ranging from $1 to $5 if you need your money instantly, and requests tips.

• Estimated APR: If you borrow $100 and pay a $2 instant transfer fee, the APR equivalent is 52%. If you tip another $2, the APR increases to 104%
• Minimum Credit Score: N/A
• Loan Amount: $100-$500
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: A

READ MORE: Earnin review

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Best for Extra Perks: Empower

Is more of a money management app than a platform for cash advances. Empower connects to your existing bank accounts through Plaid. This means that the app never has your bank information. It can only view and track your spending and saving. Empower breaks down your spending so you can see where your money goes. While it helps you budget, it will also help you bridge the gap until payday with small loans of up to $250. There is no interest charge, but they charge an $8 monthly subscription fee after a free 14-day trial.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $200 and pay the $8 monthly fee, you’re paying the equivalent of a 104% APR
• Minimum Credit Score: No
• Loan Amount: Up to $250
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: A-

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Best for Taking Out a Large Cash Advance: Possible

Loans from Possible Finance have more in common with personal loans or installment loans than payday loans or your typical cash advance. You’ll pay interest. And you won’t have to repay the full amount from your next payday.

Pro tip: Unlike most other apps, Possible Finance does a credit check, though the website says that bad credit or no credit won’t matter. The company does a “soft pull” on your credit.

According to the company’s support site, this credit check is purely “for fraud prevention and identity verification.” And, since it’s a soft pull, it won’t show up on your credit report or affect your score.

• Estimated APR: Rates vary by state; charges range from $15 or $20 per $100 borrowed. This means an APR of around 91% or 122%
• Minimum credit score: Possible says there is no minimum credit score requirement
• Loan amount: Short-term installment loans of up to $500
• Credit check: Possible does a “soft pull” on your credit report for fraud prevention and identity verification. (A soft pull won’t push down your credit score.)
• BBB rating: B

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Best for Improving Other Financial Areas: Dave

Dave is one of the most recognizable cash advance apps. Dave offers interest-free cash advances up to $500. Payment is due on your next payday or on the next Friday, depending on how much you borrow. You must show proof of a steady income, but there’s no credit check. Dave will even help you find a side hustle to help you earn even more extra cash.

To borrow cash advances, Dave requires a monthly subscription, which costs $1/month.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $200 and pay the $1 monthly fee, the APR equivalent is 15%
• Minimum credit score: None
• Loan amount: Up to $500 per pay period
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: B

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Best for Flexibility: MoneyLion Instacash

MoneyLion is a mobile banking platform. One of MoneyLion’s features is a cash advance program they call Instacash. The borrowing limit is based on how much you direct deposit but the free plan maxes out at an advance of $250. If you sign up for other MoneyLion products, you can qualify for up to $1,000 advances.

Pro tip: Most advances are issued through the MoneyLion debit card, so getting the money can be quicker than with some of the other options.

MoneyLion Instacash is free, but you’ll have to pay an optional fee for “fast-funding.” They have a number of different paid subscription services. These range from $1 to $19.99 a month, depending on the features you choose. You also have a five-day grace period before a late fee is charged.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $100 and pay the $8.99 fee to have the money transferred instantly to an external account, it equals an APR of 234%
• Minimum credit score: None
• Loan amount: up to $250 (considered a core membership)
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: F

Legal action against MoneyLion

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has filed a lawsuit against MoneyLion, alleging that it overcharged military servicemembers and military dependents. The lawsuit says MoneyLion imposed membership fees on covered borrowers that exceeded the Military Lending Act’s 36% rate cap when combined with loan-interest-rate charges. Use caution if you’re active-duty military or a Veteran.

Also, the Better Business Bureau reports that in late 2023, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced a settlement with MoneyLion after an investigation found the company collected illegal membership fees from Colorado consumers tied to loans.
The settlement included $271,000 in restitution for Colorado residents. According to the court filing, MoneyLion claimed in marketing materials that consumers could obtain loans as low as 5.99% APR. However, these rates were only available if consumers paid monthly membership fees ranging from $19.99 to $29.99. And although the company said memberships could be canceled at any time, the company prohibited consumers from canceling their memberships once they took out loans.

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Best for Speed: FloatMe

FloatMe offers limited cash advances of up to $50. The first month is free, but after the trial ends you’ll pay $3.99 per month, which may seem like a lot to borrow such a small amount, but it is significantly less than what you’d pay a payday lender in fees.

Pro tip: FloatMe’s monthly fee is pretty high for an app with a maximum amount of $50. If you think you’re going to need to borrow on a regular basis, it may be a better option to choose an app with a higher maximum loan amount.

Your bank will need to be compatible with Plaid to sign up. You’ll also have to set a minimum balance for your bank account. If the balance falls below the total you’ve specified, FloatMe will let you know. Some floats will be funded to your account almost immediately, while others take a few business days to show up (depending on your bank).

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $50 and pay the $3.99 monthly fee, the APR equivalent is 208%.
• Minimum credit score: None
• Loan amount: Up to $50 in between checks
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: D+

Legal action against FloatMe

According to the BBB, FloatMe is currently facing pending legal action:
On December 29, 2023, Joshua Sanchez, individually and as an officer of FloatMe Corp., and Ryan Cleary, entered into a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, and other Relief with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with the United States District Court Western District of Texas. The Stipulated Order settles allegations FloatMe violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by failing to disclose terms about their negative option feature before obtaining consumers’ billing information, charging consumers without consent, failing to provide a simple method for consumers to cancel their monthly subscription, and discriminating against applicants who receive public assistance benefits on their mobile application over the internet.

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Best for Transfers with Other Customers: Varo

Varo is a mobile banking platform, so it will work more efficiently if you already have a Varo account. Varo provides a debit card with access to an ATM network and various other products, including savings accounts. Varo offers cash advances up to $250 as long as your account is active and at least 30 days old.

Pro tip: You can’t qualify for an advance until you’ve made at least $1,000 in direct deposits over the past month.

You will have from 15 to 30 days to repay the advance. Most Varo cash advances will be transferred to your Varo banking account; then, you withdraw the money using your Varo debit card, so transfers are pretty speedy.

• Estimated APR equivalent: Varo charges no interest and requests no tips. However, you must bank with Varo
• Minimum credit score: None
• Loan amount: Up to $250
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: A-

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Best for Increasing the Total You Can Borrow: Klover

Klover offers cash advances of up to $200. New members will start with a lower amount, but can work their way up to borrowing larger amounts through Klover’s points system. Points start to accrue as soon as you sign up, and you can earn more points by completing specific tasks, including:

• Scanning receipts from purchases made using the debit card linked to your account
• Using the app to monitor spending habits
• Watching video ads.
• Save $100 in one month
• Completing surveys
• Referring friends

Klover charges a monthly fee of $3.99. Klover also holds a daily sweepstakes and members can win up to $100.

• Estimated APR equivalent: If you borrow $100 for 14 days and pay the $3.99 monthly fee, the APR equals 104%
• Minimum credit score: None
• Loan amount: Up to $200
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: A+

Other Options

If none of these work for you, there are still many options, including:

Chime SpotMe

Chime doesn’t technically offer cash advances, but if you’re already a Chime customer, you already have access to $200. Chime SpotMe offers overdraft protection of up to $200, so if you need to float something for a couple of days until payday, Chime SpotMe will cover it without an overdraft fee. Check out our review of Chime’s services to learn more.

READ MORE: Apps that work with Chime

Cash App Borrow

If you’re a regular Cash App user and live in a state where Cash App Borrow is available, you can borrow up to $200 — for a small fee.

READ MORE: Step-by-step guide to Cash App Borrow

More Apps

Here are a few of the less-well-known apps:

• Kora: Kora is available only for college students and charges interest, even on microloans. But it can still help students build credit
• Grid Pay Boost: Grid’s only free offering is to give you up to $250 more each paystub by paying less in taxes, which you can do on your own by adjusting your withholding. However, they offer cash advances of up to $200 for people who pay $10 a month for a premium membership.
• Current: Current doesn’t technically provide cash advances, but the Overdrive feature allows you to overdraft up to $200 with no additional fees.
• Vola: Vola allows members to borrow up to $300 with no interest, but it requires a bank account with “regular” activity. In addition, Vola’s fee structure is unclear. Buried in the terms and conditions is a notice that Vola charges a monthly fee ranging from $2.99 to $28.99. Paying almost $30 a month to borrow $300 equates to an APR of about 133% if you borrow for one month.
• Gerald: Gerald offers overdraft protection and access to up to half of your paycheck early, but only to pay bills through Gerald. The cost is $10 a month. It’s worth noting, however, that Gerald’s customer reviews at the moment are pretty dismal.
• Hundy: Hundy “facilitates” paycheck advances from $25 to $250 from the people around you, so it’s essentially a peer-to-peer lending app. You tell Hundy how much you need to borrow, and it will match you with an investor. Payment is by a voluntary tip. Handy has developed an app-based community for both borrowers and investors to interact. It’s like a more formal iteration of Reddit’s r/borrow subreddit.

Disclaimer: Credit Summit may be affiliated with some of the companies mentioned in this article. Credit Summit may make money from advertisements or when you contact a company through our platform.

Pro tip: To use most of these apps, your bank will need to be compatible with Plaid. While most banks are, some of the larger financial institutions (PNC and Capital One, for example) don’t work with Plaid. Learn more about what Plaid is and which cash advance apps don’t use Plaid.

Apps that Require Your Employer to Participate

Only people whose employers participate can use these financial services. These apps typically aim at employees with an employer-sponsored program, letting them withdraw some of their earned wages before payday. These apps for cash loans can reduce employee financial stress, and employers don’t have to worry about administration hassles like with usual payroll advances. Often, there is no setup or operating costs for employers but check with the employer before moving ahead.

Best Option for Employers: Even Instapay

First off, Even Instapay is only an option for you if your employer participates. Even Instapay allows users to access the money they already earned at work but before payday. Even tracks employees’ time and wages. The Instapay app will tell users how much money they earned so far during the current pay period.

Some of the employers that offer Even Instapay include Walmart, PayPal, Humana and Mattress Firm

• Estimated APR: No interest, no APR
• Minimum Credit Score: No
• Loan Amount: Take out up to 50% of your earnings at that point in the pay period. The number of times you may use Instapay is determined by your employer. Instapay use is limited to make sure your paycheck is large enough to support large expenses like rent or utility bills
• Credit check: No
• BBB rating: A+

More Apps That Require Employer Participation

Payactiv

Those who choose Payactiv can access earned wages before payday, and users can ask for financial counseling. The app has a platform that serves as a payday loan alternative and lets users pay bills and obtain prescription discounts. PayActiv has a debit card attached to the account to get money fast and with fraud protection. There’s no charge if users set up direct deposit to the card, or they can pay a $1/ per day fee when using PayActiv.

Branch

Branch is another employer-side service that benefits the employer as they don’t have to use Branch for an employee to access cash advances. Branch checks the hours worked to support a request. If you qualify for an advance, Branch will advance you up to 50% of your upcoming paycheck. After that, Branch debits the advance amount from your next paycheck deposit. An employee can pay an additional fee of $2.99–$4.99 (based on the advance amount) to get the money instantly to an external account.

FlexWage

FlexWage offers reloadable payroll debit cards for employees who are given paper checks. This can be perfect for unbanked employees who can’t get direct deposits. There are fees, including $5 for on-demand wage transfer, and using the debit card can result in fees, but FlexWage is cheaper than typical payday loans.

DailyPay

The DailyPay app works like Earnin, and employees build a balance with each hour of work they put in. They can then dip into that balance before payday if they need access to cash. DailyPay deposits the funds into the bank, and then, on payday, the amount already cashed out is removed from the paycheck. DailyPay charges a $1.25 per transfer fee to transfer money from your hours-worked balance into your bank.

How do Cash Advance Apps Work?

Cash advance apps give borrowers paycheck advances or timely access to money they’ve earned but haven’t gotten yet. Helpful for borrowers who might otherwise miss a payment on a bill or find themselves with late or overdraft fees. Most cash advance apps have a borrowing limit between $100 and $500. Like payday loans, they’re usually repaid on your next payday.

Since cash advance apps rarely charge interest or other fees, many people consider them a better alternative to other short-term funding options like payday loans.

Pro tip: Don’t get confused. There are a lot of lenders that you may see referred to as “cash advance apps.” But what they’re actually offering is installment loans. They will loan up to $5,000 and charge interest. Some examples include Low Credit Finance, Viva Payday Loans, Big Buck Loans, Heart Paydays and Green Dollar Loans. Make sure you’re clear about what you’re committing to when you apply. Some of these could potentially worsen your financial situation. The apps listed above have been thoroughly vetted to ensure there are no surprises.

How to Get a Cash or Paycheck Advance

Most paycheck advance apps have only a handful of eligibility requirements. To get a paycheck advance, users usually only need to have the following:

• Stable income with regular (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) paychecks
• Checking account with direct deposit set up
• Means of verifying they’ve worked (location services or timesheet)

Paycheck advance apps don’t typically check anyone’s credit or make them jump through hoops to access their services. Just download the app and follow the instructions. Most should be available on Google Play and the iOS App Store.

Other Alternatives to Help Get Your Debt Under Control

If you regularly turn to cash advances and payday loans to make ends meet, here are a few other financial products and options to ease your money crunch.

• Personal loans
• Peer-to-peer lending
• Borrowing from friends and family.

The Bottom Line

When your checking account is low and so is the amount of cash in your wallet, applying for a cash advance loan could help you get what you need before the next paycheck arrives without turning to a payday lender.

But be careful. While these are a better option, you can still get trapped in the debt cycle if you find yourself signing up for multiple cash advances at one time, or borrowing money from one app to pay another.