Varo is a banking app that offers a cash advance feature as part of its banking products. With Varo, you can borrow between $20 and $500 with no interest, and you decide when to repay within 30 days of the advance. But you can only borrow $20 for free. Advances of $50 and higher have a fee based on the size of your advance, from $4 up to $15.
You could also choose to use another cash advance app, but not all apps work with Varo. And you’ll want to make sure yours does before you download and take the time to register.
The 6 best apps that work with Varo
If you already have a Varo account, using the Varo cash advance is probably the easiest way to get the money you need. But if you don’t want to pay Varo’s fees or need more money than their program has to offer, we’ve collected the best cash advance apps that work with Varo:
Chime SpotMe is a free, optional service that allows Chime account holders to overdraft their Chime Spending accounts up to $200 on purchases and ATM withdrawals. To qualify for SpotMe, you need to have at least $200 direct deposited into your Chime checking account every month.
The good news is, Chime and Varo are compatible, allowing you to transfer money across platforms. This means you could use Varo's cash advance feature and then transfer money to your Chime account, or transfer funds out of your Chime account to Varo if needed.
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. Direct deposit: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Pros
No fees or tipping required
Low monthly direct deposit requirement of $200
Bill payments, Venmo, and Pay Anyone not covered
Cons
Overdraft limits start at $20
Must use with Chime Checking account and debit card
With its 24-hour cooling-off period between loans, Cleo allows you a new advance only one day after paying off your previous one. This is way faster than other cash advance apps that make you wait three to five days between advances. Cleo also lets you reschedule your payment due date once, if your finances change.
On the downside, Cleo's cash advance limit may be lower for those who aren't subscribed — and new users are approved for $40 to $100 at first.
Available in all states
Pros
New advance available 24 hours after payoff
One-time due date extension
Budgeting and saving tools through app
Cons
$5.99 monthly subscription fee
Non-subscribers must contact customer service to apply for cash advances
$3.99 express fee for same-day funding
Loan amount
$40 - $250
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
Next deposit
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 to $9.99 express fee.
Loan amount
$40 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 to $9.99 express fee.
Dave is another popular cash advance app that works with Varo. Customers like it because it analyzes your spending patterns, helps you avoid over drafting and comes with early paydays — all of which can help you stay on budget. Beyond that, Dave's cash advance limit is $500, and you can use your Dave advance for anything.
There is a Undisclosed monthly membership fee to access all of Dave's features, including ExtraCash, which is much lower than many other cash advance apps but higher than Varo, which doesn't require a membership fee. If you're OK waiting three to four days for your advance, it is free. But if you want it the next day, Dave charges an express fee that ranges from $1.99 to $13.99, depending on the amount of your advance and whether the money is transferred to your Dave account or a third-party bank account.
Available in all states
Pros
Borrow up to $500
Tipping is optional
10% of every tip is pledged to the Feeding America charity
Empower is a cash advance app that can provide you up to $300 between paydays. You can also get free instant delivery when you accept funds onto your Empower debit card. But where Empower stands out is that it lets you set your own repayment date and reschedule it if your finances change without any kind of late fee.
If you use an external bank account like Varo, expect to pay up to $8 for one-hour funding. Otherwise, you can wait one business day for free standard delivery. You can get a 14-day free trial to try out Empower's features, but after that, you'll be enrolled in an $8 monthly subscription fee.
Available in all states
Pros
$300 maximum advance limit
$0 instant delivery to your Empower debit card
Tipping is optional
Cons
$8 monthly subscription fee
Instant delivery fee applies for external bank accounts
If you want a cash advance app that offers a more traditional banking experience, look to MoneyLion. The app supports a range of products to help you build up your financial toolkit, including investment accounts, crypto accounts, credit builder loans and debit card rewards.
The standard cash advance limit is $500. And you can unlock an additional $300 to $500 advance when you open a RoarMoney account or join Credit Builder Plus.
Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
$500 maximum advance limit
Ability to unlock an additional $500 with memberships
Full suite of financial products
Cons
$0 standard delivery can take up to five business days
Fees of $1.99 to $7.99 for same-day funding
New users may have a $50 advance limit to start
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
Due by your next pay date
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Klover offers up to $200 in cash advances, and you max out this amount by watching ads, providing your data for anonymous market research and scanning receipts. Not only does Klover work with Varo, but its Balance Boost cash advance is very similar to Varo's advance program.
Neither Klover nor Varo charges a membership fee to access the feature or charge interest on the advance. But where Varo charges a fee for any advance over $50, Klover only charges an express fee if you need the money the same day. The fee is a lot higher than its competitors, up to $12.49 for advances of $75 or more. But if you don't mind waiting two to three business days, your advance is free. You can also subscribe to Klover's Financial Management service for $3.99 a month, but you don't have to be subscribed to take advantage of Klover's Balance Boost.
Available in all states
Pros
No credit check required
No membership fee required to access advances
Earn points through the app to increase advance amounts
Cons
High same-day funding fee, up to $12.49 for $75 or more
Relatively low advance amount
Uses your data for ad revenue
Loan amount
Up to $200
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
Until your next payday
Turnaround time
Within 3 days or within hours for a fee
Loan amount
Up to $200
Turnaround time
Within 3 days or within hours for a fee
How we chose these providers
We compared multiple pay advance apps that were compatible with Varo and compared loan amounts, turnaround times, subscription fees, the time between advances and eligibility requirements.
Does my cash advance app work with Varo?
If you have a favorite app that didn’t make our list, it might still work with your Varo account. Take a look at our table to see which cash advance, payday loan and installment loan apps work with the banking app.
Varo offers its own cash advance, which may negate your need for another cash advance app. They offer up to $500, which is pretty typical for cash advance apps, and gives you 30 days to pay back the loan, where most advances will be due your next payday.
But Varo charges a fee for any advance over $50, and you have to be a Varo banking customer with an open and active account to be eligible for their cash advance program. If that doesn’t appeal to you, consider other top cash advance apps or some of the alternatives we’ve listed.
Alternatives to cash advance apps for Varo customers
Cash advance apps are best if you need small sums of money between paydays. The maximum loan amount is typically around $250. And in most cases, new users can’t borrow more than $50 at a time until they’ve used the app for several months.
If cash advance apps are too restrictive for your needs, consider alternatives that include:
Credit card cash advance. If you need money in a pinch, consider withdrawing cash from your credit card. You’ll pay a transaction fee and interest will be charged immediately without a grace period, but your limit could be higher than a cash advance app. Cash advances come with a high interest rate, so consider a card like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card that offers a lower-than-average cash advance rate.
Local resources. Many cities and states support local programs to help you cover food, utilities and rent when money’s tight. Consider looking into these resources if you tend to rely on cash advance apps to get by.
Credit counseling. A credit counselor can help you create a plan to bring your spending back in line with your income. And in some cases, they may be able to find enough “free money” in your budget to avoid borrowing money at all.
These cash advance apps that work with Varo aren’t your only means of getting a short-term loan when you need it. Compare other cash advance apps or payday loan alternatives before you make a final decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does Varo offer personal loans?
Varo no longer offers personal loans and is now exclusively focused on its banking program. As the first fintech company to receive a national bank charter, it’s making headway in the finance industry — but this does mean you’ll need to look elsewhere for loans. However, you can still find alternatives to Varo personal loans.
Heather Petty was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in home and personal loans. After falling victim to a disreputable mortgage broker when buying her first home, she’s on a mission to help readers avoid similar experiences when managing their own finances. A self-proclaimed word nerd, her writing and analysis has been featured on MSN, Credit.com and MediaFeed, among other top media. Heather previously worked as a technical writer and editor for the casino systems industry and is an internationally published young adult mystery author. She earned a BA in English with a minor in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. See full bio
Heather's expertise
Heather has written 94 Finder guides across topics including:
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