Cash advance apps can be a lifesaver when you’re in a bind, but they’re not all created equal. Some providers charge hefty instant transfer fees on top of mandatory monthly subscriptions, which can significantly add to the cost. Compare cash advance apps carefully to find the one that makes the most sense for your budget.
Getting a cash advance is fairly similar between providers but may vary a bit. Follow these steps to get a $200 cash advance:
In some cases, the provider may require you to sign up for its bank account or debit card to qualify for advances. Most providers require you to get paid by direct deposit. Plus, keep in mind that you likely won’t get the full $200 on your first try — it may take some time to get that large of an advance.
Compare these cash advance apps that offer $200 advances. Consider eligibility requirements, mandatory monthly fees and instant transfer fees.
| Cash advance app | Advance amount | Cost | Turnaround time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert | $25 to $250 | $14.99 per month | Instant | |
| Beem | $5 to $1000 | $2.47 to $12.97 per month | Within 3 days or instant for a fee | |
| B9 | $30 to $500 | $9.99 or $19.99 | Instant | |
| Branch | Up to 50% of paycheck, up to $1,000 | No cost for 3-day option, $2.99 to $4.99 for instant deposit | Within 3 business days, instant with delivery fee | |
| Brigit | $50 to $250 | $8.99 per month to use the app, free requested through email | 2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. | |
| Cash App borrow | $20 to $200 | 5% fee | Same day | |
| Chime | Up to $200 | No cost, must be a Chime member | Instant | |
| Cleo | Up to $250 | As low as $5.99 to use the app, free requested through email | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. | |
| Current | $50 to $500 | Free | Within 3 business days, instant with delivery fee | |
| DailyPay | Up to 100% of earned wages, $1,000 daily limit | No fee, available for qualified consumers | Next business day or instant with a DailyPay card or for a fee | |
| Dave | Up to $500 | Undisclosed monthly membership fe | Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee | |
| EarnIn | Up to $750 per pay period, but only $100 per day | No fee when you link your bank account | 1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee | |
| Empower | $10 to $300 | $8 per month | Same day or instant delivery available ($1 to $8 for instant transfer to external bank account) | |
| Go2Bank | Up to $200 | $5 per month, no fees after eligible direct deposit, 26.99% interest charges | Instant from ATM or participating bank for $10 or 5%, whichever is greater | |
| Grid | Up to $200 | $10 a month | Within 8 hours for $2.99 or 1 to 3 days for free delivery | |
| Klover | Up to $200 | $3.99 a month | Within 3 days or within hours for a fee | |
| MoneyLion | Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account | Free for basic membership, $1 to $1 to $5 for RoarMoney | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 | |
| ONE@Work | Up to 50% of earned wages | Available to members employed at a company that offers the app as a benefit | Same day if employer has configured this benefit. If not, small fee applies | |
| Payactiv | $200 minimum per pay period or 50% of earned wages, whichever is greater | Available to members employed at a company that offers the app as a benefit | Within 1 to 3 days or immediately to Payactiv card or for a fee | |
| Possible finance | Up to $500, except in California, where max loan amount $250 | No membership fee, but about $15 to $20 per $100 borrowed | As soon as same day | |
| SoLo Funds | $20 to $575 | No fees, but asks for (optional) tips and donations | As soon as same day, but instant transfers cost 1.75% | |
| Super.com | $20 to $200 | No fee, available for qualified consumers | Within 3 business days, instant with a small fee or Super Pay account | |
| Varo | Up to $500 | Free, available for qualified members | Instant turnaround, but fees up to $40 | |
| Vola | Up to $300 | Starting at $1.99 for advances from app or free requests via email | As soon as same day or instant with Vola card | |
| Wisely | Depends on wage and hours worked | No fee, available for qualified members | Instant to Wisely card |
Very few cash advance apps are truly free, but some are more expensive than others. For example, while most providers offer free advances if you can wait a few days, you’ll typically pay a fee for instant transfers. Some apps only charge a few dollars for fast transfers, but others could charge up to $25 or more, depending on the loan amount.
You may also be on the hook for a monthly membership fee, because some apps require a subscription to qualify for advances. We’ve seen membership fees as high as $20 a month, but some are more reasonable.
If you’ve already been verified and approved for advances, you could receive funds within a few minutes if you pay the fee for a fast transfer. However, a few providers, like Albert and Chime, offer instant overdraft protection — which is essentially the same as getting an advance — at no additional charge.
If you don’t have free instant transfers or don’t want to pay the fee, most apps deposit the funds in your account within one to five days.
Requirements to qualify for cash advances are basically the same across most providers, although they may have varying income or deposit requirements.
Some cash advance providers may also require you to have direct deposit, while others — like Dave, Cleo and Vola — don’t require direct deposit to qualify.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of cash advance apps before you decide if it’s the right move for you.
Not all cash advance apps are created equal, so keep your eye out for these issues:
Cash advances may not always be the right answer for you. If so, you may want to consider these alternatives instead:
If you already have a cash advance app, you may be able to request a $200 advance and have the funds within minutes. Just keep in mind that you’ll pay a fee for instant transfers in most cases.
Yes. Cash advance apps are actually designed for people with bad credit who don’t have easy access to other types of loans — and to provide a less expensive option than payday loans. As long as you have a job or other source of income and a history of regular deposits, you should be able to qualify for a cash advance even if your credit score isn’t ideal.
Yes. Most cash advance providers don’t pull your credit when deciding if you qualify for an advance. A few providers may conduct a soft credit check, but that won’t affect your score.
From the Cash App main page, select the bank building icon in the lower left corner. From there, scroll down to “More ways to add money.” If you don’t see the Borrow option, you aren’t yet eligible to borrow money from Cash App yet.
If you are eligible, select Borrow to unlock this feature, and it should display the amount you qualify for. You can then select an advance amount, pick a repayment term, agree to the terms and conditions and expect the money in your account within the same day.
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Varo Advance is a short-term solution to stretch your paycheck — fees start at $0.
Have up to $250 automatically deposited into your account — for a $9.99 membership fee.