Branch is an employer-sponsored cash advance app that allows employees to borrow up to 50% against their earned wages — before payday. Branch never charges any finance fees or interest on what you borrow, and if you open a Branch debit card, you can get instant transfers to the card for free.
But if your employer doesn’t partner with Branch, don’t worry. These other cash advance apps work similarly to Branch and let you borrow up to $250, $500 or even $1,000 against your next paycheck. As long as you get regular direct deposits, you’ll likely qualify.
If you’re looking for a way to track your spending better to save more every month, Cleo could fit the bill. This AI-powered app packs more budgeting features than Branch, offering a plethora of budgeting and saving features and humorous “roasting” reminders to let you know when you’ve gone off track.
Cleo's paid version also offers cash advances on its app with no minimum income requirement – making it ideal for gig workers and freelancers. As long as you have regular income coming into your bank account, you could qualify for cash advances starting at $20 to $70 and potentially increasing to $250 over time.
EarnIn offers a quick way to get an advance on your next paycheck without completing an application or paying fees. You can connect your bank accounts to the app and get access to up to $750 of what you're expected to earn each pay period.
To qualify for EarnIn Cash Outs, you need to be employed, have regular direct deposits, and earn a minimum of $320 each pay period. You can transfer $150 a day to a linked bank account or more than $150 per day to an EarnIn card. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee with Lightning Speed.
Not available in: Connecticut
Pros
No membership fees
No tip requirements
No credit check
Borrow up to $750 per pay period
Cons
Must have consistent pay schedule
Mixed customer reviews
Class-action lawsuit in 2021
May need to submit timesheets and working schedule
Albert is a financial services app that lets you borrow up to $250 against your next paycheck and doesn't require your employer's participation. But it's more than just a cash advance tool. Albert also features an automated savings account, plus investment portfolio building and financial advice through its Genius service.
The Genius service costs to $12.49 a month when billed yearly, or $16.99 a month when billed monthly, and you must sign up for a 30-day trial when you start using Albert. However, some users report difficulty canceling Genius, making this app best for users who want Genius as part of their cash advance app service.
Available in all states
Pros
Offers budgeting, loans and investment help
No credit check required
No late fees or inactivity fees
Cons
Genius subscription required
Instant transfer fees not listed
No phone support
A pattern of customer complaints
Loan amount
$25 to $250
Loan Term
Within 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Brigit is a cash advance app and budgeting tool that offers $50 to $250 per pay cycle. Like Branch, Brigit never charges finance fees or interest, but it does charge a $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly subscription fee if you want to access cash advances.
However, this monthly fee includes free overdraft protection, a credit builder program, $1 million in identity theft protection and the ability to extend your payment due date. As long as you've had two consecutive on-time payments, you can request an extension through the app.
Available in all states
Pros
Tracks spending to prevent overdraft fees
Credit builder program included in monthly fee
Store up to three repayment extensions
Cons
High $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly membership fee
Standard transfers can take up to two days
Must meet strict eligibility requirements for higher advances
Loan amount
$50 to $250
Loan Term
Until your next payday, but can extend
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
While Dave charges a monthly subscription fee, it's just Undisclosed a month, which is much lower than some competitors, like Brigit. It offers up to $500 per pay cycle, and if you open a Dave Spending Account, you could get your paycheck up to two days early.
Dave also packs other features to help you save for future goals and expenses and even locate side jobs for extra cash. But if you need an instant transfer, expect to pay between $3 and $25, depending on the amount and the type of account you transfer it to.
If you're a gig worker who gets paid in cash, you may not qualify for many cash advance apps since they require proof of regular direct deposits. That's where Borrow could come in handy. Borrow is a pilot feature of Cash App that lets you borrow up to $200, apparently, even if you don't have a regular job — but it's only available to select users right now.
Cash App states that its selection criteria is based on your credit score, which state you're in, if you have an activated Cash Card and if you use Cash App. To increase your chances of being selected, start uploading money to Cash App and sending payments. But unlike other cash advance apps, Borrow charges a 5% finance fee on its advances.
Possible Finance is a short-term lender, not a cash advance app. But unlike normal installment loans, you can borrow up to $500 through its app, and your repayments are reported to two of the three major credit bureaus — Experian and TransUnion — which can help build your credit.
But compared to cash apps, it's a much more expensive option. It charges a fee based on the amount borrowed, which can vary from $10 to $25 per $100 borrowed. On the plus side, you can pay over four installments and get access to the Possible Card with on-time payments. The card features a credit limit of $400 to $800 and no interest or late fees.
Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
Pros
No credit check required
More flexible loan repayment terms
Reports activity to the three major credit bureaus
Cons
Borrowing fees range from $10 to $25 per $100 borrowed
MoneyLion is a banking and cash advance app that offers up to $500 between paydays. Like Branch, it doesn't charge any monthly or finance fees. But if you need funds same day, the cost can escalate quickly depending on how much you need to borrow.
But unlike other apps that cap out at $250 or $500, MoneyLion may let you borrow up to $1,000 per pay period if you open a linked RoarMoney account. MoneyLion also features an investment account, a crypto trading feature and the ability to round up your spare change to buy Bitcoin.
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
No membership fees or obligation to tip
Free standard delivery takes just 1 to 2 business days
Free credit monitoring included
Cons
Instant delivery to external accounts costs $8.99 per $100 borrowed
RoarMoney checking account or credit builder program required for higher advances
Must establish a direct deposit history
Loan amount
Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account
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
Branch is a convenient way to access up to 50% of the wages you’ve already earned. And if you open a Branch debit card, you can get instant transfers to the card for free. Like other cash advance apps, Branch doesn’t charge finance fees or interests on what you borrow. But unless you have a Branch Card, you won’t get your money the same day without paying a fee.
With Branch:
Standard transfers to your bank account are free and take 3 to 5 business days.
Instant transfers to a Branch Card are free.
Instant transfers to a non-Branch Card card cost $2.99.
If your employer doesn’t partner with Branch, there are many other cash advance apps to choose from. Many have no or low monthly fees, overdraft protection, credit-building programs, budgeting tools and other features you may find useful. Like Branch, most of these apps offer standard advances for no or low monthly fees, although instant transfers cost extra.
Pros
Cash advances up to 50% of wages earned
Same-day transfers with a Branch debit card
No interest, membership fees, or tipping required
Features to help manage your finances and work schedule
Cons
Access only the money you’ve already earned
Must have two months of direct deposits from an employer
App features depend on your employer
More alternatives to payday and installment loans.
You may have noticed that we didn’t include payday and short-term installment loans as alternatives to Branch — as they’re considered predatory and come with sky-high interest rates.
Consider that:
A typical $375 payday loan comes with $520 in fees because of repeat borrowing.
The average APR on a payday loan can reach as high as 650% in states with no protections against predatory short-term lenders.
While payday loans are designed for one-time emergencies, about 70% of borrowers use them for recurring costs like utilities and bills.
Most payday loan borrowers stay in debt for at least 11 months.
Conversely, cash advance apps don’t charge financing fees or interest on what you borrow, making them cheaper than installment loans while helping to prevent a cycle of debt.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
If you don’t qualify for a cash advance app or don’t want to use one, here are more options for accessing cash:
Credit card cash advance. Credit card cash advances are a fast and convenient way to access cash at an ATM or bank counter. Cash advance fees run high, so it’s best to limit how often you use them. Compare the best credit cards of 2023.
Personal loan. If you need more than $500, compare personal loan providers with Monevo to narrow down the best offer from multiple lenders based on your credit score.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) app. BNPL apps let you purchase items you need today and pay them off later. Discover the best BNPL apps offering low fees and interest.
Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Forbes Advisor, Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio
Kat's expertise
Kat has written 186 Finder guides across topics including:
Gabriel Vito is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder. With over four years of experience, he has crafted helpful guides and articles covering various personal finance topics, including credit cards, investing and banking. Gabriel's work has been featured on Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ, GoBankingRates, and more. He has a Bachelor's Degree in English and is passionate about helping others navigate their financial journey. See full bio
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