Grid is a financial app that provides cash advances, a Grid debit card, credit building services, rewards and early access to tax refunds through its PayBoost feature. It offers cash advances of up to $200, with a $10 monthly subscription fee. The app also helps optimize tax withholding on paychecks, which can increase take-home pay.
However, Grid’s cash advance limits are low compared to other apps, and users have complained about its tax estimation feature. If Grid doesn’t have what you’re after, consider these other cash advance apps and no-credit-check loans instead.
Cleo is an AI-powered budgeting and cash advance app, offering 0% interest cash advances up to $250 per pay period. While its advances are handy, Cleo's strength lies in its ability to help you budget and save money. Set targets based on your income and spending habits, and its quirky AI assistant will help you stay on track.
And unlike other cash advance apps, you don't need recurring direct deposits or W-2s to qualify for cash advances with Cleo. With its combination of cash advances, budgeting, round-up saving and credit-building tools – Cleo is ideal for anyone who wants to take greater control of their finances.
Loan amount
$20 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs
$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
Available in all states
Cleo is an AI-powered budgeting and cash advance app, offering 0% interest cash advances up to $250 per pay period. While its advances are handy, Cleo's strength lies in its ability to help you budget and save money. Set targets based on your income and spending habits, and its quirky AI assistant will help you stay on track.
And unlike other cash advance apps, you don't need recurring direct deposits or W-2s to qualify for cash advances with Cleo. With its combination of cash advances, budgeting, round-up saving and credit-building tools – Cleo is ideal for anyone who wants to take greater control of their finances.
Pros
No credit check
No interest or financing fees
Recurring deposits not required
Cleo Credit Builder Card available
Cons
Maximum cash advance is $250
Monthly membership fee to access advances
3 to 4 business turnaround for regular transfers
Not everyone will qualify for the maximum advance
APR
0%
Loan amount
Up to $250
Loan Term
Next deposit
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Loan amount
$20 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs
$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $750 of your earned wages before payday with its Cash Out feature. This borrowing limit is significantly higher than most cash advance apps, and unlike payday loans, there are no interest or financing fees to use Cash Outs.
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. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee.
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
Costs
Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer
Not available in: Connecticut
EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $750 of your earned wages before payday with its Cash Out feature. This borrowing limit is significantly higher than most cash advance apps, and unlike payday loans, there are no interest or financing fees to use Cash Outs.
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. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee.
Pros
No credit check required
No interest or mandatory tipping
Free credit score tracking included
Cons
Verification of employment earnings required
Same-day (Lightning) transfers attract a fee
Can only qualify with employment income
Not ideal for gig workers
APR
0%
Loan amount
Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
Loan Term
1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit EarnIn.com for full details. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
Costs
Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer
Brigit is a financial app that offers interest-free cash advances of up to $250 per pay period to its Plus and Premium subscribers. Brigit distinguishes itself by offering a variety of features aimed at helping users in achieving greater financial strength, such as budgeting tools, credit building, and more.
And for those in need of extra time to repay their cash advance, Brigit allows due date extensions, while Grid doesn't. For every two consecutive advances repaid on time, you can request an extension, with the option to store up three extensions for future use.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Brigit is a financial app that offers interest-free cash advances of up to $250 per pay period to its Plus and Premium subscribers. Brigit distinguishes itself by offering a variety of features aimed at helping users in achieving greater financial strength, such as budgeting tools, credit building, and more.
And for those in need of extra time to repay their cash advance, Brigit allows due date extensions, while Grid doesn't. For every two consecutive advances repaid on time, you can request an extension, with the option to store up three extensions for future use.
Pros
Extend your due date in-app
Store up to three extensions at a time
Automatic advances if your bank balance is low
Cons
Advances must be repaid before requesting another
Mixed customer reviews
Limited advance amounts
Loan amount
$50 to $250
Loan Term
Until your next payday, but can extend
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Like the early tax refunds offered by Grid, TurboTax early refund is a fully online service by Intuit TurboTax that offers tax refund advances with no interest. To access it, you simply apply for Refund Advance during the TurboTax filing process – no extra forms are required.
If approved, the Refund Advance is deposited into your Credit Karma checking account within minutes of the IRS accepting your e-filed return. The size of your federal refund and your tax information determines the size of the advance, with the rest of the refund being deposited later.
Min. credit score
Loan amount
$500 to $4,000
Not available in: Hawaii, Illinois, North Carolina, Rhode Island
Like the early tax refunds offered by Grid, TurboTax early refund is a fully online service by Intuit TurboTax that offers tax refund advances with no interest. To access it, you simply apply for Refund Advance during the TurboTax filing process – no extra forms are required.
If approved, the Refund Advance is deposited into your Credit Karma checking account within minutes of the IRS accepting your e-filed return. The size of your federal refund and your tax information determines the size of the advance, with the rest of the refund being deposited later.
Pros
Refunds within minutes
No fees or interest
Fully integrated with your tax return
Cons
Expires around mid-February
Maximum refund amount is $4,000
Funds go to Credit Karma Money Spend (checking) account only
Albert provides interest-free cash advances up to $250 through its Albert Instant service. What distinguishes Albert is its Genius service, which leverages AI and human expertise to offer financial advice and assist in creating customized investment portfolios aligned with your objectives.
To access Albert cash advances or the Genius advice, you must enroll in a Genius subscription, which costs $11.99 a month, with a discounted annual subscription available. However, upon signing up for Albert, a 30-day free trial of Genius is provided, allowing users to explore all the features before making a commitment.
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Costs
$11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
Available in all states
Albert provides interest-free cash advances up to $250 through its Albert Instant service. What distinguishes Albert is its Genius service, which leverages AI and human expertise to offer financial advice and assist in creating customized investment portfolios aligned with your objectives.
To access Albert cash advances or the Genius advice, you must enroll in a Genius subscription, which costs $11.99 a month, with a discounted annual subscription available. However, upon signing up for Albert, a 30-day free trial of Genius is provided, allowing users to explore all the features before making a commitment.
Pros
Offers customized investment help
Free 30-day trial of Genius when you sign up
No late fees or inactivity fees
Cons
Genius subscription required for cash advances
No customer service phone number
Instant transfer fees not clear
Loan amount
$25 to $250
Loan Term
Within 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Turnaround time
Instant
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Costs
$11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
If you don't qualify for cash advance apps due to irregular employment, Cash App Borrow may be a solution. This feature, available to select Cash App users, lets you borrow up to $200 at a time for a 5% fee. However, access to the feature depends on your state and other criteria.
To enhance your eligibility for Cash App Borrow, you may need to deposit $1,000 into your Cash App account every month and transfer funds out. If you see the Borrow option in your account, it means that you're eligible to use it.
Loan amount
$20 - $200
Turnaround time
Same day
Costs
5% flat fee
Available in all states
If you don't qualify for cash advance apps due to irregular employment, Cash App Borrow may be a solution. This feature, available to select Cash App users, lets you borrow up to $200 at a time for a 5% fee. However, access to the feature depends on your state and other criteria.
To enhance your eligibility for Cash App Borrow, you may need to deposit $1,000 into your Cash App account every month and transfer funds out. If you see the Borrow option in your account, it means that you're eligible to use it.
Possible Finance, like Grid, is an alternative to traditional payday loans, offering no-credit-check loans that are repaid in installments with interest – but with no late fees or penalties. Through the Possible app, eligible users can instantly borrow up to $500, with annual percentage rates (APRs) similar to those offered by Grid.
But Possible Finance surpasses Grid in some respects. Unlike Grid, Possible Finance reports on-time payments to all three credit bureaus, helping to build your credit history. Also, Possible Finance allows users to extend their payment date – a user-friendly feature that's not available with Grid.
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
As fast as 1 business day
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
Possible Finance, like Grid, is an alternative to traditional payday loans, offering no-credit-check loans that are repaid in installments with interest – but with no late fees or penalties. Through the Possible app, eligible users can instantly borrow up to $500, with annual percentage rates (APRs) similar to those offered by Grid.
But Possible Finance surpasses Grid in some respects. Unlike Grid, Possible Finance reports on-time payments to all three credit bureaus, helping to build your credit history. Also, Possible Finance allows users to extend their payment date – a user-friendly feature that's not available with Grid.
The Grid Money app offers cash advances for up to $200 without a credit check, and integrates credit building, rewards, and early access to tax refunds all in one place. To use these services, including cash advances, you’ll need to pay a $10 a month subscription fee.
This fee makes Grid a more expensive option for accessing cash advances compared to many other apps. However, the monthly fee may be worth it, especially if you’re after more than just cash advances – for example, Grid’s early tax return feature, PayBoost.
But Grid doesn’t support all banks and banking apps, and customers have complained about glitches in the app. Overall, Grid can be a good option for those who regularly need smaller cash advances – but other apps may offer more, including free overdraft protection, budgeting tools, financial advice and repayment flexibility.
Pros
No-credit-check cash advances
No late fees or penalties for repayments
Offers credit building, rewards, and early access to tax refunds
Can increase take-home pay by optimizing tax withholding on paychecks
No late fees on cash advances
Cons
Limited cash advance amount compared to other apps
Subscription fee of $10 per month to access services
Some users complain about delays in updating repayments
Debit cards and certain banks not supported, including Chime
Customer complaints related to canceling subscriptions
Alternatives to cash advances and installment loans
If you’d rather skip installment loans and cash advance apps altogether, here are a few alternatives to consider.
Get a credit card advance. Credit card cash advances are a quick and convenient way to borrow, and they don’t require a link to your bank account or proof of direct deposits, as with most cash apps. Compare the best credit cards for low interest, rewards and more.
Take out a personal loan. Personal loans offer higher lending limits than cash apps, and typically offer much lower rates and better terms than a payday loan. Compare personal loans for a range of credit scores, including bad credit.
Ask for a paycheck advance from your employer. Some employers offer paycheck advances or short-term loans. This lets you access a portion of your earned wages before the regular payday without having to install an app.
Consider a loan from a CDFI. You may be able to get a small-dollar, short-term loan at a lower cost than from a payday lender by going through a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). These are typically local banks or credit unions that serve low-income or rural areas.
Use a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) app. While not a cash advance, BNPL apps let you purchase items you need and pay them off later. Choose from the best BNPL apps for cash-free purchases today.
Get a payday loan — as a last resort. If you’ve exhausted other options, payday lenders can get you cash as soon as the same day. But beware — a typical $375 payday loan comes with $520 in fees, and borrowers can stay in debt for as long as 11 months. Consider OppLoans or Possible Finance for lower rates.
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 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 157 Finder guides across topics including:
Unemployed and need to borrow money? You may qualify for one of these loans or cash advance apps.
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