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.
Chime SpotMe is a free service available to Chime account holders, allowing them to overdraw their accounts for debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals between $20 and $200 without any fees. To qualify, account holders must have received a single direct deposit of $200 or more into their Chime account within the last 34 days.
However, not everyone qualifies for the maximum $200 limit, and certain expenses such as bill payments aren't covered. The SpotMe limit is determined by various factors, including account history and activity, and may be increased over time. Note that SpotMe is not available for payments to friends, ACH transfers and Chime Checkbook transactions.
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.
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.
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.
Available in all states
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
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.
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.
Not available in: Hawaii, Illinois, North Carolina, Rhode Island
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 $14.99 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.
Available in all states
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
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.
If you frequently require a higher amount than what most cash advance apps offer, MoneyLion's Instacash could be a game changer. It lets eligible users borrow up to $500 between paydays, with the potential to increase this to $700 or even $1,000 per pay period by meeting certain criteria.
For example, if you open a Credit Builder account for Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month, you could access advances up to $700. And by opening a MoneyLion RoarMoney account and setting up direct deposit, you could access up to $1,000 per pay period and get paid two days early. But instant transfer fees on cash advances run high with MoneyLion.
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 credit check required
No monthly fees or interest charges
Can defer payments up to two weeks
Cons
Instant delivery costs between $1.99 and $8.99
Instant transfer fees can add up quickly
A pattern of customer complaints
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
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.
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
Loan amounts as low as $50
Same day funding possible
Reports payments to major credit bureaus
Cons
High interest rates
Limited customer support options
Not available in all states
Loan amount
$50 - $500
APR
150% to 460%
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround time
As fast as 1 business day
Loan amount
$50 - $500
APR
150% to 460%
Turnaround time
As fast as 1 business day
How does Grid compare?
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 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
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