Vola is a cash advance app with a couple of fairly unique features: It doesn’t require you to have direct deposit or pay transfer fees regardless of how you opt to receive the funds. You can get advances up to $300, and even when repayment is due, you can request an extension without paying a late fee.
But it charges membership fees that range from $1.99 to $28.99. It has a free plan, but to get a cash advance with the free membership, you’ll need to email the provider to request an advance, which could be an issue if you need an advance right away.
DaveUp to $500UndisclosedUp to 3 business days or instant for a fee
With its new AI personal finance assistance, Cleo has even more robust features. It includes savings and budgeting tools — with a sense of humor — to keep your spending in line. For a $5.99 monthly fee, which is lower than some Vola membership tiers, Cleo offers cash advances up to $250. Like Vola, Cleo also doesn't require direct deposit, making it an option for gig workers or freelancers who don't have access to direct deposit.
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
With its new AI personal finance assistance, Cleo has even more robust features. It includes savings and budgeting tools — with a sense of humor — to keep your spending in line. For a $5.99 monthly fee, which is lower than some Vola membership tiers, Cleo offers cash advances up to $250. Like Vola, Cleo also doesn't require direct deposit, making it an option for gig workers or freelancers who don't have access to direct deposit.
Pros
AI-assisted budgeting tools
No direct deposit required
No credit check or interest charges
Cons
Can take 3 or 4 days for regular transfers
Charges $3.99 for express transfers
First-time users only eligible for up to $100
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 doesn't charge any mandatory fees to use its cash advance service. It also offers higher cash advances than many other apps up to $750 between pay periods. But you can only request up to $150 a day, and it's best for employees who can verify the hours they've worked.
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Costs
Free to use or instant with a fee as low as $3.99.
Not available in: Connecticut
EarnIn doesn't charge any mandatory fees to use its cash advance service. It also offers higher cash advances than many other apps up to $750 between pay periods. But you can only request up to $150 a day, and it's best for employees who can verify the hours they've worked.
Pros
High advances up to $750
No monthly fees
Cons
Can only get advances up to $150 per day
Must verify the hours you've worked
APR
0%
Loan amount
Up to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per day
Loan Term
1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Costs
Free to use or instant with a fee as low as $3.99.
Dave only charges a monthly membership fee of Undisclosed, which is significantly lower than some Vola tiers and offers higher advances too, up to $500. Like Vola, Dave also doesn't charge interest and doesn't have a direct deposit requirement, making it another option for users who don't have direct deposit availability. However, Dave has instant transfer fees up to $25, where Vola doesn't charge for expedited transfers.
Loan amount
Up to $500
Turnaround time
Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Costs
Undisclosed
Available in all states
Dave only charges a monthly membership fee of Undisclosed, which is significantly lower than some Vola tiers and offers higher advances too, up to $500. Like Vola, Dave also doesn't charge interest and doesn't have a direct deposit requirement, making it another option for users who don't have direct deposit availability. However, Dave has instant transfer fees up to $25, where Vola doesn't charge for expedited transfers.
Budding investors who also want overdraft protection may want to consider the Albert financial app because Vola doesn't carry either of these features. Albert offers up to $250 in overdraft and can help you build an investment portfolio.
Users can choose from a custom portfolio built for them or choose their own stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). But to access most features, you'll have to subscribe to Albert Genius for $14.99 a month and overdraft protection only covers the Albert card.
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Costs
$14.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
Available in all states
Budding investors who also want overdraft protection may want to consider the Albert financial app because Vola doesn't carry either of these features. Albert offers up to $250 in overdraft and can help you build an investment portfolio.
Users can choose from a custom portfolio built for them or choose their own stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). But to access most features, you'll have to subscribe to Albert Genius for $14.99 a month and overdraft protection only covers the Albert card.
Pros
Overdraft up to $250
Investing, savings and other financial tools
Identity theft protection
Cons
Overdraft only for Albert card
Monthly fee of $14.99
Need to have the Albert Genius subscription
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
$14.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
Sometimes you need to borrow more than a few hundred dollars and MoneyLion beats Vola on that count with advances up to $500, or $1,000 with a RoarMoney account. Plus, MoneyLion has a lot of additional features, such as credit building and investment tools and the ability to get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Costs
$19.99 monthly fee if you have a Plus membership
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
Sometimes you need to borrow more than a few hundred dollars and MoneyLion beats Vola on that count with advances up to $500, or $1,000 with a RoarMoney account. Plus, MoneyLion has a lot of additional features, such as credit building and investment tools and the ability to get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit.
Pros
Potential for advances up to $1,000
Credit building and investment tools
Low expedited transfer fees
Cons
Can only borrow in $100 increments
RoarMoney account requires a monthly fee of $1 to $5
Credit Builder program costs Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month
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
Vola has some great features, like no charges for expedited transfers and no direct deposit requirement. It also offers advances up to $300, which is higher than some other top cash advance apps, but not all users are eligible for the highest limit. And you may have to pay a membership fee as high as $28.99 and show regular banking activity to qualify for an advance.
If a cash advance app won’t work for your situation, consider these options:
Credit card cash advances. If you have room on a credit card, you can get a zero-hassle cash advance from a bank or ATM, but interest rates are fairly high.
Personal loans. Personal loan lenders typically offer larger loan amounts and longer repayment periods, but you may need good credit to qualify.
Pay advance from employer. You might be able to request an advance from your employer and have it deducted from your next paycheck. Some employers even offer it as a benefit through paycheck advance apps like One@Work and Payactiv.
Payday alternative loans (PALs). Some federal credit unions offer loans up to $1,000 for members, but you typically need to join at least a month before you apply for a loan.
Why should you avoid payday loans and short-term installment loans?
Because of the predatory nature of these loans and extremely high rates, we haven’t included payday or installment loans as good alternatives to cash advance apps.
For example, some states prohibit these types of loans because they tend to prey on borrowers who have trouble repaying them and end up in continuous debt cycles. Research has shown that 75% of fees that payday lenders collect come from borrowers who take out at least 10 loans a year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
In addition, interest rates for payday lending can exceed 600% in some states. But the real rate is disguised as seemingly small fees for each $100 borrowed. Lenders charge between $10 to $30 per $100, the CFPB reports, which sounds a lot like 10% to 30%. However, that doesn’t account for the term length. For instance, if you take out a two-week loan of $15 per $100, that equates to an annual percentage rate (APR) of nearly 400%.
Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing
in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20
years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and
online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her
start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics
such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in
personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a
postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also
in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and
likes to read and play golf. See full bio
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