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Cash advance apps are a convenient way to borrow money before payday. Unlike loans, cash advance apps don’t charge interest. Instead, you pay a monthly fee to use the service, although some apps are free, generally making them cheaper than a loan.
Here are 4 of the best apps to help you make it to payday.
Albert is a different kind of cash advance app. In addition to offering cash advances up to $250 per pay period, it packs a mix of saving, investing and budgeting tools that can help you save. One of these is a feature called Genius that uses AI and human support to answer a range of financial questions.
Just enter a few details about your financial goals, and Genius will build a custom investment portfolio for you. You can also ask questions about credit cards, student loans and insurance. But the service costs $16.99 to $16 a month, and you must sign up for a free 30-day trial to use the Albert service for cash advances.
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Available in all states
Albert is a different kind of cash advance app. In addition to offering cash advances up to $250 per pay period, it packs a mix of saving, investing and budgeting tools that can help you save. One of these is a feature called Genius that uses AI and human support to answer a range of financial questions.
Just enter a few details about your financial goals, and Genius will build a custom investment portfolio for you. You can also ask questions about credit cards, student loans and insurance. But the service costs $16.99 to $16 a month, and you must sign up for a free 30-day trial to use the Albert service for cash advances.
Pros
Advance cash up to three times per pay period
No monthly fee to get cash advances
No late fees or inactivity fees
Cons
Must sign up for a free trial of Genius
No phone support
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
Within 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Brigit is a financial app that has a free and paid subscription. To get cash advances up to $250 per pay period, you must sign up for the paid plan, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee a month. This fee includes Brigit's credit builder program, overdraft protection and the ability to extend your repayment date for no charge.
To request a payment extension, select the extend repayment option in the app, then select a date that works for you. Repayment extensions are available to users with at least two consecutive on-time payments before the request. You can store up to three payment extensions for use later.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Available in all states
Brigit is a financial app that has a free and paid subscription. To get cash advances up to $250 per pay period, you must sign up for the paid plan, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee a month. This fee includes Brigit's credit builder program, overdraft protection and the ability to extend your repayment date for no charge.
To request a payment extension, select the extend repayment option in the app, then select a date that works for you. Repayment extensions are available to users with at least two consecutive on-time payments before the request. You can store up to three payment extensions for use later.
Pros
Store up to three repayment extensions at a time
Credit-builder program included in paid subscription
Offers up to $1 million in identity-theft protection
Cons
$8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly subscription fee
Advances are limited to $250 per pay period
Some users complain it's hard to cancel the service
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Interest rate type
Fixed
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.
MoneyLion offers no-fee cash advances up to $1,000, depending on your direct deposit activity and the services you sign up for. You can qualify up to $700 of your paycheck per pay period if you sign up for its CreditCredit Builder Plus program for Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month. And you may qualify for up to $1,000 if you set up direct deposit to a RoarMoney account.
MoneyLion also offers a suite of products, including an investment account and a crypto trading feature. The MoneyLion app gets mostly positive reviews on Trustpilot, but some customers have complained about glitches with the app on Google Play.
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
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
MoneyLion offers no-fee cash advances up to $1,000, depending on your direct deposit activity and the services you sign up for. You can qualify up to $700 of your paycheck per pay period if you sign up for its CreditCredit Builder Plus program for Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month. And you may qualify for up to $1,000 if you set up direct deposit to a RoarMoney account.
MoneyLion also offers a suite of products, including an investment account and a crypto trading feature. The MoneyLion app gets mostly positive reviews on Trustpilot, but some customers have complained about glitches with the app on Google Play.
Pros
Potentially borrow up to $1,000 per pay period
No fees and no obligation to tip
Use spare change to buy Bitcoin or build your investment account
Cons
Normal funding takes 24 to 48 hours
Instant delivery costs between $1.99 and $8.99
A pattern of customer complaints
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Interest rate type
Fixed
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
Methodology: How we chose the best cash advance apps
Our team of loan experts looked at 16+ cash advance apps before narrowing it down to the best eight. We also regularly review and update our selections to make sure our picks are the best in the market and best suited for their categories.
Each app is weighed across 10 key metrics: Borrowing limits, monthly subscription fees, turnaround time, transfer fees, tip requirements, ease of use, state availability, additional financial features, ease of verifying accounts and overdraft protection features. We also consider customer reviews and BBB accreditation.
Pros and cons of cash apps
Compared to payday and installment loans, which can be predatory and charge sky-high interest rates exceeding 700% or more – cash apps are a cheaper alternative to borrowing money. Here are the main pros and cons of using a cash app.
Pros
No interest or finance fees charged. Unlike payday, installment and personal loans, cash apps don’t charge interest or finance fees.
Low or no fees. Most cash apps come with nominal fees, usually between $1 and $10 per month. Some charge no fees and only require you to pay for optional instant transfers.
No credit check. Unlike most loans, cash apps don’t require a credit check and have no minimum credit score to qualify. This is great if you have bad credit or no credit history.
Overdraft protection. Many cash apps monitor your bank balance and will alert you or send funds automatically if you’re at risk of an overdraft.
Good for emergencies. A cash app is generally a cheaper way to access small amounts of cash than using a credit card advance or in-store payday loan, which typically costs $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed.
Cons
Low amounts. Most apps only lend up to $250 per pay period. This is fine for smaller expenses like fuel but won’t cover major ones like car repairs.
Transfers can take a few days. Most cash apps offer free transfers, but they can take a few days. To get cash sooner, you typically have to pay a fee. Brigit is one app that allows free instant transfers with a linked bank account.
May overdraft your account. Cash apps deduct money from your bank account to repay your cash advance, which could cause an overdraft if you’re not careful.
Can feel invasive. Cash apps require a link to your bank account to monitor your direct deposits, and some require you to upload your work schedule or enable GPS tracking to verify you’re at work.
May lead to dependency. Repeatedly borrowing against your paycheck can lead to poor financial habits that discourage you from spending wisely.
Are cash apps payday lenders?
Cash apps are not payday and installment lenders. Payday lenders and the like are known for charging mega-high rates, often exceeding 700% APR or more. Cash apps never charge interest on what you borrow — and you only borrow against your future earnings, which can help keep you out of a cycle of debt.
How cash advance apps work
Cash advance apps analyze your finances and offer cash advances of varying amounts — anywhere from $20 to $500 and up. How much you can borrow typically depends on a mix of the following factors:
Direct deposit history
Minimum bank balance
Number of hours worked
Spending habits
Upcoming bills
How to find the best loan app
Here are six considerations when choosing a cash advance app:
Customer reviews. Online reviews on Google Play, the App Store and Trustpilot are great places to get a sense of real-life customer experiences as well as how easy or difficult it is to qualifyfor advances and receive money.
Fees. Compare monthly fees, tipping requirements and instant transfer fees. For example, if you do a lot of instant transfers, you’re better off with an app that charges $3.99 per instant transfer versus one that charges $11.99 per transfer.
Cash advance limits. Apps vary widely in how much you can borrow, with limits ranging anywhere from $20 to $500 and up. To get higher advance amounts, you need to set up direct deposit and establish a history of regular deposits.
Repayment requirements. Most apps automatically deduct what you owe from your next paycheck, but some apps, like Brigit, allow you to change or extend your repayment due date if you need more time. This can be helpful if you’re worried about overdrafts.
Employer requirements. Most apps don’t require you to work for a specific employer, but apps like Even, Payactiv, FlexWage and Branch require that your employer supports the app.
Security and hacks. While no app provider is 100% secure, most use 256-bit encryption and adhere to PCI DSS standards – the same used by all major banks. But hacks and data breaches can occur on cash advance apps.
Should I use a cash advance app?
You might be a good candidate for a cash advance app if:
You receive a biweekly paycheck that doesn’t align with your monthly billing cycle.
You regularly find yourself overdrafting your account and paying hefty fees.
You’re willing to pay extra for services that can improve your personal finances, such as credit-building programs.
You rarely need to borrow more than $250 per pay period.
You currently have bad credit or no credit history.
You want to avoid a cash advance app if you have trouble maintaining a positive bank balance due to overdraft fees. If you’re self-employed and don’t think you’ll be eligible for a cash advance app, read our guide to getting a loan while self-employed. Those who just started a new job or have a job offer, consider your options as a new employee.
What if I can’t pay back my cash app advance?
If you can’t pay back your advance, your bank account will likely be overdrawn, leading to an overdraft fee. However, some apps, like Brigit, may let you change your due date if you foresee being unable to repay on time. You’ll want to stay on top of your bank balance to make sure you don’t end up paying overdraft fees on your cash app loan.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
Cash advance apps can’t help in every situation. If you have irregular paychecks or need to borrow higher amounts, you may want to look into these alternatives:
Ask your employer for an advance. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, your employer is a logical place to ask for help. If it’s a one-time situation, HR may be willing to help by advancing part of your paycheck.
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.
Compare alternative short-term lenders. While more expensive than a personal loan from a bank, providers like LendUp offer short-term loans at a lower cost than payday lenders, with a chance to build your credit.
Take out a personal loan. If you’re willing to borrow at least $500, check out Monevo to choose the best offer from several lenders that meet your needs.
Take out a credit card cash advance. If you have enough credit available, you can consider getting cash from an ATM in an emergency. Cash advance rates run high, so have a plan to pay it off sooner than later. Consider a card like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card that offers a lower than average cash advance rate.
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 for lower rates.
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) apps. 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.
Need cash right away?
A handful of cash advance apps can get you funds within minutes or 24 hours or allow for instant cash pickup at storefront locations. But not all cash advance apps have an instant turnaround time — it may take up to three business days unless you pay an instant transfer fee. And keep in mind that “instant loans” usually come as a paycheck advance, which means they may only be available to users with a history of regular direct deposits. For example, it may require direct deposits from the same source for 60 days before you’re eligible for advances.
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Advertiser disclosure
Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
