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Loans Like Kashable

If you’re looking for a fast, affordable loan option but don’t qualify for allotment loans like Kashable, consider these other options.

Kashable provides allotment loans to federal employees and some private workers through employers it partners with. Allotment loans — which deduct repayments directly from paychecks — are meant to benefit employees and act as a safety net, offering fast turnaround times and much better interest rates and terms than payday loans or other quick loan options.

Kashable allotment loans start at only 6% interest and never exceed 36%. It works with borrowers with poor credit and never charges prepayment penalties. Flexible loan amounts start at $250 for general employees and $500 to $20,000 for federal employees, and generous loan terms can last anywhere from six months to two years.

But if your employer doesn’t work with Kashable, you might wonder if similar loans are available. Check out these top options for loans like Kashable.

Our 6 top picks for loans like Kashable

  • Alternative for gig workers: Cleo
  • Alternative for cash advance with no monthly fee: EarnIn
  • Alternative most like Kashable: BMG Money
  • Alternative for larger personal loans: Lightstream
  • Alternative for bad credit personal loans: Upstart
  • Alternative for no credit check: Access Loans

Alternative for gig workers

Cleo

4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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Self-employed or gig workers don't have access to allotment loans like Kashable, and they may also have a hard time getting personal loans without a predictable income stream. Cleo solves that problem by offering interest-free cash advances up to $250. There are no credit checks or interest charges, and while most other cash apps have a direct deposit requirement, Cleo does not. Instant transfer fees are $3.99, and you'll need a $5.99 monthly subscription, but if you ever have trouble making ends meet between paychecks, Cleo might be a good solution.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Fast cash advances up to $250
  • No direct deposit requirement
  • Includes budgeting and savings tools
Cons
  • Small loan amounts
  • Short loan terms
  • Requires a monthly subscription fee
Loan amountUp to $250
Loan TermNext deposit
Turnaround time3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.

Alternative for cash advances with no monthly fee

EarnIn

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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EarnIn stands out among other cash advance apps because it doesn't charge any interest or a monthly fee. Plus, it offers higher advances than most apps, with up to $750 between pay periods, which is more than the minimum Kashable loan of $500 that does charge interest. On the other hand, you can only request $150 a day, and you'll need to verify the hours you've worked.

  • Not available in: Connecticut
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.
Pros
  • Advances up to $750
  • No monthly subscription fees
  • No interest or mandatory tipping
Cons
  • Can only get $150 a day
  • Short loan term
  • Must verify hours worked
Loan amountUp to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
Loan Term1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer

Alternative most like Kashable

BMG Money

If your employer doesn't have a relationship with Kashable, maybe it works with BMG Money instead — another lender that offers allotment loans to federal and private employees. It also offers loan amounts from $500 to $12,000 for private workers or $10,000 for federal employees. BMG Money doesn't have as competitive interest rates as Kashable, with rates starting at 19.99%. However, it offers longer repayment, with terms of up to four years for private employees or three years for federal employees.

  • Not available in: Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Pros
  • Longer loan terms than Kashable
  • No minimum credit score requirement
  • Loans as soon as the same business day
Cons
  • Must work for a company that partners with BMG Money
  • Higher minimum interest rate than Kashable
  • Other lending options may be cheaper
Loan amount$500 to $12,000
APR19.99% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit scoreNo minimum credit score required
Turnaround TimeReceive funds 1 to 2 business days after approval
Maximum Loan Term4 years
Minimum Loan Term0.5 years

Alternative for larger personal loans

LightStream personal loans

4.8 / 5 ★★★★★

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If you need to borrow more than Kashable allows and have good to excellent credit, consider personal loans by Lightstream, which range from $5,000 to $100,000. Lightstream also has lower maximum interest rates than Kashable, starting at 7.49% (slightly higher than Kashable) but capped at 25.99%. It also offers a 0.50% discount on rates if you set up autopay, but you must sign up before funding.

  • Not available in: Iowa, West Virginia
*Payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 5.95% APR with a term of 3 years would result in 36 monthly payments of $303.99.

Truist Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2020 Truist Financial Corporation. SunTrust, Truist, LightStream, the LightStream logo, and the SunTrust logo are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Lending services provided by Truist Bank.
Pros
  • Lower maximum interest rates than Kashable
  • Larger loan amounts
  • Rate discounts for autopay
Cons
  • Must have good to excellent credit
  • Smallest loan amount is $5,000
  • Must sign up for autopay before funding to get discount
Loan amount$5,000 to $100,000
APR6.94% to 25.29%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit scoreGood to excellent credit
Turnaround TimeAs soon as same day
Maximum Loan Term20 years
Minimum Loan Term2 years

Alternative for bad credit personal loans

Upstart personal loans

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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If you don't have access to allotment loans like Kashable, and your credit isn't the greatest, consider Upstart. It accepts borrowers with poor credit scores and doesn't charge an arm and a leg in fees like payday loans. Upstart interest rates are pretty close to Kashable loans, with a range between 7.4% and 35.99%. And Upstart has larger loan amounts, from $1,000 to $50,000, but you may have to pay an origination fee of up to 12%.

  • Not available in: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia
Pros
  • Higher loan amounts than Kashable
  • Comparable interest rates
  • Accepts bad credit borrowers
Cons
  • May charge origination fees up to 12%
  • Loan terms are only 3 or 5 years
  • In some states, minimum loan amounts are up to $7,000
Loan amount$1,000 to $50,000
APR7.40% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit score300
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the same day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

Alternative for no credit check

Access Loans

Access Loans is another company that provides allotment loans like Kashable to employees. But unlike Kashable, it doesn't conduct credit checks, so there's no hit on your credit score just for applying. Maximum loan amounts are a lot smaller than Kashable, topping out at $6,000, but it also caps rates at 35.99%. Access Loan also allows borrowers to repay the loan through payroll or direct debit from their account.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • No credit check required
  • Max interest rate caps at $6,000
  • Option to repay via direct debit
Cons
  • Smaller maximum loan amount than Kashable
  • May report late payments to credit bureaus
  • Minimum interest rate higher than Kashable
Loan amount$850 to $6,000
APRUp to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. credit scoreNone
Turnaround TimeAs soon as same day
Maximum Loan Term0.67 years
Minimum Loan Term3 years

How does Kashable compare?

Allotment loans like Kashable can be a great benefit for employees who need access to fast, affordable loans. Interest rates start at just 6% — although those are typically reserved for borrowers with great credit — but they never go over 36%. The lower rates make loans like Kashable a far better option than payday loans. Kashable also offers more reasonable loan terms, from six to 24 months, giving borrowers more time to repay.

But loans like Kashable are not available to all workers. If your employer doesn’t have a partnership with Kashable, allotment loans aren’t an option, so look elsewhere to find a loan with reasonable rates and terms. Fortunately, a few lenders have rates, terms and turnaround times that are comparable to Kashable. Or, for smaller loan amounts, a cash advance app may provide the right solution.

Pros

  • Loans from $500 to $20,000 for federal employees
  • Interest rates as low as 6%
  • Accepts poor credit borrowers
  • No prepayment penalties

Cons

  • Only available through some employers
  • Interest rates could be as high as 36%
  • May not be ideal for smaller loan amounts
  • Loan cannot be used for educational expenses
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Megan B. Shepherd as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Writer

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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