Dave ExtraCash Review: Cash Advances Up to $500
- Max. Amount
- $500
- Turnaround time
- Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Our verdict
Budget-friendly loans with no credit check, but express fees and tips may cost more than expected.
Dave’s ExtraCash feature can help you get by until your next payday when you’re running low on funds. With a low monthly membership fee and no interest, Dave cash advances are an affordable option — just watch out for optional tips and express fees. And with an FTC complaint alleging Dave doesn’t live up to its advertising, users may want to proceed with caution.
Best for: Small loans to cover budget shortfalls, but beware of tips and express fees.
Pros
-
No credit check required
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No interest and tips are optional
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Membership fee is low
Cons
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Limited advance amount of $500 maximum
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Express delivery fees of $1.99 to $13.99
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Repayment due quickly, typically on your next payday
Is Dave legit?
Yes, Dave is a legitimate banking app that offers cash advances with no credit checks or interest. Dave protects users through industry-standard encryption, FDIC insurance and 24/7 fraud monitoring. However, a couple of legal issues with the app raise questions about its reliability.
In July 2020, Dave had data stolen on 7.5 million users, including full names, birth dates, phone numbers, emails, home addresses, passwords and Social Security numbers. In November 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against Dave, accusing it of misleading advertising, hidden fees and unclear practices around optional tips and cash advances.
While Dave is legitimate, these issues suggest users should weigh the app’s pros and cons and review terms carefully before signing up or taking out a cash advance.
What makes Dave shine?
Dave stands out for its cash advances up to $500 with no interest or additional fees required. You need to sign up for a membership, but Dave charges far less per month than other cash advance apps that work on a similar model. There’s no interest charged on cash advances, and you can give a tip that’s deducted when your advance is repaid, but it’s optional. However, complaints suggest the company may make it difficult to turn off the tip function.
Dave offers extra features in addition to cash advances, including budgeting tools, automatic savings, spending alerts and side hustle opportunities. The app also offers an option to build credit by reporting rent payments through its partnership with LevelCredit.
Where Dave falls short
The biggest place Dave falls short is living up to its advertising. The company claims that users can borrow $500 instantly, but advance amounts are based on banking activity and few users qualify for the full amount. Plus, you’ll need to pay an additional fee if you want access to cash quickly — up to $13.99, depending on the size of your advance. Without the fee, you’ll have to wait up to three business days for funding to arrive.
There are also allegations that the app adds tips even when users haven’t authorized them. In fact, the FTC lodged a complaint against Dave over many of these issues. Additional drawbacks include a short repayment window, low advance amounts and difficulty canceling membership.
Dave app details
| Product Name | Dave ExtraCash |
| Max. Amount | $500 |
| Loan Term | Varies (usually repaid on your next payday) |
| Turnaround Time | Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee |
| Costs | Monthly membership fee Optional tips on advances |
| Requirements | Be 18 years of age or older Be a US resident Have a social security number Link an external bank account Have at least two direct deposit paychecks to your bank account from your employer Have extra money in your bank account |
Dave contact information
| Phone number | 844-857-3283 |
| Customer service hours | Weekdays: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PT Weekends: 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT |
| support@dave.com | |
| Live chat | Monday to Saturday: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT |
| X, formerly Twitter | @DaveBanking |
| @TheDaveApp |
How to qualify for Dave cash advance
While Dave doesn’t check your credit score, there are a few basic requirements that you need to meet, including:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a US resident
- Have a Social Security number
- Have an active US bank account
- Have at least 60 days of banking history
- Show proof of consistent income
- Have a bank balance above zero
How to apply
If you’d like to apply for a cash advance through Dave, simply follow the steps below:
- Download the Dave app and sign up. Install the app from the App Store or Google Play, create an account and provide the required personal information.
- Link your bank account. Enter your banking information, then connect your bank account to the Dave app.
- Open an ExtraCash account and check eligibility. Within the app, open an ExtraCash account. Dave will determine your eligibility and available advance amount.
- Request and receive funds. Choose the size of your cash advance and a transfer method to receive the funds. You can get them instantly for a fee or within one to three business days at no extra cost.
How Dave compares to other lenders
What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
Dave reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A- |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.12 out of 5 stars, based on 409 customer reviews |
| BBB customer complaints | 1,384 customer complaints |
| App Store Score | 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 701 customer reviews |
| Google Play Score | 4.4 out of 5 stars, based on 535 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 11 November 2024 |
The vast majority of ratings on Google Play and the App Store are either four or five stars. Customers praise the app, saying it has helped them manage their finances and improve their credit scores. There are some complaints mixed in, primarily focused on low cash advance amounts, extra fees charged on cash advances and difficulty canceling their membership.
Reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) paint an entirely different picture. While there are some complimentary comments, most BBB reviews are negative. Customers routinely complain about Dave debiting more than what was owed and continuing to charge membership fees after cancellation. Additional complaints include issues connecting Dave to their bank, not receiving money and poor customer service.
At the top of Dave’s BBB page, there’s also a warning alerting customers that the FTC has taken action against Dave for “allegedly using misleading marketing to deceive consumers about the amount of its cash advances, charging consumers undisclosed fees and charging so-called ‘tips’ to consumers without their consent.” This alert highlights how some of Dave’s marketing claims might not match what users actually experience.
What do people on Reddit say?
There are a couple of posts complaining about the changing cash advance amounts offered by Dave. In response, commenters explained that the amount Dave is willing to lend depends on your banking history. Many agree that optional tips should be avoided, with one commenter pointing out that asking for tips to “feed the hungry” seems ironic since cash advances are often used by people in financial need.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Dave charge for an instant cash advance?
Dave charges users an express funding fee between $1.99 and $13.99. This amount is based on how much you borrow and is debited from your bank account when you repay the advance. If you can wait a few days for your funds, cash advances through Dave are free.
Can I really borrow $500 from Dave with no credit check?
It’s true that Dave offers cash advances with no credit check required, but the amount you can borrow is based on your banking activity. If you have a low balance and limited income, it’s unlikely you’ll qualify for the full $500 amount, especially if this is your first time borrowing from Dave.
How do I stop Dave from taking money from my bank account?
To stop Dave from charging your bank account, cancel your membership through the app or by contacting their customer service department. Simply deleting the app from your phone won’t work. If Dave continues to charge for your membership after you’ve canceled it, ask your bank to revoke authorization for Dave and stop payment on any future transactions.
Your reviews
Christi Finder
Contributor
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nikkiangco
March 11, 2020
Hi Barbaraa,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are well. As it says on the information above:
Yes, you can cancel your Dave membership. You’ll have to do more than just delete the app from your phone. To deactivate your profile, follow these steps:
Open the Dave app and click the icon in the bottom right corner.
Click Account.
Scroll down and click Dave membership.
Click Cancel Dave Membership.
Select the reason why you want to cancel and click Delete.
If you want to reactivate your account, there will be a two-month cool-off period before you can get another advance.
Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki
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Nunya
July 02, 2019
I have been trying for 5 days to update my debit card number, it’s the same bank. I keep reading to click on account/profile and edit the card there.. THERE IS NO INFO THERE!!! When I click on the account button there is only a picture of me that’s it!! This is frustrating and the customer service sucks I’ve sent multiple emails
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fayemanuel Finder
July 03, 2019
Hello Nunya,
Thank you for contacting Finder.
If you’re updating your card information, here are the steps to update your debit card:
– From your Dave Profile, click on your current debit card
– Click the debit card again
– Click I got a new debit card
If you want to change your bank account.
– Go to the profile section of the app
– Look at your Account Information
– Click on your bank under “Connected Account & Debit Card”
– There, you’ll see an option to “Change” bank
– Select your new bank and enter your new login information
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Faye
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Connie
June 29, 2019
Haven’t receive my advance is 5days. How do I cancel so I won’t get charge on payday for money I didn’t receive
Bella Finder
June 30, 2019
Hi Connie,
Thanks for your inquiry.
To cancel and deactivate your profile, follow these steps:
1. Open the Dave app and click the icon in the bottom right corner.
Click Account.
2. Scroll down and click Dave membership.
3. Click Cancel Dave Membership.
4. Select the reason why you want to cancel and click Delete.
5. If you want to reactivate your account, there will be a two-month cool-off period before you can get another advance
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
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Nicole
May 26, 2019
I was able to get an advance and I paid it back on my payday. Then went back to apply for another advance, and they said I have less than 60 days of transaction history.
Jhez Finder
May 26, 2019
Hello Nicole,
Thank you for your comment.
Dave needs to have 60 days of transactional history in the checking account that you’re requesting the advance to be deposited into, when requesting an advance.
If you’re seeing this message, it likely means that your bank has not sent Dave 60 days of transactional history or your bank account is less than 60 days old.
They will have to wait until your bank sends them information.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
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Kaitlyn
May 01, 2019
I typed in my last name wrong and did not realize it before I verified it. How do I change it?
Jhez Finder
May 01, 2019
Hello Kaitlyn,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’re updating the last name entered for the card information, here are the steps to change your bank:
– Go to the profile section of the app
– Look at your Account Information
– Click on your bank under “Connected Account & Debit Card”
– There, you’ll see an option to “Change” bank
– Select your new bank and enter your new login information
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
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Barbara
March 11, 2020
How can I cancel my membership for this?