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8 companies like Check Into Cash

Find a lender, or cash advance app, that offers fast small-dollar loans like Check Into Cash for way cheaper.

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By

Kat Aoki

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Anna Serio

Updated

Check Into Cash is a bad credit lender that offers payday loans from $50 to $1,500 and installment loans as high as $5,000. It can get you a loan as soon as the same day if you apply at a location — or within 1 to 2 business days if you apply online. But with limited state availability and fees equivalent to up to 650% APRs in some states, another short-term lender — or cash advance app — could be a better choice. Compare companies that are similar to Check Into Cash below.

LenderLoan amountFeesSpeed
CleoUp to $250$5.993 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
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EarnInUp to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per dayFree1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
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Albert$25 to $250$14.99Instant
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Brigit$50 to $250$8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
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OppLoans$500 to $4,000N/AAs soon as the same business day
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Cash App$20 to $200N/ASame day
Read review
MoneyLionUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney accountFree (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account)Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
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PossibleUp to $500FreeAs fast as 1 business day
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Our 8 top loans like Check Into Cash

Alternative for frequent advances

Cleo

4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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Where its competitors make you wait three to five days between advances, Cleo allows you to request a new advance only one day after paying off your previous advance. The easiest way to request a $20 to $250 advance is through the app, which requires a $5.99 monthly membership fee, but you can request an advance through Cleo customer service for free.

Cleo also offers financial management tools with your monthly subscription and a credit building service for a $14.99 subscription that includes a secured credit card with reporting to all three credit bureaus.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • New advance available 24 hours after payoff
  • One-time due date extension
  • Budgeting and saving tools through app
  • Build credit with Credit Builder subscription
Cons
  • $5.99 to $14.99 monthly subscription fee
  • Non-subscribers must contact customer service to apply for cash advances
  • $3.99 express fee for same-day funding
Loan amountUp to $250
Loan TermNext deposit
Turnaround time3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.

Alternative for larger cash advances

EarnIn

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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EarnIn is a cash advance app that doesn't charge interest or membership fees and offers higher advances than most cash advance apps. With EarnIn, borrowers can get advances up to $750 per pay period which is actually more than you can borrow from companies like Check Into Cash in most states. Plus, EarnIn is available in all states except Connecticut. However, you can only borrow up to $150 a day, and not all users are eligible for the highest advances.

  • Not available in: Connecticut
Pros
  • Bigger loans than Check Into Credit in most states
  • No membership required
  • No interest or late fees
Cons
  • Can only request up to $150 a day
  • Not all users eligible for highest advances
  • Must earn at least $320 per pay period
Loan amountUp to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per day
Loan Term1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee

Alternative for financial advice

Albert

4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Albert is a banking app with a range of features, including checking, savings and investment accounts. It also offers overdraft protection up to $250, and its Genius service offers AI-powered, human-backed financial and investment advice for a membership fee of $14.99 per month.

To access the overdraft feature, you need to sign up for a free 30-day trial of Genius. But with no phone support, users have reported it's tricky to cancel the service. This makes Albert best for users who want the Genius banking features along with the overdraft service.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Banking and investment features
  • Overdraft protection up to $250
  • Track spending across all your accounts
Cons
  • Requires Genius subscription for overdraft protection
  • Subscription is $14.99 a month
  • Mixed customer reviews
Loan amount$25 to $250
Loan TermWithin 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for flexible repayments

Brigit

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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Brigit is a cash advance app that offers advances up to $250. You'll have to pay a subscription fee between $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee a month, but it offers other features such as budgeting tools and (optional) automatic overdraft protection if your bank account is running low. Plus, where most apps make you repay the advance from your next check, Brigit is more flexible, allowing you to extend repayment up to three times.

Because its monthly fee is a bit pricey compared to some apps, Brigit is best for people who regularly need to borrow between paychecks and want Brigit's other benefits, which include a credit builder program and $1 million in identity theft protection. Since it's not a payday loan, it's available in all 50 states.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Allows no-fee repayment extensions
  • Has credit building and budgeting tools
  • Less expensive than a payday loan
Cons
  • Monthly membership fee
  • Not ideal for one-time loans
  • Requires direct deposit
Loan amount$50 to $250
Loan TermUntil your next payday, but can extend
Turnaround time2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.

Alternative for installment loans

OppLoans Installment Loans

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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OppLoans is an online installment loan provider that offers relatively low rates and terms compared to other bad credit installment loan providers like Check Into Cash. And unlike Check Into Cash, it reports repayments to credit bureaus to help you build your credit. But its APRs are still high and can reach up to 179%.

With OppLoans, you must meet the minimum monthly income requirement to qualify, which varies from state to state. And because it doesn't offer loans under $500, OppLoans is best for people who need a larger loan than what's available through a cash advance app and need a longer timeframe to pay it back.

  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Lower rates than Check Into Cash
  • Can improve or build credit
  • Option to change due date online
Cons
  • Monthly income requirement varies by state
  • Minimum loan amount is $500
  • Higher fees than cash advance apps
Loan amount$500 - $4,000
APR160% - 179% APR
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term9 to 18 months
Turnaround timeAs soon as the same business day.

Alternative for gig workers

Cash App

Cash App Borrow is a pilot feature of Cash App currently available only to select users. If you're chosen, you can access cash advances up to $200 — but for a 5% finance fee. While eligibility requirements aren't totally clear, Cash App states you need to use its app frequently and have a Cash Card. It also charges a 1.25% finance charge if you make a late payment.

It appears that having regular direct deposits from an employer may not be required to get access to the Borrow feature. This could make it useful for gig workers who get paid in cash. But you need to activate and use a Cash App card to increase your chances of getting access to Borrow.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • May not need direct deposits to qualify
  • Not necessarily dependent on employment
  • Users report good customer service
Cons
  • Only available in select states
  • Charges 5% interest plus 1.25% late fee
  • Must open a Cash Card
Loan amount$20 to $200
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeSame day

Alternative for free cash advances

MoneyLion Instacash advances

4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

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MoneyLion is a banking and cash advance app that offers no-fee, interest-free cash advances up to $500 per pay period. This feature is called Instacash, and the amount you can borrow depends on your direct deposit activity, either from an employer or government benefits — but it could take up to eight weeks to unlock your full amount.

MoneyLion also offers an investment account and a credit building program for Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month. By opening a RoarMoney account or signing up for the paid credit builder program, you can potentially increase your advance amount up to $1,000 per pay period. But some users have complained about app glitches, expensive instant transfers and repeated requests for tips.

  • 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 paid membership required for advances
  • Offers a banking and investment account
  • Can increase the advance amount
Cons
  • A pattern of customer complaints
  • Users complain of high instant transfers fees
  • Must sign up for extra services to get higher advances
Loan amountUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account
Loan TermDue by your next pay date
Turnaround timeUp to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99

Alternative for a credit boost

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

Possible Finance is an online installment loan lender that offers loans up to $500, which you can pay back in up to eight weeks which is longer than most payday loans or cash advance apps.And, unlike most short-term lenders, Possible Finance reports your payments to two of the three credit bureaus, Experian and TransUnion, which can help boost your credit score.

But APRs run high, reaching up to 460% — making Possible Finance more expensive than using a cash advance app, though less expensive than Check Into Cash (depending on the state). And some users report drops in their credit scores when taking out more than one loan a year. But using Possible Finance for a one-time, emergency loan could help boost your credit score as you make timely repayments on your loan.

  • 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
  • Can pay back in up to 8 weeks
  • Positive reviews on Google Play
  • Some users report significant credit jumps
Cons
  • Costs vary by state
  • APRs run high compared to cash advance apps
  • Not available in all states
Loan amount$50 - $500
APR150% to 460%
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround timeAs fast as 1 business day

How does Check Into Cash compare?

Our full review of Check Into Cash breaks down how this payday lender works. But here are the main highlights.

Pros

  • Loans as low as $50
  • Online and in-store options
  • Money can be used for any purpose

Cons

  • High APRs that can top 650% in some states
  • Most states don’t offer max payday loan of $1,500
  • Late fee of $25 to $30
  • Not available in all states

See how other top providers compare to different lenders by checking out A-to-Z directory. Or, visit our guide to $50 loans for more small-dollar lenders.

Holly Jennings's headshot
Anna Serio's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings and reviewed by Anna Serio, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
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Written by

Writer

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

Kat's expertise
Kat has written 187 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Mortgages
  • Home equity loans
  • Mortgage refinancing
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