Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Compare sites like LendUp

LendUp is now a connection service that helps you find cash advance, installment, and bad credit loans — but you have comparable options.

LendUp restructured in July 2022, becoming a connection service to connect borrowers with lenders that offer the following short-term financing:

  • Bad-credit loans
  • Credit cards
  • Emergency loans
  • Installment loans
  • Payday loans
  • Same-day loans

The service gives you 24/7 access through its app and can have your loan funded either same-day or within a single business day. It also claims to work with poor credit borrowers. But the service is only offered in 29 states, and as LendUp isn’t an actual lender, potential fees and details of your loan offers aren’t transparent on its website until after you’ve applied and been approved.

While LendUp’s structure has changed, it might be useful to compare other cash advance apps to what LendUp can offer, so you can decide which is best for you.

Our top 6 picks like LendUp

Alternative for frequent advances

Cleo

4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site

Cleo enforces a 24-hour cooling-off period between loans, allowing you a new advance only one day after paying off your previous advance. This is way faster than other cash advance apps that make you wait three to five days between advances. Cleo also lets you reschedule your payment due date once, if your finances change.

On the downside, you can only request a cash advance through the app if you're subscribed, which costs $5.99 per month. But you can request an advance through Cleo customer service for free. The app charges $3.99 to fund the advance same-day.

  • 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 investment advice

Albert

4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site

Albert is a banking app that offers free pay advances up to $250 with a two- or three-day turnaround. But if you want your funds same-day, it will set you back $6. But what makes Albert different is its Genius feature. Genius is an AI-driven, human-supported service that can answer your financial questions and help you build an investment portfolio with just a few details.

Be aware that Albert requires you to sign up for a 30-day free trial of Genius, which costs $14.99 to $16 a month if you don't cancel during the free trial — and some users report having difficulty canceling their subscription. This makes Albert best for people who want its built-in Genius service as part of their cash advance app experience.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Investment and financial advice
  • Advances don't require a paid subscription
  • No late fees or inactivity fees
Cons
  • Automatically enrolled in a free trial of Genius
  • Instant transfer fees aren't advertised
  • No phone number
Loan amount$25 to $250
Loan TermWithin 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for repayment flexibility

Brigit

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site

Brigit is a cash advance offering up to $250 per pay period. Brigit is one of the few apps that let you extend your due date if you need extra time to repay. To get an extension, you'll need to have two previous consecutive on-time payments — and you can store up to three extensions at a time for later use.

To get cash advances, you must sign up for Brigit's paid subscription, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee a month. While pricier than some other apps, this fee includes Brigit's credit builder program, overdraft protection and $1 million in identity theft protection.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Payment extensions
  • Credit builder program
  • Overdraft protection
Cons
  • $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly membership fee
  • Instant transfers cost extra
  • Some users complain subscription hard to cancel
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 if you’re a gig worker

Cash App

Cash App Borrow is a feature inside of Cash App that's available to select users. It's still in pilot mode, which means not everyone will see this option inside the app interface. But if you're chosen to use it, you can potentially borrow up to $200 — but you'll pay a 5% finance fee on the amount borrowed.

Eligibility requirements for Cash App Borrow aren't clear, but some report getting access to it after uploading cash to Cash App and sending payments. Some say they can access the feature without having direct deposits or a job. So, if you get paid in cash only, Cash App Borrow could work better for you than other cash advance apps that require proof of direct deposits to qualify.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Works as part of Cash App
  • Credit check not required
  • Direct deposits may not be required
Cons
  • Doesn't disclose finance charges
  • Limited to $200 per advance
  • Eligibility requirements are unclear
Loan amount$20 to $200
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeSame day

Alternative for no-fee cash advances

MoneyLion Instacash advances

4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site

MoneyLion is a no-fee banking and cash advance app that offers free cash advances up to $500. Unlike some other cash advance apps, MoneyLion doesn't charge a monthly subscription to get advances with a 24- to 48-hour turnaround. But getting an instant transfer costs between $1.99 and $8.99, depending on the amount advanced.

MoneyLion's other features include a banking account called RoarMoney, an investment account and a crypto trading feature. If you open a MoneyLion account and do direct deposits, you can potentially increase the advance amount to $1,000 per pay period. Many users appear to like the app, but some have complained about billing errors and poor customer support.

  • 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
  • Monthly subscription not required
  • Potential for $1,000 cash advances
  • Auto-investing feature
Cons
  • Regular turnaround is 24 to 48 hours
  • Instant transfers cost extra
  • Mixed customer reviews
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 building your credit

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

Possible Finance is an online lender that offers quick-turnaround, short-term installment loans up to $500. It's geared towards bad credit borrowers and doesn't require a credit check. But APRs can hit 460% APR, making it best for emergency borrowing only when you need a little extra time to repay.

Unlike cash advance apps, which take repayment from your next paycheck, Possible Finance offers repayment terms up to eight weeks. Like LendUp promised to do but didn't, Possible Finance reports your payments to two of the three major credit bureaus, which could help boost your credit. But taking out too many loans in a short time could lower your score.

  • 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
  • Credit check not required
  • Longer repayment terms than a cash advance app
  • May help boost your credit
Cons
  • APRs can reach up to 460%
  • Many negative customer reviews
  • Won't save you money over a cash app
Loan amount$50 - $500
APR150% to 460%
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround timeAs fast as 1 business day

What happened to LendUp?

LendUp stopped offering loans in January 2022 due to a lawsuit filed against it by the CFPB, which ended its misleading lending practices. The most recent lawsuit from August 2021 revolved around LendUp violating a 2016 consent order to stop misleading consumers with false claims about the benefits of repeated borrowing. There have also been lawsuits against LendUp in the past.

In December 2020, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against LendUp, accusing it of violating the Military Lending Act (MLA) by charging active-duty service members and their dependents APRs over the legal limit of 36%. It also states that LendUp allegedly included an arbitration clause in its contracts — which is against the MLA — and failed to make required disclosures.

Luckily, LendUp has been able to shift its focus under new management. Here’s a quick recap of the alternatives:

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.
Kat Aoki's headshot
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
More resources on Finder

More guides on Finder

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site