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Are you tired of over-drafting your checking account? Do you need access to a short-term loan to tide you over until payday? That’s exactly what cash advances are for. Read on to learn about the 10 best cash advance apps that can put money in your pocket quickly.
Top 10 Cash Advance Apps
Fortunately, there areapps that let you borrow money, making it easier for you to get urgent cash instantly. Not only is the processing quick, but the fees are lower than traditional payday loans, or high-cost loans you must pay back on payday.
Here are the top 10 apps for cash advances:
- EarnIn – Best for Earnings-Based Borrowing – GBR Score: 4.6
- Chime – Best for Overdraft – GBR Score: 4.5
- Brigit – Best for Same-Day Loans – GBR Score: 4.1
- MoneyLion – Best for Lending Options – GBR Score: 4.3
- Current – Best for Checking and Spending – GBR Score: 4.5
- Dave – Best for Highest Cash Advance – GBR Score: 4.0
- Empower – Best for Investing – GBR Score: 4.8
- Payactiv – Best for Short-Term Loans – GBR Score: 4.7
- Vola – Best for Same-Day Cash Advances Up To $300 – GBR Score:4.25
- Albert – Best for No Late Fees – GBR Score: 4.8
EarnIn – Best for Earnings-Based Borrowing – GBR Score: 4.6
EarnIn makes it possible to tap into money you earn when you earn it, rather than waiting on payday. Its app tracks the number of hours you have worked and allows you to access your money according to your earnings. Plus, the app has a notification feature that alerts you in case your bank balance is low.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $750 per week |
| Processing Time | 1-3 business days |
| Repayment Terms | Repay on payday |
| Fees | Free (tipping is up to you) |
Chime – Best for Overdraft – GBR Score: 4.5
Chime is an online bank with checking and savings account offerings. You can also take advantage of SpotMe1, a service that allows for overdraft. SpotMe is a service that protects you from fees associated with spending more than you have in your bank account.
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This service allows eligible members to overdraw up to $200 on debit card2 purchaseswithout incurring a fee. Chime also offers a secured credit card and a savings account.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $200 |
| Processing Time | Instant (simply overdraft your Chime checking) |
| Repayment Terms | 90 days |
| Fees | No fees |
Brigit – Best for Same-Day Loans – GBR Score: 4.1
Brigit gives you a way to easily access up to $250 the day you apply for it — provided your application is submitted before 10 a.m. EST. The app also makes it easy to track your spending and build your credit. To use the app’s cash advance function, you have to pay a monthly fee. Brigit also provides free access to financial experts who can help you structure your spending within your budget.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $250 |
| Processing Time | Seconds |
| Repayment Terms | Automatic withdrawal on payment due date |
| Fees | $9.99 monthly membership fee |
MoneyLion – Best for Lending Options – GBR Score: 4.3
MoneyLion is an online bank offering several financial solutions. Moreover, if you have direct deposit on your account, you’ll be able to access up to $1,000 in short-term loans and cash advances.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $1,000 |
| Processing Time | 1-3 days; Instant with a fee |
| Repayment Terms | Debit from your account on the agreed-upon payment due date |
| Fees | None |
Current – Best for Checking and Spending – GBR Score: 4.5
Current is an online banking solution that provides Overdrive. Overdrive is Current’s take on overdraft protection and allows you to instantly access up to $200.
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| Borrowing Amount | Up to $200 |
| Processing Time | Instant as an overdraft |
| Repayment Terms | Paid back with your next direct deposit |
| Fees | None |
Dave – Best for Highest Cash Advance – GBR Score: 4.0
Dave is a mobile banking solution that’s designed to help you with all areas of your finances. As part of its services, the platform offers cash advances up to $500.All new members also receive a Dave Spending Account, whichallows them toreceive the funds instantly for a small fee.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $500 |
| Processing Time | 1-3 days free or 5 minutes or less with a fee |
| Repayment Terms | Payment on the agreed-upon due date |
| Fees | $1 per month |
Empower – Best for Investing – GBR Score: 4.8
Empower is a wealth management and investing app previously known as Personal Capital. The app also comes with online banking features and the ability to tap into up to $250 instantly. Also, with an Empower Card, you can get up to 10% cash back on purchases at specific merchants and receive your paychecks two days early. The card also offers free transactions at 37,000 ATMs across the country.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $250 |
| Processing Time | 2-5 days free or immediately with an additional fee |
| Repayment Terms | Automatic debit on the day of scheduled repayment |
| Fees | $8 subscription fee |
Payactiv – Best for Short-Term Loans – GBR Score: 4.7
Payactiv is an employee payments platform that helps employers make money available to employees more quickly. If your employer doesn’t use it, you can sign up for it yourself and access up to 50% of your wages as you earn them.
Payactiv isn’t just a payments app. It also allows users to pay their bills and get discounts on certain department store purchases and prescription drugs. You can check the stores associated with Payactiv and redeem your discounts directly in the app.
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| Borrowing Amount | Up to 50% of earned wages |
| Processing Time | Instant |
| Repayment Terms | Repay on payday with direct deposit |
| Fees | None |
Vola – Best for Simple Cash Advances – GBR Score: 4.25
Vola offers a wide range of spending analytics for better money management. The company also makes it easy to access short-term loans. In fact, once you sign up, you can get your payday advance in just three taps. Vola also supports over 6,000 credit unions and banks.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $300 |
| Processing Time | Instant |
| Repayment Terms | Payment is due on the predetermined due date |
| Fees | None |
Albert – Best for No Late Fees – GBR Score: 4.8
Finally,Albert is an online bank that offers checking and savings accounts. You can also access up to $250 instantly when you need a cash advance.
| Borrowing Amount | Up to $250 |
| Processing Time | 2-3 days for free or instantly for a small fee |
| Repayment Terms | Auto debit on your next payday |
| Fees | None |
Final Take
If you need quick cash to get you to your next paycheck, don’t worry; there are plenty of ways to get it. Consider using one of the cash advance apps above to access the money you need.
Scott Jeffries, Cynthia Measom and Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of July 24, 2023.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
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*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
1Chime SpotMe is an optional service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
2Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.
