12 Best Cash Advance Apps to Cover You Until Payday (2023)

Cash advance apps can save you a lot of trouble should you find yourself out of money before your next paycheck arrives.

By getting a cash advance on your paycheck, you can avoid having to pay fees from missed payments when your bank balance is too low.

When it comes to choosing a cash advance app, there are many options to choose from. Each app tends to shine in one particular area. This might present the best deal for you.

What this means is that before choosing an app, take the time to understand what your requirements are and what you need the most to make sure you get the best deal and service possible.

12 Best Cash Advance Apps

Here are the best cash advance apps you can use today:

1. 🏆 Albert
2. Chime
3. Empower
4. Earnin
5. Dave
6. MoneyLion
7. Brigit
8. Possible
9. Vola
10. Varo
11. PayActiv
12. Kora

1. Albert

🏆 Best Comprehensive App

Albert’s cash advances are par for the course. Account holders get up to $250 with no interest, late fees, or credit checks. You can access your funds in 2-3 days with a free transfer, or pay a small fee to get paid instantly.

Repayments are automated, but if you ever can’t pay your full payment on time, there isn’t a late fee.

Albert is a great pick if you’re looking for more than just cash advances. The user-friendly platform also has a cash account that offers your paycheck 2 days early. Additionally, Albert has saving and investing accounts, plus a premium Genius account that costs $6 a month.

While you don’t have to keep the Genius account to unlock cash advances, you may be required to sign up for a 30-day free trial when you open an Instance cashback account.

2. Chime

🏆 Best Overdraft Protection

Chime is a little different than the other cash advance platforms on the list. Rather than floating funds into your account at your request, it comes with a built-in feature called SpotMe.

SpotMe is an overdraft protection plan that automatically spots you up to $200 on withdrawals and debit card purchases without any overdraft fees. Chime automatically applies your next deposit to the balance and notifies you when it’s paid.

You can also send boosts to friends who have accounts, which can increase their overdraft limit. And you can leave a tip to pay it forward when you repay your balance. Other than that optional tip, there are no fees associated with SpotMe.

To be eligible for SpotMe, you need to sign up for a Chime checking account and receive a deposit(s) of at least $200 over the last 34 days.

3. Empower

🏆 Best Cash Account

Empower offers cash advances of up to $250, with no late fees. Like MoneyLion, Empower is geared towards helping clients improve their credit, with no credit checks required for approval.

Empower instantly delivers your funds and doesn’t charge interest if you repay your advance on your next paycheck date.

You can choose to have your funds deposited in your external bank account or open an Empower debit card account. The card account has some convenient features, like overdraft fee protection, early pay, and cashback of up to 10% on purchases.

Empower also has a Thrive account launching soon, that starts accountholders off with a $200 line of credit they can build up to $1,000 as they improve their credit.

4. Earnin

🏆 Best for Saving on Fees

Earnin app lets you access up to $500 of your paycheck per pay period through their Cash Out feature. Plus, you can get access to your full paycheck up to days sooner than your scheduled payday.

There are no fees or interest rates on the advance, but you can add a small tip to keep the app alive and make sure it is still around the next time you need an advance.

5. Dave

🏆 Best for Small Loan Amounts

Dave offers a feature called, ExtraCash, that allows you to get up to $500 instantly with no interest, credit checks, or late fees.

This can make it a viable option if your credit score is low, and you’re having some difficulties meeting your financial commitments before your paycheck comes through.

It can take up to 3 business days to receive the funds. If this seems too long, you can choose the Express payment option, but this comes at a fee depending on the amount you need instantly. The fee can range from $0.99 – $6.99 if transferred to your Dave account, or $2.99 – $11.99 if transferred to an external checking account.

Using the express option, you can get your cash advance the very same day. Do make sure that the fee is lower than any penalties incurred for any late payments for which you’re borrowing the money.

6. MoneyLion

🏆 Best to Help Improve Your Credit Score

With MoneyLion, you can get cash advances of as much as $250. They also offer a quick turnaround, getting the money to you as quickly as the same day.

MoneyLion does not run any credit checks, but there are some criteria you need to meet to be eligible. While there is no APR on cash advances, there is a monlthy administrative fee that needs to be paid every month. This costs $1.00.

The app promises early paychecks, no hidden fees, and debit card rewards, among other features. You also get price protection where you’ll get a refund of up to $250 if you find a lower price for something you bought within 90 days.

7. Brigit

🏆 Best for Keeping Tabs on Your Money

Brigit offers payday advances up to $250 per pay period. There are two membership plans to choose from; Free and Plus.

Free: The Free plan is free but misses out on some of the features that are exclusively available to Plus members.

Plus: The Plus plan will include quick cash, build your credit, get $1M ID theft insurance, and a few others. A Plus membership will set you back $9.99 per month.

All advances offered by Brigit are interest-free. There are no hidden fees, and Brigit does not ask for a tip.

Depending on the plan you’re on, funds should reach your account on the same day or up to 2 business days. There are a few eligibility criteria you need to meet, but a credit check is not one of them.

8. Possible

🏆 Best for Fash Cash Advances

Technically speaking, Possible offers payday loans, which is how they promote the advances they offer on their website. These loans tend to be different than personal loans with usually much higher APRs (Annual Percentage Rates).

You can borrow as much as $500 with the repayment made over 4 installments. Possible states that you can have the money within minutes.

There are no membership fees to pay, and the company will report your repayments to three credit bureaus. This can help you build up your credit score if it has suffered in the past and is holding you back from achieving financial freedom.

They do have a few new features noted on their site that are coming soon, the Possible Card, a credit card “meant to help you, not hurt you” and Possible Cash, a cash advance feature that builds to a credit card with no interest or late fees.

9. Vola

🏆 Best for Irregular Work Hours

Vola offers cash advances of up to $300. In most cases, you should be able to receive the money within 5 business hours.

You don’t have to have a regular direct deposit to qualify, unlike most apps. As long as there’s regular activity and you have an average balance of at least $150, you should be eligible for a cash advance.

It is worth mentioning from the outset that there is an applicable membership fee to use any of the services Vola offers. Available plans start at $4.99 per month. For the money you pay, you get a few features to help you manage your finances better.

Getting an advance through the Vola app is super easy and can be completed in 3 simple steps.

The app also features a proprietary algorithm that breaks down your spending habits in such a way that it allows you to be smarter with your money.

The app also comes with something called a Vola Score. The score, which can range from 0 to 100, grows to offer you lower subscription fees and bigger advances.

10. Varo

🏆 Best for Early Paycheck Acess

Varo offers a $100 cash advance to customers. You’ll pay a fee that’s anywhere from $0-$5, depending on the size of your advance.

To qualify, you need to have at least $1,000 of direct deposits in the last month and have an active Varo debit card linked to your account.

While this offer is less competitive than some of the competitors in this roundup, it’s a nice feature for Varo accountholders.

Varo also offers early access to your wages, giving you access to your paycheck 2 days early.

There are no monthly fees, and Varo promises no hidden fees when using any of the services that come with a Varo account.

11. PayActiv

🏆 Best Employer Offered Cash Advance Option

Unlike the other apps listed here, PayActiv is a facility offered by employers to their employees. Unlike some of the other apps reviewed, this app refers to cash advance as EWA, which stands for Earned Wage Access.

You can borrow up to 50% of the wage you have earned in the pay period you make the request. There is a $500 borrowing maximum, which cannot be exceeded.

You can expect to be charged a fee for every EWA given, which ranges between $0 and $5. The actual fee will depend on the program your employer is subscribed to.

While the app is beneficial to employees, employers also see a number of benefits, including less turnover and greater employee satisfaction.

12. Kora

🏆 Best for College Students

Kora is an innovative new app created to help college students boost their financial health. It offers a rewards VISA card, car loan for students, personalized money tools, and a substantial line of credit for young people with limited credit histories.

College students and recent grads can access up to a $3,000 line of credit. There are no annual fees or minimum balances requirements on Kora’s accounts,

The process of requesting funds in the app is easy. You put in the amount you’re requesting and enter your preferred repayment timeline. Kora will give you a breakdown of the interest rate and repayment terms, which you can adjust. Then you link a bank account for the deposit and get paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cash advance app?

Cash advance apps are used as an advance on your wage that can help you get through a tough spot should you find yourself short of cash before your paycheck.

Which is the best cash advance app to use?

Different apps do this differently, so there is no one best app for everyone. The best app is the one that best addresses your financial needs and requirements, which is why we have prepared this guide to the best cash advance apps for you.

Are cash advance apps available on Android smartphones?

Most apps are available on both Android and iOS devices, but checking device compatibility is always worth your time. You can check this from Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store, depending on your device. This can be especially true if you have an older device that is no longer supported by newer apps since it can limit which apps you can install and use.

Do you get charged interest with cash advance apps?

Generally speaking, cash advance apps do not charge interest rates, but this is not always the case. Some apps charge a membership fee, while others might ask for a tip to help keep the app up and running. Having said this, some apps do charge interest, which means you need to take the time to understand what you will have to pay back come next payday.

When is it ok to use a cash advance app?

Cash Advance apps can be used when you do not quite make it till your next due paycheck. Generally speaking, most of these apps do not charge interest on the advances, but it is always wise to check. Some apps do charge fees, including late fees, which are important to take note of so that you can plan your next budget accordingly.

Is A Cash Advance App Best For You?

Getting a cash advance can save you from a lot of trouble and fees if you don’t have an emergency fund to tap into.

Most apps require some advance planning, but once you’re all set up, you can receive your cash relatively quickly, with some of the apps reviewed offering instant cash turnaround.

You don’t need good credit to apply for a cash advance using some of these apps, which is a relief if your credit is poor.

An advance on your paycheck can be a great short-term solution for quick cash, but it is equally important to plan for the long term. Short-term loans tend to have higher interest rates, which means that you need to use them wisely.

You should only ever apply for these quick short-term loans if you know you’ll have money to pay back quickly. Otherwise, you could find yourself in trouble.

A few of these loan apps offer planning and saving tools – making use of these can help you make sure you start planning your personal finances better for a brighter future.