Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Can You Borrow Money From Cash App? How to Do It and Alternatives to Consider Updated Jul 18, 2025 9-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Catherine Collins Written by Catherine Collins Expertise: Budgeting, Mortgages, Credit, Debt, Personal loans, Small business, Entrepreneurship Learn more about Catherine Collins Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Reviewed by Erin Kinkade, CFP® Expertise: Insurance planning, education planning, retirement planning, investment planning, military benefits, behavioral finance Erin Kinkade, CFP®, ChFC®, works as a financial planner at AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust. Erin prepares comprehensive financial plans for military veterans and their families. Learn more about Erin Kinkade, CFP® There’s a feature on Cash App called Cash App Borrow that provides small, short-term loans to customers. Unfortunately, it’s not available to all users yet. Some users will see the word “Borrow” when they navigate to their balance tab, while others won’t. If you don’t have that option, it means that it’s not available in your area yet, or that you aren’t eligible at this time. Fortunately, you have many options available to you if you need to access money quickly. In this article, we’ll explain more about the Cash App Borrow feature and how to use it, and we’ll also share several alternative cash advance apps you can use if you need money now. Table of Contents Who can borrow money on Cash App? How much can you borrow? How to borrow money from Cash App Alternatives to a short-term Cash App loan EarnIn Dave Current Money Lion FAQs Who can borrow money on Cash App? Cash App Borrow is offered to select users through Block’s banking arm, Square Financial Services, which has FDIC approval to issue these loans. However, Cash App Borrow is still in a testing phase, so it’s not available to all users. Eligibility for borrowing typically depends on: Your state of residence Your Cash App activity (e.g., regular direct deposits) Your creditworthiness and account history Whether you’ve enabled Cash Card and have active usage As of now, Cash App has not made Borrow available to all users or in all states. If it is available to you, it will will appear as an option on your balance tab of the app and look something like this: Eligible Cash app Borrow states Cash App Borrow is currently available in the following states: Alabama California Georgia Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Michigan Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Ohio Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Wisconsin ⚠️ Note: Being in one of these states doesn’t automatically make you eligible. Cash App uses a combination of location and account behavior to determine access. If the feature is not available on your app, make sure your app is updated to the latest version, and check periodically for access. Note you also must be 18 to borrow from the Cash App. How much can you borrow? Cash App currently offers borrow amounts between $20 and $400 for most users, though limits may vary based on eligibility. This is a short-term loan, typically due back in four weeks, and comes with a flat 5% fee. For example: Borrow $100 → Repay $105 Borrow $200 → Repay $210 How to increase your Cash App Borrow limit To increase your borrow limit, Cash App recommends improving your eligibility through: Setting up direct deposit into your Cash App account Using your Cash Card frequently Maintaining a strong account history (no defaults or reversals) Staying active within the app There’s no manual request process—Cash App automatically evaluates your account behavior and adjusts your limit over time. How to repay your Cash App loan Repayment for Cash App Borrow is typically expected within four weeks, and Cash App gives users flexible options: Full repayment in one lump sum Weekly installments over four weeks “As you get cash” – Cash App automatically sets aside money from incoming funds until the balance is paid Your loan terms, including repayment due date and schedule options, will be displayed clearly before you confirm the loan. If you don’t repay on time, overdue interest may apply in addition to the flat fee. If you’re facing a financial emergency and don’t have an emergency fund, or it’s not enough to cover the need, using the Cash App’s borrow feature can be a reasonable short-term financing option. Just be sure to have a clear repayment plan in place, and try to avoid making it a habit. Erin Kinkade , CFP®, ChFC® How to borrow money from Cash App If you see the Borrow option in your app, here’s how to use it: Open the Cash App Tap the Borrow icon on the balance tab. On the Borrow page, review your loan limit and tap “Get Started” Choose or enter the amount you want to borrow Review the loan details, including loan amount, fee charged, funding method (typically instant into your Cash App balance), and repayment timeline. Choose a repayment option Enter your Social Security number, PIN, and legal name, address, and date of birth Confirm all loan details, including: Final loan amount Total repayment APR and due date Tap “Borrow Instantly” You’ll then receive an overview and ongoing notifications about your loan. Failure to repay on time could result in additional interest or fees beyond the initial 5%. Watch: How to use Cash App Borrow To see it in action, check out this quick walkthrough video: Alternatives to a short-term Cash App loan Ideally, it’s best to save up ahead of time in an emergency fund or borrow money if you need it from friends or family members you trust. However, in an emergency, a cash advance app is a solid alternative that can offer better features and more borrowing power than the $400 Cash App offers, if that’s even available to you. Several of these apps let you borrow up $500 and some up to $1,000, but you can also choose to borrow less. These apps can provide as little as $50 or $100 instantly if you need it. Most of them require linking a bank account. When deciding whether or not to take out a loan, even if it’s a small one, it’s always a good idea to compare the rates and fees of each product. That way, you can get the best overall value for your money. The chart below shows several features of four cash advance apps. Best Overall 4.9 Get Cash Max. Amount $750 Funding Time 1 – 3 days; instant Fees $1.99 – $4.99 fast funding fee Subscription No 4.9 Get Cash Cash Advances + Savings Features 4.7 Get Cash Max. Amount $500 Funding Time 1 – 3 days; instant Fees $3.00 – $25.00 Subscription Yes, $1 monthly 4.7 Get Cash Best for Building Eligibility 4.4 Get Cash Max. Amount $500 or $1,000 with a RoarMoney account Funding Time 1 – 5 days; instant Fees $0.49 – $8.99 Subscription No 4.4 Get Cash Access up to $750 of Paycheck Early 4.1 Get Cash Max. Amount $500 Funding Time 1 – 3 days; instant Fees Undisclosed Subscription No 4.1 Get Cash EarnIn Best Overall 4.9 /5 Get Cash Why it’s a good alternative EarnIn is our top pick for a cash advance app because it allows first-time users to get a $100 cash advance without any fees. This option can help many people who may need a short-term loan but don’t want to pay high fees or subscription costs to get it. If you need to borrow more, EarnIn allows qualified users to borrow up to $150 per day or $750 per pay period. If you’re not in a rush to withdraw cash, there’s no fee if you can wait a few days for the money to be deposited. If you need to have cash instantly, you’ll have to pay a fast funding fee, which can be up to $4.99. Dave Cash Advances + Savings Features 4.7 /5 Get Cash Why it’s a good alternative What we like about the Dave app is that it offers more services than cash advances. Dave lists several opportunities that people can use to earn money in the gig economy. Dave also offers a savings account that allows customers to name their savings goals. Because of these features, Dave helps its customers earn more money and save for their futures. Dave does have fees. For example, there is a $1 monthly subscription fee and an additional fee if you want to get money quickly. If you don’t mind waiting for a deposit, there is no fee, although you’ll still have to pay the subscription fee. MoneyLion Best for Building Eligibility 4.4 /5 Get Cash Why it’s a good alternative When you apply for a cash advance from MoneyLion, you don’t have to pay a monthly fee, and MoneyLion does not conduct a credit check. Like other apps, there is no fee if you choose standard delivery for your cash advance, but there is a fee if you want instant delivery. If you have a RoarMoney checking account with Money Lion, you can get up to $1,000, which is more than any other app on this list offers its customers. If you want to improve your finances, build your credit, or access other financial services, Money Lion offers many other products if you become a regular subscriber. Current Access up to $750 of Paycheck Early 4.1 /5 Get Cash Why it’s a good alternative If you have a paycheck and a bank account that shows regular deposits, you may be able to access up to $750 of your paycheck early using Current. Current is unique of the options on this list because it offers bonus features like a high-yield savings account and savings pods. There is a fee to access your money quickly, but Current doesn’t disclose it until you choose a quick withdrawal option. So, this option is only advisable if you want to use Current for its unique features, not if you value price transparency when it comes to fees. The Best Cash Advance Apps FAQs How do you unlock Borrow on Cash App? If you’re eligible, the Borrow feature will appear automatically in your app—there’s no application process or special trick to make it show up. Eligibility is tied to your account behavior, location, and other factors. If it’s not available, the best course is to continue using the app consistently and check back periodically. How soon can you borrow from Cash App after a payment? Once you’ve fully repaid a previous loan, you might be eligible to borrow again. The timeline varies by user—some regain access within a few days, while others may wait longer. Cash App looks at your repayment behavior and ongoing account activity to decide when (or if) to re-enable borrowing. Why can’t I borrow from Cash App? You might not see the Borrow feature for several reasons: your state may not be supported, your account might not meet internal requirements, or you haven’t used certain features like direct deposit or the Cash Card. Cash App also limits Borrow access as it continues to test and expand the feature, so availability isn’t guaranteed even if you’re otherwise qualified.