Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Loans Apps Like Empower Updated Jul 30, 2024 5-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Jerry Brown, CFEI® Written by Jerry Brown, CFEI® Expertise: Credit, debt management, personal loans, student loans Jerry Brown is a freelance personal finance writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ (CFEI®) who lives in New Orleans. He covers a range of personal finance topics, including credit, personal loans, and student loans. Learn more about Jerry Brown, CFEI® Reviewed by Crystal Rau, CFP® Reviewed by Crystal Rau, CFP® Expertise: Equity compensation, oil & gas investments, education planning, investment planning, student loan planning, retirement Crystal Rau, CFP®, CRPC®, AAMS®, is a certified financial planner based out of Midland, Texas. She is the founder of Beyond Balanced Financial Planning, a fee-only registered investment advisor that helps young professionals and families balance living their ideal lives and being good stewards of their finances. Learn more about Crystal Rau, CFP® Empower is a fintech company that offers various financial products, including cash advances and lines of credit. If you need to access cash before your next payday, you can receive a cash advance of up to $300. However, before using this app, it’s wise to compare multiple options to see which offers the best fit based on maximum loan amounts and fees. After reviewing many popular platforms, our editorial team has compiled a list of apps like Empower to help you find the product that best fits your borrowing needs. AppMax. fundingBest forEarnIn$750Best cash advance flexibilityBrigit$250Best for choosing your repayment dateMoneyLion$500Best mobile appCurrent$500Best for multiple advances in a single pay period Best apps like Empower Some fintech companies have higher maximum cash advance amounts and lower instant transfer fees. As a result, they might be a better fit for you, depending on your unique borrowing needs. In addition to loan amounts, you should also compare fees when shopping around. To help, we’ve included what fees alternative platforms charge. EarnIn Get Cash Why it’s one of the best EarnIn allows you to access up to $750 per pay period, providing great cash advance flexibility. Founded in 2014, EarnIn does not charge mandatory fees or interest, making it stand out among traditional competitors. Users can borrow up to $100 a day or $750 per pay period after connecting their bank account and verifying employment. What’s the overall cost? EarnIn has no mandatory fees but charges $1.99 to $4.99 for instant cash advances. Brigit Get Cash Why it’s one of the best Brigit offers cash advances up to $250 and lets you choose your repayment date. Founded in 2019, Brigit aims to help Americans build a brighter financial future by offering budgeting tools, credit monitoring, and credit builder loans. Brigit automatically sends cash advances to prevent overdrafts and provides access to other personal finance tools to manage budgets. What’s the overall cost? Brigit requires a $9.99 monthly subscription and charges $0.99 for instant advances. MoneyLion Get Cash Why it’s one of the best MoneyLion provides up to $500 and is known for its excellent mobile app experience. Founded in 2013, MoneyLion aims to help those without access to traditional banking by providing low-cost financial services without credit checks. It offers a range of services including credit cards, personal loans, and investment accounts, in addition to cash advances. What’s the overall cost? MoneyLion charges a fee of $1.99 to $8.99 for instant cash advances, with free standard delivery taking 1 to 5 business days. Current Get Cash Why it’s one of the best Current allows for multiple advances in a single pay period, with a maximum funding of $500. What’s the overall cost? Current charges a monthly fee of $4.99 for premium account features. Why you might consider other cash advance loans like Empower Although getting a cash advance from Empower can provide fast access to cash, one major drawback is that its maximum amount is lower than other apps. As a result, if you need to borrow more than $300 until your next payday, you’ll need to consider alternatives. For example, Current, EarnIn, and Moneylion offer higher loan amounts. Plus, you may want to explore other options to compare instant transfer fees. While Empower charges up to $8 for instant transfers up to $299, EarnIn’s instant transfer fees maxed out at $4.99. Another drawback of getting a cash advance from Empower is the $8 monthly membership fee. Some apps, like EarnIn, don’t have monthly membership fees, so consider that when comparing costs. Ask the expert Crystal Rau CFP® Cash advance apps require access to personal information such as your bank account, employer, and address, which can put you at risk for identity theft or fraud. Always make sure you’re using a reputable service. Customer ratings of apps similar to Empower Here’s a table that highlights how similar apps’ customer ratings in the Apple Store compare to Empower. AppRating*Empower4.8/5 (out of 214.9K reviews)EarnIn4.7/5 (out of 282.6K reviews)Brigit4.8/5 (out of 302.8K reviews)MoneyLion4.7/5 (out of 131.3K reviews)Current4.8/5 (out of 154.7K reviews)*Ratings from the Apple Store in July 2024. How to choose the best app like Empower When shopping around for cash advance apps like Empower, consider borrowing costs like fees for instant transfers, maximum loan amounts, eligibility requirements, and features. Choosing a platform with the lowest instant transfer fee could help you secure the best deal. That said, you’ll also want to pay attention to whether an app charges a monthly membership fee, which can increase your total borrowing costs. Rather than using cash advance apps, I recommend getting to the root of the issue as to why you’re having to rely on cash advance apps. Crystal Rau CFP® FAQ Are other apps like Empower free to use? Many apps offer free versions but may include fees for premium features or instant funding. It’s important to check the specific fee structures of each app to understand any potential costs fully. Where can I find more apps like Empower? Check financial blogs, app stores, and comparison websites. Also check out our article on other apps that let you borrow money instantly. Can sites like Empower ensure the security of my financial information? Reputable cash advance apps use encryption and other security measures to protect your personal and financial information. Always check the app’s privacy policy and user reviews to ensure your data is secure. Recap of the best companies like Empower AppMax. fundingBest forEarnIn$750Best cash advance flexibilityBrigit$250Best for choosing your repayment dateMoneyLion$500Best mobile appCurrent$500Best for multiple advances in a single pay period