Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Loans The 6 Best Cash Advance Apps for Borrowing Money Instantly Updated Oct 28, 2024 12-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 Eric Kirste, CFP® Reviewed by Eric Kirste, CFP® Expertise: Debt management, tax planning, college planning, retirement planning, insurance planning, estate planning, investment planning, budgeting, comprehensive financial planning Eric Kirste CFP®, CIMA®, AIF®, is a founding principal wealth manager for Savvy Wealth. Eric brings 22 years of wealth management experience working with clients, families, and their businesses, and serving in different leadership capacities. Learn more about Eric Kirste, CFP® Sometimes, you just need a little extra cash to get you through until your next payday. That’s where cash advance apps like Dave and Earnin come in. These apps let you borrow money to cover unexpected expenses and repay it from your next paycheck. In this guide, we’re focusing on cash advance apps that provide money instantly because we know how important speed is when you’re in a tight spot. We’ll walk you through the best options available so you can find one that meets your needs without breaking the bank. AppRatings*EarnIn4.7/5 (284K)Empower4.8/5 (193K)Brigit4.8/5 (308K)Current4.8/5 (157K)MoneyLion4.7/5 (134K)Dave4.8/5 (690K)*Ratings from the Apple Store in August 2024. 6 cash advance apps to borrow money until payday The apps below allow you to borrow money from your next paycheck instantly. Here’s a breakdown showing how they compare regarding funding amounts, speed, and fees. EarnIn Best overall Get Cash Why it’s one of the best EarnIn is a fintech company that offers the largest cash advance on our list. You can borrow up to $750 each pay period. However, the maximum amount you can borrow fluctuates based on various factors, such as your spending behavior, repayment history, and paycheck amount. Up to $750 per pay period No interest or membership fees Standard cash advances don’t have any fees 24/7 mobile support Doesn’t affect your credit score Don’t have to have full-time employment to qualify Capped at $100 per day Not compatible with PayPal Cost to borrow money with EarnIn’s cash advance app Funding$100/day and up to $750/pay periodSpeed of advance1 – 3 business daysFees$1.99 – $4.99 for instant cash advances If you wait one to three days for the cash advance, you won’t pay additional costs. If you choose to get instant funds, you’ll pay a one-time fee of $1.99 to $4.99. The annual percentage rate (APR) for an advance of $100 with the smallest fee would be 51.98%, while the highest fee would have a 130.14% APR. Which banking apps are compatible with EarnIn? EarnIn is compatible with Chime and Varo. Users of both banking apps can link to the EarnIn app to access the cash advance feature. EarnIn tracks your hours worked through your bank account and then allows you to withdraw money you’ve earned before your paycheck arrives. EarnIn is not directly compatible with PayPal. Empower Best all-in-one finance tool Get Cash Why it’s one of the best Empower cash advances come with no late fees and interest. You’ll gain access to other tools, such as credit monitoring and an automatic savings tool that helps you stockpile cash to build self-sufficiency and reduce your dependency on future advances. The standard funding time takes a day. No late fees No credit check Offers a free trial Doesn’t charge interest Risk of overdrafts Monthly subscription fee Not compatible with Chime, PayPal, or Varo Cost to borrow money with Empower’s cash advance app Funding$10 – $300Speed of advance15 minutes – 5 daysFees$8/month for subscription; $1 – $8 for instant transfer If you wait for the cash advance to process outside an instant delivery cycle, you will not pay a fee during the 14-day free trial. After the first 14 days, an $8 monthly membership fee applies. If you elect to get an instant $100 cash advance, Empower will charge a fee of $1 to $8. The APR with the smallest fee would be 26.07%, and the highest would be 208.56% APR. Which banking apps are compatible with Empower? Empower is not compatible with Chime, Varo, or Paypal. You will need to connect it with a traditional bank account to receive a cash advance and access its other features. Brigit Best repayment date flexibility Get Cash Why it’s one of the best Brigit is an app that can help you manage your finances with various budgeting tools and financial wellness tips. You get access to those features for free but must pay a monthly membership fee for cash advances up to $250 and to access its credit monitoring and credit-builder loans. Repay your advance with your next paycheck or select a new date Access other personal finance tools to manage your budget Doesn’t charge any late fees Select your repayment date Signing up doesn’t affect your credit score Requires a $9.99 monthly subscription Not compatible with PayPal Cost to borrow money with Brigit’s cash advance app FundingUp to $250Speed of advance1 – 3 business daysFees$9.99 monthly subscription, $0.99 for instant advances Brigit requires a paid subscription before you can request a cash advance. A standard $100 advance would include a $9.99 subscription as the only added cost, resulting in an APR of 260.60%. An instant advance would cost an additional $0.99 and increase your APR to 286.45%. Which banking apps are compatible with Brigit? Brigit is compatible with Chime and Varo but not with Paypal, as it requires a connection to a bank account to access cash advances and other financial tools. Current Best for multiple advances Get Cash Why it’s one of the best Current is a financial technology company offering a cash advance of up to $500. If you get the funds within three business days instead of right away, you can avoid fees and interest charges. Current also lets you advance as much as you qualify for as often as needed. Qualify without a credit check User-friendly app Doesn’t disclose fees on website Limited financial tools Not compatible with Chime, PayPal, or Varo Cost to borrow money with Current’s cash advance app Funding$50 – $500Speed of advance1 – 3 business daysFeesCharges a fee for instant transfer, but amount is not disclosed on website We couldn’t calculate Current’s overall cost because fees are unavailable on its website. However, our research suggests that its costs should be similar to those of other companies we’ve listed. Which banking apps are compatible with Current? Current is a mobile banking platform that provides its own banking services. It is not compatible with similar platforms such as Varo or Chime. You can transfer funds between Current and PayPal, but you cannot use PayPal to access Current’s cash advance service. MoneyLion Best mobile app Get Cash Why it’s one of the best MoneyLion‘s cash advance product is called Instacash. It allows customers with qualifying recurring direct deposits to take a cash advance of up to $500 in minutes with a fee or one to five business days for no fee. If you become a RoarMoneySM customer and set up your qualifying recurring direct deposits to your account, you can increase your cash advance limit to $1,000. MoneyLion offers other options to temporarily boost your limit through actions within its app or with peer support. Instant cash advances up to $500 No interest or mandatory fees No credit check for approval Charges a fee for instant advances Not compatible with PayPal Cost to borrow money with MoneyLion’s cash advance app FundingUp to $500 (up to $1,000 with RoarMoney)Speed of advanceInstant with a fee; 1 – 5 business days for freeFees$1.99 – $8.99 for instant advances MoneyLion doesn’t charge fees for standard delivery of one to five business days. If you choose the optional Turbo delivery to get funds within minutes, you’ll pay a one-time fee of $1.99 to $8.99, depending on your disbursement amount and account. Which banking apps are compatible with MoneyLion? MoneyLion is compatible with Chime and Varo. Chime and Varo users can link their bank accounts to MoneyLion’s cash advance app to access the Instacash feature, allowing them to borrow against their upcoming paycheck. MoneyLion is not compatible with PayPal, as it requires a connection to a bank account to provide cash advances and monitor transactions. Dave Best for improving credit scores Get Cash Why it’s one of the best You can borrow up to $500 through the Dave app. To qualify, you must open an ExtraCash™ account and pay a $1 monthly subscription fee. Depending on your loan amount, instant transfers cost up to $13.99. Dave could be a solid solution for customers who want to build a positive credit history because it reports payments to the three major credit agencies. High maximum limit of $500 Reports repayment to the three major credit bureaus An ExtraCash™ account and a $1 monthly subscription fee are required Not compatible with PayPal Cost to borrow money with Dave’s cash advance app FundingUp to $500Speed of advance2 – 3 days; Instant (with fee)Fees$1 monthly membership; $1.99 – $13.99 instant funding A membership is required for a cash advance, so you’ll pay at least $1 per month. You can get a standard advance in two to three business days with no added fees. If you choose instant funds, Dave charges a one-time fee of $1.99 to $13.99. The APR for an advance of $100 with the smallest fee would be 51.98%, and the highest fee would be 364.60% APR. Which banking apps are compatible with Dave? Dave is compatible with Chime and Varo. You can link your Chime or Varo bank account to the Dave app to use its cash advance and budgeting features. Dave and PayPal are not compatible, as Dave requires a direct connection to a bank account. How do cash advance apps let you borrow money before payday? You typically download a cash advance app from the Google Play or Apple Store and connect your checking account. Most cash advance apps require the account you link to have recurring direct deposits. Tip If your top priority is compatibility with Chime, see our list of Chime-compatible cash advance apps. Afterward, you can request to borrow a lump sum from your next paycheck for a short period in exchange for a fee. When your next paycheck arrives, the company withdraws the money from your linked bank account. While we most strongly recommend the cash advance apps in this guide, you can find our reviews of other cash advance apps in the list below: Albert Chime FloatMe Gerald Payactiv Rain SoLo Varo Pros and cons of borrowing money from your future self with cash advance apps Before you use a cash advance app, it’s important to weigh the pros against the cons. Pros Fast access to cash Cash advance apps can provide immediate access to funds. Though some charge a fee for expedited funding, it can be beneficial if you need money for an emergency expense. No credit check Many cash advance apps don’t require a credit check for approval, meaning your credit score won’t be affected. Convenience You can apply from anywhere worldwide as long as you have an internet connection. Cons Fees Fees add up, especially if you use apps often to borrow money. Not a long-term solution Using cash advance apps too much can lead to a cycle of debt. Short repayment terms Cash advance apps provide less flexible repayment terms than other financial products, such as personal loans. When considering a cash advance app such as those we’ve mentioned or others like Cleo, it’s also important to evaluate why you’re in the situation in the first place to avoid it in the future. Read More How earned wage access works Ask the expert Eric Kirste CFP® Having frequent cash draws from your next paycheck implies a bigger need to do cash flow funding. Are you spending too much? Are there ways to manage spending? Or, are there other concerns or items that need to be addressed in your overall cash flow? Alternatives to cash advance apps to borrow money If you don’t think borrowing from your next paycheck is the right move for you, consider the following alternatives: Personal loan 0% APR credit card Loan from family or friends Personal loan A personal loan from a bank, credit union, or online lender may be a better option if you need to borrow a large amount and spread payments over a longer time frame. Loan amounts vary by lender but may range from $1,000 to $200,000. Tip For a more comprehensive look at your alternatives, consider viewing our ultimate cash advance guide. 0% APR credit card If you have a good credit score, you might qualify for a card with a 0% APR offer that allows you to avoid interest during a specific period. But remember that once the promotion ends, the card’s standard rate will kick in, and you must pay interest on any remaining balance. Family and friends loan Though asking a family member or friend to borrow money can be difficult, they may be willing to give you more favorable terms than a traditional lender or cash advance app. If you find someone willing to lend you money, repay it as promised to avoid a possible rift in your relationship. Read More Borrow $50 instantly with cash advance apps & lending apps to receive money instantly without a job Ask the expert Eric Kirste CFP® Cash advance apps may be easy, but they are an expensive source of short-term funding. It would be more cost-effective to work with a bank. Or if you’re borrowing a smaller amount, looking into a 0% credit card option. Review any options with alternatives based on cost and the length of time you need the funds. FAQ Is a cash advance the same as a payday loan? Cash advance apps are not payday loans; the same laws don’t regulate them. However, similar to payday loans, some apps charge high fees, which may translate into sky-high APRs. Tip Operate cash advances safely by looking at these ten cash advance scams to avoid. Is a direct deposit required for cash advance apps? Some cash advance apps, including Bridget and MoneyLion, require direct deposits, but others don’t. How secure are cash advance apps? Reputable cash advance apps generally have security measures to protect your personal and banking information. For example, when you connect your bank account to MoneyLion, the transaction is handled by Plaid, a fintech company that uses encryption tools to secure digital transactions. What happens if you can’t repay on time? Cash advance apps may automatically withdraw money from your bank account when payment is due. Your bank may charge you an overdraft fee if you don’t have enough cash in your account to repay the loan amount. Read More Can you use a credit card to withdraw money from an ATM without charges? Do cash advance apps affect your credit score? It depends on the cash advance app. EarnIn doesn’t require a credit check and doesn’t report payments to the three major credit agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. However, Dave reports payments: on-time payments can help build your score, while missed payments can hurt it. Recap of the best cash advance apps AppRatings*EarnIn4.7/5 (284K)Empower4.8/5 (193K)Brigit4.8/5 (308K)Current4.8/5 (157K)MoneyLion4.7/5 (134K)Dave4.8/5 (690K)*Ratings from the Apple Store in August 2024. 1 Subject to your available earnings, Daily Max and Pay Period Max. EarnIn services may not be available in all states. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, for more information please visit http://EarnIn.com/TOS. 2EarnIn does not charge membership fees for use of its services and/or interest on Cash Outs. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply. For more info visit http://EarnIn.com/TOS 3Fees and restrictions apply to use Lightning Speed. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times. Transfer may take up to thirty minutes, actual transfer speeds will depend on your bank. Some of our services require payment of the Lightning Speed fee upfront, see Cash Out User Agreement for details. Subject to your available earnings, Daily Max and Pay Period Max. EarnIn services may not be available in all states. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, for more information please visit http://EarnIn.com/TOS