Cash Advance Apps That Work With Your Favorite Banking Apps: Cash App, Varo, Chime, and More

When you need money before payday, cash advance apps can help you access part of your paycheck early. Many connect smoothly with mobile banks like Chime, Varo, and GO2bank, while others don’t work well with peer-to-peer payment apps like Cash App or Venmo.

This guide explains which apps are compatible with popular banking platforms—and why starting with your bank’s own cash advance feature is usually the easiest and most reliable option.

Mobile banking app	Compatible cash advance apps
	EarnIn (for some users), Tilt, Dave, Chime, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	EarnIn, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Klover
	EarnIn, Brigit, MoneyLion,
	EarnIn, Albert, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion
	EarnIn, Albert, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion
	None
	EarnIn, MoneyLion, Albert, Possible
	Current
	Current
	Payactiv (earned wage access app)
	DailyPay (earned wage access app)
	On-demand pay available via Paylocity

Table of Contents

1. Cash advance apps that work with your mobile banking app
   1. Chime
   2. Varo
   3. GO2bank
   4. Netspend
   5. SoFi
   6. Discover
   7. Wells Fargo
   8. Capital One
   9. Why cash advance apps don’t work with Credit Karma
2. Cash advance apps compatible with Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal
3. Connecting cash advance apps with payroll systems
4. Finding the best fit for your bank

Cash advance apps that work with your mobile banking app

Many cash advance apps claim to work with “thousands of banks,” and that’s mostly true. When you sign up, you’ll link your account through a secure portal, often powered by Plaid, a service that safely connects your bank to financial apps.

If your bank appears in the dropdown list, that means it’s supported. Once linked, the app can verify your direct deposits and repayment history to determine your advance amount.

It’s also worth checking whether your mobile bank already offers a built-in cash advance feature. Some popular options—like MoneyLion’s RoarMoney, Chime, Varo, and Current—let you access money early directly through their apps. These can be simpler and faster than setting up a third-party app.

If your bank doesn’t have its own advance program, you can still connect it to most third-party cash advance apps. Here are some common mobile banks and the cash advance apps they typically work with:

If you bank at Chime

Most cash advance apps, including Dave, Albert, and MoneyLion, are compatible with Chime. While Chime isn’t technically a bank, it provides key banking services like checking and savings accounts, as well as a credit builder card.

Historically, EarnIn hasn’t worked well with Chime, but according to EarnIn’s help center, the company is testing Chime compatibility with a limited number of users.

If you already bank with Chime, you may not need a separate cash advance app at all. Chime offers two features that let you access money before payday:

• SpotMe lets you overdraft your account up to $200 without fees.
• MyPay gives you access to up to $500 of your paycheck early.

Both are free for Chime members who set up a qualifying direct deposit. For many users, that makes Chime’s built-in options easier and faster than using a third-party cash advance app.

If you bank at Varo

Like Chime, Varo offers a full suite of digital banking tools, but with a key difference—it actually operates under a national banking charter, making it a true bank.

Varo works smoothly with popular cash advance apps such as Current, Klover, and MoneyLion, though EarnIn remains an exception.

Varo also provides its own cash advance feature directly in the app. Eligible users can access up to $500 before payday, though fees increase with the amount borrowed. Because this feature is built into your Varo account, it’s often more convenient than setting up a separate app connection.

How GO2bank works with cash advance apps

GO2bank is another online bank that connects easily with many cash advance apps, including Dave, Albert, Brigit, and MoneyLion. As with Varo, EarnIn doesn’t support GO2bank at this time.

While GO2bank doesn’t have its own cash advance feature, it does allow eligible users to overdraft up to $300. You’ll need to repay the overdraft quickly, since fees can apply if it isn’t paid back within 24 hours.

If you prefer to avoid overdraft fees, pairing GO2bank with a third-party app like Brigit or MoneyLion can give you a more structured and predictable way to get cash before payday.

Cash advance apps that support Netspend

Netspend operates a little differently from traditional banks—it offers prepaid debit cards instead of checking accounts. Still, since you can set up direct deposit to your Netspend card, some cash advance apps recognize it as an eligible account.

Apps like Dave, Albert, and MoneyLion. may work if you have regular direct deposits going to your Netspend card. However, the functionality can vary depending on your employer and how your paycheck is processed.

Because Netspend isn’t a full-service bank, connecting to a third-party app can sometimes cause delays or errors, so always confirm compatibility when you sign up.

Cash advances for SoFi customers

SoFi offers early direct deposit for customers who set up eligible direct deposits, giving access to funds up to two days early. For larger or recurring advances, apps like EarnIn, Dave, Brigit, and MoneyLion generally link smoothly and can supplement SoFi’s built-in early pay feature.

Cash advance apps that work with Discover

Discover checking accounts support standard direct deposits and link easily with cash advance apps like EarnIn, Brigit, and MoneyLion. Because Discover doesn’t offer a built-in paycheck advance, using one of these apps can be a good way to access funds between paydays.

If you bank at Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo now includes an Early Pay Day feature that can make direct deposits available up to two days early. If you need more flexibility or higher limits, apps like EarnIn, Albert, and MoneyLion often work well with Wells Fargo accounts.

If you bank at Capital One

Capital One’s Early Paycheck feature gives customers access to pay up to two days in advance. For additional short-term borrowing, compatible apps like EarnIn, Dave, Brigit, and MoneyLion can help fill gaps between paydays.

Why cash advance apps don’t work with Credit Karma

Although Credit Karma Money includes a “Spend” account that functions much like a checking account, it’s not supported by major cash advance apps at this time.

If you use Credit Karma primarily to monitor your credit or manage your finances, you may want to open a linked account with a more widely recognized bank or neobank. Doing so will make it easier to qualify for and receive advances from apps like Dave, Brigit, and MoneyLion.

Cash advance apps compatible with Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal

If you mainly use peer-to-peer (P2P) apps like Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal as your primary way to send, spend, and receive money, you may run into compatibility issues with most cash advance apps. These platforms aren’t full-service banks—they’re built for transferring money, not holding deposits or verifying income.

Most cash advance apps require a linked checking account that supports direct deposits so they can confirm your paycheck history. Since P2P apps don’t qualify as banks, you’ll usually need to link a debit card or external bank account before a cash advance app can verify your income or send funds.

One solution is to use a neobank like Current, which functions as a full-service digital bank. You can get your paycheck directly deposited into your Current account, access a cash advance, and then transfer the funds to your preferred payment app—whether that’s Cash App, Venmo, or PayPal—by linking your Current debit card.

Apps compatible with Cash App

Cash App isn’t a full-service bank, but some cash advance apps can still connect through your Cash App debit card. This setup lets you receive and repay advances directly through your Cash App balance, even if your paycheck isn’t deposited there.

Based on our research, the following cash advance apps work with Cash App when linked via debit card:

For a full breakdown of which cash advance apps may work with Cash App, check out our detailed guide: Cash Advance Apps That Work With Cash App.

Cash App also offers its own short-term loan option with no credit check, Cash App Borrow. However, eligibility is inconsistent and can be unclear.

Connecting cash advance apps with payroll systems

Some of the largest payroll providers now offer earned wage access directly through employers. That means you might not need a separate cash advance app at all. If your company uses one of these systems, you can typically access part of your paycheck early through the payroll app your employer provides.

Rather than downloading a third-party cash advance app, you’ll use the program connected to your company’s payroll provider. Here’s how it works with a few of the most common systems:

• ADP: If your employer uses ADP Workforce Now and includes earned wage access as a benefit, you can use PayActiv to access up to 50% of your paycheck early. You can load the funds onto a PayActiv Visa card or have them direct deposited to another account for a small fee.
• Workday: Many employers that use Workday partner with DailyPay. The DailyPay app lets employees transfer earned wages to a prepaid card or linked bank account before payday.
• Paylocity: Employers using Paylocity can enable on-demand pay for their teams. Eligible employees can request access to earned wages through the Paylocity mobile app, often receiving funds the same day.

If your company offers earned wage access through one of these payroll platforms, it’s usually faster, cheaper, and more reliable than going through a third-party cash advance app.

Finding the best fit for your bank

Whether you bank with Chime, Varo, or a traditional bank, most cash advance apps make it easy to see if your account is compatible when linking through Plaid. If your bank already offers its own cash advance feature, like Chime’s SpotMe or Varo Advance, that’s usually the simplest way to go.

For everyone else, the right third-party app can still help you get money before payday. Check out our full guide to compare top options: Best Cash Advance Apps to Borrow Money Instantly.

Mobile banking app	Compatible cash advance apps
	EarnIn (for some users), Tilt, Dave, Chime, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	Tilt, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Albert, Current, Klover
	EarnIn, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion, Klover
	EarnIn, Brigit, MoneyLion,
	EarnIn, Albert, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion
	EarnIn, Albert, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion
	None
	EarnIn, MoneyLion, Albert, Possible
	Current
	Current
	Payactiv (earned wage access app)
	DailyPay (earned wage access app)
	On-demand pay available via Paylocity