Instant Credit Builder Loans With Money Upfront: $500+ Options, No Credit Check

Credit builder loans can help with establishing or re-establishing credit history. Typically, instead of getting the money when you’re approved, the lender holds the loan funds in a secure account. You repay the loan in installments, with the lender reporting the payments to the credit bureaus.

Only once your loan amount is repaid in full does the lender turn over the loan proceeds to you. However, certain credit builder loans give you money upfront. If you’d like to build credit and get access to immediate cash, here are some of your best options.

Company	Product type	Upfront cash	Credit check?
MoneyLion	Credit builder loan	Yes	No
Chime	Secured card	Yes	No
Oportun	Personal loan	Yes	Soft/None
EarnIn	Cash advance	Yes	No
Varo	Secured card	Yes	No

Table of Contents

1. Credit builder loans with instant access to cash
2. Best instant credit builder loans
   1. MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus
   2. Chime Credit Builder
   3. Oportun
   4. EarnIn
   5. Varo Believe
3. $500 loan options
4. No-credit-check loans
5. Low-amount loans
6. Are credit builder loans worth it?
7. Are they a good idea?
8. Alternatives
9. FAQ

Credit builder loans with instant access to cash

Some credit builder loans give you instant access to cash upfront. These “instant access credit builder loans” are ideal if you need to build credit and get funds fast, sometimes as much as $500 or more, the same day.

Unlike traditional credit builder loans, which hold your funds until the end of the term, these options release money immediately or shortly after approval. Most also report your payments to the credit bureaus, helping you grow credit history.

You’ll find two types of products:

1. Loans (e.g., MoneyLion, Oportun): You repay in installments.
2. Cards (e.g., Chime, Varo): You spend against a balance you fund yourself.

Best instant credit builder loans with money upfront

MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus

3.7 _/5

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Why we picked it

MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus allows you to borrow up to $1,000 with no hard credit check. You can get some of the money upfront; the amount depends on your creditworthiness and MoneyLion’s underwriting standards. The lender will hold the remaining amount in a Credit Reserve Account. 

MoneyLion reports your account activity to all three credit bureaus. You’ll repay the loan in 12 monthly installments, with interest, and you can set up automatic payments so you never have to worry about missing a due date. Once you pay off your loan, MoneyLion turns over the rest of the funds in your Reserve account.

In addition to credit builder loans, you can take advantage of 0% APR cash advances. MoneyLion allows you to get up to $700 each pay period with Instacash Advances if you’re a Credit Builder Plus member. You’ll pay $19.99 per month for membership. 

• Build or rebuild credit with no hard credit check. 
• Monthly reporting to all three credit bureaus. 
• Get access to 0% APR cash advances.

Amount of cash upfront	Varies, based on creditworthiness
Loan amounts	Up to $1,000
Terms	12 months
Rates	5.99% – 29.99% APR
Fees	$19.99 monthly membership fee
Returned money	Funds remaining in your Credit Reserve Account

Chime Credit Builder

Best for a Credit-Building Card

5.0 _/5

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Why we picked it

Chime Credit Builder is a secured credit card, not a loan. Unlike other secured credit cards, no minimum security deposit is required. No annual fee or interest charges apply either.

To access Credit Builder, you must open a Chime Checking Account and set up $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits. No hard credit pull is required to apply, and there’s no set spending limit. You decide how much money to move from your Chime Checking Account to fund your secured credit limit each month. 

Chime reports payment activity to all three of the credit bureaus. Since there’s no set spending limit, you need have to worry about a high credit utilization ratio hurting your score. Credit utilization reflects the percentage of your credit limit you’re using at any given time. 

• No minimum security deposit, annual fee, or interest charges
• No hard credit pull and no set spending limit for flexible use
• Reports to all three credit bureaus without affecting credit utilization ratio

Amount of cash upfront	User-determined
Loan amounts	No set limit
Rates	None
Fees	None

Oportun

4.4 _/5

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Why we picked it

Oportun is a direct lender that offers loans of up to $10,000 to borrowers with poor credit. If you’re approved, Oportun will release the full loan amount to you with nothing in reserve. You can then use the money as you see fit. 

You’ll pay interest to borrow. Compared to several credit building cash advance options, rates are higher with Oportun. An origination fee also applies, which can add to your overall loan costs. 

Making on-time payments to your loan can help you to build credit history. You can take up to 46 months to repay your loan, depending on where you live. If you reside in California, you also have the option of using a vehicle you own to secure a larger loan of up to $18,500. 

• Borrow up to $10,000. 
• No prepayment penalties.
• Accepts borrowers with poor or no credit.

Amount of cash upfront	Up to $500
Loan amounts	$300 – $10,000
Terms	6 – 46 months
Rates	12% – 36% APR
Fees	Origination fee; late fee

EarnIn

Best Cash Advance

5.0 _/5

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Why we picked it

EarnIn is a personal finance app that makes it easy to spend, save, and borrow all in one place. With the Cash Out product, you can receive up to $150 maximum per day and $750 maximum per pay period within minutes. You won’t pay interest charges or undergo a credit check to apply.

Once approved for an advance, you can transfer the money to a linked external bank account. If you’d like to get your funds instantly, you’ll pay a small processing fee to make the transfer.

If you’d like faster access to your money, EarnIn offers the Lightning Speed option, starting at $2.99 per transfer.

You’ll pay back your advance at a future settlement date, typically your next payday. If you’re unable to settle your advance in full at that time, you won’t be charged a late fee.

• Up to $750 per pay period
• No interest, membership fees, or credit checks
• Funds available in minutes with Lightning Speed option (fee applies)

Amount of cash upfront	Up to $750
Terms	Settle on your next payday
Rates	None
Lightning Speed Fees	$1.99 – $4.99

Varo Believe

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Why we picked it

Varo Believe works similarly to Chime’s Credit Builder product: It’s a secured credit card rather than a loan. You can choose your credit limit; no minimum security deposit is required. Varo doesn’t check your credit for approval, either. 

You transfer cash to your Believe Account, which you can then spend as you’d like. Varo covers those purchases with the SafePay feature and reports your payment history to all three major credit bureaus. The account offers a $1,000 daily cash advance limit and a $2,500 purchase limit. 

You’ll need a Varo Bank Account and $500 or more in eligible direct deposits to qualify. If you’re not quite ready for a Believe account, you could get cash advances from Varo ranging from $20 to $250. You must repay the cash advance within 30 days but won’t pay interest charges.

• Build credit with no fees or interest. 
• Choose your own spending limit.
• No credit check required to apply. 

Amount of cash upfront	User-determined
Loan amounts	$1,000 per day for cash advances; $2,500 per day for purchases; $10,000 per billing cycle
Rates	None
Fees	None

Best $500 credit builder loan options

• MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus: Offers up to $1,000 with partial funds upfront, based on creditworthiness. Monthly membership fee: $19.99.
• EarnIn Cash Out: Up to $750 per pay period, no interest or fees unless you opt for instant delivery.
• Oportun Personal Loan: Starts at $300 and goes up to $10,000; good for building credit with on-time payments.

These loans can give you money quickly while still helping your credit grow.

No-credit-check credit builder loans

Top no-credit-check options:

• MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus: No hard credit check; reports to all three bureaus.
• Chime Credit Builder Card: No hard pull, no interest, and flexible usage.
• Varo Believe: No credit check, lets you set your own limit.
• EarnIn Cash Advance: No credit checks; repayment is due on your next payday.

Most of these options also come with no fees, especially if you avoid premium features like instant transfers.

Low-amount credit builder loans

• EarnIn: Borrow as little as $50, up to $150 per day.
• Oportun: Loans start at $300.
• MoneyLion: Minimum advance varies; can start below $500 based on your credit profile.

These small-dollar loans are often easier to repay and pose less risk to your budget.

Are credit builder loans with money upfront and no fees worth it?

Some lenders offer credit builder loans with money upfront and no fees, but you’ll need to read the fine print.

Chime and Varo don’t charge interest or annual fees. MoneyLion’s loan has a monthly fee instead of interest, while EarnIn operates on a “tip” model with optional fees. Oportun charges interest and origination fees.

I’d only recommend credit builder loans and cash advances when all other options are exhausted or unavailable. But if one is necessary and used appropriately, it can be a wonderful instrument to make significant gains toward a much healthier financial situation.
Building credit with one of these options can lead to larger loans with lower interest rates for purchases such as a vehicle and even a home.

How to choose a credit builder loan for instant access

If you’re considering a credit builder loan that offers instant access to cash, it’s wise to shop around—specifically to read the fine print so you know:

• How much cash you can get
• What you’ll pay in fees or interest
• What the repayment schedule will look like

It’s also helpful to know which credit bureaus the lender reports to. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion can collect information about credit builder loans, but lenders may not report your account history to all three bureaus.

When considering a credit builder option, remember: You’re dealing with debt and repayment liabilities. It’s vital to look at interest rates, duration, and give whether each aligns with your goal of improving or building your credit score. It would be wise to establish a budget to see how the payment affects your cash flow and then weigh whether your situation dictates the need for cash today. Do you have time to consider alternatives?

Are credit builder loans that give you money a good idea?

Getting a credit builder loan that gives you money right away can have pros and cons. It’s important to weigh both sides to understand how a credit builder loan with upfront money can help or harm you. 

Here’s how they compare.

Pros

• Immediate access to funds without waiting until the loan repayment period ends. 

• Build a positive credit history by making on-time payments.

• Certain cash advance credit builder loans don’t charge interest or fees.

Cons

• Loan amounts may be smaller than credit builder loans that don’t give you money upfront. 

• Paying late or missing a payment could hurt your efforts to build good credit.

• Credit builder loans that give you money upfront and charge interest may carry higher APRs than traditional loans. 

Credit builder loans that offer money upfront could be best for borrowers who have a one-time need for smaller amounts of cash and are committed to making their monthly payments as scheduled. When used responsibly, these loans can be a stepping stone for establishing credit and qualifying for other types of loans.

When using instant cash advances, assess the interest rate and repayment period, which are typically higher and shorter, respectively, for cash advances. Don’t fall into a ‘’debt trap.”
Do your best to avoid a difficult position of having to take out additional loans to cover payments. Moreover, defaulting on repayment may harm the credit you’re working so hard to build.

Alternatives to instant credit builder loans

The best ways to get cash when you have poor credit can include:

• Selling items you no longer use or need on Facebook Marketplace or to a local pawn shop. 
• Asking friends and family for a small loan.

You could also explore personal loans for bad credit. These loans can put cash in your hands even when your credit is less than perfect. However, you’ll likely pay much higher interest rates to borrow. If you apply for a secured loan, you’ll need something of value to offer as collateral.

You could also consider peer-to-peer lending websites and 401(k) loans (although I cringe as a CFP suggesting this!). Nonprofits may also be able to help, depending on the need.  

FAQ

Can I get a credit builder loan instantly?

Yes. Some options, like MoneyLion and EarnIn, may offer instant access to funds depending on eligibility and transfer methods. Look for “instant access credit builder loans” in your search.

Do credit builder loans require a credit check?

Not always. MoneyLion, Chime, Varo, and EarnIn do not require a hard credit check. They’re good choices for anyone with limited or poor credit.

What is the best $500 credit builder loan?

MoneyLion offers up to $1,000, and you may get $500 or more upfront. EarnIn also lets you cash out up to $750 per pay period. Both are great for smaller, short-term needs.

Are secured cards better than credit builder loans?

That depends. Secured cards (like Chime or Varo) may have fewer fees and more flexible usage, but don’t provide a traditional “loan” experience. Loans help develop an installment payment history.

What is the average interest rate for these types of credit builder loans?

The interest rate you’ll pay for a credit builder loan can depend on the lender and your creditworthiness. A decent interest rate for these loans is below 10%, but it’s not uncommon to see rates approaching or exceeding 30%. Shopping around can help you to find the best credit builder cash advance option. 

Can you pay off a credit builder loan early?

Credit builder loans can give you the option to pay off your loan early. However, it’s important to check with the lender to find out whether a prepayment penalty applies. Prepayment penalties help lenders recoup some of the lost interest they don’t collect when you pay a loan off early. 

How we rated the credit builder loans that give you money upfront

Since 2020, LendEDU has evaluated personal finance companies to help readers find the best credit-building solutions. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.

These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.

Recap of credit builder loans that give you money upfront

Company	Product	Funding	Best for
MoneyLion	Credit Builder Plus Loan	Up to $1,000 upfront	Instant loan access w/ credit reporting
Chime	Credit Builder Card	User-determined	Flexible secured card w/ no interest
Oportun	Personal Loan	$300 – $10,000	Larger loans, poor credit accepted
EarnIn	Cash Out Advance	Up to $750	Instant advances with no interest
Varo	Believe Secured Card	Up to $10,000	Large spending limits, user-set credit line