Dave Cash Advance Review

Best for improving credit scores

4.6 _/5

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Cash Advance

• No interest or late fees
• No credit check required
• High maximum limit of $500
• Reports repayment to the 3 major credit bureaus

• An ExtraCash™ account and a $1 monthly subscription fee are required
• Not compatible with PayPal
• FTC complaint for misleading marketing practices

Funding	Up to $500
Speed of advance	2 – 3 days; Instant (with fee)
Fees	$1 monthly membership; $1.99 – $13.99 instant funding

Dave is a digital banking app that launched in 2017 with a mission to help Americans dodge those pesky overdraft fees. It offers a range of features, including the ExtraCash™ account, a spending account, goal tracking, and side hustle opportunities. Since launching its cash advances in 2017, Dave claims it has helped users save a massive $2.5 billion in overdraft fees.

The ExtraCash account is the star of the show, letting you access up to $500 with no interest or late fees. However, you’ll pay fees if you opt for express funding. However, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a complaint against Dave in November 2024 for misleading marketing practices. While it’s taken action to address the concerns, we think it’s important to consider.

How a Dave cash advance works

Term	Details
Advance amounts	Up to $500
Interest rate	N/A
Fees	$1 monthly subscription fee; $3 – $25 optional fast funding fee
Repayment time	Varies (often your next payday)
Funding time w/ fee	Instant (Dave account) or within 1 hour (external bank account)
Funding time w/o fee	Within 3 business days

Like many cash advance services, Dave makes borrowing money simple. Here’s how to get started:

1. Sign up with Dave. If you aren’t already a member, create your Dave account in the app.
2. Link your bank account. You must link an external bank account to get a cash advance with Dave.
3. Open accounts with Dave. Next, open a Dave Spending account and an ExtraCash account.
4. Request a cash advance. You can request a cash advance for any reason. You can request an advance up to your approved limit, with a maximum advance of $500. You can add a tip when requesting an advance, but this is optional.
5. Get your cash. Dave can send the cash to your Dave Spending account or an external debit card for free. If you need the money faster, you can pay a fee to have it in your Dave account instantly or your debit card within an hour
6. Pay it off. You must pay the advance back by the date you agree to when you get the money. Dave doesn’t charge late fees or interest, but you can only take out one advance at a time.

Dave may close your account if you haven’t repaid after 60 days.

Dave’s $500 cash advance limit is higher than many competitors, but its advances average $160. You can get a cash advance without extra fees but must pay a $1 subscription fee. And if you want an instant cash advance, the fees can be higher than what competitors charge.

Who’s eligible for a Dave cash advance? 

To borrow money through Dave, you must meet the eligibility requirements for cash advances as well as Dave’s membership requirements.

To use the Dave mobile app and website, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a legal resident of the United States
• Be of legal age
• Not prohibited by law from using the mobile app, website, or other services

Dave uses additional factors to determine the cash advance you qualify for through ExtraCash, including:

• Whether you have at least three recurring deposits
• Your income history and spending patterns
• Whether you have total monthly deposits of $1,000 or more to qualify for higher advances
• Whether you have at least a 60-day history and a positive balance on the bank account you link

Most of these requirements are comparable to similar services that extend cash advances without requiring a credit check. Because no credit check is required, these companies use alternative factors to determine eligibility.

Dave is different because it checks for $1,000 in recurring deposits to determine whether you’re eligible for larger advances. As we mentioned, Dave has a higher upper limit for its advances than competitors, and it uses this metric to determine whether customers qualify for a bigger advance.

How does Dave compare to other cash advance apps?

Here’s how Dave stacks up against four competitors:

App	Loan amounts	Fee for instant funds
Dave	Up to $500	$3 – $25
Brigit	$50 – $250	$9.99/month
Empower	$10 – $250	$1 – $7
EarnIn	Up to $100 per day; $750 per pay period	$0 – $4.99
MoneyLion	Up to $500	$0.49 – $8.99

Most competitors have lower maximums for a single advance than Dave, with MoneyLion being the only one that matches Dave’s $500 limit. However, Dave charges the highest potential fast funding fees, depending on the account you want to fund and the size of the advance.

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Should you use Dave’s cash advance app? 

Whether you should use Dave’s cash advance app is not a simple “yes” or “no.” Dave doesn’t specify certain uses for its cash advances. Dave’s mission is to help people avoid overdraft fees. You could get a cash advance in any instance where you would otherwise be in danger of an overdraft fee.

Here’s when you may want to use Dave’s ExtraCash feature:

• When it’s an emergency. Is it a true emergency? If the purchase or expense can’t wait until your next payday, it may be worth considering a cash advance. Otherwise, an alternative might make more sense.
• You have a steady income. Dave doesn’t charge interest or late fees, and it doesn’t say it reports to credit bureaus. Still, it can close your account if you don’t pay within 60 days.

Alternatives might include setting up a payment plan for the bill or asking friends or family to front you cash. Also, consider whether you can repay the advance in a reasonable time frame. 

How to get a Dave cash advance

Getting a cash advance through Dave only requires a few steps. If you already have an outside bank account and meet the eligibility requirements, you could sign up for the service in just a few minutes.

1. Sign up for the Dave app and link your bank. Your bank account must meet certain requirements for Dave, such as at least three recurring deposits and being active for 60 days.

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Tip

If Dave approves your application, it will assign you a cash advance limit of up to $500. However, Dave limits larger advances to qualified borrowers, such as those who receive a large amount in direct deposits every month.

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2. Get funds. After requesting your cash advance, you will get your money in one to three business days—or in a Dave Spending account instantly for a fee. After you get your cash, Dave will repay the balance using your linked bank account until the account is settled.

You must repay your advance before you can request another. Dave doesn’t allow multiple advances at the same time.

Is Dave a reputable lender?

Reviewing a company’s customer service reviews can give you an idea of what to expect.

Source	Customer rating	Number of reviews
Apple App Store	4.8/5	691K
Google Play Store	4.4/5	527K
Better Business Bureau	1.14/5	422

In the Apple and Google app stores, users like Dave’s ease of use, early access to paychecks, and its helpfulness during emergencies.

Dave fares less well on the Better Business Bureau website. The company has been BBB-accredited since 2019 and has an “A–” rating at the time of writing, but the reviews are less favorable. Many customers report unauthorized charges, difficulty with repayment, and slow response times from customer support.

Dave cash advance FAQ

What is Dave cash advance?

Dave Cash Advance is a financial firm that offers short-term loans to help tide you over until your next paycheck. 

Without the need for a traditional credit check, the process is streamlined and straightforward. It provides a flexible option for individuals wrestling with unexpected expenses.

How does a Dave cash advance work?

You can request a cash advance of up to $100 upon successful sign-up. Once you’re approved, Dave will transfer the requested amount to your account. Repayment is automatic, deducted from your next paycheck or bank deposit, ensuring a hassle-free transaction.

Are fees associated with a Dave cash advance?

Dave Cash Advance operates transparently. No traditional fees or interest apply, but it operates on a tipping system. Members can leave a tip, which allows it to continue providing affordable service for others.

Is Dave cash advance safe?

Dave says user security is a priority. All sensitive data is encrypted, and the company follows stringent compliance regulations to safeguard user information. Whenever making financial decisions, it’s crucial to read the fine print and evaluate the lender’s reputation based on reviews.

How soon can I get funds from a Dave cash advance?

Depending on your bank and willingness to pay for an instant transfer, Dave can provide funds the day you request them.

How we rated Dave

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best cash advances. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Dave to several cash advance apps, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below.

Product	Best for	Our rating
Dave cash advance	Improving credit scores	4.6/5