Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Loans Cash Advance Self Cash Advance: How It Works in 2025 Updated Sep 25, 2025 6-min read Reviewed by Anna Twitto Reviewed by Anna Twitto Expertise: Investing, personal loans, debt, insurance, precious metals, home equity Anna Twitto is a money management writer passionate about financial freedom and security. Anna loves sharing tips and strategies for smart personal finance choices, saving money, and getting and staying out of debt. Learn more about Anna Twitto Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Expertise: Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, home equity, investing Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has edited and written personal finance content since 2015. Learn more about Kristen Barrett, MAT Get Cash Our take: Self is a decent option for small, quick cash advances. Other apps may allow larger advance limits. (See our full list of the best cash advance apps.) Self Cash Advance Instant transfer available Interest-free No credit check Must pay a fee for instant transfer Small cash advance amounts Complaints about poor customer service Not available in every state FundingUp to $100 (instant)Speed of advanceUp to 3 business days (free); instant (flat fees)Fees$3 – $6 depending on advance amount (instant delivery only) Self (aka Self Financial) is a handy app that helps people manage their money and improve their credit. Apart from its Credit Builder Account and the secured Self Visa Credit Card, the app offers Self Cash, a feature that gives access to small, quick cash advances. How do these advances work, and what sets Self apart from similar platforms? Need $100, like, right now? EarnIn lets eligible users access up to $100 from their earned wages with no interest or mandatory fees.¹ First-time users may be eligible for expedited funding at no cost.² A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1-2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. Lightning Speed may not be available in all states and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply. See the Lightning Speed Fee Table for details. Table of Contents How does Self Cash work? Can you get an advance with a Self Visa® Credit Card? Can you withdraw money from an ATM with a Self Credit Card? Can you get cash back with a Self Credit Card? Self Cash vs. credit card cash advance Pros and cons Customer reviews Alternatives vs. EarnIn vs. Tilt vs. Dave Final verdict How does Self Cash advance work? Self Cash is designed for times when you need quick cash to tide you over until your next paycheck. Think an extra tank of gas or a trip to the grocery store, not a situation that warrants taking out a loan and risking damage to your credit score. Applying through the Self app is quick and easy. All you need to do is link your bank account and debit card, and choose an advance amount. Just make sure Self Cash is available in your state. Repayment happens automatically around payday.Available in AZ, AR, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, MT, NV, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI (as of September 25, 2025) You won’t pay a fee for standard delivery (within three business days). You can opt for instant transfer, and your flat fee varies based on the amount. According to Self’s website, the instant delivery fee is $3 (for an advance of $25) to $6 (for $100). To clarify, Self Cash and the Self Visa Credit Card are two separate services. You don’t need the Self card to apply for a cash advance via Self, and being a cardholder doesn’t automatically make you eligible for an advance. Can you get a Self Cash Advance with a Self Visa® Credit Card? No, the platform doesn’t support a Self credit card cash advance. If Self approves your request for a cash advance, the funds arrive directly through the app. Can you withdraw money from an ATM with a Self Credit Card? No, the Self card is for purchases only and doesn’t support ATM cash withdrawals. Can you get cash back with a Self Credit Card? No; the Self card currently doesn’t offer cashback rewards, points, or other perks. Its main goal is to help users build their credit. How does Self Cash differ from a credit card cash advance? A credit card cash advance lets you borrow against your credit line. This comes with steep fees, often 3% to 5% of the amount plus interest. Moreover, a credit card cash advance increases your credit utilization ratio, which could damage your credit score. In contrast, a Self Cash advance won’t affect your credit score and is fee-free unless you choose instant delivery, which involves a flat fee depending on the advance amount. Overall, it’s the more affordable and practical option if you only need a little cash until payday. Self CashCredit card cash advance✅ Fee-free for standard delivery; no interest❌ 3% – 5% fees + interest✅ Won’t affect your credit❌ Could affect your credit Self Cash pros and cons Pros Quick Reliable Interest-free No credit check No hidden fees Cons No cash back or other rewards Low max advance ($100) Not available in all 50 states What users say about Self Self Financial has an excellent Trustpilot score of 4.3 based on more 1,300 reviews (in September 2025). Many happy users appreciate the app, especially its credit-building features. Self is very easy to use … an accessible way to build financial literacy and solid habits. —Trustpilot review On the other hand, multiple reviewers were unhappy with Self’s customer support. …no real customer service, just automated text responses … When I did finally get a person, they were incapable of solving anything. —Trustpilot review Alternatives to Self Here’s how Self stacks up against three of our picks for the best cash advance apps: Company Max advance | Instant fee Our take Get Cash $100 | $3 – $6 Low Max Advance May Not Be Sufficient Get Cash Get Cash $750 | $2.99 Best for No-Fee Early Paycheck Access Get Cash Get Cash $400 | Incl. in $8/mo. fee Best for Overdraft Protection + Budget Coaching Get Cash Get Cash $500 | 1.5% of amount for external card; $0 to Dave account Best for Small Advances + Side Hustle Matching Get Cash Self Cash vs. EarnIn EarnIn approves eligible first-time users for an instant, fee-free $100 cash advance. The maximum advance amount is $150 per day or $750 per pay period. EarnIn requires no subscription. We recommend starting with EarnIn rather than Self Cash. Self Cash vs. Tilt Tilt offers cash advances of up to $400 with no credit check. It charges a flat subscription fee of $8, plus additional fees for instant transfers. The free transfer option may take up to 5 days.$300 max for first-time customers Self Cash vs. Dave Dave provides cash advances up to $500, with no late fees or interest. App subscribers pay a small fee of $1 per month. Instant funding fees range from $1.99 to $13.90 (and no instant transfer fee to a Dave account). Should you use Self Cash? Self Cash is convenient for small, fast cash advances with a transparent fee structure. While Self doesn’t offer attractive deals like EarnIn’s free instant cash advance for new users, it’s quick and easy to navigate, especially if you already use the Self Credit Builder tool. For larger advances, check out competitors like EarnIn, Dave, or Tilt, while using smart budgeting and saving to avoid cash shortages. Article sources At LendEDU, our writers and editors rely on primary sources, such as government data and websites, industry reports and whitepapers, and interviews with experts and company representatives. We also reference reputable company websites and research from established publishers. This approach allows us to produce content that is accurate, unbiased, and supported by reliable evidence. Read more about our editorial standards. Self Financial, Get up to $100 Instantly Self Financial, Self Cash Eligible States Self Financial, Self Card Trustpilot, Self Financial Inc. Trustpilot Reviews About our contributors Written by Anna Twitto Anna Twitto is a money management writer passionate about financial freedom and security. Anna loves sharing tips and strategies for smart personal finance choices, saving money, and getting and staying out of debt. Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.