Are you in need of a cash advance, but don’t want to deal with the hassles of waiting for a bank? We’ve got your back.
We’ve rounded up the best apps for cash advances that make it easy to get an instant loan online. Best of all, these companies will let you get your money as soon as tomorrow!
You can use these apps to get cash fast, without having to wait days or weeks for approval. Some lenders even offer same-day loans, so you can get your money right away!
No matter what kind of situation you’re facing, there’s an app here that can help. Whether you need a little extra cash because your car broke down or you’re looking to pay off old debts, these apps have got you covered.
Best Apps For Cash Advance
10 Best Apps Like Dave To Get Cash Advances Easily (2022)
By Josephine R. Snodgrass Last updated Jan 16, 2022
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Dave is one of the most popular apps for paycheck advances and budgeting assistance, but it is hardly the only one. There are several apps that also offer similar functionality, often with slightly different features and terms. In this article, we tell you about some of the best cash advance apps that are great alternatives to Dave. Most of them provide small payday cash advances like Dave, but some also offer personal loans if your cash requirements are more substantial.
Best Apps like Dave for Advance Cash (2022)
The apps we mention in this article are all available on the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Make sure to look at various options and carefully compare their features before you start using any of the cash advance apps on this list. With that said, check out the best cash advance apps like Dave you could use to borrow money in case of emergencies.
What are Cash Advance Apps and How Do They Work?
Also known as Payday (or Paycheck) Advance Apps, Cash Advance apps offer users the option to get paid early for the work they have already done. They typically allow you to borrow $100 – $200 from your next paycheck for use during emergencies. For example, you can use the app to borrow $100 a few days before your payday. The app will then deduct it directly from your paycheck once it arrives a few days later.
While some apps also offer personal loans, payday advances are not loans per se. That’s because you are accessing your own hard-earned money, even though your employer is yet to transfer the earnings to your bank account. Since you are using your own money, the apps do not charge interest. However, most of them typically have membership fees between $1-$10 per month to use their services.
One of the leaders in the segment is Dave, which charges $1 per month for small cash advances of up to $100 per pay cycle. It also offers a whole host of other features, including overdraft warnings and budgeting tools. Dave is considered the industry leader with the best rates and the most dedicated (and growing) userbase. But it is far from the only cash advance service in the segment. So, here are the best apps like Dave you can use to borrow cash right now:
Best Cash Advance Apps Like Dave
Note: The apps listed below largely offer their services in the USA. A few, like Branch, may be present in other markets, but their services and rates may differ significantly. Do your research before signing up. If you are in India and looking to receive money from relatives in the US, check out how you can transfer money from the US to India using Google Pay.
1. Brigit
Brigit is one of the best and most popular cash advance apps like Dave, offering small paycheck advances of up to $250. It doesn’t charge interest on the loan itself, but you will have to pay a hefty monthly membership of $9.99. It is significantly more than the paltry $1 charge you pay for Dave, but it does offer free account monitoring services. That will include budgeting tools to help analyze your earnings and spending habits.
Brigit works with more than 15,000 US banks and financial institutions, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Chase, and more. It deposits cash automatically into your account when your balance is low and in danger of dipping below zero, thus, helping prevent overdraft fees.
Brigit also offers early repayment options, as well as due date extensions. The app uses 256-bit encryption and says it does not share or sell your personal information with third parties.
Pros:
paycheck advances up to $250
free account monitoring
access to budgeting tools
helps prevent overdraft charges
Cons:
expensive monthly membership charge
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
2. Earnin
Originally known as ActivHours, Earnin is a great alternative to Dave for folks who do not want to pay a recurring membership fee. Instead, the app requires you to pay a tip that you think is fair for the service. The app offers paycheck advances of up to $100 per day that you have already earned, up to a maximum of $500 per period.
Earnin also offers other helpful features, such as Balance Shield Alerts that can notify you if your bank account balance dips below a certain threshold. There’s also a Cash Out feature that can automatically deposit up to $100 in your bank account to help avoid overdraft fees.
earnin cash advance app
For all its positives, there are a few downsides to Earnin as well. To be eligible to receive paycheck advances, you must have a regular pay schedule (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly). Your employer must also have an actual physical work location or use time-tracking software for you to be eligible to use the service. Additionally, you must also send at least half of your paycheck to your checking account via direct deposit.
Pros:
paycheck advances of up to $100 per day
supports tipping instead of fees
account balance alerts
Cons:
must have a regular pay schedule
employer needs to have a physical workspace
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
3. MoneyLion
MoneyLion is an all-in-one mobile banking app that offers users an easy way to borrow, save, invest, and earn. Like Dave, it offers easy cash advances and early paycheck access with its ‘Instacash’ feature. It lets you borrow up to $250 of your next paycheck with no interest and no credit check. The company claims to transfer the money to your account instantly, irrespective of the time of day. Its RoarMoney feature also gives you access to your paycheck up to two days early.
Best Earned Wage Access and Cash Advance Apps Like Dave
The best part about MoneyLion is that it has no minimum balance requirement. The app doesn’t charge you any fees for standard transfers, foreign transactions, mobile check deposits, or card replacement.
Moreover, the app also helps with your investments by letting you transfer money from your savings account into exchange-traded funds custom-picked for your needs and risk tolerance. The app charges a monthly $1 charge for a basic subscription, while its ‘Credit Builder Plus’ membership, which offers access to loans of up to $1,000, costs $19.99 per month.
Pros:
all-in-one banking app
no minimum balance requirement
borrow up to $250 of your next paycheck
reasonable $1 monthly charge
Cons:
slightly expensive $20 subscription tier
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
4. Branch
One of the best cash advance apps like Dave, Branch, also offers personal loans in most countries it operates in. In the US, it offers a cash advance of up to $150 per day or up to $500 of your paycheck. It offers no-fee checking, a debit card, and free ATM access at more than 40,000 locations across the US. You can also receive money, transfer funds, and pay bills through the Branch app. It charges $2.99 to $4.99 for instant advances to your debit card, while standard advances to your bank account are free of charge and take up to three business days.
branch cash advance app like dave
The branch app does offer helpful features but has stringent requirements for its cash advance facility. Firstly, you need to have received a salary for two consecutive months from the same employer. You should deposit it into a checking account at a supported bank and have a debit card for that account as well. Unfortunately, the app does not offer its services to remote workers. That means if your employer does not have a physical workplace, you will likely not be eligible to use the app.
Alongside the US, Branch also offers its services in several other countries, including India, Kenya, Nigeria, and more. In most of these markets, the app offers personal loans at interest rates up to a whopping 360%. Depending on your loan amount, you have the option to choose repayment terms ranging from 60 days to 336 days. In India, the app offers free monthly CIBIL scores and personalized tips, helping you monitor your credit and stay on top of your finances.
Pros:
cash advance up to $150 per day
free monthly CIBIL scores (India-specific)
standard transfers are free of charge
Cons:
stringent requirements for cash advance
interest rates as high as 360% in some markets
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
5. Even
Yet another cash advance app like Dave, Even helps you get payment on-demand by working with thousands of employers who have partnered with the company. There’s no interest involved, but the app charges a membership fee of $8 per month. Some employers, however, subsidize some or all of that cost. Alongside cash advances, the Even app also helps you with budgeting from paycheck to paycheck, sends notifications about upcoming bill payments and how much you need for them.
even cash advance app
It is important to note that Even is only available through select employers that have partnered with the app. It also works with more than 18,000 banks for its InstaPay feature that deposits cash to your bank account within one business day. However, the Even app does not disburse loans, unlike some other apps on this list. It only allows quick access to wages that you have already earned.
Pros:
quick access to earned wages
no interest cash advance
over 18,000 partner banks
Cons:
charges a membership fee of $8
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
6. Empower
Yet another popular app like Dave, Empower offers interest-free cash advance of up to $250. The money can be sent to your Empower checking account for free or to a bank account for a fee of $3. The Empower app does not charge late fees, and there are no credit checks. However, it does have a membership charge of $8 per month after a free 14-day trial period. What’s more, you have to make regular direct deposits to your Empower Checking Account to be eligible for cash advances.
Best Apps like Dave for Advance Cash and Earned Wage Access
Other notable functions include an Early Paycheck Deposit feature that allows users to get access to their paycheck up to two days faster. It also offers a 10% cashback offer on eligible purchases at hundreds of restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations.
Alongside the cash advance and related features, the Empower app also functions as a budgeting app, helping you limit your spending based on your income. It also suggests an overall spending limit for each category and sends you alerts when your spending is about to go over the limit. You also receive monthly reports showing your expenditure on each category.
Pros:
interest-free cash advance up to $250
get paycheck up to two days early
offers budgeting features
no credit checks
Cons:
membership charge of $8 per month
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
7. Axos Bank
Unlike some other apps on this list, Axos Bank is a full-service digital banking service that offers high-yield checking and savings accounts. You also get investment options, loans, personal finance management, etc. While Axos does not offer a true cash advance option per se, it has a feature called Direct Deposit Express. It lets you access your money up to two days early when your paycheck is deposited in your bank by your employer.
axos bank app – dave alternative
Axos also offers ‘CashBack Checking’, enabling users to earn up to 1% cashback on all transactions made with signature-based purchases. Moreover, Axos also lets you deposit checks, transfer funds, and pay your bills on schedule as part of its financial services portfolio. It also offers investment recommendations tailored to your risk tolerance.
The security features include two-factor authentication (2FA), Face ID, fingerprint (or Touch ID on Apple devices), and account monitoring to prevent fraud. The app does not charge a monthly service charge or overdraft fees. Axos Bank also does not have a minimum balance requirement, although, you do need a minimum $50 balance to open your account.
Pros:
access paycheck up to two days early
earn up to 1% cashback on all transactions
does not charge monthly fees or overdraft charges
enhanced security to prevent fraud
Cons:
minimum $50 balance to open account
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
8. DailyPay
Next on our list of the best cash advance apps like Dave is DailyPay. This app helps you access your salary before your next payday. Like Even, it offers Earned Wage Access and needs to be supported by your employer. Like other apps in this sector, DailyPay lets you transfer your yet-to-be-paid earnings instantly to your debit card, bank account, prepaid card, or paycard.
DailyPay puts the money into the bank, and the amount already cashed out is then taken from the paycheck on payday. However, it charges a fee of $2.99 to use the service.
10 Best Apps like Dave to Get Cash Advances Easily
DailyPay uses 256-bit level encryption, and its payment network and customer support channels are PCI-compliant and SOC II-audited. It is one of the most well-respected names in the business, having had an ‘honorable mention’ on Fast Company’s ‘World Changing Ideas’ list this year. Some of the leading companies that offer employees early access to salaries via DailyPay are Burger King, Uber, Doordash, and ShiftGig, among others.
Pros:
transfer yet-to-be-paid earnings instantly
256-bit level encryption
low $2.99 monthly fee
Cons:
needs to be supported by employer
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
9. Chime
Another app that offers Earned Wage Access to users is Chime. It works similarly to Even and DailyPay and offers you access to your salary two days earlier than the scheduled payment date. It does not provide you a cash advance like Dave. Chime is free to use and charges no monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance fees, or foreign transaction fees.
The Chime app also lets you send money to friends, family, or roommates with no transfer fees. It offers users access to over 38,000 ATMs across the US with Moneypass and Visa Plus Alliance. However, you need to pay out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees where applicable.
10 Best Apps like Dave to Get Cash Advances Easily
Chime also has a ‘SpotMe’ feature that allows all eligible users to overdraw their account up to $200 based on their repayment history. However, to be eligible to use SpotMe, you have to receive $500 or more in direct deposits in the previous 31 days. Another notable feature here is a money-rounding function that will automatically round the change up to the nearest $1. For example, the app will charge you $15 for a purchase of $14.49, and the additional 51 cents will then automatically be transferred to your savings account.
Pros:
free-to-use
access paycheck two days early
overdraw account by up to $200
impressive money-rounding feature
Cons:
need to pay out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees
Download: Android (Free), iOS (Free)
10. PayActiv
The final app on our list of best advance cash apps like Dave is PayActiv. Like DailyPay and Even, it is also aimed at employers who can use the service to offer their employees early access to their wages. However, folks whose employers aren’t enrolled in Payactiv are also eligible to use its services. In that case, you can apply for the PayActiv card and receive your paycheck up to 2 days early. All users are eligible to use PayActive’s savings tools, prescription discounts, and financial counseling.
10 Best Apps like Dave to Get Cash Advances Easily
Folks who have PayActive at work will see ‘hours worked’ and their current earnings in the app. They can also transfer the accessible amount to their bank, card, or get cash. Funds accessed using the app will then be deducted from their next paycheck. Like most apps in this category, Payactiv uses time and attendance data to provide earned wage access to employees. Some notable PayActive partners include Subway, Uber, Hilton, Pizza Hut, Walmart, Murphy USA, NYC Taxi, and more.
Pros:
offers early access to wages
no setup or recurring charges for employers
offers saving tools and financial counseling
Cons:
the app looks a bit cluttered
could lead users to spend more
best apps for money advance
Best Cash Advance Apps of 2022 – When You Need Money Fast
LOANS
BY: MARGARET WACKLAST UPDATED: APRIL 05, 2022
Joy Wallet is advertiser-supported: we may earn compensation from the products and offers mentioned in this article. However, any expressed opinions are our own and aren’t influenced by compensation. To read our full disclosure, click here.
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, even small additional expenses can upend your budget. While it’s always a good idea to have a robust emergency fund for such costs, sometimes it’s necessary to borrow money to make ends meet until your next payday.
There are various apps and tools that can help you budget your money, receive your paycheck faster, and even borrow small sums to tide you over until you get paid.
Jump To
What Is a Cash Advance App?
Overview of the best cash advance apps
Legit cash advance apps
Chime
Dave
Earnin
Moneylion
Brigit
Empower
Dailypay
Payactiv
Varo
Best cash advance apps summary table
FAQs
Why you should (or shouldn’t) use a cash advance app
The bottom line
What Is a Cash Advance App?
Cash advance apps allow you to borrow money from your paycheck before actually getting your paycheck. By connecting your bank account to a cash advance app, these companies, using proof of past paychecks as evidence, know your funds are coming in and help you borrow from yourself in the event you cannot wait until payday. Most allow you to access just a couple hundreds dollars to help you eke by but some will even advance you 100% of your earned paycheck. Once you receive your paycheck, the company takes back its loan directly from your direct deposit.
The catch? You’ll pay a fee to get your funds in advance. Still, when you’re just shy of payday and need gas money or to pay a bill, the fees can be worth it.
Overview of the best cash advance apps
App Best for
Dave Small amounts
Earnin Low fees
Moneylion Flexible options
Brigit Fast funding
Chime Overdraft protection
Empower Cash back
Dailypay Employees of large employers
Payactiv B-corp certified
Varo Varo customers
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Legit cash advance apps
Chime
Chime is best known for its no-free online checking accounts. They give customers the option to receive their paycheck up to two days early with their Chime Spending Account and use up to $200 against future wages to cover overdrafts with their SpotMe program. You start at $20 and your limits increase based on your account activity.
If you’re on a tight budget and worried about overdraft fees, the SpotMe program from Chime could save you money. The lender will “spot” users up to $200 if they overdraft their account. This money is then repaid whenever you receive your extra deposit. SpotMe is free to use if you have a Chime account, and customers can also access their paycheck two days earlier than usual. However, the app does give customers the option to leave a tip when using SpotMe.
As for your account going negative, Chime says that can happen only up to your approved amount, and if you make a purchase that puts you below that amount, the purchase will be declined.
Chime also comes with plenty of other great features, including a fee-free spending account, a secured credit card for borrowers looking to build credit, and a fee-free high-yield savings account. Overall, Chime is an excellent example of an online bank with low fees that can also help you gain access to your paycheck a little bit faster.
Cash advance limit: Up to $200
Read a full review on Chime.
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Dave
Dave is a good option if you’re caught in a tight place financially and need some extra cash to get you to payday. Customers can receive a small, interest-free advance on their next paycheck with no credit check required. A cash advance from Dave can help you to prevent overdraft fees and stay on track financially. Customers who have an account with Dave can borrow $5 to $200, while customers without an account can borrow $5 to $100.
It can take one to three days to receive your cash advance from Dave. However, customers can pay between $1.99 and $5.99, depending on the loan amount, to receive funds within eight hours. Dave charges an optional $1 monthly subscription fee and gives users the option to leave a tip of up to 20% of the borrowed amount. Customers can opt out of these additional costs if they choose.
In addition to providing cash advances, Dave also features several other tools to help manage money easier. This includes building your credit history by reporting on-time rent payments, credit monitoring, budgeting tools, and the ability to search for side hustles in the app.
While most cash advance apps automatically deduct the amount when your paycheck hits, Dave allows you to change the repayment date.
Cash advance limit: Up to $200
Earnin
Ever wanted to receive your paycheck as soon as you earn it, rather than having to wait two weeks for a paycheck? Earnin makes it simple to access your earnings when you need them. Users can get $100 to $500 from their paycheck per pay period.
Earnin is free to use, but they do feature optional overdraft protection, which costs $1.50 per month, and the option to leave a tip of up to $14. That said, users aren’t obligated to give Earnin any extra money. Funds are dispatched in one or two business days, but you can sign up for the Lightning Speed feature to get your money faster.
The app also features automatic low-balance alerts that notify you when your balance is low. Its Balance Shield Cash Out feature allows customers to use a portion of their upcoming paycheck to cover any potential overdrafts.
When users save money in their Earnin account, they’re also eligible to win prizes through Earnin’s WeWin program. Plus, users can gain access to their paycheck up to two days faster, so you can access your hard-earned cash when you need it.
Cash advance limit: Up to $500
Moneylion
Moneylion is a finance app that comes with several different features, including the ability to get your paycheck up to two days early. Moneylion also offers services including mobile banking, investing, personal loans, and more.
The app’s Instacash Advance feature allows users with a MoneyLion checking account to access cash advances of up to $250 with no interest. There’s a $1 monthly fee to use this service, and no credit check is required. Users without an account can only get $25.
Standard delivery is free, but MoneyLion checking account users can also pay a $3.99 fee to have the funds delivered faster. Users without an account will have to pay $4.99 for instant delivery. If you don’t pay to get your funds faster, you’ll receive the money in 12 to 48 hours for MoneyLion checking account users. For users without an account, the wait time is three to five business days.
If you switch your deposit account to a RoarMoney account from MoneyLion, you can access up to $300 in cash advances. If you’re looking for a bank account that supports your savings goals, Moneylion also offers a mobile banking app with few fees and tools that help you manage your spending and saving.
You’ll be charged a late fee if you fail to repay the money for more than five days.
Cash advance limit: Up to $300
Brigit
If you’re looking to build better financial habits, Brigit is an option worth considering. The app allows customers to get up to $250 in instant cash before a future paycheck. Customers can also use Brigit’s Credit Builder to raise their credit scores, analyze their spending behaviors, and even look for jobs.
Brigit’s free plan comes with the ability to look for jobs, analyze your finances, and access the app’s library of content. But to access higher-tier features, like cash advances, you’ll need to upgrade to the paid plan, which charges a membership fee of $9.99 a month. If you request an advance before 10 a.m. ET, you’ll get your money the same day.
Brigit also features overdraft protection, allowing users to use Auto Advances to send money to their bank account to avoid overdraft fees. The app also analyzes your spending and provides personalized insights into your financial life.
Advances are automatically repaid to Brigit at your paycheck, but the repayment date can be extended on certain occasions.
While Brigit has plenty of handy features, it’s notably more expensive than some of the other options on this list. If you’re solely looking for a cash advance, you can get a better deal elsewhere. But if you’re looking for multifaceted budgeting tools and don’t mind paying $9.99 per month, Brigit has plenty of perks to recommend it.
Cash advance limit: Up to $250
Read a full review on Brigit.
Empower
Empower is a fintech app with a Visa debit card that earns cash back—and can give you access to up to $250 in cash advances. Empower also allows users to get their paycheck up to two days faster than traditional accounts.
Empower’s cash advance of up to $250 is available for a $8 per month subscription fee. However, Empower is only available via mobile app, so it might not be accessible to borrowers who don’t have access to a smartphone.
To meet the eligibility requirements for Empower’s cash advance, users must receive their paycheck in the Empower mobile app. The exact amount borrowers can access will vary depending on their income, account balance, and account age.
You can receive the money free of charge in your Empower checking account or in your bank account for a $3 fee. The company doesn’t charge a late fee if you’re unable to make repayments on time.
Empower comes with plenty of other tools, including the ability to earn up to 10% cash back at select retailers. Cardholders have free access to over 37,000 ATMs, plus phone and live chat support for customers with questions or concerns.
Cash advance limit: Up to $250
Dailypay
Unlike some of the other apps on this list, Dailypay focuses specifically on large corporations’ employees. The app partners with employers like Kroger, Dollar Tree, and McDonald’s to give employees access to their paycheck faster.
Employees can instantly access up to 100% of earned pay with the app’s PAY feature, either immediately or the next day. They can also save money for both short- and long-term goals when they receive their paycheck.
Dailypay is free for employees to use, although employers pay to use the service. The service targets employers who are looking to give their employees increased flexibility and access to their wages. However, the app also seems to target companies whose low-wage employees may especially need cash advances.
You will be charged a $1.99 fee for cash advances that will be deposited the following business day. You can also pay $2.99 to get your advance instantly.
Cash advance limit: Up to 100% of earned pay
Payactiv
Payactiv is another app that allows users to access their paycheck early. Rather than waiting until payday, users whose employers offer Payactiv can access a portion of their current earnings. How much users can access depends on several factors, including their income and their employer’s settings.
Because this app is only available for employees of participating employers, it’s not the best fit for employees whose employers don’t yet offer Payactiv. However, there are a few other benefits for customers, regardless of who their employer is.
For instance, the PayActiv card offers the ability for users to receive their paycheck up to two days in advance. In addition, you can pay bills directly from the app, transfer money, view saving and spending patterns, and plan for the future.
For users whose employers work with Payactiv, the app also provides company-wide notifications, the ability to check for open shifts, and the opportunity to get in touch directly with team members and employers.
In addition to getting your advance via your PayActiv card, you can also choose to get it in your bank account or pick it up cash at a Walmart. These two options come with a $1.99 processing fee.
Cash advance limit: Up to 100% of earned pay
Varo
Varo is best known for its high-interest savings account and fee-free online banking. For existing customers, they also feature Varo Advance. This cash advance comes with no interest, and customers can borrow up to $100 against a future paycheck.
Cardholders can access anywhere from $20 to $100 with Varo Advance. It’s free to borrow $20, but fees range from $3 to $5 for amounts $50 and up. Qualifying customers must have a bank account with Varo that’s at least 30 days old. You also need to have at least $1,000 in direct deposits to one of your Varo accounts.
Varo allows you to set up an automatic repayment due date for the cash advance 15 to 30 days after receiving your funds. In addition to Varo Advance, Varo also allows account holders to access their paycheck up to two days earlier than usual.
Varo is a great option if you’re looking for a robust online bank account that comes with a cash advance. They also feature high-yield savings accounts with a rate of up to 3.00% APY. Varo also comes with perks like cash back from select retailers.
Cash advance limit: Up to $100
Related: Varo vs Chime vs Aspiration
Conclusion
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