Disclaimer: Some or all of the products featured in this article are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. All opinions are our own. Dave is one of the most popular cash advance
apps, but other popular alternatives have different benefits. Follow along for 12 other online banking options that will give you the cash you need to get to payday. If you already know the pros and cons of using Dave and are looking for the best apps, click here to go straight to the best alternatives. Pros and cons of using the Dave appDave is one of the most popular financial apps currently on the market. It offers cash advances up to $75 to $100 for people to help them prevent their bank accounts from over-drafting while they are waiting for their next paycheck. The company also offers a checking account to people who might have trouble getting (or do not want to use) traditional bank accounts. Pros: Dave’s biggest pro is that it learns your spending habits. That sounds a bit invasive, but the information it learns is used to help you keep better track of your money. It does this by letting you know if your account gets below a certain amount and if you have an automatic payment coming up but don’t currently have enough in your account to cover it. Dave also offers Dave Banking, a cash management account that’s similar to an online checking account. If you choose to use Dave Banking, you’ll get a Visa debit card and access to a network of fee-free ATMs. There’s no minimum deposit requirement to open a Dave Banking account. Other pros include:
Cons: The biggest drawback to using Dave is the same as its biggest benefit: it requires access to your bank account and tracks your spending habits. Not everybody loves sharing that information. Other cons include:
Here are a few of the top apps like DaveDave is a popular option for cash advances, but it’s not the only cash advance app out there. Far from it! Other apps offer similar services. Here are some of the most trustworthy cash advance apps currently in operation: AlbertBanking and financial advice are Albert’s primary services, and the app also offers small cash advances and budget tracking. Albert users who set up an account with direct deposit can access their paycheck up to two days early. Albert’s most noteworthy feature is that it currently offers a sign-up bonus of $150. When you’re looking for a paycheck advance, that kind of bonus can make a huge difference in your financial situation. To be eligible, new users must make a direct deposit of at least $500 within 45 days of signing up and every 30 days for 90 consecutive days. Users must also spend at least $200 on qualifying goods and services with their Albert debit card every 30 days during the same 90-day period. What sets Albert apart is that it doesn’t rely on an AI bot for financial advice. Albert allows users to connect to actual humans (or “Geniuses”) for answers to their questions. You could qualify for up to $250 in advanced funds depending on your banking history. Cash advance specs:
Other Albert offers:
Empower Cash AdvanceLike the apps mentioned so far, Empower acts more like a bank/money manager than a lender. If you want help managing your money, Empower connects to all your existing accounts and helps you track your spending and savings from a single location. If you’re interested in the cash advance, you’ll need to open an account. Here’s the important stuff: Empower Cash Advance specs:
Other Empower offers:
BrigitBrigit offers users various products and tools to help them stay on track financially. It also offers help with building credit, budgeting and even finding part-time or gig work for users who don’t mind paying a monthly fee. Here’s the important info: Cash Advance specs:
Other Brigit offers:
EarninEarnin bills itself as the app that lets you “get access to money as soon as you earn it.” The app lets you advance up to $100 per day and $500 per pay period. The app also offers a product called Balance Shield, which links to your bank account. With it, you choose a minimum account balance that you want to maintain. When you get close to that amount, the Earnin app will notify you and let you know how much you can advance to keep your account from over drafting. Here’s what else you need to know Cash advance specs:
Other Earnin offers:
MoneyLionIn addition to a cash advance, which it calls “Instacash,” MoneyLion offers a checking account, credit building, and much more. It offers so many options, it can feel overwhelming! For its Instacash customers, the process is straightforward. Like Dave, you need to link your bank account directly to the app. You’ll be approved for an advance if you have a steady income or qualifying deposits. New users are usually limited to $25 for their first advance. However, as they build a history with the app, they can increase their borrowing limit to $250. Cash advance specs:
Other stuff MoneyLion offers:
PossiblePossible Finance insists that it’s a better alternative to payday and installment loans. This is true, but only barely. Like payday and installment loans, Possible loans are only offered in small amounts and the interest rates are very high. First-time borrowers will only be approved for up to $500 and the interest rates are 150%-200%, depending on where you live, the amount you borrow, etc. This is much lower than you’d pay a payday lender but much higher than you would pay any of the other apps listed here. Other popular online banking optionsWhile there aren’t cash advance apps, these three banking options offer some longer-term financial solutions. AvantAvant offers personal loans and credit cards and has an app. It can be a good option for debt consolidation. Here’s what you need to know: Personal Loan specs:
Other Avant offers:
ChimeChime is a bank account that allows its users to access their paychecks a few days early—with qualifying direct deposits, of course. The company also has a product they call “Spot Me.” “Spot Me” is a sort of overdraft protection that allows users to overdraft their accounts without facing any penalties. The amount a user is allowed to overdraft depends on various factors. Chime also offers a savings account and a credit-building account. Chime account specs:
Other Chime offers:
Ingo MoneyNobody wants to pay the fees charged by most check-cashing places. This is where Ingo Money can come in handy. The Ingo app lets you take a photo of the check and then deposit the check’s amount wherever you want. You can deposit into PayPal, your bank account, a pre-paid card, etc. If you’re able to wait ten days, the deposit is free. If you need the money immediately, there is a fee. The fee is between $5 and 5% of the check. The amount you pay will depend upon the type of check you’re cashing and its amount. Employer-sponsored payday advance appsYour employer may have already teamed up with a cash advance app service to help you manage your money. These are especially popular among employers of “on-demand” workers, like rideshare drivers, delivery drivers, etc. Even InstapayEven Instapay is an app that allows someone to access the money they have already earned at work, even before payday. Even works with employers to track employees’ time and wages. Employees can log into their Instapay app to see how much money they have earned so far during that pay period. If the employee needs the money before payday, they simply request it. The employee doesn’t have to pay taxes or fees on their advance. All of that is taken care of by the employer. Unfortunately, right now, even Instapay is not available for individuals or the self-employed. It is only available through your employer. The other drawback: you’ll have to pay the $8 Even Plus membership fee to qualify for an Instapay cash advance. BranchLike Even Instapay, Branch is a tool that employers can use to allow employees to access their wages as soon as they are earned. What makes Branch great is that it is also set up for people who employ gig workers and independent contractors. In addition to on-demand payments, Branch also offers resources like tip and mileage trackers to help with reimbursements, off-cycle payments, etc. Axos Bank Direct Deposit ExpressAxos Bank has grown greatly in popularity over the last couple of years. This is probably because of its Direct Deposit Express. While not a cash advance app, Axos Bank’s Direct Deposit Express helps you get your paycheck a couple of days earlier than you usually would. Usually, banks make you wait to access your funds until after your paycheck has cleared. Axos deposits the amount of your paycheck into your account as soon as they get notified of an incoming direct deposit. Then they just keep your deposit when it clears. Viola! Payday a few days early! Other good options to check out (or to mention to your employer) are:
How do cash advance apps work?A cash advance app, also called a payday advance app, is a mobile app that will send you money to help you cover your expenses while waiting for your next paycheck. When that next payday arrives, the app will automatically deduct the amount of your advance from your deposit. These apps are available on iPhone (iOS) and Android smartphones. Many even have traditional websites you can use if you’re not entirely sure you want to use your phone. Cash advance apps allow users to access money that they know is coming but hasn’t been deposited yet. The user sets up an account on the app. This process usually involves some sort of identification verification. For example, you may be asked for the following:
Once you’ve verified your identity, you’ll connect the app to your bank accounts. The app then scans those accounts for deposit activity and frequency. The amount a user can request will be determined by what the app finds during its scans. Unlike payday loans, installment loans, or even (sometimes) paycheck advances offered by your bank, cash advance apps rarely charge fees for individual loans. Instead, they charge a monthly fee to use their service. How quickly can I get my cash advance?Once you have been approved for an advance, you can submit a request. These apps are designed with the “I need it now” customer in mind, so the money should arrive quickly. Some loans are approved and funds are sent within minutes. Others may take 1-2 business days. If you need the funds immediately and need to bypass a waiting period, some apps will allow you to do so for a small fee. What to look for in a cash advance app like DaveObviously, not all cash advance apps are created equal. Like with any other financial product, you’ll want to take some time to do your own research. Here are the details you should look for: Borrowing limitsTypically, the borrowing limit is somewhere between $100-$500. Some apps, like Dave, will require users to start with much smaller advances (around $25) to prove they are worth the risk. Over time as you pay these advances back on time, your limit will likely increase. Turnaround timeSome apps will have money in reserve and can send it to you within a few minutes. Others take longer to process requests, and it might take a day or two (or longer). Some will typically take 2-3 business days but allow you to bypass that time if you’re willing to pay a rush fee. FeesSpeaking of fees, most of these apps typically don’t charge any interest or a flat amount to take out an advance. Instead, some of them will ask users to “tip” the app for use of its service. Others might ask for a monthly subscription fee to help them pay for operations. Monthly subscriptions are relatively low, most are somewhere between $1-$10 per month, depending on how many features you access. RequirementsEligibility is usually easy. Most of the time, users must be at least 16 years old and be a citizen of the United States. Minimum requirements are few. A few apps might require users to have a minimum credit score or a few direct deposits from the same employer to qualify for advances. Other featuresHow many bells and whistles do you want or need? If you just need a simple app that will lend you $50 to keep your account in the black for a couple of days, an app like Chime or Dave is a good way to go. If you’d like something more robust with budgeting tools, investment and savings help, etc., apps like MoneyLion and Empower are good. ReviewsLike most things in life: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always check out an app’s reputation. Look up the founding company online to see how they make their money. Look for complaints with the BBB as well as in your app store. The app store reviews are especially helpful for finding out if an app is as easy to use as advertised. Why are loan apps like Dave better than payday loans?There are many reasons that cash advance apps are better than payday loans. Apps rarely charge any interest, let alone exorbitant interest. Their repayment terms are flexible. They are easier to access. You get the idea. The biggest reason to choose an advance app over a payday lender, though, is this: The people who make cash advance apps want you to succeed because your success is what will bring in more customers. They won’t need to keep preying on the same users over and over again. Payday loans are designed to keep you financially desperate, so you need more payday loans. This is what keeps them in business. The bottom lineEven the best budgeter can find themselves in an “oops” situation toward the end of a pay period. This is what cash advance apps are made for: to help you bridge the gap between paychecks. If, however, you find yourself regularly needing help to bridge that gap, or you’re behind on your bills, a cash advance isn’t going to offer a long-term solution. Instead, use the other tools these apps offer you to help you focus on your budget and spending habits. If you’re unsure where to start or feel like you need more help than these apps offer, you might need to talk with a financial adviser. Professional advisers and non-profit credit counselors are great resources when you’re in over your head and need help getting back on track. What payday apps work with NetSpend?Netspend is located in Austin, Texas, and operates more than 130,000 reload points where you can buy Netspend prepaid cards. You can load them with how much you want in cash viva CVS, 7-Eleven, Walmart, bank transfers, and PayPal.
Can you get a cash advance with NetSpend?Can I get a loan or a payday advance from Netspend? No. Loans or payday advance loans are not available from Netspend. However, you can deposit loan proceeds from other companies into your Netspend account, just like with a bank account.
What cash advance apps give you money instantly?8 Best Cash Advance Apps. Dave — Best for Highest Cash Advance.. Empower — Best for Quick Cash Advances.. Earnin — Best for Earning-based Borrowing.. PayActiv — Best for Short-term Loans.. Brigit — Best for Same-day Loans.. MoneyLion — Best for Multiple Options.. Vola — Best for Same-day Cash Advances Up to $300.. Can I get a payday loan with a prepaid card?A prepaid debit card allows you to receive a payday loan without the need for a bank account. Like credit cards, the prepaid debit card can be used to pay for emergencies electronically. Just as a bank would, your lender will provide you a PIN and other standard security checks to make sure your money stays safe.
What app will let me borrow money instantly?Earnin is an app that allows you to borrow against your next paycheck quickly without any fees or interest payments attached.
How do you get a cash advance on a prepaid debit card?To take out a debit card cash advance, all you need to do is go to a local bank or credit union branch and talk to a teller. There will be a fee for requesting the advance, usually some small percentage of the total amount withdrawn.
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