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10 Best Cash Advance Apps For Loans Until Payday in 2024

Gravatar for Enoch Omololu
Written by Enoch Omololu
Updated on

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Facing an emergency with no cash can be a stressful experience. Sometimes, all one needs is a few dollars to offset the emergency cost, which could be a due bill, a broken appliance, or an empty gas tank.

In such cases, most people need somewhere to borrow the money on short notice. Cash advance apps are a great way to get extra money and sort out such emergencies before you get your paycheck.

Best Instant Cash Advance Apps

1. Dave

Dave cash advance app gives users access to small amounts of cash that can be used to offset small expenses like groceries, gas, and utilities.

When you sign up, you can use the budgeting feature to know how much you will need to spend each month and how much you may need to borrow to pay for any unexpected expenses.

How much can you get?

Dave pays out up to $500.

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero interest
  • $1 monthly subscription
  • Optional $1.99 to $5.99 express cash transfer fee
  • Optional tips up to 20% of the borrowed amount.

Repayment

You can make repayments manually or set up automatic payments from your bank account.

2. Klover

Klover cash advance app lends you money against your paycheck but requires paycheck verification of at least three months with at least two of the last three paychecks from the same employer.

You get access to financial management tools like credit monitoring and tax savings. You can also earn points to increase your advance amount and win money in daily sweepstakes.

How much can you get?

You can borrow up to $100.

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero interest
  • $2.49 monthly membership fee
  • Optional $1.99 and $14.98 express cash transfer fee

Repayment

Klover requires you to connect your bank account and give it direct access to debit repayments. Repayment dates are fixed, and you cannot pay your advance early or late.

3. PayActiv

When you sign up, you get a PayActiv debit card, where you will receive payouts. You can sign up as an individual or gain access through your employer if they are signed up.

PayActiv allows you to send and receive cash advances with others and make direct payments for utilities, Amazon orders, and Uber rides directly from your PayActiv balance.

How much can you get?

PayActiv offers up to 50% of your paycheck.

Fees and interest rates

  • $1 daily access fee to use cash access, card load, bill pay, Uber or Amazon, or bank transfer. Capped at $5 a month.
  • $1.99 per-transaction processing fee to request an instant deposit on a non-PayActiv card or pick up cash at Walmart.

Repayment

PayActiv gets the cash advance repayment directly from your employer, who deducts the amount from your paycheck before paying you.

4. Earnin

Earnin paycheck advance app caters to on-demand/hourly workers. It provides access to earned wages before your paycheck comes in by tracking your hours and calculating your earned wages.

You will need to upload an electronic timesheet or a photograph of one to demonstrate that you have been working.

How much can you get?

Earnin pays between $100 and $500.

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero fees or interest
  • Optional tip
  • $1.50 for Balance Shield Cash Out

Repayment

Earnin debits your bank account once your employer pays your paycheck via direct deposit.

5. Brigit

Brigit cash advance app offers salary advance payments, credit monitoring tools, and protection against identity theft. The app has paid and free memberships with vastly different options.

For example, the paid option offers instant cash payouts, a credit builder, auto advances, and flexible repayment, all of which are not available with the free option.

You also need to earn more than $800 per month and have a “Brigit score” of at least 70 or higher to qualify.

How much can you get?

Brigit pays between $50 and $250

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero interest
  • $9.99 for the plus plan

Repayment

Brigit offers flexible payment terms on the paid option and fixed terms on the free one. Payments are debited from your account at the end of your work cycle.

6. Chime SpotMe

Chime SpotMe is a cash advance service by Chime that allows you to overdraw your account without any penalties or declined transactions. Although it works as an overdraft, there are no overdraft fees.

However, you must opt into the service so that it works when you try and overdraw your account. You must deposit at least $200 every 34 days to be eligible.

In addition, SpotMe® will not cover non-debit card purchases, including ACH transfers, Chime Checkbook transactions, ATM withdrawals, or Pay Friends transfers.

How much can you get?

You can overdraw up to $200

Fees and interest rates

  • No fees or interest on overdrawn amounts

Repayment

Chime deducts the overdraft amount from incoming deposits.

7. MoneyLion Instacash

MoneyLion Instacash is a cash advance service offered as one of many personal financial management products by MoneyLion.

When you request an advance and pay it back, the company reports to at least three credit bureaus to help you build your credit score. Although MoneyLion offers bank accounts, you do not need one to access the Instacash service.

How much can you get?

MoneyLion Instacash lends up to $250 against your earnings.

Fees and interest rates

  • Free to sign up and request funds
  • Optional tips
  • $0.49 to $8.99 for the Turbo expedited cash transfer service

Repayment

You can pay manually or authorize the app to deduct funds directly from your account. You can also defer payments by up to 14 days.

8. Current Overdrive

Current Overdrive is an overdraft facility offered as a value-added service when you open a Current Account. You will need to opt into the service to access it, with Current dynamically adjusting your eligible balance based on various risk factors. Your current account will need to have monthly deposits of at least $500 for you to qualify.

How much can you get?

Current Overdrive overdraft facility is between $25 and $200.

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero overdraft fees or penalties

Repayment

Current deducts the overdraft amount from your direct deposits.

Best Cash Advance Apps For Loans Until Payday-img

9. Empower.me

Empower.me is a cash advance app that offers instant cash advance deposits to the Empower debit card account or an external checking account.

You can also sign up for the Empower Thrive option (coming soon) that allows you to borrow higher amounts at 0% APR. Empower also acts as a credit-building app, with each repayment reported to credit bureaus (the app also reports defaults).

How much can you get?

Empower Cash Advance pays up to $250, while Empower Thrive pays up to $1,000.

Fees and interest rates

  • $8 monthly subscription
  • $2 to $8 per advance for instant delivers depending on the amount
  • Optional tips up to 20% of the cash advance amount

Repayment

Empower deducts repayments from your checking account or Empower debit card account, depending on which one you nominate as your salary account.

Interestingly, Empower is the only cash advance app that refunds overdraft fees if a repayment or subscription fee triggers an overdraft penalty in your account.

10. Kora

Kora Money is a cash advance and unsecured loan app for college students. The app offers two options: KoraCash for cash advances and KoraDrive for car financing. You need a .edu email account to sign up.

Since its target market is relatively young and most don’t have credit scores, the app does not require an SSN or credit score, instead relying on other tools like utility bills and GPA.

How much can you get?

KoraCash pays between $50 and $2,000, while KoraDrive pays $5,000 to $3 million.

Fees and interest rates

  • Zero fees
  • 6% to 19.99% APR depending on loan amount and type.

Repayment

Kora repayments are manual or automated to deduct payments from your bank balance.

What Are Cash Advance Apps?

Cash advance apps are Earned Wage Access (EWA) apps that lend you a portion of your paycheck before you get paid. Once approved, they deposit the money in your account or debit card instantly or within a few days.

For example, if your paycheck is $1000 per week, you can borrow $200 up to three weeks before your payment is due.

At the end of your salary cycle, and you receive your paycheck, the cash advance app will directly debit your checking account, charge your prepaid debit card, or require direct payment to pay back the cash advance.

Cash advance apps typically lend up to $500, depending on your earnings.

Key Features of Cash Advance Apps

  • They provide interest-free cash advances
  • They pay out within one to three business days (you can pay extra to get an instant payout)
  • Repayments are within one to three weeks
  • They charge a monthly access fee, express payment fees, or optional tips
  • They do not require a credit background check
  • Anyone with proof of employment can get a cash advance

Pros and Cons of Free Instant Cash Advance Apps

Free instant cash advance apps can be helpful, but they also have some disadvantages you should consider before overusing them.

Here are the top pros and cons of cash advance apps:

Pros

  • Cash advance apps give you access to your earned cash when you need it without waiting for your paycheck.
  • Most cash advance apps do not check your credit history, so you can access them even if your credit score is low.
  • Some cash advance apps help you build your credit score by reporting your repayments to credit bureaus.
  • You do not need collateral to get a cash advance.
  • Most cash advance apps have zero mandatory fees, making them much more attractive than bank overdrafts, payday loans, and unsecured loans.
  • Cash advance apps require little to no paperwork. You can sign up for most with just an SSN and your paystub or salary account.

Cons

  • Optional fees are usually extremely high. For example, you might pay as much as 20% of the advance to get the money instantly. Tips also add up. For instance, a $2 tip on a $20 withdrawal due in two weeks is a 260% APR, close to what payday loans charge.
  • Repayment times are short and often inflexible, requiring you to pay back the amount within one to three weeks.
  • Some cash advance apps report missed payments to credit bureaus, damaging your credit score.
  • Cash advance apps can foster a habit of living beyond your means, primarily when used frequently, leading to elevated levels of debt that you might find challenging to service.

Conclusion

Cash advance apps like Dave, Earnin, and Brigit offer fast and affordable access to your earned wages before your paycheck arrives. When used prudently and with restraint, they can help you pay small, unexpected expenses that come your way before your paycheck arrives.

When deciding which app to use, consider your earnings, what you need the cash for, and which one offers you the lowest rates for your needs.

Nevertheless, remember that cash advance apps are just a stop-gap measure in an emergency and must never be used to finance your lifestyle every month.

A better option would be to build up an emergency fund that you can draw on in case of an unexpected expense, avoiding all the costs and fees associated with salary advance apps.

FAQs for Cash Advance Apps

What’s the best app to get a payday advance?

The best app to get a payday advance depends on how much you need and how much you earn. Dave and Earnin are currently the highest-paying apps, paying up to $500, while PayActiv pays up to 50% of your paycheck.

How can I get an instant cash advance?

You can get an instant cash advance by signing up for a cash advance app and requesting an advance against your earnings.

What app gives you 100 dollars?

All cash advance apps featured in this article pay $100 or more.

How much can you borrow from Cash App?

You can borrow up to $500 on various cash apps. How much you can get depends on your earnings and your repayment record.

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Gravatar for Enoch Omololu

Enoch Omololu

Enoch Omololu is a personal finance expert who has a passion for helping others win with their finances. He has a master’s degree in Finance and Investment Management from the University of Aberdeen Business School and has been writing about money management for over a decade. Enoch has been featured in several leading personal finance publications including MSN Money, The Globe and Mail, Wealthsimple, and the Financial Post.

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