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7 cash advance apps like Cleo

Compare apps like Cleo to find higher advances with lower subscription fees.

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By

Heather Petty

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Megan B. Shepherd

Updated

Fact checked

Cleo is a budgeting app that offers free personal financial management services and allows you to request cash advances ranging from $20 to $70 at first, then up to $250, if you establish a payment history to qualify. While you can request cash advances for free through Cleo’s customer service email, to make that request through the app, you have to subscribe to one of Cleo’s membership tiers, the lowest of which costs $5.99 monthly.

Cleo charges an express fee starting at $3.99 to fund the advance the same day. If you don’t want to pay that, you’ll have to wait three to four days for the money to hit your account. And to access credit builder tools through Cleo’s cash advance app, you’ll need to pay $14.99 monthly, which is higher than other apps.

If you’d rather find a cash advance app with lower membership fees or higher advances, consider our list of apps similar to Cleo to find what might work better for you.

Our 7 top picks for apps like Cleo

Alternative for overdraft protection: Chime SpotMe

Chime SpotMe®

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Chime SpotMe is a no-fee service that allows overdrafts of up to $200 for your Chime Checking account. To qualify for coverage, you need to have at least $200 direct-deposited into your Chime checking account every month.

Your overdraft coverage starts at $20, but with regular deposits and a solid account history can increase to $200. Chime also gives you access to your paycheck up to two days early if you have your paycheck direct-deposited into your Chime account.

  • Available in all states
Partner terms and conditions
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. Direct deposit: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Pros
  • No credit check required
  • Gives you 10 days to repay the overdraft
  • Saves you from overdraft fees
Cons
  • Must have the Smart Money feature turned on
  • No customer service phone number
  • Mixed customer reviews
Loan amountUp to $200
Loan TermN/A
Turnaround timeSame day

Alternative for frequent cash advances: Albert

Albert

Albert is a newer banking app, offering cash advances up to $250. But what sets Albert apart is that qualifying users can take out multiple cash advances per pay period — provided they maintain a good repayment history. Plus, you won't pay any late fees, required tips, inactivity fees, interest charges or membership fees.

Albert's paid membership, Genius, costs $96 per year and gives you access to additional features, such as investing options. However, when you create an account with Albert, you're automatically enrolled in the Genius free trial, which you must cancel after 30 days if you don't want Albert to automatically charge you the $96 yearly fee. Most negative reviews for Albert revolve around the inconvenience of the free trial, so it's something to be aware of.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • No membership required
  • Multiple advances per pay period
  • No late fees or interest charges
  • Most features accessible with free membership
Cons
  • $96 yearly Genius membership
  • Automatically enrolled in Genius free trial
Loan amount$250
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time2 to 3 business days, or instant for a fee

Alternative for instant delivery: Brigit

Brigit

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Brigit offers advances within 20 minutes of the request if you're enrolled in the membership, have a linked card and pay an extra fee. You can get up to $250 per pay period with no late fees and extend your due date up to three times. However, Brigit may only be worth it if you need advances often, since the paid membership costs $9.99 per month.

Like Cleo, Brigit has additional features, like a credit-builder program and budgeting and monitoring tools. You can also sign up for overdraft protection. Additionally, Brigit has earned recognition from the BBB for having a 100% response rate but has a B rating with the BBB over the high volume of complaints filed against the business. It has also received poor reviews on Trustpilot.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Delivery as soon as 20 minutes
  • Competitive advance amount
  • No interest or late fees
  • Option to extend due date
Cons
  • $9.99 monthly membership
  • Mixed customer reviews
Loan amount$250
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days, or instant with a fee or Premium subscription

Alternative for no monthly fee: MoneyLion

MoneyLion Instacash advances

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MoneyLion doesn't require a monthly membership fee, and users may be eligible for advances up to $500. Several other paid membership options are available, such as RoarMoney for $1 per month, which may increase your max cash advance to $700 per pay period. MoneyLion's Credit Builder Plus program is more expensive than Cleo's, costing $19.99 per month. But with that membership tier, you can get an advance as high as $1,000. Keep in mind that qualifying for the highest cash advance amounts can take a few weeks.

  • Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
  • Higher cash advances than Cleo
  • Paid membership not requiredMultiple financial services available
Cons
  • Costly $19.99 credit-builder membership
  • Benefits not entirely clear with all membership tiers
  • May take weeks to qualify for max cash advance
Loan amount$250, $1000 with RoarMoney account
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeUp to 5 days or instant for a fee

Alternative for credit building: Possible Finance

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

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Like Cleo, Possible Finance is a mobile app, but it offers short-term installment loans instead of cash advances. You can borrow up to $500 without a monthly membership fee, and Possible reports your activity to two of the three credit bureaus. So, there's a chance to build your credit with timely payments.

However, Possible is not cheap. It charges $15 to $20 per $100 borrowed, depending on your state, with rates reaching 460% APR in some cases. This rate makes it significantly more expensive than Cleo, even if you pay a fee for instant funding. However, the loan term can be much longer than a cash advance, with up to eight weeks to repay the loan. Most cash advance apps automatically deduct the repayment when your next paycheck clears.

  • Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
Pros
  • Reports to two credit bureaus
  • Longer repayment terms than cash advances
  • No monthly membership fee
Cons
  • APRs can reach 460%
  • Costs vary by state
  • Limited state availability
Loan amountUp to $500
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround timeAs fast as 1 business day

Alternative for full paycheck advance: B9

B9 pay advance app

B9 offers cash advances of up to 100% of your earnings, which is one of the largest advances offered by apps. To qualify, you must have a positive account balance and direct deposit set up, and when you're deemed eligible, it alerts you in the app that you have an available advance. B9 also accepts an ITIN instead of an SSN and offers customer support in English and Spanish.

While B9's advances don't have fees, it still isn't free — you'll have to enroll in a $9.99 or $19.99 monthly membership, one of the most expensive memberships compared to other apps. For people who don't need cash advances that often, the monthly membership fee may not be worth the cost. And there aren't many reviews for B9, so there's little insight into its customer experience.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Advance up to 100% of your paycheck
  • Instant delivery available
  • No SSN required
  • English and Spanish customer support
Cons
  • $9.99 or $19.99 monthly membership fee
  • Not many customer reviews
Loan amountUp to 100% of your paycheck
Loan TermNot Stated
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for large cash advance: Dave

Dave ExtraCash

Dave offers cash advances through its ExtraCash advance product, up to $500, with no interest charges or late fees. Dave does require a $1 monthly membership to access ExtraCash, but it's still much more affordable than many other cash advance apps. And like other apps, tipping is optional.

Dave offers two delivery speeds. The instant speed can cost $1.99 to $11.99, depending on the size of your advance. The standard delivery comes with no extra fee but a turnaround time of two to three days. Dave also offers extra perks, such as a gig connection service and budgeting features.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Higher borrowing amount than competitors
  • No interest or late fees
  • Banking and budgeting features
Cons
  • Requires paid membership
  • Instant delivery fee varies
Loan amountUp to $500
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeUp to 3 business days, or instant for a fee

How does Cleo compare?

If you only need cash advances for small amounts and like using Cleo’s different budgeting tools, it may be worth paying the $5.99 monthly membership fee. But other apps may offer higher cash advances and lower fees than Cleo.

But compared to predatory payday loans — which charge extremely high interest rates and fees — Cleo is likely a cheaper option since it doesn’t charge any interest on balances owed.

Pros

  • No credit check required
  • No interest on cash advances
  • Tools to help you save money and build credit

Cons

  • $5.99 monthly membership fee
  • $3.99 express transfer fee
  • Three to four business days for regular transfers

Alternatives to cash advance apps for Cleo customers

Cash advances aren’t for everyone. You typically only get the money until your next payday, and most apps only offer small amounts of money — some as low as $20 — until you’ve used the app enough to earn more.

If those terms won’t help enough when you need emergency funds, consider the following alternatives:

  • Credit card advance. Most credit cards allow you to withdraw cash when you need it. You’ll probably be allowed to withdraw more than you can get through a cash advance app, though you’ll have to pay a transaction fee and a special interest rate. But not all credit cards treat advances the same. If you think you’ll use this feature more than once, you may want to consider a card like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card that offers a lower-than-average cash advance rate.
  • Local resources. Check local government programs at the city, county and state level that might help you cover monthly bills, such as your rent or utilities. This can also be a way to get out of a cash advance cycle if you find yourself needing help more months than not.
  • Credit counseling. If you find yourself in a cycle of constantly taking out cash advances to keep your bills paid, you may consider credit counseling. A counselor can help establish a budget to make sure your bills are paid and your spending is in line with your income.

These cash advance apps that work like Cleo aren’t your only means of getting a short-term loan when you need it. Compare other cash advance apps or payday loan alternatives before you make a final decision.

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