Dave is a banking app that offers cash advances, but you’ll need to pay a $1 monthly membership fee. While that’s pretty inexpensive for a financial app, it’s still another monthly membership to account for.
Dave’s $500 cash advances are high compared to many other apps, but it’s possible to find an app that offers twice that amount to select borrowers. Same-day funding also isn’t free, and Dave’s $1.99 to $13.99 instant funding fee is high compared to competitors. If you are transferring funds to your Dave Spending account the fee ranges from $1.99 to $9.99 for instant transfers. Money transferred instantly to an external bank account involves a fee ranging from $2.99 to $13.99.
If you don’t want to pay the instant funding fee, you’ll wait up to three business days for your cash advance.
If you’d rather have a cash advance app that doesn’t require a membership fee or you want some additional banking features, these cash advance apps may be a better alternative to Dave.
Our 10 top picks for apps like Dave
Alternative for overdraft feature
Chime's SpotMe is a no-fee overdraft service that provides up to $200 to cover overdrafts to your Chime Checking account. To qualify, you need to make a monthly direct deposit of $200 or more into your Chime checking account and activate your Chime debit card.
SpotMe only covers overdrafts caused by ATM or debit card transactions and starts with just $20 of protection. You can raise this limit with regular deposits and a solid account history, by qualifying for promotional bonuses offered by Chime or by using SpotMe Boost, a program that allows existing members to boost each other's SpotMe protection.
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 fees or tipping obligation
- Low monthly direct deposit requirement of $200
- Get paid up to 2 days early
Cons
- Overdraft limits start at $20 and max out at $200
- Must use with Chime Checking account and debit card
- Overdraft only covers debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals
| Loan amount | Up to $200 |
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| Loan Term | Next deposit |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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| Loan amount | $20 - $200 |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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Alternative for accessing wages
EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $750 of your earned wages before payday with its Cash Out feature. This borrowing limit is significantly higher than most cash advance apps, and unlike payday loans, there are no interest or financing fees to use Cash Outs.
To qualify for EarnIn Cash Outs, you need to be employed, have regular direct deposits and earn a minimum of $320 each pay period. You can transfer $100 a day to a linked bank account or more than $100 per day to an EarnIn card. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee.
Pros
- No credit check required
- No mandatory fees, interest or tipping
- Free credit score tracking included
- Cash Out more than $100 per day with an EarnIn card
Cons
- Verification of employment earnings required
- Same-day (Lightning) transfers attract a fee
- Can only qualify with employment income
- Not ideal for gig workers
| Loan amount | Get up to $100 per day or $750 per pay period. |
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| Loan Term | Due by your next pay date |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days, or same-day for a fee |
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| Loan amount | Up to $750 |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days, or same-day for a fee |
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Alternative for budgeting features
If you love to stay on top of your finances, look no further than Cleo. This AI-powered app excels at helping you stay on top of your spending and bills with payment reminders, overdraft alerts and a spending tracker with an optional “roast mode” to let you know when you’ve gone overboard.
In addition, Cleo's paid version offers cash advances through its app with no minimum income requirement or credit checks. As long as you have regular income coming into your bank account, you could qualify for cash advances starting at $20 to $250.
Pros
- No payslips or W-2 forms required
- No credit checks or interest charged
- Set personalized savings goals
Cons
- Paid plan costs $5.99 a month or yearly subscription $44.99
- Same-day transfers cost $3.99
- Mixed customer reviews
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee. |
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| Loan amount | $20 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee. |
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Alternative for frequent cash advances
Albert is a newer banking app, offering cash advances up to $250. While that is lower than Dave's maximum advance, Albert allows qualifying users to take out multiple cash advances per pay period — provided you maintain a good repayment history. There are also no late fees, required tip, inactivity fees, interest charges or membership fees required.
Albert offers a paid membership called Genius, costing $12.49 or $14.99 monthly. With the paid membership, you can access 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.
Pros
- No membership required
- Multiple advances per pay period
- No late fees or interest charges
- Most features accessible with free membership
Cons
- $12.49 or $14.99 monthly Genius membership
- Automatically enrolled in Genius free trial
- Lower cash advance amount than Dave
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
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| Loan Term | N/A |
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| Turnaround time | 2–3 business days or instant for a fee |
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| Loan amount | $25 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 2–3 business days or instant for a fee |
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Alternative for flexible repayment
Brigit is one of the few apps that allows you to extend your due date if you can't make your repayment. You can extend your due date up to three times, making it a useful option if you need flexible repayment options. Standard funding takes up to three business days, or you can opt to get your money in as little as 20 minutes for a small fee.
With more than 4 million users, Brigit's standard cash advance and overdraft protection features won't cost you extra, but you have to pay a monthly membership fee ranging from $8.99 to $14.99 — much higher than Dave's $1 monthly membership. And for those with life partners or spouses, know that Brigit doesn't accept joint bank accounts.
Pros
- Auto overdraft protection
- No interest or fee on advance
- Due date extensions available
- Instant delivery available
Cons
- Pricey $8.99 monthly membership fee
- Standard delivery may take up to two business days
- Doesn't accept joint bank accounts
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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Alternative for all mobile banking needs
Cash App is the #1 banking app in the Apple App Store. It's widely known for its peer-to-peer (P2P) payment system, which allows you to quickly send money to other users for free. Cash App is also full of banking features, including early paycheck arrival and investing options. It also has a free Visa debit card, called the Cash Card, which can be used for purchases connected to your Cash App balance.
Its latest feature is called Borrow, which the app hasn't officially launched yet. Currently, qualified users can borrow small loans from $20 to $200. It's still in the early stages, so it's not widely available just yet, and you'll likely need to live in an eligible state, have good credit and be an active user. And while Cash App is a widely-known app and highly-ranked, it does have a lot of negative reviews on Trustpilot, mostly related to users accidentally sending money to a scam account or issuing with refunds if money is accidentally sent to the wrong account. The Better Business Bureau has on the other hand given it an independent A+ rating, despite negative customer reviews.
Pros
- Full of mobile banking features
- Highly-ranked banking app
- Simple P2P payment system
- Borrow small loans
Cons
- Borrow feature in pilot
- Loans have interest charges
- Mostly negative Trustpilot reviews
| Loan amount | $20 to $200 |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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| Loan amount | $20 - $200 |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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Alternative for tracking your finances
One@work, formerly Even, calls itself an “earned wage access” app, and it offers advances of up to 50% of the money you've already earned through its Instapay feature — as long as you work at a qualifying employer. It states its partner with leading employers to allow its 800,000 active members to access their money early. You can pick up your cash the same day at any US Walmart.
It also offers saving features, where you can choose a percentage of your earnings to be automatically placed in a savings account. It also features budgeting features, work schedule tracking and paycheck tracking. But unlike Dave, Even requires a $6 monthly Even Plus membership fee to access its Instapay advance feature. The only exception is if one's employer has made it so Instaapay is free for its employees.
Pros
- Cash advances of 50% of earnings
- No interest or required tip
- Same-day cash pickup available at any US Walmart
- Budgeting and finance trackers
Cons
- $6 monthly membership
- Advances limited to earnings
- Must have eligible employer
| Loan amount | 50% of paycheck |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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| Loan amount | 50% of paycheck |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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Alternative for nonresidents
B9 offers cash advances of up to 100% of your paycheck. You can access your paycheck up to 15 days before your scheduled payday. And B9 doesn't require a Social Security Number to register like most other cash apps — you can sign up with an ITIN. It also offers customer service in English and Spanish.
To get advances, you need to open a B9 checking account and set up direct deposit. After you're paid, B9 will alert you if there's an advance available to you within one hour of getting paid. However, it can be expensive compared to Dave. The basic plan, which costs $9.99 per month, only allows you to take out advances up to $100. B9 Premium plan can advance up to 100% of your paycheck but costs $19.99 per month and also includes credit reports as well as a credit score stimulator. B9 does offer other features, such as its B9 Visa debit card with cashback.
Pros
- Up to 100% of your paycheck in advances
- Accepts ITIN and SSN
- Debit card with cashback
- Instant transfer to other B9 users
Cons
- Low $100 advance for basic plan
- High $9.99 to $19.99 monthly membership fee
| Loan amount | Up to 100% of your paycheck |
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| Loan Term | Not Stated |
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| Turnaround time | Instant |
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| Loan amount | $30 - $500 |
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| Turnaround time | Instant |
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Alternative for short-term loans
Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans
Possible Finance is another mobile app, but unlike Dave, it offers short-term installment loans — not cash advances. You can borrow up to $500, the same maximum amount as Dave, but without that monthly membership fee. Additionally, Possible does report to two of the three credit bureaus, so there's a chance to build your credit with timely payments. Dave doesn't offer any credit-building services.
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 Dave, 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
- Same borrowing amount as Dave
- 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 amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | 2 to 8 weeks |
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| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
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Alternative for large cash advances
MoneyLion Instacash advances
MoneyLion offers some of the highest cash advance amounts. If you stick with the free membership, you can get advances up to $500. And with the $1-per-month RoarMoney membership, you may qualify for advances up to 80% of your paycheck, capped at $1,000. By contrast, Dave's cash advances require a $1 membership and are capped at $500.
In addition to the cash advances, MoneyLion has other features like Credit Builder Plus, which allows you to take out credit-building loans, and MoneyLion Crypto, where you can buy and sell crypto assets. However, MoneyLion has run into some issues with regulators and has many consumer complaints on its Better Business Bureau profile.
- Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
- No paid membership required
- Up to $1,000 advances with paid membership
- No interest or required tip
- Credit builder and crypto features
Cons
- Pattern of negative customer complaints
- Issues with regulators in 2022
- Must pay $19.99 monthly fee to unlock cash advances up to $700
| Loan amount | Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account |
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| Loan Term | Due by your next pay date |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 |
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How does Dave compare?
Dave launched in 2017 and reporting 10 million users, Dave is a top competitor amongst banking apps. Its low $1 monthly membership fee lets you take out cash advances up to $500 within 5 minutes — many apps limit advances to around $200 per pay period. The app also offers a checking account with no overdraft fees, and a feature called Side Hustle, which can help you find local jobs for extra cash.
However, other apps such as Albert and Cash App don’t require a monthly membership fee to get cash advances. In MoneyLion’s case, there isn’t a mandatory monthly membership free unless you want to unlock cash advances up to $700.
Dave is accredited with the BBB, carrying a B rating, but does have poor customer reviews on the BBB profile and over 459 BBB customer complaints in the last three years. It also doesn’t have a Trustpilot profile, so insight is limited.
For a more detailed look, read our full Dave app review.
Pros
- Low $1 monthly membership fee
- $500 cash advances per pay period
- Checking account with no overdraft fees
- Other features like Side Hustle
Cons
- Not many customer reviews
- Over 459 BBB complaints
- No investing feature
How do you apply?
Hi David,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
Loan application may differ from one lender to another. To apply from any of the lenders from this page, you may directly visit their website and see if they have online application so you can do it over the internet. You may also reach out to their support team to check if they have other ways on how to apply.
Hope this helps! 😊
Kind Regards,
Mai