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Apps like Empower
9 apps like Empower that may give you a bigger bang for your buck.
Empower is a financial services company that offers up to $300 cash advances with no credit checks or interest. But to get advances, you need to pay a monthly membership fee of $8. This fee covers instant transfers to your Empower card, or transfers to your linked bank account usually within one business day. Instant transfers to your bank account are also available but cost between $1 and $8 depending on the advance amount.
While many people like it, Empower isn’t the only cash advance app on the block. These other apps like Empower are similar, but may offer higher advance limits, lower fees and additional features like free overdraft, which could help you save.
| Lender | Loan amount | Fees | Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Up to $500 | $1.60 to $40 | Instant, once qualified | ||
Up to $250 | $5.99 | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. | ||
Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays | No membership fee | 1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee | ||
Up to $500 | $11.99 | Instant | ||
$50 to $250 | $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. | ||
$50 to $750 | Free | Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee | ||
Up to $500 | Up to $5 | Free instant transfers to Dave Checking, up to 3 business days for free, or within an hour for a fee | ||
$30 to $500 | $11.99 or $19.99 | Instant | ||
$20 to $625 | Free | As soon as same day or instant for a fee |
Our 9 top picks for apps like Empower
- Alternative for longer repayment window: Varo
- Alternative for freelancers: Cleo
- Alternative for large advance amounts: EarnIn
- Alternative for building a portfolio: Albert
- Alternative for flexible repayments: Brigit
- Alternative for no monthly fees: Current
- Alternative for a spending account: Dave
- Alternative for no instant transfer fees: B9
- Alternative for peer-to-peer advances: SoLo Funds
Alternative for longer repayment window
Alternative for freelancers
Cleo
8.2 Great
If you're a freelancer or gig worker with multiple jobs, Cleo may be a good fit. Cleo is a financial budgeting app with a free and paid version. The free version offers a plethora of tools to help you track your spending and save more. The paid version offers the free features plus cash advances in the app, overdraft protection and cashback to your Cleo wallet.
What makes Cleo good for freelancers is that it doesn't require employment verification and has no minimum income requirement. As long as you have consistent income, you could qualify for cash advances. Its cash advance amounts start at $20 to $70, but could increase to $250 over time. Empower also has a $250 borrowing limit, but charges more for its monthly subscription than Cleo.
| Loan amount | $20 - $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. |
| Costs | $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | $20 - $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. |
| Costs | $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances |
Alternative for large advance amounts
EarnIn
9.5 Excellent
EarnIn is a popular wage-based app with no monthly fees. Unlike Empower, EarnIn lets you borrow up to $150 a day and up to $750 every pay period on wages you've already earned. But as a wage-based app, the advance amount you qualify for depends on the number of hours you've already worked.
While it doesn't cost anything to use EarnIn, you need to upload your time schedule so it can track your hours. Normal transfer times are one business day — or within minutes if you use EarnIn's Lightning Speed service. This service costs between $2.99 and $5.99 per transfer, which, depending on the amount, is cheaper than Empower and many other apps.
| Loan amount | Up to $750 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee |
| Costs | Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer |
- Not available in: Connecticut
| Loan amount | Up to $750 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee |
| Costs | Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer |
Alternative for building a portfolio
Albert
8.8 Great
Albert is a banking and cash advance app that goes beyond what Empower offers. It offers overdraft protection rather than cash advances, but the limits are the same as Empower — up to $500 per pay period. But it also packs a mix of saving and investing tools to help beginners build a customized investment portfolio with just a few questions.
It offers investment advice through its Genius service, an AI-driven, human-supported add-on feature for Albert customers. The Genius service costs $11.99 a month, but you automatically get a free 30-day trial before deciding if it's right for your investing goals.
| Loan amount | $25 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
| Costs | $11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | $25 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
| Costs | $11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection |
Alternative for no monthly fees
Current
8.7 Great
Current lets you access up to $750 from your upcoming paycheck without paying interest, subscription fees, or going through a credit check. You'll need to have a Current account and at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits per month to be eligible. Repayment happens automatically when you get paid, and while standard transfers are free, you can opt to pay a small fee for instant delivery. It's a convenient, budget-friendly option for covering short-term expenses without added financial stress.
| Loan amount | $50 - $750 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee |
| Costs | Free |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | $50 - $750 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee |
| Costs | Free |
Alternative for flexible repayments
Brigit
8.4 Great
Brigit allows you to extend your due date up to three times if you can't make your repayment on time, a perk not seen with many other apps. Standard funding takes up to three business days, or get your money as quickly as 20 minutes for a small fee. Brigit's standard overdraft or cash advance features won’t cost you extra but you’ll have to pay a monthly membership fee ranging from $8.99 to $14.99.
| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. |
| Costs | Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. |
| Costs | Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month |
Alternative for a spending account
Dave ExtraCash
8.5 Great
Dave offers higher cash advances through its ExtraCash advance product, up to $500, with no interest or late fees. However, Dave's delivery speed may be slower than Empower. Getting your funds may take one to three business days. If you want instant delivery, there's a fee from $1.99 to $25, depending on the size of your advance and where you're having it transferred. Dave also offers extra perks, such as a gig connection service and budgeting features.
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Free instant transfers to Dave Checking, up to 3 business days for free, or within an hour for a fee |
| Costs | Undisclosed |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Free instant transfers to Dave Checking, up to 3 business days for free, or within an hour for a fee |
| Costs | Undisclosed |
Alternative for no instant transfer fees
B9 pay advance app
B9 is a membership-based cash advance app that offers up to $500 per pay period — higher than Empower. Like Empower, it charges a monthly fee: $9.99 for advances up to $100 and $19.99 for advances up to $500. While these fees are high compared to other apps, you don't need to pay extra for instant transfers — which could balance things out.
To use the B9 app, you must open an FDIC-insured checking account with B9 and set up direct deposit through your employer or the B9 app. To qualify for a cash advance, you have to receive at least one direct deposit into your B9 account — but advances are available as soon as one hour after receiving your first deposit.
| Loan amount | $30 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
- Available in all states
| Loan amount | $30 - $500 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
Alternative for peer-to-peer advances
SoLo Funds payday loan alternative
SoLo Funds is a social lending app that offers peer-to-peer (P2P) microloans from $20 to $625. Like Empower's cash advances, it's designed to help you access cash to cover emergency expenses. But it's a no-interest personal loan funded by SoLo members instead of a cash advance. And SoLo gives you the option to give back to your community — not only can you borrow money, you can lend to others too.
You can get your money as soon as a member funds your loan — as quickly as 20 minutes. To use the service, it's customary, although not required, to offer a tip. You're more likely to get funded if you offer a tip, but SoLo caps tips at 15%. Unlike most cash advance apps, you must repay the loan on time or get charged a late fee of 10% plus a third party transaction fee.
| Loan amount | $20 - $625 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | As soon as same day or instant for a fee |
| Costs | Optional tip up to 15% of loan amount |
- Not available in: California
| Loan amount | $20 - $625 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | As soon as same day or instant for a fee |
| Costs | Optional tip up to 15% of loan amount |
How does Empower compare?
Compared to other cash advance apps, Empower is about average. It offers a standard advance amount — up to $300 — and its monthly fee of $8, and app features are similar to what other cash advance apps offer. However, not all cash apps charge monthly fees: EarnIn and MoneyLion are two exceptions.
On the plus side, it offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test the service before paying. Like many cash advance apps, normal ACH transfers to your bank account are free and usually arrive within one business day, which is quicker than many apps. Instant transfers cost between $1 and $8, depending on the amount — unless you have a qualifying Empower Card. These fees are also about average for most cash advance apps.
For those looking to build their credit, the company is launching Empower Thrive — a credit line that starts at $200 and can increase to $1,000 with a history of on-time payments. However, this is not a unique feature. Cash advance apps like Brigit and MoneyLion also offer credit-building loan programs for a fee.
And if you need to borrow more than $250 between paydays, you’ll likely be better off with an app like B9, EarnIn, One@Work, PayActiv or MoneyLion — all offer potentially higher amounts than Empower. Empower generally gets good reviews online, but some customers have complained about low advance limits.
Pros
- Other banking services available
- FDIC-insured automatic savings feature
- Empower Card with 10% cashback
Cons
- Monthly subscription fee
- Not all users will qualify for a $300 advance
- Instant transfers cost money unless you have an Empower Card
More alternatives to payday and installment loans
We didn’t include payday and short-term installment loans as alternatives to Empower, as they charge sky-high interest rates that can hit up to 700% APR or higher.
For short-term borrowing, cash advance apps like Empower and the other apps on our list are almost always cheaper than a payday loan, as they never charge finance fees or interest on what you borrow.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
If you prefer not to use a cash advance app that monitors your bank account or you don’t get regular direct deposits — often a requirement for cash apps — consider these other methods for accessing quick cash instead:
- Credit card cash advance. Credit card cash advances are a convenient way to access quick cash, but it’s best to limit them as fees can run high. Compare the best credit cards.
- Personal loan. If you need more than $500, compare the best personal loan lenders to find loans between $600 and $100,000. Same-day funding may even be available.
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) app. While they don’t offer cash, BNPL apps let you purchase items you need today and pay them off later. Discover a range of BNPL apps and compare costs.
- CDFI loan. These are small-dollar, short-term loans at a lower cost than a payday lender. They’re available from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
- Employer advance. If you need funds before payday, your employer may be willing to advance part of your paycheck. Or, some employers are now partnering with apps like DailyPay and Payactiv to offer cash advance benefits to employees.
See our payday loan alternatives guide for more short-term borrowing options to cover emergency expenses or tide you over to payday.
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