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8 Best Cash Advance Apps for Fast & Easy Cash Loans in 2025

Here are the top cash advance apps that offer quick cash when you need it ASAP.

Cash advance apps are a convenient way to borrow small amounts of money before payday — typically between $20 to $500 or more. Unlike other types of loans, cash advance apps don’t charge interest. Instead, you pay for a monthly subscription, or optional tip, although some apps are free aside from expedited transfer fees. This generally makes them cheaper than payday and installment loans, which often charge APRs of 400% and up.

Best cash advance apps

Here are 8 of the best apps to help you make it to payday. You can also scroll down to watch our video breakdown after the list.

  • Best for hourly employees: EarnIn
  • Best for larger advances: Current
  • Best for gig workers: Cleo
  • Best for payment flexibility: Brigit
  • Best for low fees: Chime MyPay
  • Best for longer repayment window: Varo
  • Best for building a portfolio: Albert
  • Best for budget planning: ONE@Work

Why trust Finder?

  • 15+ cash advance products reviewed by our team of experts
  • 20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics

We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

Best for hourly employees

EarnIn

9.5 Excellent

Read review

EarnIn is a free app that lets you borrow $150 a day — or more with an EarnIn Card — up to $1,000 per pay period, with no monthly subscription fee. With EarnIn, your advance amount depends on the hours you've worked, which you can verify in a few ways.

While no subscription fee or tipping is required to use EarnIn, you need to provide a work schedule, a work email address or GPS earnings so EarnIn can view what you've made. Normal transfer times are up to two business days or within minutes if you use EarnIn's Lightning Speed service, starting at $3.99 per transfer.

Loan Amount Up to $1,000
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 $3.99 per transfer
  • Not available in: Connecticut

Best for larger advances

Current

8.7 Great

Read review

Unlike most cash advance apps that top out at around $250 to $500, Current offers advances up to $750. And it doesn't charge a monthly subscription, which also puts it ahead of the competition. Plus you can trade crypto on your current account.

You just need at least $500 in eligible deposits and to get paid by direct deposit to qualify. Advances are typically deposited within three days or you can get it the same day for a fee.

Loan Amount $50 - $750
Turnaround time Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee
Costs Free
  • Not available in: Wisconsin

Best for gig workers

Cleo

8.2 Great

Read review

Cleo is an AI-powered budgeting and cash advance app that could work well for gig workers and freelancers. Unlike other cash advance apps, you don't need to show a minimum amount of recurring deposits to qualify for cash advances.

As long as you have consistent income, you could qualify for cash advances up to $250 after you establish an income history. To get advances through Cleo, you'll need to pay a monthly subscription fee of $5.99 and same-day transfers cost between and $3.99.

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

Best for payment flexibility

Brigit

8.4 Great

Read review

Brigit is a financial app that has a free and paid subscription. To get cash advances up to $250 per pay period, you must sign up for one of two paid plans: Plus or Premium. Both offer cash advances and payment extensions, but Premium gives you access to free instant transfers and Brigit's credit-builder program.

To request a payment extension, select the extend repayment option in the app and choose a date that works for you. Repayment extensions are available to users with at least two consecutive on-time payments before the request. You can store up to three payment extensions for use later.

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: $15.99/month
  • Available in all states

Best for low fees

Chime MyPay®

9.4 Excellent

Read review

Chime MyPay is a popular banking app that offers cash advances of up to $500. Unlike many apps, it doesn't require a monthly subscription to qualify for advances, and all fast transfers are a flat $2 fee. Or you can get it within 24 hours for free. It also offers free credit building, high-yield savings and free overdraft protection.

All you need is a Chime checking account and activated debit card to qualify. And it only requires $200 in eligible direct deposits. But to qualify for larger advances, you'll typically need bigger deposits, and it's not available everywhere yet.

Loan Amount $20 - $500
Turnaround time Within 24 hours or $2 for instant transfers
Costs No subscription fees
  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Best for longer repayment window

Varo Cash Advance

9.4 Excellent

Read review

Varo offers one of the longest repayment windows among cash advance apps, giving you a full 30 days to repay, more than double the time most apps allow. There are no monthly fees, no credit checks, no late fees and no tipping prompts, making it a low-stress way to borrow.

You can access between $20 and $500 with flat, transparent fees ranging from $1.60 to $40 depending on the advance amount. Plus, Varo provides same-day transfers directly to your Varo Bank account with no extra fees, so you get fast access to funds without surprise costs.

To qualify, you'll need an active Varo Bank account and at least $800 in qualifying direct deposits over the past 30 days.

Loan Amount $20 - $500
Turnaround time Instant, once qualified
Costs No membership fee, transfer fee up to $40

Best for building a portfolio

Albert

8.8 Great

Read review

Albert is a popular cash advance app that instantly provides up to $1,000 to members. You don't need a subscription to use the cash advance feature, it's available to any eligible Albert member with a connected bank account and consistent direct deposits. Eligibility is determined by your ongoing account history and activity.

Albert also offers optional subscription tiers which include extra tools like budgeting insights, automated savings, spending alerts, and other financial management features. Combined with the cash advance option, these features help users manage short-term cash gaps and stay on top of their finances.

Loan Amount $25 - $1,000
Turnaround time Instant
Costs Optional $14.99 monthly subscription to access budgeting and basic savings
  • Available in all states

Best for budget planning

ONE@Work

9.5 Excellent

Read review

ONE@Work, formerly Even, is an employer-sponsored financial app that lets you access up to 50% of your earned wages before payday. If your employer offers Instapay, advances are typically free and instant, otherwise, you may wait longer or pay a small fee. The app also helps you budget smarter by tracking upcoming bills and reminding you how much to set aside.

Loan Amount Up to 50% of earned wages
Turnaround time Same day if employer has configured this benefit. If not, small fee applies
Costs Free
  • Available in all states

Methodology: How we chose the best cash advance apps

Our team of loan experts looked at 16+ cash advance apps before narrowing it down to the best eight. We also regularly review and update our selections to make sure our picks are the best in the market and best suited for their categories.

Each app is weighed across 10 key metrics: Borrowing limits, monthly subscription fees, turnaround time, transfer fees, tip requirements, ease of use, state availability, additional financial features, ease of verifying accounts and overdraft protection features. We also consider customer reviews and Better Business Bureau accreditation.

Watch our video breakdown of the best cash advance apps available today:

How much a $100 cash advance will cost you

Cash advance apps do not charge interest rates. However, we’ve factored in subscriptions associated with each cash advance app to put together what an equivalent APR would look like for each provider.

This way, you can compare the cost of cash advance apps against other types of loans that charge interest rates. The equivalent APRs we show are what you’d pay on a $100 instant transfer cash advance with a 14-day repayment period, and tapping into the cheapest instant transfer fee offered.

Equivalent APRs on a $100 loan with a 14-day repayment period

Cash app providerNormal transfer timeInstant transfer feeEquivalent APRDevices
EarnIn1 to 2 business days$2.99 to $5.9977.8%iPhone, Android
CleoUp to 4 business days$3.99 + $5.99 monthly subscription260%iPhone, Android
Brigit1-3 days$0.99 to $3.99 instant transfer fee
+
$9.99/month membership
Or
$14.99/month membership that includes free instant transfers
195.40%iPhone, Android
Chime MyPayWithin 24 hours$2 flat fee52%iPhone, Android
Varo1 to 3 days$1.60 to $40.0041.7%iPhone, Android
Albert2-3 days$6.99 instant transfer fee
+
$14.99/month membership
573.04%iPhone, Android, web
ONE@WorkImmediatelyFree, when employer has enabled this benefit0%iPhone, Android
Hot tip: If you don't need your funds the same day, APRs can be as low as 0% since some providers, like MoneyLion or EarnIn, don't charge monthly fees. But if you see yourself taking out frequent same-day cash advances, you can save money by choosing an app with low instant transfer fees.

Pros and cons of cash apps

Compared to payday and installment loans — which can be predatory and charge sky-high interest rates exceeding 400% or more — cash advance apps are a cheaper alternative to borrowing money.

Here are the main pros and cons of using a cash app.

Pros

  • No interest or finance fees charged. Unlike payday, installment and personal loans, cash apps don’t charge interest or finance fees.
  • Low or no fees. Most cash apps come with nominal fees, usually between $1 and $10 per month. Some charge no mandatory fees and only require you to pay for optional instant transfers.
  • No credit check. Unlike most loans, cash apps don’t require a credit check and have no minimum credit score to qualify. This is great if you have bad credit or no credit history.
  • Overdraft protection. Many cash apps monitor your bank balance and will alert you or send funds automatically if you’re at risk of an overdraft.
  • Good for emergencies. A cash app is generally a cheaper way to access small amounts of cash than using a credit card advance or in-store payday loan, which typically costs $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed.

Cons

  • Low amounts. Most apps only lend up to $250 or $500 per pay period. This is fine for smaller expenses but may not be enough to cover major ones like car repairs. Plus, not all users will qualify for the largest amounts.
  • Transfers can take a few days. Most cash apps offer free transfers, but they can take a few days. To get cash sooner, you typically have to pay a fee.
  • May overdraft your account. Cash advance apps automatically deduct money from your bank account to repay your cash advance, which could cause an overdraft if you’re not careful.
  • Can feel invasive. Cash apps require a link to your bank account to monitor your direct deposits, and some require you to upload your work schedule or enable GPS tracking to verify you’re at work.
  • May lead to dependency. Repeatedly borrowing against your paycheck can lead to poor financial habits that discourage you from spending wisely.

How cash advance apps work

Cash advance apps analyze your finances and offer cash advances of varying amounts — anywhere from $20 to $500 and sometimes more. How much you can borrow typically depends on a mix of the following factors:

  • Direct deposit history
  • Minimum bank balance
  • Number of hours worked
  • Spending habits
  • Upcoming bills

How to find the best cash advance app

Here are six considerations when choosing a cash advance app:

  • Customer reviews. Online reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Play, the App Store and Trustpilot are great places to get a sense of real-life customer experiences as well as how easy or difficult it is to qualify for advances and receive money.
  • Fees. Compare monthly fees and instant transfer fees. For example, if you do a lot of fast transfers, you’re better off with an app that charges low instant transfer fees. Chime MyPay, for example, only charges $2 for advances of any size.
  • Cash advance limits. Apps vary widely in how much you can borrow, with limits ranging anywhere from $20 to $500 and up. To get higher advance amounts, you typically need to set up direct deposit and establish a history of regular deposits.
  • Repayment requirements. Most apps automatically deduct what you owe from your next paycheck, but some apps, like Brigit, allow you to change or extend your repayment due date if you need more time. This can be helpful if you’re worried about overdrafts.
  • Employer requirements. Most apps don’t require you to work for a specific employer, but some apps like One@Work and Payactiv, require that your employer supports the app.
  • Security and hacks. While no app provider is 100% secure, most use 256-bit encryption and adhere to PCI DSS standards — the same used by all major banks. But hacks and data breaches can still occur, so it’s important to keep an eye out.

Compare cash advance apps

Finder Score Max. amount per pay period Turnaround time Costs bullet point infobox
Finder score
Up to $150/day, with a max of $1000 between paydays
1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee
Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $3.99 per transfer
Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $1000 between paydays. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
Finder score
$50 to $750
Up to 3 days or within an hour for a fee
Free
Get up to $750 before payday, once you qualify. Paycheck Advance is an earned wage access service and is not a loan or credit product. Subject to Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
Finder score
Up to $250
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
OppLoans logo
Finder score
Finder score
$500 to $5,000
As soon as the same business day
160% - 195% APR
Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
CreditNinja logo
Finder score
Finder score
$300 to $5,000
1 to 2 business days
APRs over 36% plus fees
Not available in: AK, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OR, VT, VA, WA, WV. Fast online funding up to $5K, but you won't know about rates and terms until after you apply.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
Chime logo
Finder score
Finder score
Up to $500
Within 24 hours or $2 for instant transfers
No subscription fees
Plus access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions.
Go to siteMore info
Compare product selection
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What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.

To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.

Read the full breakdown

Should I use a cash advance app?

You might be a good candidate for a cash advance app if:

  • You receive a biweekly paycheck that doesn’t align with your monthly billing cycle.
  • You regularly find yourself overdrafting your account and paying hefty fees.
  • You’re willing to pay extra for services that can improve your personal finances, such as credit-building programs.
  • You rarely need to borrow more than $250 per pay period.
  • You currently have bad credit or no credit history.

If you’re self-employed and don’t think you’ll be eligible for a cash advance app, you might check out Cleo, which welcomes self-employed and gig workers. Or, for larger loan amounts, read our guide to getting a loan while self-employed. Those who just started a new job or have a job offer, may want to consider your options as a new employee.

What if I can’t pay back my cash app advance?

If you can’t pay back your advance, your bank account will likely be overdrawn, leading to an overdraft fee. However, some apps, like Brigit, may let you change your due date if you foresee being unable to repay on time.

You’ll want to stay on top of your bank balance to make sure you don’t end up paying overdraft fees because of your cash advance app loan

Alternatives to cash advance apps

Cash advance apps can’t help in every situation. If you have irregular paychecks or need to borrow higher amounts, you may want to look into these alternatives:

  • Ask your employer for an advance. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, your employer is a logical place to ask for help. If it’s a one-time situation, HR may be willing to help by advancing part of your paycheck.
  • Consider a loan from a CDFI. You may be able to get a small-dollar, short-term loan at a lower cost than from a payday lender by going through a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). These are typically local banks or credit unions that serve low-income or rural areas.
  • Compare alternative short-term lenders. While more expensive than a personal loan from a bank, some providers offer short-term loans at a lower cost than payday lenders, with a chance to build your credit.
  • Take out a personal loan. If you need to borrow more than a cash advance app allows, you may want to consider a personal loan instead. But you’ll need good credit to get the best rates.
  • Take out a credit card cash advance. If you have enough credit available, you can get cash from an ATM or bank in an emergency. Cash advance rates run high, so have a plan to pay it off sooner rather than later.
  • Get a payday loan — as a last resort. If you’ve exhausted other options, payday lenders can get you cash as soon as the same day. But beware — rates are high and many payday borrowers wind up in a cycle of debt. You may want to consider OppLoans for a lower rate installment loan instead.
  • Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) apps. While not a cash advance, BNPL apps let you purchase items you need and pay them off later. Choose from the best BNPL apps for cash-free purchases today.

Compare local resources and more payday loan alternatives to explore more alternative funding options.

Need cash right away?

A handful of cash advance apps can get you funds within minutes or a couple days or allow for instant cash pickup at storefront locations. But not all cash advance apps have an instant turnaround time — it may take up to three business days unless you pay an expedited transfer fee.

And keep in mind that “instant loans” usually come as a paycheck advance, which means they may only be available to users with a history of regular direct deposits. For example, it may require direct deposits from the same source for 60 to 90 days before you’re eligible for advances.

FAQs

Sources

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Writer

Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio

Kat's expertise
Kat has written 149 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Mortgages
  • Home equity loans
  • Mortgage refinancing
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