Cash advance apps launched in Canada around 2021 and have proven themselves against payday loans and overdraft protection as legitimate solutions for covering small, urgent expenses. They offer instant approval and e-Transfer funding, whether you need to borrow $25, $50, $100 or more.
Compare the options available to you and apply online to pay for your emergency expense fast.
Compare cash advance apps in Canada
Currently, there are only a handful of cash advance apps in Canada. You pay no interest on these loans, but you may pay a monthly fee.
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Finder Score for cash advance apps
To make comparing even easier, we came up with the Finder Score. Interest rates, fees and features across 5+ cash advance apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the loan—simple.
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for long-term borrowing, with up to $14 charged per $100 borrowed. If you're experiencing financial hardship, consider calling Credit Counselling Canada for free financial counselling (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at +1 866-398-5999). You may also want to consider payday loan alternatives.
Alternative: Payday loan apps
Just like cash advance apps, payday loan apps allow you to get a small loan instantly. However, they have extremely high rates.
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What are the best cash advance apps in Canada?
There aren’t many cash advance apps in Canada yet, but the most popular and highly rated apps are KOHO, Nyble and Bree.
Chime is not available in Canada because Chime requires applicants to be US citizens in order to be eligible. Instead, you can explore our list of reputable alternative payday loan apps in Canada here.
Cash advance apps vs payday loan apps: How do they compare?
If you need to borrow money fast, here are the similarities and differences between these loan apps.
Cash advance apps (Nyble, Bree, KOHO)
Payday loan apps (Wagepay, iCash, Money Mart)
Loan amount
Up to $500 (first-time customers may be approved for less than $100)
Up to $1,500
Loan term
By your next payday or extend the deadline as needed
By your next payday
Cost
Can be significantly cheaper: 0% interest for many apps, some charge a small monthly fee or request a tip
Can be significantly more expensive: $14 for every $100 borrowed, which works out to APRs in the triple digits
Speed
3 business days or within a few minutes if you pay a fee
Usually instant or in under 30 minutes
Eligibility
Age of majority, linked bank account, proof of employment and income
Age of majority, linked bank account, proof of employment and income
Cash advance apps have very lenient requirements. As long as you have a bank account with an income getting paid into it, there’s a chance of getting approved. In KOHO’s case, you don’t even need to have a job or an income.
Ask yourself these questions to help narrow down your options to find the best app for needs.
How much do you need to borrow?
Decide how much you need to borrow to cover your expenses before your paycheque comes in. If you need a small amount—like a $50 loan—instantly, then apps like KOHO, Bree and Nyble could be the way to go, but you’ll need to opt for instant funding. If you need a $200 loan or more, you may need to first demonstrate a history of making payments before getting approved by a cash advance app.
How much does the loan cost?
Be wary of having a monthly subscription with a cash advance app, as the cost could add up. Payday loans, on the other hand, are $14 for every $100 borrowed, which works out to APRs in the triple digits.
When can you pay it back?
Cash advance apps allow more flexible repayments than payday loans. With payday loans, you have to repay them by your next payday, whereas with cash advance apps, you can extend the deadline if you need to.
Is credit building important to you?
Payday loans can’t improve your credit score since payday lenders don’t report payments to the credit bureaus, while select cash advance apps, such as Nyble, can.
How do I repay my cash loan?
Payday lenders and cash advance apps will automatically deduct the money from your bank account on the day you get paid. For cash advance apps, if you need to extend the deadline, contact them in advance to arrange a later date.
Pros and cons of cash advance apps in Canada
Pros
Can be less expensive. Cash advance apps charge zero interest, and you can lower your cost further by opting for standard delivery and by choosing a cash advance app that has little to no membership fees.
Quick turnaround. Get a cash advance within minutes if you opt for instant funding.
Budgeting features. Some cash advance apps track your income and spending to warn you if you risk overdrawing your account.
Rewards. Some cash advance apps let you earn rewards as you borrow and repay your loans.
Non-employment incomes are okay. You can get a cash advance if you’re receiving benefits, such as disability, CPP and Canada child benefit.
Simple online process. Cash advance apps are easy to use, convenient and highly rated.
Cons
Must have a recurring income. You might need to have a stable income that’s paid directly into your bank account.
Low loan amounts. If you need to borrow more than a few hundred dollars, you’ll need to apply elsewhere.
Wide range of instant funding fees. Instant funding charges vary widely depending on the app you go with and your loan amount.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
Credit card cash advance. This type of cash advance in Canada lets you borrow money from your credit card. You’ll usually pay interest rates of 21.99% to 23.99%, and the amount you owe will be added to your regular credit card balance. You can take out a credit card cash advance instantly from an ATM, just as you would withdraw cash with a debit card.
Installment loans. Borrow larger amounts between $500 and $10,000 and take 3 - 60 months to repay your loan. You’ll pay lower APRs than you would with payday loan apps. Learn more about top installment loans.
Overdraft protection. You can get overdraft protection with your bank account to ensure you don’t get charged fees if you overdraw your account. Overdraft protection limits can reach as high as $5,000, and you’ll pay interest on any amount you borrow in addition to paying a monthly fee.
Line of credit. Instead of relying on cash advance apps, consider a line of credit. A line of credit is a revolving credit account where you borrow and repay money (up to a predetermined limit) on an ongoing basis. If you have good credit, you may be able to score a line of credit with a low-interest rate. Only consider a line of credit if you’re confident you can regularly repay what you borrow. Otherwise, you may end up maxing out the line of credit and getting stuck with a larger debt load.
Some examples of payday loan and pay advance apps that give loans instantly in Canada are iCash, Nyble and KOHO. Learn more about these and other instant loan apps in our full breakdown above.
An early payroll loan lets you borrow funds through an instant money app that works with your employer to give you early access to part of your paycheque. These apps let you borrow money interest-free against funds you've already earned through work.
It doesn't seem like you can borrow funds using Cash App in Canada. With a Cash App account, you can receive paycheques up to two days early, but you can't borrow funds against your paycheque. Learn more about loans like Cash App.
No, Nyble and Bree are not payday loans.
Sources
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Leanne Escobal is a publisher at Finder with more than 12 years of experience in financial products and services, with a focus on content strategy and marketing. She has completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) as well as the Personal Lending and Mortgages course through the Canadian Securities Institute. Leanne holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature and creative writing from Western University.
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Chelsey Hurst is a publisher at Finder, specializing in banking and investments. She loves empowering people to avoid financial pitfalls and make better decisions with their money. Chelsey has a Bachelor of Science from Redeemer University, a Master of Science from McMaster University, and has won multiple awards for research communication. In her spare time, Chelsey enjoys cooking and taking long walks in nature.
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