Apps and loans like MoneyLion

Explore Canadian alternatives that offer similar financing options compared to the US lending app, MoneyLion.

MoneyLion is a banking and cash advance app in the US that offers interest-free cash advances up to $500 per pay period with no monthly fee. If customers open a RoarMoney banking account, they can potentially increase their advance amount to $1,000 per pay period. But because MoneyLion does not service Canada, we’ve rounded up a list of alternative interest-free pay advance, payday loan and installment loan lenders you can apply for in Canada.

Is MoneyLion in Canada?

No, MoneyLion is not available in Canada. In order to apply for a MoneyLion financial product, you need to be a US citizen or permanent resident and have a Social Security number.

7 loans like MoneyLion in Canada

Here are 7 similar pay advance and loan alternatives to MoneyLion in Canada.

Loans that are not payday loans

  • Alternative for fast pay advance: Nyble
  • Alternative for overdraft protection: KOHO
  • Alternative for fee-free pay advance: Bree
  • Alternative for installment loans: MDG Financial
  • Alternative for installment loans: Green Loans

Payday loans

  • Alternative for fast payday loans: iCash
  • Alternative for in-store payday lender: Cash Money

5 personal loans like MoneyLion

Personal loans typically allow for larger amounts and longer repayment terms that cash advance apps. However, the application requirements are more strict. If your credit isn’t good, you could end up paying a high interest rate.

Alternative for fast pay advance: Nyble

Nyble Credit Line

$30 – $250
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
31 days, extendable
Term
Apply online for an interest-free line of credit of up to $250 to cover small expenses and build your credit. Get funds in 1-3 business days with a free account. For $11.99, get access to premium services, including funding in 1-30 minutes, credit monitoring and identity theft protection.
  • No credit check required
  • No application fee
  • No late payment fee
  • More affordable than payday loans
  • $11.99 for fast transfers, full credit report and other premium perks
  • Small loan amounts only
Costs 0%
Loan Amount $30 – $250
Loan Term 31 days, extendable
Credit Check No
Turnaround Time 1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.
Requirements You must be 18 years or older and have a minimum monthly income of $1,000.
Serviced Provinces All provinces and territories
Apple App Store Rating 4.8
Google Play Rating 4.8

Alternative for overdraft protection: Koho

KOHO Cover

$20 – $250
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
Flexible
Term
Get a cash advance ranging from $20 to $250 when you pay 0% + monthly fee from $2. You'll need a KOHO account to access this service.
  • No late fees
  • 0% interest
  • No impact on credit score
  • Free financial coaching service
  • KOHO savings account required
Costs 0% + monthly fee from $2
Loan Amount $20 – $250
Loan Term Flexible
Credit Check No
Turnaround Time Immediately
Requirements KOHO account—access higher loan amounts over time by using KOHO for everyday spending, repaying your monthly fees and using its other services
Serviced Provinces All provinces and territories
Apple App Store Rating 4.8
Google Play Rating 4.3

Alternative for fee-free pay advance: Bree

Bree Early Pay

$20 – $500
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
Next pay cycle (90 days max)
Term
Bree lets you borrow a small amount of up to $500 to help you cover expenses until your next payday. Like MoneyLion, Bree won't charge any interest or fees on standard funding, but there is a small monthly subscription fee plus an extra fee if you need funding within a few hours.
  • Easy application process
  • No credit checks
  • 0% interest and no late fees
  • $2.99 optional monthly membership fee for express funding
  • Loan amount may not be enough for your needs
  • May not improve your credit
Costs 0%
Loan Amount $20 – $500
Loan Term Next pay cycle (90 days max)
Credit Check No
Turnaround Time Receive funds within 5 minutes with express delivery (the fee is based on the advance amount) and within 1 to 3 business days for standard delivery.
Requirements You must have a bank account with regular income deposits and a Visa or Mastercard debit card with a CVV
Serviced Provinces All provinces and territories
Apple App Store Rating 4.8
Google Play Rating 4.9

Alternative for installment loans: MDG Financial

Up to $1,600
Loan amount
Undisclosed
APR
Up to 36 months
Term
MDG Financial provides cash installment loans of up to $1,600. You can pre-qualify online without impacting your credit score. Once you're approved for a loan, the money will be deposited into your bank account within three hours.
  • Easy application process
  • Payments reported to credit bureaus
  • No penalty for early repayment
  • Established provider
  • 560 minimum credit score required
  • High interest rates
  • Some borrowers may need more than $1,600
Loan Amount Up to $1,600
APR Range Undisclosed
Loan Term Up to 36 months
Serviced Provinces/Territories All provinces
Min. Credit Score 560

Alternative for installment loans: Green Loans

$100 – $1,000
Loan amount
22% – 35%
APR
3 - 12 months
Term
Green Loans offers fast short-term installment loans with no credit check and no early repayment penalties. NCR Financial, the company that operates Green Loans, has been in business for over 15 years and is registered in Quebec.
  • Apply online and get a response within one hour
  • No early repayment fees
  • Services: all provinces except Manitoba
  • Small loan amounts between $100 and $1,000
  • Interest rates can reach as high as 35%
Loan Amount $100 – $1,000
APR Range 22% – 35%
Loan Term 3 - 12 months
Serviced Provinces/Territories all provinces except Manitoba
Turnaround Time within 24 hours
Min. Credit Score 300
Fees 2.66% late fee
Requirements • Share banking access via our secure IBV system (Instant Banking Verification)
• Have a Canadian bank account open for 90+ days with online access
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a job
• Be 18 or older (or provincial age of majority)
• Earn at least $1,200 monthly in net income
• Provide a valid phone number, email, and home address
• You must not be in a bankruptcy or a consumer proposal.
• You must not be planning to declare bankruptcy or a consumer proposal.

Payday loans like MoneyLion

Payday loans are easier to qualify for than personal loans, but the cost can be quite high. Be prepared for high interest rates and short repayment terms. Maximum loan amounts are $1,500. If you need more money or a longer repayment period, consider getting a personal loan instead.

⚠️ Warning: Be cautious with payday loans
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 for fast payday loans: iCash

iCash Payday Loan

$100 – $1,500
Loan amount
7 – 62 days
Loan Term
2 minutes
Min. Turnaround Time
iCash provides quick funding and accepts non-employment income. You can get e-Transfer funding in as little as 2 minutes after approval. iCash provides payday loans so you can borrow more compared to MoneyLion but at higher rates.
  • 4.6/5 stars based on over 2,400 Trustpilot reviews
  • Get money within an hour
  • Get funded 24/7
  • Payday loans are expensive
  • Short repayment terms
  • Only available in AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI
Loan Amount $100 – $1,500
Loan Term 7 - 62 days
Cost $14 per $100 borrowed
Serviced Provinces AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, PEI
Speed As little as 2 minutes with Interac e-Transfer
Credit Check Yes
Requirements - At least 18 years old (for applicants in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and PEI)
- At least 19 years old (for applicants in British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia)
- Canadian resident in a province that iCASH services
- Valid cell phone number, address and email address
- Net income of at least $800/month deposited into bank account
- Receiving the same source of income for the past 3 months
- Have a Canadian bank account that's been open for at least 3 months with online banking

Alternative for in-store payday lender: Cash Money

Cash Money Payday Loan

$100 – $1,500
Loan amount
5 – 40 days
Loan Term
15 minutes
Min. Turnaround Time
Through its payday loans, Cash Money offers higher loan amounts than MoneyLion but at very high interest rates. Get instant approval and funding in as little as 15 minutes when you use the Cash Money app.
  • Instant decisions
  • Fast access to funds
  • Established lender with A+ Better Business Bureau rating
  • Not available in all provinces
  • High cost of borrowing
Loan Amount $100 – $1,500
Loan Term 5 - 40 days
Cost $14 per $100 borrowed
Serviced Provinces BC, MB, NL, NS, ON, SK
Speed As little as 15 minutes with INTERAC e-Transfer
Credit Check Yes
Requirements - ID showing you're 18 years or older
- Min. net income of $1,000/month
- Valid bank account with online banking
- Address, email and phone number

How does MoneyLion compare?

MoneyLion is a free cash app packing a range of features, including a banking account, investment account, crypto trading feature and credit builder program. Unlike other apps, there’s no monthly fee for cash advances, but standard advances to an external bank account take two to five business days.

But if applicants need same-day money, its instant transfer charges are steep—costing up to $8.99 per $100 transferred. But if immediate access to cash isn’t necessary, and with the option to increase advance amounts up to $1,000 by opening a RoarMoney account, MoneyLion may be more economical than payday loans for US residents.

Pros

  • 0% interest
  • No monthly subscription fee
  • No credit check required
  • Standard transfers are free
  • Other banking and financial services available
  • Can potentially borrow up to $1,000 per pay period

Cons

  • Standard transfers take 1 to 5 business days
  • Instant advances cost $0.49 to $8.99
  • Funds delivery to an external account takes 2 to 5 business days
  • Credit Builder Plus membership costs a hefty $19.99

How to decide which MoneyLion alternative is right for you

Because MoneyLion isn’t available in Canada, it’s important to decide which alternative is the right fit for your needs.

You’ll first need to decide what type of loan to apply for given how much you need. If you only need a small amount to get you through to the next payday, consider a 0% interest pay advance from Nyble or Bree.

If you need to borrow a larger amount and your credit score isn’t in great shape, consider a bad credit installment loan from lenders like LoansLoans.ca.

It’s usually best to avoid payday loans when possible because they’re one of the most expensive borrowing options on the market and can easily trap borrowers in a cycle of debt. As a last resort, consider payday loan providers like GoDay and iCash, which offer online applications and fast loan turnarounds of up to $1,500 but with very high APRs.

Sources

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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. See full bio

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