Cash advance apps offer quick access to funds in advance of your paycheque and typically with no credit check. Instead, they rely on your bank account activity. Most cash advance apps integrate with either Flinks, Plaid or both, which are platforms that allow apps to securely access users’ bank account information, streamlining the verification process and expediting fund disbursement. We’ll walk you through which apps use Plaid or Flinks and how they differ in advance amounts, cost and turnaround time.
Cash advance apps that use Plaid or Flinks
Cash advance apps use Plaid or Flinks because of their reliable security and seamless integration process. Here’s a list of some cash advance apps that use one of them or both.
Bree uses either Plaid or Flinks to verify your income and identity. You can borrow up to $500 to help you cover expenses until your next payday. There are no interest or mandatory fees. However, a $2.99 monthly fee plus an extra fee per transfer applies if you opt for funding within a few minutes. If you choose three-day delivery, you won't be charged any fees.
Easy application process
No credit checks
0% interest and no late fees
Higher loan amounts than other apps
$2.99 optional monthly membership fee for express funding
Won't improve your credit score
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
KOHO uses Flinks to verify a user's income and identity. 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. A KOHO account is free if you have direct deposit set up or if you move $1,000 into the account every month.
No late fees
Zero interest
No impact to credit score
Free financial coaching available
KOHO 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
Like KOHO, Nyble uses Flinks. 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.
Easy application process
No credit checks
No interest
Can improve your credit score
Roll over your loan
Loan amount may not be enough for your needs
$11.99 for fast transfers and other premium perks
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
What are Flinks and Plaid, and how do they work?
When you use a cash advance app, chances are it’s using either Flinks or Plaid to link up with your bank and verify your account details. Both streamline the eligibility process, making it easier and faster for apps to access your bank info without you having to jump through hoops or worry about your data getting into the wrong hands.
When you connect your bank account to a cash advance app, Flinks and Plaid use encryption and secure cloud technologies to keep your data safe while fetching the necessary information, like your account balance and transaction history. Once they have all the details, they send them back to the cash advance app, allowing it to verify your identity and determine how much cash you can borrow.
Are there cash advance apps that don’t use Plaid?
Lenders in Canada are more likely to use Flinks than Plaid. Nyble and KOHO, for example, use Flinks. Payday lenders such as Credit Club Loans, Money Mart and PAY2DAY also use Flinks.
Are there cash advance apps that don’t use bank verification?
Bank verification is required if you’re applying to a cash advance app. It allows apps to quickly and easily review your application and provide instant approval without requiring you to send any documents, such as bank statements, T4s and driver’s licence.
Plaid is widely recognized as a legitimate and reputable financial technology company known for its robust security standards. The company employs industry-leading encryption protocols and stringent security measures to safeguard user data. Plaid is certified in internationally recognized security standards, like ISO 27001 and ISO 27701, and is SSAE18 SOC 2 compliant.
However, Plaid faced legal scrutiny in 2022 over allegations that it violated users’ privacy rights by pulling and selling their data to third parties. While Plaid denied the allegations and vowed to defend its practices, the lawsuit highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in data handling practices.
Flinks is owned by National Bank, one of the largest banks in Canada. It’s used by leading financial companies, such as Wealthsimple, EQ Bank and Affirm.
Which banks won’t connect with Plaid or Flinks?
Plaid integrates with more than 12,000 financial institutions worldwide, so it’s hard to locate banks that don’t work with Plaid. If you’re wondering whether your bank uses Plaid, you can search Plaid’s directory of partners.
Flinks, on the other hand, integrates with more than 15,000 financial institutions in North America, including the largest banks in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Your bank or credit union is likely integrated with either Flinks or Plaid, but if it's not, you'll need to apply to a lender that does the traditional manual review.
This error usually occurs when an app requires a particular account type for its services. For example, the app you're using might require that only deposit accounts, like chequing or savings accounts, can be linked via Plaid.
An alternative to Flinks and Plaid that lenders also use in Canada is Inverite.
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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Gabriel Vito is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder. With over four years of experience, he has crafted helpful guides and articles covering various personal finance topics, including credit cards, investing and banking. Gabriel's work has been featured on Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ, GoBankingRates, and more. He has a Bachelor's Degree in English and is passionate about helping others navigate their financial journey.
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Cash advance service Bree allows you to borrow up to $500 with no interest and no late fees.
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