FastForward by MoneyUp: Pros, cons & alternatives

Get early access to your next paycheque with an instant, interest-free line of credit, but the APR could be as high as 30.4%.

MoneyUp logo

FastForward by MoneyUp is an instant line of credit of up to $1,000. Designed to provide early access to a portion of your next paycheque, FastForward provides instant funding with no credit check. There’s also no interest to pay on the money you borrow, and non-employment income like the Canadian Pension Plan and the Canadian Child Benefit is also accepted.

You’ll pay a small withdrawal fee plus a fee of $2.50 for every $100 you borrow, so a FastForward line of credit is much more affordable than a payday loan. But it still comes with a maximum APR of up to 30.4%, so it’s worth checking whether you can get a better rate elsewhere before deciding if FastForward is right for you.

Is FastForward by MoneyUp legit?

FastForward is available through money management app MoneyUp. MoneyUp is run by Cashco Financial, an Edmonton-based lender that offers payday and personal loans as well as income tax services, cheque cashing and international money transfers. Cashco Financial has over 50 branches across Canada.

Pros and cons of FastForward by MoneyUp

Pros

  • No credit checks. You can apply and get approved for a FastForward line of credit without completing a credit check. Learn more about no credit check loans.
  • No interest charges. You won’t pay any interest on the money you borrow.
  • Low fees. With a fee of $2.50 for every $100 you borrow, a MoneyUp line of credit is a lot more affordable than a payday loan.
  • Easy application process. It’s quick and easy to apply for a line of credit through the MoneyUp app.
  • Fast access to funds. You can apply for a line of credit and get funded in a matter of minutes.
  • Borrow again as needed. Once you’ve repaid your line of credit, you can access funding through the MoneyUp app again as needed.

Cons

  • Fees. In addition to a $2.50 for every $100 you borrow, you’ll also have to pay a bank transfer or e-transfer request fee.
  • High maximum APR. Your full outstanding balance is due each month, and this short repayment period means your line of credit could have a maximum APR of 30.4%
  • Not available everywhere. FastForward is not available in Quebec or Saskatchewan.
  • Not all income types are accepted. MoneyUp accepts employment, Canadian Pension Plan and Canadian Child Benefit income, so you won’t be able to qualify if your only source of income is other government benefits such as social assistance.
  • New product with no reviews. FastForward is a relatively new offering in the Canadian lending marketplace, so we couldn’t find any FastForward user reviews on independent websites.
  • Android only. At the time of writing, the MoneyUp app is only available on Google Play, not on Apple’s App Store.

Apps like MoneyUp

Nyble

Nyble Credit Line

$30 – $250
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
30 days, extendable
Term
Nyble offers a no-interest line of credit of up to $250. You can apply without any prior credit history, and Nyble reports your payment history to the credit bureau to help you build your credit score.
  • Easy application process
  • No interest
  • Could help improve your credit score
  • No late fees
  • You can also monitor your credit score for free
  • Late payments are also reported to the credit bureau
  • Funding with a free account takes up to 3 business days
  • Maximum credit amount of $250 may be too small for some
Loan amount $30 – $250
APR Starting at 0%
Term 30 days, extendable
Fees 0% interest with optional fees
Origination fee $11.99
Turnaround time 1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.

Bree

Bree Early Pay

Up to $500
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
Next pay cycle (65 days max)
Term
Bree offers interest-free cash advances of up to $500. There are no credit checks, interest or late fees to worry about, and the advance is designed to help you get through to your next paycheque and avoid NSF fees. Instant funding is also available, but for an extra fee.
  • Simple application process
  • No interest charges
  • Fast decisions
  • No credit checks
  • $2.99 monthly fee
  • Extra fee for instant funding
  • Some people might want larger loan amounts
Loan amount Up to $500
APR Starting at 0%
Term Next pay cycle (65 days max)
Fees 0% interest with a $2.99 monthly membership fee
Turnaround time Receive funds within 5 minutes with express delivery (the fee is based on the advance amount) and up to 3 business days for standard delivery.

KOHO Cover

KOHO Cover

$20 – $250
Loan amount
Starting at 0%
APR
Flexible
Term
KOHO Cover provides interest-free cash advances of up to $250. It's quick and easy to apply through the KOHO app without completing a credit check, you can access the funds instantly, and you have the freedom to repay what you borrow at any time.
  • Interest-free
  • No credit checks
  • Fast access to funds
  • No income required to qualify for funding
  • Monthly KOHO Cover fee
  • Monthly KOHO plan fee (waivable on entry-level plan)
  • Some people might need more than $250
Loan amount $20 – $250
APR Starting at 0%
Term Flexible
Fees 0% interest with a subscription fee starting at $2/month
Turnaround time Immediately

What is MoneyUp?

MoneyUp is a recently launched app designed to provide money management tips and tools for Canadians. These include money advice videos, two free e-transfers per month, shopping coupons, rewards and cash back on your FastForward line of credit.

However, to access the full range of perks, you’ll need to sign up for a paid MoneyUp Smart plan. There’s a 15-day free trial available if you want to trial the plan, and Smart members can qualify for a higher FastForward credit limit of up to $1,000.

MoneyUp app reviews

SiteDetails
Apple StoreN/A
Google Play StoreNo reviews available
TrustpilotNo MoneyUp reviews available
Parent company Cashco Financial scores 4.7/5 from 1,002 reviews
GoogleNo MoneyUp reviews available
BBB accreditationNo
BBB ratingA+ (Cashco Financial)
BBB reviews1.5/5 from 8 reviews (Cashco Financial)

Reviews as of February 6, 2025.

What do FastForward reviews say?

We weren’t able to find any independent customer reviews for FastForward or the MoneyUp app. But reviews for Cashco Financial, which runs MoneyUp, are generally positive, pointing to factors such as helpful customer service and fast and easy access to funds.

Negative reviews sometimes mention the high cost of borrowing and poor customer service issues.

Am I eligible?

You’ll need to be a Canadian resident to qualify for a FastForward line of credit, but this product is not available to residents of Quebec or Saskatchewan. You’ll also need to be the age of majority in your province or territory.

To be eligible for a line of credit, you’ll need to receive income from employment, Canadian Pension Plan and Canadian Child Benefit income.

How to get started with cash advance apps like MoneyUp

You can get started with cash advance apps like MoneyUp by downloading the app and creating an account. You’ll need to provide your personal information and contact details as well as proof of ID. If you’re applying with MoneyUp, you’ll need to give approval for MoneyUp’s partner Flinks to scan your bank account transaction history for proof of your income.

MoneyUp’s automated system will then calculate the maximum credit limit you will be approved for. Then, each day throughout the month, a portion of your credit limit becomes available to you — you can either withdraw those funds or let the amount grow.

You’ll need to repay the money you withdraw plus any fees on a set date each month. You can set up a pre-authorized debit to have the funds automatically deducted from your bank account, but you also have the option to pay it back early via e-transfer.

Bottom line

FastForward by MoneyUp is a competitive newcomer to the Canadian cash advance app scene. With an interest-free line of credit that’s cheaper than a payday loan, FastForward is well worth checking out. But it’s not available everywhere and you will need to consider the cost of borrowing, so compare it to other cash advance apps before deciding if it’s a good fit for you.

Frequently asked questions

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

Writer

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, he has reported on a wide range of personal finance topics. Whether you're investing in stocks and ETFs, comparing savings accounts or choosing a credit card, Tim wants to make it easier for you to understand. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors. See full bio

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