Dave, Brigit and EarnIn are mobile banking apps that provide access to cash advances of up to $500, with no interest charges or credit checks to worry about.
Unfortunately, these providers aren’t available in Canada. So if you need access to a small loan fast, check out these instant loans like Dave, Brigit and EarnIn.
Cash advances like Dave, Brigit and EarnIn in Canada
Apply online for an interest-free line of credit of up to $150 to cover small expenses and build your credit. Get funds in 1-3 business days with a free account. For $11.99 per month, get access to premium services, including funding in 1-30 minutes, a free Equifax credit report and identity theft protection.
Easy to use
Bad credit doesn't matter
No interest or late fees
$11.99 per month for fast transfers, full credit report and other premium perks
Small loan amounts only
Loan amount
$30 – $150
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
30 days, extendable
Fees
No interest or fees to access credit line, optional $11.99/month membership to get premium services such as instant funding
Turnaround time
1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.
Bree is a cash advance service that lets you borrow up to $250 to help get through to your next paycheque. You can apply within minutes and there are no interest charges, but you'll need to pay a fee if you want an instant transfer.
Simple application process
No interest charges
No credit checks
Monthly membership fee if you want to use Bree's budgeting tool
Fast transfers not available unless you pay a fee
You have to connect your bank account to Bree's app
Loan amount
$20 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Next pay cycle (61 days max.)
Fees
No interest or fees to access cash advance, fee for express funding (varies based on advance)
Turnaround time
Within 8 hours for the express option (fee charged based on advance amount) and up to 3 business days for standard delivery
Get a zero-interest cash advance ranging from $20 to $250 when you pay a subscription fee starting at $2/month. You'll need a KOHO account to access this service. Full Review
No late fees
Zero interest
No impact to credit score:Free financial coaching available
KOHO account required
Loan amount
$20 – $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Flexible
Fees
subscription fee starting at $2/month
Turnaround time
Immediately
Serviced provinces
All provinces and territories
⚠️ Warning: Be cautious with payday loans
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for borrowing over a continued period of time and are expensive as a means of longer-term borrowing. View payday costs and regulations by province here. If you're experiencing financial hardship call 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.
Next on our list of instant loans like Dave, iCASH is an online payday lender available 24/7. It's possible to access a payday loan within an hour from iCASH and bad credit is accepted.
Cash Money provides payday loans and lines of credit. You can apply online, at a local store or over the phone, with funds available via e-transfer and other methods.
Pay2Day is a payday lender offering loans of $300–$1,500. You can apply online or in store, with online approvals and funding available 24/7.
Apply online or in store
Get funds via e-transfer in 1&ndash
2 hours
Bad credit accepted
Not available in all provinces
High cost of borrowing
Short loan terms
Loan amount
$300 – $1,500
APR
Varies by province
Term
Up to 62 days
Min. Turnaround time
Within 1-2 hours via e-Transfer once approved
Credit Check
No
Maximum borrowing costs of payday loans per province
Always refer to your contract for exact repayment amounts and costs.
Province
Max. cost of borrowing a $100 payday loan
Cooling off period to cancel loan
Max. penalty for returned cheque or pre-authorized debit
Alberta
$15
2 business days
$25
British Columbia
$15
2 business days
$20
Manitoba
$17
48 hours excluding Sundays and holidays
$20
New Brunswick
$15
48 hours excluding Sundays and holidays
$20
Newfoundland and Labrador
$14
2 business days
$20
Nova Scotia
$15
Next business day (2 days for online loans)
$40 (default penalty)
Ontario
$15
2 business days
$25
Prince Edward Island
$15
2 business days
N/A
Quebec
Limit of 35% AIR
N/A
N/A
Saskatchewan
$17
Next business day
$25
How do loans like Dave, Brigit and EarnIn work?
Apps like Dave, Brigit and EarnIn offer short-term loans that allow you to access a portion of your next paycheque, usually between $100 and $500, before you receive it from your employer. This fast access to cash is designed to help you cover any emergency expenses that arise before your next payday. Other similar providers include MoneyLion and Chime.
At the time of writing, Dave, Brigit, EarnIn, MoneyLion and Chime are not available in Canada.
No credit check
There’s typically no credit check to apply, but you’ll need to connect your bank account to the pay advance app. The lender will then assess how much you’re paid and how often to determine the amount you qualify to borrow.
The funds you borrow are typically available instantly, sometimes for a fee, and you can use the cash to cover your unexpected expenses. No interest is charged on the cash you borrow and your loan repayment is automatically deducted from your bank account when you get your next paycheque.
Many providers don’t charge any late fees, but there may be a monthly subscription fee to access cash advances. Other apps give you the option to leave a tip if you’re happy with the service they provide.
Pay advance apps vs payday loan apps: What’s the difference?
Pay advance apps in Canada allow you to borrow a percentage of your salary before it is actually paid into your bank account. On the other hand, payday loan apps are designed to make it convenient to apply for a short-term loan.
Payday loans allow you to borrow up to $1,500 and then repay it over a short period. Terms of up to 62 days are available, but in many cases, the loan repayment will be due on your next payday (hence the name).
Along with short loan terms, the main feature of payday loans is that they’re extremely expensive. Provincial regulations restrict how much lenders can charge you, but you’ll pay $14 to $17 for every $100 borrowed. This commonly results in APRs of 300–400% or more, so it’s worth considering other options before applying through a payday loan app.
How much will a $100 loan cost for loans like Dave, Brigit and EarnIn vs payday loans?
To help you get a better idea of the costs involved, let’s take a look at how a pay advance app compares to the total cost of repaying a $100 loan in Ontario.
Pay advance app
Payday loan
Loan amount
$100
$100
Loan term
7 days
7 days
Cost of borrowing
$10.98 ($7.99 monthly fee + $2.99 fee for instant cash)
$15 per $100 borrowed
Total cost
$110.98
$115
What to watch out for with payday loans
If you’re thinking of applying for a payday loan, make sure you’re aware of the risks involved with this sort of financing:
High cost of borrowing. Payday loans are an extremely expensive way to borrow money and commonly have APRs of 300% or more. That’s why it’s important to consider a range of payday loan alternatives before choosing this type of loan.
Short loan terms. Payday loans are designed to be paid back quickly, often on your next payday. These short terms can make it very difficult to find room in your budget to repay what you borrow. This could lead you to take out another payday loan to pay off the first loan and you could soon be stuck in a cycle of debt.
Sketchy lenders. The payday lending sector also attracts its fair share of disreputable lenders. Make sure you only ever deal with a lender who is licensed to provide payday loans in your province. Watch out for any red flags that could indicate a payday loan scam.
Frequently asked questions
In Canada, you can access instant loans like Dave through pay advance services such as Nyble and Bree. Some online lenders also allow you to apply for a payday loan and get the funds you need within an hour or two, but make sure you're aware of the cost of a payday loan before you apply.
You could apply for a small personal loan from an online lender, use a pay advance service to borrow a portion of your next paycheque or access a cash advance from your credit card. If you've explored all other options, you could also consider applying for a payday loan. Find out more in our small loans guide.
No. Dave is only available in the US, not in Canada.
No, Brigit is not available in Canada. However, there are other pay advance apps like Brigit available in Canada such as Nyble and Bree.
No, EarnIn is not available in Canada. You cannot access the EarnIn app outside the United States.
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.
Borrowing $100 can be a quick and easy process. This guide covers how you can get a small loan in Canada, including benefits, drawbacks and eligibility requirements.
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