Credit Genie is a cash advance app that offers loans up to $100 until your next payday with no credit check or interest charges. You just connect the app to your bank account and see if you’re eligible for an advance.
The app says it’s free to use, but it charges a $4.99 monthly bank connection fee (which sounds a lot like a membership fee), and you must get your paychecks via direct deposit. We’ve scoped out some similar apps that may offer better benefits, such as higher loan amounts, no monthly fees or no direct deposit requirement.
Cleo offers a 24-hour cooling off period between loans, which means borrowers can get a new advance just one day after paying off a previous advance. Most cash advances apps on the market require at least three to five days between advances. And, if your budget changes, Cleo allows you to reschedule payment due dates once.
The downside, new users can only qualify for $20 to $100 at first, but that's not uncommon among cash advance apps.
Loan amount
$20 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs
$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
Available in all states
Cleo offers a 24-hour cooling off period between loans, which means borrowers can get a new advance just one day after paying off a previous advance. Most cash advances apps on the market require at least three to five days between advances. And, if your budget changes, Cleo allows you to reschedule payment due dates once.
The downside, new users can only qualify for $20 to $100 at first, but that's not uncommon among cash advance apps.
Pros
No payslips or W-2 forms required
New advance available after 24 hours
One-time due date extension
Budgeting and savings tools through app
Cons
$250 advance limit is lower than some competitors
Advance limits start low
Mixed customer reviews
APR
0%
Loan amount
Up to $250
Loan Term
Next deposit
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Loan amount
$20 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs
$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
EarnIn is a free cash advance app with loan amounts of up to $750 per pay period, one of the largest advances you can get. By comparison, Credit Genie only advances up to $100. EarnIn doesn't charge interest, but you are limited to $150 per day, and not all users are eligible for the maximum advance amounts.
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
Costs
Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer
Not available in: Connecticut
EarnIn is a free cash advance app with loan amounts of up to $750 per pay period, one of the largest advances you can get. By comparison, Credit Genie only advances up to $100. EarnIn doesn't charge interest, but you are limited to $150 per day, and not all users are eligible for the maximum advance amounts.
Pros
Higher loan amounts than most apps
No interest or late fees
No monthly subscription fees
Cons
Must make at least $320 per pay period
Can only request $150 a day
Not all members eligible for transfers within minutes
APR
0%
Loan amount
Up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays
Loan Term
1 to 4 weeks
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit EarnIn.com for full details. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
Loan amount
Up to $750
Turnaround time
1 to 3 business days or within minutes for a fee starting at $2.99 per transfer
Costs
Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $2.99 per transfer
The Brigit app offers advances up to $250, but you have to pay a membership fee between $8.99 and $14.99 per month, which is more than the Credit Genie monthly fee. However, Brigit offers savings and credit-builder tools in addition to advances, and eligible users can extend their repayment date up to three times if needed.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
The Brigit app offers advances up to $250, but you have to pay a membership fee between $8.99 and $14.99 per month, which is more than the Credit Genie monthly fee. However, Brigit offers savings and credit-builder tools in addition to advances, and eligible users can extend their repayment date up to three times if needed.
Pros
Can extend payment dates
Warns you of potential overdrafts
Has credit-building tools
Includes identity theft protection
Cons
Relatively high membership fees
Requires direct deposit
Need at least three deposits from the same source
Loan amount
$50 to $250
Loan Term
Until your next payday, but can extend
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Dave may be a better option for freelancers, gig workers or others who don't have access to direct deposit, because Credit Genie requires direct deposits. It also offers larger loan amounts than Credit Genie and other cash advance apps, with loans up to $500. It's membership fee is currently Undisclosed, but it has a track record for some of the lowest membership fees we've seen in the past.
Loan amount
Up to $500
Turnaround time
Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Costs
Undisclosed
Available in all states
Dave may be a better option for freelancers, gig workers or others who don't have access to direct deposit, because Credit Genie requires direct deposits. It also offers larger loan amounts than Credit Genie and other cash advance apps, with loans up to $500. It's membership fee is currently Undisclosed, but it has a track record for some of the lowest membership fees we've seen in the past.
If you're looking for an app with overdraft protection and other financial tools, you may want to consider Albert. Not only does Albert provide the security of up to $250 in overdraft protection, but it also offers financial advice and savings and investing vehicles as well. But you'll need an Albert Genius subscription to access most features, which costs $11.99 a month.
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Costs
$11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
Available in all states
If you're looking for an app with overdraft protection and other financial tools, you may want to consider Albert. Not only does Albert provide the security of up to $250 in overdraft protection, but it also offers financial advice and savings and investing vehicles as well. But you'll need an Albert Genius subscription to access most features, which costs $11.99 a month.
Pros
Offers financial and investment tools
Credit monitoring and identity theft protection
Cashback rewards
Cons
$11.99 monthly fee
Must have Genius account to get overdraft protection
Overdraft protection only for Albert Cash card
Investments not FDIC-insured
Loan amount
$25 to $250
Loan Term
Within 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Turnaround time
Instant
Loan amount
$25 - $250
Turnaround time
Instant
Costs
$11.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
Unlike most cash advance apps, including Credit Genie, Vola never charges transfer fees. If you have the Vola card, you can have advances up to $500 added to your card instantly. Transfers to your linked bank account should show within five business hours, but you may need to plan ahead if you need extra cash on the same night of your request.
Loan amount
Up to $500
Turnaround time
Within 5 hours or instant to Vola card
Costs
$2.99 to $28.99 membership fee
Available in all states
Unlike most cash advance apps, including Credit Genie, Vola never charges transfer fees. If you have the Vola card, you can have advances up to $500 added to your card instantly. Transfers to your linked bank account should show within five business hours, but you may need to plan ahead if you need extra cash on the same night of your request.
Credit Genie checks a lot of boxes in the cash advance app sector by offering no-interest advances between paydays with no credit check. It also includes other helpful features, such as low-balance alerts and insights into your spending habits to help you make more informed decisions.
But Credit Genie might not be the right app for everyone. Advance amounts are lower than most, you must have at least $750 in recurring deposits per month and only users with a linked debit card can get instant transfers. And, while the app is technically free, you have to pay a monthly “bank connection” fee of $4.99 to link your bank account.
Pros
No credit check
No-interest advances
Can change repayment date
Low-balance alerts
Cons
Max advance limit is $100
$4.99 monthly fee
Doesn’t disclose expedited transfer fees
Need linked debit card for instant transfer
Alternatives to cash advance apps
If you’re not eligible for a cash advance app loan or need to borrow a larger amount, consider these other options.
Personal loan. Personal loans can offer larger loan amounts with longer repayment terms, but you may need good credit to qualify.
Credit card cash advance. Cash advances from credit cards carry higher interest rates than regular purchases, but you can get the money right away with no credit check or hidden fees.
Paycheck advance from employer. Some employers have teamed up with paycheck advance apps to benefit workers who need cash between paydays. Even if your job doesn’t offer this as an app, many employers will advance you a loan and deduct it from your next check or let you pay it off in installments.
Payday alternative loan (PAL). Some credit unions offer small loans to their members with better interest rates than other options.
Why to avoid payday loans and short-term installment loans?
If a cash advance app doesn’t offer a big enough advance, it can be tempting to apply for a payday loan, title loan or other short-term loan, but these options can be very risky. In fact, some states prohibit these types of loans altogether because of their predatory nature. Not only are they expensive, but high rates and late fees can easily lead to a cycle of debt that can be difficult to break.
Payday loan lenders charge between $10 to $30 per $100 borrowed, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which can equate to astronomical APRs. For example, a two-week loan at $15 per $100 equals an almost 400% APR. Compare that to credit card APRs, which are usually less than 30%.
Furthermore, a study by the CFPB found that 80% of loans are rolled over or renewed after two weeks. And the majority of payday loans are made to people who end up paying more in fees than they originally borrowed because they renew their loans so frequently.
Lacey Stark is a freelance personal finance writer for Finder, specializing
in banking, loans, investing, estate planning, and more. She has 20
years of experience writing and editing for magazines, newspapers, and
online publications. A word nerd from childhood, Lacey officially got her
start reporting on live sporting events and moved on to cover topics
such as construction, technology, and travel before finding her niche in
personal finance. Originally from New England, she received her
bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver and completed a
postgraduate journalism program at Metropolitan State University also
in Denver. She currently lives in Chicagoland with her dog Chunk and
likes to read and play golf. See full bio
Unemployed and need to borrow money? You may qualify for one of these loans or cash advance apps.
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