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Apps like Vola Finance

Vola Finance isn’t a bad cash advance option, but these apps like Vola are worth comparing.

Vola is a cash advance app with a couple of fairly unique features: It doesn’t require you to have direct deposit or pay transfer fees regardless of how you opt to receive the funds. You can get advances up to $300, and even when repayment is due, you can request an extension without paying a late fee.

But it charges membership fees that range from $1.99 to $28.99. It has a free plan, but to get a cash advance with the free membership, you’ll need to email the provider to request an advance, which could be an issue if you need an advance right away.

DaveUp to $500UndisclosedUp to 3 business days or instant for a fee

LenderLoan amountFeesSpeed
CleoUp to $250$5.993 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
EarnInUp to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per dayFree1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
Albert$25 to $250$16.99Instant
MoneyLionUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney accountFree (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account)Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99

Our 5 top picks for apps like Vola

  • Best for budgeting features: Cleo
  • Best for cash advances with no monthly fee: EarnIn
  • Best for low monthly fee: Dave
  • Best for investment options: Albert
  • Best for larger cash advances: MoneyLion

Alternative for budgeting features

Cleo

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Loan amount$20 - $250
Turnaround time3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
  • Available in all states

Alternative for cash advances with no monthly fee

EarnIn

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Loan amountUp to $750
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee
CostsFree to use or instant with a fee as low as $3.99.
  • Not available in: Connecticut

Alternative for low monthly fee

Dave ExtraCash

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Loan amountUp to $500
Turnaround timeUp to 3 business days or instant for a fee
CostsUndisclosed
  • Available in all states

Alternative for investment options

Albert

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Loan amount$25 - $250
Turnaround timeInstant
Costs$16.99 monthly subscription to access overdraft protection
  • Available in all states

Alternative for higher loan amounts

MoneyLion Instacash advances

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Loan amount$50 - $500
Turnaround timeUp to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Costs$19.99 monthly fee if you have a Plus membership
  • Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

How Vola compares

Vola has some great features, like no charges for expedited transfers and no direct deposit requirement. It also offers advances up to $300, which is higher than some other top cash advance apps, but not all users are eligible for the highest limit. And you may have to pay a membership fee as high as $28.99 and show regular banking activity to qualify for an advance.

Pros

  • No charges for fast transfers
  • Low balance alerts
  • No direct deposit requirement
  • No interest or credit checks

Cons

  • Membership fees as high as $28.99
  • Need Vola card for fast advances
  • Not all users qualify for highest limit
  • Free plan not convenient for advances

Alternatives to cash advance apps

If a cash advance app won’t work for your situation, consider these options:

  • Credit card cash advances. If you have room on a credit card, you can get a zero-hassle cash advance from a bank or ATM, but interest rates are fairly high.
  • Personal loans. Personal loan lenders typically offer larger loan amounts and longer repayment periods, but you may need good credit to qualify.
  • Pay advance from employer. You might be able to request an advance from your employer and have it deducted from your next paycheck. Some employers even offer it as a benefit through paycheck advance apps like One@Work and Payactiv.
  • Payday alternative loans (PALs). Some federal credit unions offer loans up to $1,000 for members, but you typically need to join at least a month before you apply for a loan.

Why should you avoid payday loans and short-term installment loans?

Because of the predatory nature of these loans and extremely high rates, we haven’t included payday or installment loans as good alternatives to cash advance apps.

For example, some states prohibit these types of loans because they tend to prey on borrowers who have trouble repaying them and end up in continuous debt cycles. Research has shown that 75% of fees that payday lenders collect come from borrowers who take out at least 10 loans a year, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

In addition, interest rates for payday lending can exceed 600% in some states. But the real rate is disguised as seemingly small fees for each $100 borrowed. Lenders charge between $10 to $30 per $100, the CFPB reports, which sounds a lot like 10% to 30%. However, that doesn’t account for the term length. For instance, if you take out a two-week loan of $15 per $100, that equates to an annual percentage rate (APR) of nearly 400%.

Megan B. Shepherd's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Megan B. Shepherd as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Writer

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

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