Cash advance apps are fast and convenient, and most don’t charge interest or late fees. A few don’t even charge a monthly subscription fee, which can be a drag if you only need an occasional influx of cash to get you to your next paycheck.
However, despite the hype and convenience, most cash advance apps aren’t truly free. But some have minimal charges and may even be completely free aside from fees for instant transfers.
After researching every cash advance app we could find, only one is truly free. And, although it’s not a true cash advance app, the end result is nearly the same if you find yourself a little short between pay periods.
Chime SpotMe isn’t technically a cash advance app; it’s an overdraft protection service. But it works similarly since purchases made from your Chime Checking account and ATM withdrawals are covered up to $200. And it’s totally free! There isn’t a monthly subscription fee, and instant transfers to your account — up to your limit — are available at no charge.
However, new users are typically only eligible for $20 at first, and some reviewers say it can take a long time to reach a higher overdraft limit. Plus, the overdraft feature only works for your Chime Checking account or debit card, so your external bank account isn’t covered. Finally, Chime requires qualifying direct deposits to your Chime account to access the SpotMe feature, so it isn’t an option if you don’t get paid by direct deposit.
While most cash advance apps charge monthly subscription fees to access cash advance features, a few are nearly free — which means you won’t pay any fees unless you want the funds transferred to your account instantly. If you can wait a few days, these apps are free.
If you want to access cash up to $750 between pay periods, EarnIn may fit the bill. You can only access up to $150 a day with this app, and actual limits are based on your wage and the hours you’ve already worked. However, EarnIn doesn’t charge a monthly subscription, and transfers can be deposited as soon as the next day for free.
If you need the money right away, you’ll pay a fee to expedite the funds. The fee amount is disclosed when the transfer is initiated. And, because advances are based on hours worked, you may need to upload timesheets or otherwise verify your employment.
Like Chime SpotMe, SoLo Funds isn’t technically a cash advance app, but it offers fast, interest-free loans up to $575. SoLo is a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform rather than a cash advance app, but the result is nearly the same, and there are no monthly subscription fees. But you’ll pay a 1.75% fee to have the funds deposited instantly to your external bank account.
While some lenders fund loans on the same day, there is no guarantee that a lender will pick up your loan right away. Plus, although these are no-fee, no-interest loans, SoLo lenders accept optional tips. If you choose not to tip — or tip very little — it could potentially be more difficult to find a lender.
MoneyLion is a cash advance app that offers advances up to $500 without a monthly subscription fee. Plus, instant transfer fees start at only $0.49 and are capped at $8.99. This feature is great for people who only need an occasional influx of funds and don’t want to be charged every month or pay large fees to expedite the transfer.
However, like many other apps similar to MoneyLion, it may take a while to qualify for the maximum advance. MoneyLion requires direct deposit to qualify for advances, so this isn’t a viable option for self-employed or gig workers.
Current offers advances up to $500 for workers with eligible payroll deposits, and it doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee. You can have your paychecks deposited into your Current account or your external bank account if it can link to Current and detect your payroll deposits.
Free advances arrive within one to three days, but you’ll pay a fee for instant advances, which arrive within the hour. Current doesn’t disclose its expedited transfer fees on its website, but it says it will notify you of the fee before confirming the transfer.
We thought the Vola app was worth mentioning with this group because, unlike most cash advance apps, it doesn’t charge any fees for transfers — up to $300 — regardless of how you choose to receive the funds. Depending on the time of day you request the transfer, you could have the money deposited in your account in as little as five hours. If you have a Vola card, you’ll receive the money instantly.
Vola has a free membership tier offering access to advances, but you have to email customer support at hello@volafinance.com, which may not be fast enough for some. However, with premium subscriptions starting as low as $1.99 — the lowest monthly fee we can find — it may be a worthwhile tradeoff since you won’t pay any expedited transfer fees. Plus, Vola doesn’t require direct deposit to qualify for advances, making this a solid option for self-employed and gig workers.
Check out subscription fees, turnaround times and instant transfer fees from some of the most popular cash advance apps and similar providers.
| Cash advance app | Advance amount | Standard turnaround time | Subscription fee | Instant transfer fee | Optional tips | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert | $25 to $250 | Instant | $14.99 | Free | No | |
| B9 | $30 to $500 | Instant | $9.99 or $19.99 | Free | No | |
| Beem | $5 to $1,000 | Undisclosed time for free, instant for a fee | $2.47 to $12.97 | $1 to $4 | No | |
| Branch | Up to 50% of paycheck, up to $1,000 | Within 3 business days, instant with delivery fee | Free | $2.99 to $4.99 | No | |
| Brigit | $50 to $250 | 2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. | $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee | $3.99 | No | |
| Cash App Borrow | $20 to $200 | Same day | Free | None, but 5% fee for advance | No | |
| Chime MyPay | Up to $500 | Within 2 days or instant for a fee | Free | $2 | Yes | |
| Chime SpotMe | Up to $200 | Instant | Free | Free | Yes | |
| Cleo | Up to $250 | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. | $5.99 | $3.99 | No | |
| Credit Genie | Up to $100 | 1 to 3 business days or i day or instant for a fee | $4.99 | Undisclosed | Yes | |
| Current | $50 to $500 | Within 3 business days, instant with delivery fee | Free | Undisclosed | Yes | |
| DailyPay | Up to 100% of earned wages, $1,000 daily limit | Next business day or instant with a DailyPay card or for a fee | Free | Undisclosed | No | |
| Dave | Up to $500 | Up to 3 business days or instant for a fee | Undisclosed | Up to $25 | Yes | |
| EarnIn | Up to $750 per pay period, but only $150 per day | 1 to 3 business days or instant for a fee | Free | Undisclosed | Yes | |
| Empower Cash Advance | $10 to $300 | Next day or instant to Empower Card or for a fee | $8 | $1 to $8 | Yes | |
| Empower Thrive (line of credit) | $200 to $1,000 | Instant for a fee | $8 | Up to 3% | Undisclosed | |
| FloatMe | $10 to $100 | 1 to 3 business days or within 8 hours for a fee | $3.99 | $3 to $7 | No | |
| Go2Bank | Up to $200 | Instant from bank or participating financial institution for fees | $5 but may be waived | $10 or 5%, plus possible fees from ATM or bank and 26.99% interest | No | |
| Grid | Up to $200 | Within 8 hours for $2.99 or 1 to 3 days for free delivery | $10 | $2.99 | No | |
| Klover | Up to $200 | Within 3 days or within hours for a fee | $3.99 | Up to $20.78 | Yes | |
| MoneyLion | Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 | Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) | Up to $8.99 | Yes | |
| ONE@Work | Up to 50% of earned wages | Same day if employer has configured this benefit. If not, small fee applies | No membership fee. | Undisclosed | No | |
| Payactiv | $200 minimum per pay period or 50% of earned wages, whichever is greater | Within 1 to 3 or days or instant onto Payactiv card or for a fee | Free | Undisclosed | No | |
| Possible Finance | Up to $500 | As fast as 1 business day | Free | N/A but charges $15 to $20 per $100 borrowed | No | |
| SoLo Funds | $20 to $575 | As soon as same day or instant for a fee | Free | 1.75% of loan amount | Yes | |
| Super.com | $20 to $200 | Express transfers for a fee | $15 | Undisclosed | Yes | |
| Varo | Up to $500 | Instant but charges a fee | Free | Up to $40 | No | |
| Vola | Up to $300 | As soon as same day or instant with Vola card | $1.99 | |||
| Wisely | Undisclosed, based on earned wages | Instant to Wisely card | Free | Unclear | No |
If you don’t qualify for loans from cash advance apps — or the loan amounts are too small — there are some alternatives to consider if you need fast funding.
Cash advance apps can be a great convenience if you need a fast loan that doesn’t require a credit check or charge interest. However, most cash advance apps aren’t truly free, and they typically charge some types of fees — whether it’s expedited transfer fees or a monthly subscription. But, if you look around, you can find quite a few that charge minimal fees or are virtually free if you don’t need the money right away.
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If you need extra cash between paychecks, Earnin offers withdrawals on the money you’ve already earned — without charging a fee.