How to Get a Cash Advance (2026)

Need cash before your next paycheck? You’ve got more options than a payday loan. Credit card advances, cash advance apps and even your bank can get you money fast, but fees and interest vary a lot between them. Here’s how each one works, what it costs and how to pick the right one for your situation.

Ways to get a cash advance

1. Cash advance app: Best for small amounts with low or no fees
2. Credit card cash advance: Best if you already have a card with available credit
3. Bank or credit union: Best if you want lower rates and a structured repayment plan
4. Payday loan: Costly, and worth trying everything else first
5. Borrow from family or friends: Best for interest-free short-term help

How do you get a cash advance app advance?

Cash advance apps like Current, MoneyLion or EarnIn let you access part of your paycheck before payday, usually for a small fee or none at all.

1. Download the app and link your bank account
2. Let the app verify your income and direct deposit history
3. Request an advance
4. Choose standard delivery (free, one to three business days) or instant delivery (a fee applies)
5. The app automatically deducts the advance from your next paycheck

What it costs: Most apps don’t charge interest. Instant transfer fees typically run $1–$20 depending on the app and the advance amount, and some apps use an optional tip or a flat monthly membership fee instead, though there are some apps that are mostly free.

Watch for: Advances usually start small, often around $20, and grow with regular use up to $500+. You’ll also need a steady income history or direct deposit to qualify.

Updated regularly

Finder Score	Max. amount per pay period	Turnaround time	Costs
Promoted 9.5 Excellent EarnIn	9.5 Excellent	Up to $150/day, with a max of $1000 between paydays	1–2 business days standard; minutes with Lightning Speed	Free to use or within minutes with a fee as low as $3.99 per transfer	Access up to $150 per day, with a max of $1000 between paydays. Not available to CT or Washington, D.C. residents. Subject to EarnIn terms & conditions.	Important information 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.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 9.4 Excellent OppLoans Installment Loans	9.4 Excellent	$500 to $5,000	As soon as the same business day	129% - 195% APR	Not available in: CO, CT, GA, IA, MD, MA, NY, SD, VT, WV. Comes with the option to change your due date so you won’t fall behind on repayments.	Important information The advertised APR is an estimate based on currently available information, is not final, and is subject to change. If approved, your actual rate will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Applications submitted on the OppLoans platform will be originated by one of our bank partners and serviced by OppLoans. Please see the Rates and Terms for details regarding the availability of products in your state of residence. Subject to credit approval and verification. Actual approved loan amount and terms are dependent on our bank partners’ standard underwriting guidelines and credit policies. Funds may be deposited for delivery to your bank via ACH as soon as the same business day if verification is completed and final approval occurs before 12:00 PM CT on a business day. If approval occurs after 12:00 PM CT on a business day or on a non-business day, funds may be delivered as soon as the next business day. Availability of the funds is dependent on how quickly your bank processes the transaction. Installment loan amounts typically range from $500 to $5,000. Annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 129% to 195%. Installment loan lengths range from 9 to 18 months. Example: A $2,000 installment loan repayable in 9 monthly payments with an APR of 160% would have monthly payments of $394.58. Loan amount, APR, and repayment terms may vary by state, please see https://www.opploans.com/rates-and-terms for additional information. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, your actual rate will fall within the marketed range of rates, and will be determined and assigned based on your creditworthiness, income, application information, and other relevant factors. Not all applicants will qualify for the lowest available rates. This is an expensive form of credit and you should determine whether the offered product(s) meets your financial needs. OppLoans’ Bank Partners may use credit report information provided by Clarity Services and Experian as part of the application process to determine your creditworthiness. The credit inquiry will appear as a soft credit inquiry on your Experian credit report and a hard credit inquiry on your Clarity report. Therefore it will not affect your FICO credit score. OppLoans and its Bank Partners report customer payment history to the three major credit bureaus. On-time payments may improve credit score.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
Promoted 8.2 Great Cleo	8.2 Great	$20 to $250	3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.	$5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances	Automatically monitor your spending plus access cash advances up to $100 at a time.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.4 Excellent Varo Cash Advance	9.4 Excellent	Up to $250 today. Build up to $700 over time with direct deposit at Varo. Average loan: $195. Qualifications Apply.	Instant, once qualified	No membership fees, Flat Fees of $1.60 to $100	Important information Varo Advance qualification is subject to evaluation of consumer reports and Varo account activity. If approved, initial limits range from $20- $250. Unlock higher limits up to $700 over time when you bring your qualifying direct deposit to Varo and build a positive history with us. Negative repayment history may impact credit. Fees range from $1.60 - $100 based on loan amount, and deposits to your Varo Bank Account. Your current limit and applicable fees can be viewed in the Varo App. Qualifying direct deposits are electronic deposits of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security or unemployment) from your employer or government agency to the extent that can be identified. Tax refunds and government stimulus payments, Person-to-Person payments (such as Venmo or Varo to Anyone), and funds deposited using a Varo routing number are not considered a direct deposit.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
8.8 Great Albert Instant	8.8 Great	$25 to $1,000	Within minutes	No subscription required	Advance up to $1,000 in minutes with Albert Instant.	Important information Albert is not a bank. Savings account provided by Wells Fargo, N.A., Member FDIC. Albert plans start at $19.99/mo. Try for 30 days before you're charged. Fees auto-renew until canceled. Cancel in the app. Terms apply. Albert Instant Line of Credit is an unsecured line of credit issued by FinWise Bank, a Utah chartered bank, Member FDIC. Limits range from $25-$1,000. Draw fees apply. Terms and eligibility criteria including geographic restrictions apply. In some states, Albert may offer you an Albert Instant Advance instead. Limits range from $25-$1,000, subject to terms and eligibility criteria. No Albert subscription is required for Albert Instant Line of Credit or Albert Instant Advance. See Albert Terms of Use for additional important terms.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
9.4 Excellent Chime® MyPay®	9.4 Excellent	Up to $500	Instant transfers: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	No subscription fees; Instant transfer fee: 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	Access up to $500 of your pay before payday fee-free within 24 hours. See Chime terms and conditions. MyPay is only offered in select states.	Important information MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451). MyPay eligibility: To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. Instant funds: Option to get funds instantly for a fee of 3% of the advance amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum) per advance, or get funds for free within 24 hours. See Bancorp MyPay Agreement or Stride MyPay Agreement for details. SpotMe: SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, "SpotMe"). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. SpotMe for Credit and SpotMe on Debit share a single SpotMe limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions, including ACH s, Pay Anyone s, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe terms and conditions. Early Pay: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. Savings: Chime® Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account. The 3.75% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is only available to members with Chime Prime status, otherwise, either the 3.00% APY for members with Chime Plus status or the standard rate of 0.75% APY will apply. The APYs are effective as of 02/26/2026, are variable and may change at any time. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. See Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions for more details. Credit Builder: Based on a representative study conducted by Experian® in Sept 2025, the top 10% of members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder, an earlier version of Chime Card, between April and August 2024, observed a FICO® Score 8 increase of 71 points after approximately 8 months. Average increase of 28 points across all participants in the study. Credit score improvement not guaranteed. Paying on time may increase your score, while late payment may decrease your score. Other credit activity can impact your score. Credit score is one of many factors creditors may consider in evaluating credit applications.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading

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How do you get a credit card cash advance?

If you already have a credit card, you can turn part of your credit line into cash.

1. Check your card’s cash advance limit, it’s usually a separate, smaller limit than your total credit line
2. Go to an ATM and use your card’s PIN, or visit a bank branch with photo ID
3. Some issuers also let you request an advance through convenience checks or your banking app
4. The cash is available immediately, though ATM fees may apply

What it costs: Cash advances typically come with an upfront fee of 3%–5% of the amount, or a flat fee, whichever is greater. The most common cash advance APR is around 30%, and interest starts accruing the moment you withdraw the cash, since cash advances don’t get the grace period that purchases do.

Watch for: This is one of the more expensive ways to borrow, so it works best for small, short-term needs you can pay off fast.

How do you get a cash advance from a bank or credit union?

Federal credit unions can offer payday alternative loans (PALs), a lower-cost, structured option backed by the National Credit Union Administration.

1. Join a federal credit union and hold membership for at least one month
2. Ask about PALs I (up to $1,000, six-month term) or PALs II (up to $2,000, 12-month term)
3. Provide proof of income and identification
4. If approved, funds are typically available within one to two business days

What it costs: PALs cap the APR at 28% and limit the application fee to $20, far below what a typical payday loan costs. Banks that offer their own small-dollar loans set their own rates and fees, so it’s worth asking directly.

Watch for: Approval and turnaround times are usually slower than an app or a credit card advance, and PALs require credit union membership first.

How do you get a payday loan?

A payday loan offers fast cash with no credit check, but they’re one of the most expensive ways to borrow.

1. Apply online or in person with a payday lender
2. Provide proof of income and a bank account
3. If approved, get funds the same day or next business day
4. Repay the full amount, plus fees, by your next payday

What it costs: Fees generally range from $10–$30 for every $100 borrowed, and a typical two-week loan with a $15 fee per $100 works out to an APR of almost 400%. Since the full balance is due on your next payday, many borrowers end up rolling the loan over and paying more fees.

Watch for: Consider this a last resort. Try a cash advance app, a credit card advance or a credit union PAL first.

How do you borrow cash from family or friends?

It’s not glamorous, but it’s usually the cheapest option if it’s available to you.

1. Ask directly and be specific about the amount and timeline
2. Put the agreement in writing, even informally, so expectations are clear
3. Set a repayment date and stick to it
4. Consider a small IOU or shared note app to track the loan

What it costs: Usually nothing, though it’s worth weighing the relationship risk if you can’t repay on time.

What does a cash advance cost?

How to choose the right cash advance option

• Compare the total cost, not just the fee, a low fee on a short repayment window can still work out to a high APR.
• Check how much you can borrow, apps and payday loans usually cap advances at a few hundred dollars, while a credit union PAL can go up to $2,000.
• Look at repayment terms, some options deduct automatically on payday, others give you months to repay.
• Consider your credit, credit card advances, apps and family loans don’t require a credit check, but a credit union PAL does.
• Factor in speed, if you need cash today, that narrows your options to apps, credit cards or payday lenders.

Things to consider before you get a cash advance

• It’s still debt. Even a fee-free cash advance app reduces your next paycheck, which can start a cycle of needing another advance.
• Interest starts immediately on credit cards. Unlike purchases, there’s no grace period on a cash advance.
• Payday loans can spiral. Rolling over a payday loan adds fees each time you can’t repay in full.
• Build a buffer if you can. Even a small emergency fund can reduce how often you need a cash advance.

Frequently asked questions

• Is a cash advance bad for your credit?

  Cash advance apps generally don't affect your credit since most don't report to credit bureaus. Credit card cash advances don't trigger a new credit check, but a high balance can raise your credit utilization, which may lower your score.

• How fast can you get a cash advance?

  Cash advance apps and credit cards can get you money within minutes if you pay for instant delivery. Credit union PALs and bank loans typically take one to two business days.

• Can you get a cash advance with bad credit?

  Yes. Cash advance apps, payday loans and existing credit card limits typically don't require a credit check, though credit card cash advances depend on the credit limit you already have.

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

Written by

Megan B. Shepherd

Editor, Loans & Insurance

Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance expert and editor for loans and insurance at Finder. Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics. Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company. See full bio

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