Tilt App Review: $500 Cash Advances But Mixed Experiences

Is Tilt legit?

Yes, Tilt is a legitimate financial services app that offers cash advances, lines of credit and credit cards along with budgeting help, a savings tool and credit score monitoring. Originally named Empower, the company has 5 million+ customers since its inception in 2016.

The app uses Plaid to securely connect to your bank account, an industry-standard tool used by many reputable financial apps. However, its reputation is mixed, with some reviewers citing issues like unexpected subscription charges, unresponsive customer support and trouble canceling accounts.

What makes Tilt shine?

• Fee-free cash advances. Get up to $500 with no interest, credit check or late fees, with funding available within minutes for a fee or within one business day for free.
• Income-based approval. Tilt considers your income and banking activity rather than just your credit score, making it more accessible to people with lower credit scores, variable income or gig work.
• Automatic repayment. Repayment automatically comes out of your bank account the next time you get paid, so you don’t have to worry about missing a payment.
• Built-in financial tools. The Tilt app offers budgeting, savings and credit monitoring tools which helps justify the cost of the monthly subscription.
• Other borrowing options. If you’re looking for other borrowing options, Tilt also offers a line of credit and unsecured credit cards, though you can only use one of the three lending options at a time.

Where Tilt falls short

• Monthly subscription fee. Tilt charges an $8 monthly subscription fee after a 14-day free trial, which is higher than several competitors and more expensive than some apps that don’t require a subscription at all.
• Customer service concerns. Support is supposedly available by phone during weekday business hours and by email, but many customers report difficulty reaching anyone.
• Low customer ratings. The app receives low ratings from past customers on Trustpilot, which may be a concern if customer support is important to you.
• Limited alternatives. If you’re looking for a cash advance app like Tilt with a better reputation, consider EarnIn or Cleo.

Tilt details

Tilt contact info

How to qualify for Tilt

You need to meet these general requirements to get a Tilt cash advance:

• Be 18 years old or older
• Hold a checking account with a US financial institution
• Have a cell phone number that operates in the US
• Authorize Tilt to link with your bank account so it can analyze your income and spending patterns to determine a cash advance limit

Other features

Besides cash advances, the Tilt app offers other features, including:

• Personalized budgeting. Create spending caps for categories and get real-time alerts for deposits, bills and purchases.
• AutoSave. Set a weekly or paycheck-based savings goal, and Tilt’s AI automatically moves aside money based on your budget.
• Credit score monitoring. Track your credit score in the app and get suggestions to help build it.
• Smart recommendations. Get AI-driven tips when bills go up, fees hit your account or credit usage climbs.
• Unsecured credit cards. Choose from three Tilt cards that help you build credit with cash back rewards and no credit check required.
• Line of credit. Borrow up to $1,000 with no credit check and no interest if repaid by your next payday (or 35.99% APR for a longer repayment period).

Keep in mind that you can’t have a Tilt cash advance, line of credit and credit card all at the same time. You must choose one of the three lending options at a time.

Tilt reviews and complaints

Reviews of Tilt (formerly Empower) are mixed. On the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot sites, the vast majority of reviews are negative. Customers primarily complain about the monthly subscription fee, saying that the company continues to deduct it from their bank accounts even after they’ve canceled the service. They also complain that customer service is difficult to reach, with no live person to talk to.

Additional complaints include not getting an advance they were approved for, repayments deducted before payday, cash advance amounts being reduced over time, bugs with the app and not getting approved for a cash advance.

The company receives far more favorable reviews on Google Play and the App Store. Satisfied customers praise the app for being straightforward and easy to use. They appreciate being able to get a cash advance quickly to help when they’re in a financial bind, especially since there are no interest charges.

Compare Tilt to other apps

Want to see how Tilt stacks up against its competitors? Check out our chart below to find out.

7 of 7 results

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Finder Score	Max. amount per pay period	Turnaround time	Costs
Promoted 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: Some Restrictions Apply. To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 36 days as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying 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 Maximum Available Advance 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; see back of card for issuer. 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 transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, 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. APY: The 4.00% 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 1.00% APY will apply. The APYs are effective as of 10/06/2026, 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. Build credit: On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.	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
Promoted 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
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
8.6 Great Super.com	8.6 Great	Up to $250	3 business days	$3.99 to $6.99 fee for instant transfer	Get up to $250 cash advance with no impact to your credit score or hidden fees.	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
8.4 Great Brigit	8.4 Great	$50 to $500	1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.	Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month	Have up to $500 automatically deposited into your account — for a $8.99 membership fee.	Important information ME: $25-$250 only	Go to siteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading
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

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