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Loans like Speedy Cash

Compare alternative lenders that offer payday and installment loans.

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By

Bethany Hickey

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Anna Serio

Updated

Speedy Cash is a direct lender well-known for its payday loans. It also offers title loans, short-term installment loans and lines of credit. You can get funds the same day you apply, and in most states, its payday loans range from $100 to $500, with actual amounts and costs varying by state.

However, payday loans aren’t known for being the most affordable borrowing method. And with Speedy Cash, you might pay as much as 460% APR or more on its payday loans. This can get expensive — over 80% of people who take out payday loans have to renew it at least once, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and it can trap you in a cycle of debt.

If you just need a small amount of cash to get through to your next payday or you’re looking for more affordable borrowing options, we’ve got you covered.

Our 8 top alternatives to Speedy Cash

Alternative for overdraft feature: Chime SpotMe

Chime SpotMe®

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Calling all Chime customers: SpotMe is a built-in feature of Chime's checking account that can help you avoid costly overdraft fees. Unlike Speedy Cash, it's not a loan. Rather, it's free overdraft feature that offers between $20 and $200 in free overdraft funds if you overdraw your account – with no fees or interest tacked on like with Speedy Cash.

But there are some requirements. To be eligible for SpotMe, you need to have at least $200 in monthly direct deposits from a regular payer and you must activate the SpotMe feature within the app. The SpotMe overdraft feature works with purchases, ATM withdrawals, cash-back transactions and over-the-counter withdrawals.

  • Available in all states
Partner terms and conditions
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. Direct deposit: 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. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher 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 limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Pros
  • Get other Chime users to send you boosts to increase your SpotMe limit
  • Potentially qualify for $200 in overdrafts
  • Easy to switch on overdraft feature
Cons
  • SpotMe limits start at $20
  • SpotMe doesn't cover bill pay or P2P transfers
  • Must be used with Chime checking account
Loan amountUp to $200
Loan TermN/A
Turnaround timeSame day

Best for freelancers: Cleo

Cleo

Cleo offers cash advances from $20 to $250 with no required credit check or interest charged on the loan. They appeal to freelance workers specifically by not asking for employer verification or timesheets. Advances are easier to navigate through the app with a $5.99 subscription, but you can apply through customer service for free, without one.

Cleo also allows you to take a new advance just 24-hours after paying off your previous advance. And you can reschedule your payment one time, if your finances don't allow you to pay back the money at the agreed upon time.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • New advance available 24 hours after payoff
  • One-time due date extension
  • No credit check or employment verification
Cons
  • $5.99 monthly subscription fee
  • Non-subscribers must contact customer service to apply for cash advances
  • $3.99 express fee for same-day funding
Loan amount$20 to $250
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee.

Alternative for frequent cash advances: Albert

Albert

Albert is a banking app that offers cash advances up to $250. While that is a lower amount than Speedy Cash's payday loans, there are no interest charges, late fees, inactivity fees or monthly membership fees. And if you qualify, you may be able to borrow up to three cash advances per pay period if you maintain a good repayment history.

With the $8 monthly paid membership Genius, you can get instant delivery for free and access additional perks like investing and investing advice. Without the paid membership, you can pay a fee of $6 for instant delivery.
Just know that when you create an account with Albert, you're automatically enrolled in the Genius free trial, which you must cancel after 30 days if you don't want to be charged $96 for the annual membership fee. Most of Albert's negative reviews are related to the automatic paid membership enrollment and the inconvenience of it.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • No membership required
  • No interest or late fees
  • Instant delivery available
Cons
  • Poor customer reviews related to membership
  • Low $250 cash advance
  • No customer service phone number
Loan amount$250
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time2 to 3 business days, or instant for a fee

Alternative for instant delivery: Brigit

Brigit

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Brigit offers cash advances with delivery speeds as fast as 20 minutes, up to $250 per pay period. It also has overdraft protection features, alerting you when it thinks you're about to overdraft, and you set it to automatically deposit funds into your account to overdraft fees.

But Brigit isn't free if you want cash advances — it charges a $9.99 monthly membership. There's also an extra fee if you want same-day funding. However, there are no interest charges or late fees and you have the option to change your cash advance due date up to three times.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Same-day delivery available
  • Overdraft protection features
  • No interest or late fees
  • Change due date up to 3 times
Cons
  • $9.99 monthly membership
  • Low $250 max advance
Loan amount$250
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time1 to 3 business days, or instant with a fee or Premium subscription

Alternative for large cash advances: MoneyLion

MoneyLion Instacash advances

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MoneyLion, a mobile banking app, offers cash advances through its InstaCash feature. Unlike many banking apps, there's no monthly membership fee to access the cash advances, which range from $50 to $500 with the free membership — same max amount as Speedy Cash's payday loans.

If you want larger advances, you can sign up for RoarMoney for $1 per month, possibly allowing you to borrow up to $1,000 per pay period. Delivery times can be as soon as 24 hours with the paid membership or as long as five days.

On the downside, MoneyLion doesn't have the cleanest reputation. In 2022, it was sued by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) for overcharging service members and has over 1,262 customer complaints on its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile.

  • Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
  • No paid membership required
  • No interest charges
  • No credit check
  • Multiple advances
Cons
  • Over 1,262 BBB complaints
  • CFPB lawsuit for overcharging service members
Loan amountUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account
Loan TermNot applicable, Automatic repayment
Turnaround timeUp to 5 days or instant for a fee

Alternative for mobile installment loans: Possible Finance

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

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Possible Finance offers short-term loans of up to $500 with terms up to 2 months that you can apply for on your phone. Similar to a banking app, you can borrow these small loans right from the app. No matter how much you borrow, the term is always four payments over eight weeks. And unlike Speedy Cash's payday loans,
Possible Finance does report payments to two credit bureaus, so there's an opportunity for you to build a credit history and improve your credit score. Funding can also be as soon as one business day.

However, rates vary by state, with costs likely ranging from $15 to $20 per every $100 borrowed — a slightly lower APR than Speedy Cash in some cases. But in a few states, APRs can be around 460%, so it may be wise to compare other options before going with Possible. And it's only available in 16 states.

  • Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
Pros
  • Convenient borrowing
  • $500 limit, like Speedy Cash
  • Reports to two credit bureaus
  • Delivery as soon as one business day
Cons
  • Limited state availability
  • High APRs
Loan amountUp to $500
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround timeAs fast as 1 business day

Alternative for short installment loans: OppLoans

OppLoans Installment Loans

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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Unlike Speedy Cash, OppLoans only offers online installment loans. But with rates capped at 160% APR and terms from 9 to 18 months, it can be a more affordable alternative to Speedy Cash. OppLoans also reports payments to credit bureaus to potentially improve your credit score with timely payments and offers higher loan amounts than Speedy Cash.

But monthly income requirements can be high in some states, and you must be paid with direct deposit to qualify. You'll also need to make at least $1,500 each month to qualify. OppLoans rates and availability vary widely by state, so you may have to do some comparison shopping to see if OppLoans actually is a more affordable option for you. Like many short-term lenders, it's faced lawsuits for charging higher interest rates than legally allowed in Washington, DC.

  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Loans up to $4,000
  • Potentially less expensive than Speedy Cash
  • Reports to credit bureaus
  • Overall positive customer reviews
Cons
  • Problems with regulators in DC
  • Rates vary by state
  • Strict income requirements
Loan amount$500 - $4,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term9 to 18 months
Turnaround timeAs soon as the same business day.

Alternative for all-in-one mobile banking: Cash App

Cash App

Cash App is a very popular banking app, namely for its convenient peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services which allow you to quickly and easily send money to friends and family. But that's not all it's got — you can also invest in stocks and crypto, get paid early, earn discounts with the Cash Card, and possibly borrow with its latest feature.

Qualified users can take out small loans with the Cash App Borrow option, which offers small loans up to $200 with a 5% interest rate, repaid within four weeks. But since it's still a new feature, not all of its eligibility requirements are clear. You'll likely need to be an active user, make regular deposits, have good credit and be in an eligible state.

  • Available in all states
Partner terms and conditions
Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank.
Pros
  • P2P system
  • Invest in stocks and crypto
  • No membership fees
  • Top-ranked app
  • Small loans for qualified users
Cons
  • Low $200 maximum advance
  • Interest charges and lates fees
  • Not all users eligible for Borrow
Loan amount$20 to $200
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround time1-3 business days

How does Speedy Cash compare?

Speedy Cash has been around since 1997 and offers multiple loan types. It has other financial services available, like checking cashing, money orders and money transfers.
Speedy Cash has 161 physical locations, and if you apply in person, you could get your funds the same day. However, locations aren’t in every state, and its online installment loans are only available in 12 states. You can get a full rundown with our Speedy Cash review.

Pros

  • Funding in as little as one day
  • Online and in-store applications
  • Multiple types of loans
  • Other financial services

Cons

  • Limited state availability
  • Amounts and rates vary by state
  • APRs can be high
  1. CFPB Data Point: Payday Lending,CFPB,March 2014

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    CodyJanuary 1, 2019

    Hello I recently got approved for financing on a used vehicle. Little money down with weekly payments of an agreed amount. Is there financed options to have my vehicle payed off, and allow me to arrange monthly payments just pay much longer term?

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      JoshuaJanuary 2, 2019Finder

      Hi Cody,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. Congratulations for having a car, Cody!

      Regarding your question, yes, there are a few things you can do. One is to refinance your car loan and the other is to apply for a personal loan and use the money to pay your existing car loan debt. That way, you can simply pay your personal loan lender.

      Please make sure that you’ve read the relevant T&Cs or PDS of the loan products before making a decision. Moreover, check the eligibility requirements as well and consider whether the product is right for you.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

      Reply
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