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Loans like Advance America

Compare more lenders that offer payday and installment loans – with potentially lower APRs.

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Kat Aoki
Updated . What changed?
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Advance America has been around for more than 20 years, with thousands of stores nationwide. While many people turn to it for short term loans – it charges high interest rates that can exceed 600% APR. Here’s a list of sites like Advance America that have lower rates or new options for your needs.

7 lenders like Advance America

What’s changed in 2022?

Payday loans aren’t the only option for short term funding. We updated our list to include more loan types for bad credit borrowers, including a no-interest cash app and a personal loan provider called Avant. We also added Oportun to our list, an installment loan lender with a maximum APR – much lower than the typical payday loan.

Alternative for personal loans: Avant

Avant personal loans

3.45 / 5 ★★★★★

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Avant is an online personal loan lender that offers loans from $2,000 to $35,000 and there's no minimum credit score to apply. As long as you have a regular source of income and a history of on-time repayments, Avant may approve your loan.

Avant's APRs start at 9.95% and max out at 35.99% – much lower than Advance America. But you'll be on the hook for an administrative fee of up to 4.75%, which gets deducted from your total loan amount. But if you qualify, a personal loan from Avant can be much cheaper than a payday loan.

  • Not available in: Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, New York, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Bad credit OK
  • Self-employed income accepted
  • Preapproval won't impact your credit
Cons
  • Limited number of states
  • Administrative fee of 4.75%
  • Recently settled lawsuit with the FTC
Loan Amount$2,000 to $35,000
APR9.95% to 35.99%
Interest Rate TypeFixed
Min. Credit Score580
Turnaround TimeAs soon as the next business day
Maximum Loan Term5 years
Minimum Loan Term1 year

Alternative for building credit: OppLoans

OppLoans Installment Loans

4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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OppLoans offers short term loans for bad credit borrowers that range from $500 to a maximum of $4,000. There's no minimum credit score to apply, but you will need proof of regular monthly income – about $1,500 a month in most states.

OppLoans APRs typically range from 59% to 160%, which is higher than for a personal loan, but lower than Advance America's rates. After approval, funds are received as soon as the next business day and you have five days to cancel the loan if you change your mind.

  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia
Pros
  • Good customer reviews
  • Reports payments to all three major credit bureaus
  • May be able to change payment due date
Cons
  • Terms are typically 9 months
  • Minimum monthly income varies by state
  • Must receive income through direct deposit
Loan amount$500 - $4,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term6 to 18 months
Turnaround time1 business day

Alternative for a line of credit: CashNetUSA

CashNetUSA Loan

3.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Along with payday and installment loans, CashNetUSA also offers lines of credit, which can be more flexible. APRs typically range between 149% to 299%, but you only pay interest on what you use. Some borrowers may pay a 15% transaction fee on each draw in some states.

Loan amounts vary by state – usually between $500 and $3,000 – but you can quickly view state availability, loan amounts, fees and APRs on its website. And while the company is transparent about costs, it has a current BBB alert for fraudulent transactions and frequent calls.

  • Available in: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
  • Upfront about costs
  • Same-day funding available
  • Coupon codes available
Cons
  • Loan costs vary by state
  • High volume of BBB complaints
  • APRs can reach 579% in some states
Loan amount$500 - $3,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan TermVaries by state
Turnaround timeAs fast as same business day

Alternative for multiple loan types: ACE Cash Express

ACE Cash Express Short-term Loans

3.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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ACE Cash Express offers payday, installment and title loans all in one place. It allows same day pick up at a store or you can apply online and have your funds instantly sent to a debit card. But like Advance America, its APRs can reach over 600%.

However, you may be eligible for a complete or partial refund of applicable loan fees in some states when you pay your loan back early. However, it isn't transparent about the fees it charges — and some customers have complained about the company online.

  • Only available in: California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas
Pros
  • 72-hour return period
  • Online and in-store options
  • Same-day funding available
Cons
  • Loan options vary by state
  • Interest rates not available online
  • Mixed customer reviews
Loan amount$100 - $5,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan TermVaries by state
Turnaround timeAs fast as same business day

Alternative for low rates: Oportun

Oportun Installment Loans

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Oportun is a lender serving people with less than perfect credit – or no credit history at all. It offers installment loans from $300 to $12,000 – and up to $20,000 for car title loans. Unlike Advance America APRs which can cost 600% or more, Oportun's maximum rate is 35.99% APR.

You only need an ID, proof of income and an address to apply and funds are available in one to three business days. Oportun reports your loan repayments to Experian and Transunion, which can help boost your credit. To get prequalified for a loan, visit a local branch, go online or call.

  • Only available in: Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas
Pros
  • Bilingual support
  • No bank account required
  • All credit scores welcome
Cons
  • Only available in AZ, CA, FL, NJ, and TX
  • Repeat borrowing encouraged
  • Frequent repayments required
Loan amount$300 - $12,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term7.2 to 42 months

Alternative for 0% interest cash advances: Vola Finance

Vola Finance

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Vola Finance is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $300 against your paycheck before payday. It costs between $2.99 to $28.99 a month to use the service, and Unlike Advance America, it doesn't charge any interest on your advances.

As long as you maintain an average bank account balance over $150 and can show regular deposits into the account, you may qualify for the maximum advance. And like other cash advance apps like Dave and Brigit, Vola can monitor your finances to help you avoid overdraft fees.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Tools to manage finances
  • No regular work hours required
  • Notifications for low account balance
Cons
  • Membership tiers benefits aren't clear
  • Minimum $150 average balance required
  • Advances are limited to a maximum of $300
Loan amountUp to $300
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeAs soon as same business day

Alternative for store pickup: Check Into Cash

Check Into Cash Payday Loan

4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

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Check Into Cash mainly offers payday loans with fees that typically run from $15 to $30 per $100 borrowed – which means its APRs can exceed 400% and reach up to 1,000%. But it's available in over 25 states, with over 650-plus store locations.

This can make it a good choice for emergency borrowing when you want to pick up your cash at a nearby store. It also offers a range of services, including: cash advances, title loans, check cashing, Western Union and bill pay services.

  • Available in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
  • Same-day funding available
  • Borrow as little as $50
  • Positive Trustpilot ratings
Cons
  • Must be at least 21
  • APRs can exceed 400%
  • Mixed reviews online
Loan amount$50 - $1,000
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan TermVaries by state
Turnaround time1 to 2 business days

How Advance America compares

Advance America charges high interest rates and may be more pricey than other options like personal loans and cash apps. Here are the main pros and cons of this lender.

Pros

  • Payday loans as small as $50
  • Offers online title loans in some states
  • Online calculator breaks down loan costs

Cons

  • APRs run high
  • Faced previous lawsuits
  • Not available in all states

Alternatives to payday and installment loans

Payday and installment loans, while convenient, may not be the best option if you’re looking to save money on interest and get out of debt.

Did you know?

  • A typical $375 payday loan costs $520 in fees due to repeat borrowing.
  • The APR on a payday loan can hit over 1,000% in states with no protections against predatory short-term lenders.
  • While payday loans are designed for emergency expenses, about 70% of borrowers use them to pay for everyday expenses.
  • Most payday loan borrowers stay in debt for at least 11 months.

Cash advance apps don’t charge interest and personal loans may be a more affordable option to high interest payday loans. Compare the top cash advance apps and personal loan providers for bad credit to see if these alternatives can save you money.

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