Tally is a consumer debt management app offering credit card payoff strategies and tools — plus a line of credit (LOC), which you can use to pay off your creditors. The credit line has a variable APR, which ranges from 7.9% to 29.99% — based on your credit score — and consolidates your debts into one monthly payment.
But the variable APR means your rate could jump significantly when interest rates rise — for example, from 11% to 18% — reducing the potential savings you originally calculated. If you prefer predictability, a debt consolidation loan with a fixed rate is probably a better choice, especially if you have good to excellent credit.
Our list of apps like Tally includes personal loan lenders that offer competitive, fixed-rate debt consolidation loans and interest-free cash advance apps that can help manage your money better while you pay down debt.
Our 5 top picks for apps like Tally
Alternative for credit card consolidation: Happy Money
Happy Money offers fixed-interest personal loans that start at 11.72% APR. Loan amounts range between $5,000 and $40,000 with repayment terms of 2 to 5 years. While its starting rate is higher than Tally's, its fixed interest rate won't change over the loan term.
Happy Money works with lending partners instead of lending directly. These lenders charge an origination fee based on the loan amount, term and your credit score. They deduct this fee from the loan proceeds, so you'll need to apply for a higher amount than you need. On the plus side, Happy Money only charges an origination fee, with no late fees, nonsufficient funds fees or other fees.
- Not available in: Massachusetts, Nevada
Pros
- Accepts fair credit borrowers
- Rates cap out at 24.5% APR
- Borrow up to $40,000
Cons
- Minimum loan amount is $5,000
- Other lenders may have lower APRs
- Charges an origination fee
| Loan amount | $5,000 to $40,000 |
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| APR | 11.72% to 24.50% |
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| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
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| Min. credit score | 640 |
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| Turnaround Time | 3 to 6 days |
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| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
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| Minimum Loan Term | 2 years |
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| APR | 11.72% to 24.50% |
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| Min. credit score | 640 |
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| Loan amount | $5,000 to $40,000 |
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Alternative for fair credit personal loans: Upstart
Upstart personal loans
4.2 / 5
★★★★★
Upstart is an online lender that offers personal loans that you can use for debt consolidation. It's one of the few lenders that considers non-traditional underwriting criteria like work experience or education. It is aimed at fair and bad credit borrowers with scores as low as 300, with interest rates from 7.8% to 35.99% APR.
Upstart is also known for quick funding — you could get your funds as soon as the same day you apply. But it charges an origination fee of up to 12% on its loans, and the lowest rates and fees go to the best credit borrowers. But if you can secure a lower rate than the average rate of your credit cards combined, you could save money while paying off your debt faster.
- Not available in: West Virginia
Pros
- Fair and bad credit OK
- Considers education and career in underwriting
- No prepayment penalty
Cons
- Origination fee up to 12%
- Only 2- and 5-year terms available
- No mobile app to manage loans
| Loan amount | $1,000 to $50,000 |
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| APR | 7.80% to 35.99% |
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| Interest Rate Type | Fixed |
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| Min. credit score | 300 |
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| Turnaround Time | 1 to 3 business days |
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| Maximum Loan Term | 5 years |
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| Minimum Loan Term | 3 years |
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| APR | 7.80% to 35.99% |
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| Min. credit score | 300 |
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| Loan amount | $1,000 to $50,000 |
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Alternative for avoiding overdrafts: Brigit
Brigit is a cash advance app offering payday cash advances up to $250 per pay period with its paid subscription, which costs $8.99 a month. It's not for debt consolidation, but you can use it in conjunction with Tally to get your finances on track, especially if you take advantage of its additional features, like overdraft protection.
Just activate the auto-overdraft feature, and Brigit will monitor your bank account for low balances and advances money to prevent an overdraft. Brigit's paid subscription also includes a free credit builder program and $1 million in identity theft protection. But like other cash apps, same-day transfers come with a fee.
Pros
- Save on overdraft fees
- Credit builder program included in monthly fee
- Budgeting tools to help you track spending
Cons
- Some complain the service is hard to cancel
- Not all users qualify for a $250 advance
- Same-day transfers cost extra
| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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Alternative to to credit cards: MoneyLion Instacash
MoneyLion Instacash advances
MoneyLion Instacash is a feature of the MoneyLion banking app that allows users to borrow up to $500 between paydays. By allowing you to borrow against your next paycheck with its fee-free, interest-free cash advances, you can avoid taking on more credit card debt while paying it down.
You can potentially increase the advance amount to over $500 by signing up for MoneyLion's credit builder program for $19.99 a month or by setting up direct deposit with MoneyLion's banking account called RoarMoney. But instant transfer fees run high, making MoneyLion best for people who can wait two or three days for a transfer.
- Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
- May be able to increase advance amounts
- Regular transfers are free with no tipping required
- Can defer payments up to two weeks
Cons
- Instant delivery costs between $1.99 and $7.99
- Instant transfer fees can add up quickly
- A pattern of customer complaints
| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Due by your next pay date |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99 |
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Alternative for lines of credit: Elastic
Elastic line of credit
3.2 / 5
★★★★★
Elastic is an online lender that offers same-day turnaround to eligible borrowers. Its lines of credit stretch from $500 to $4,500 and offer fast funding for emergencies. Once the line is open, you just request a cash advance online. But this convenience and speed come at a cost.
Each cash advance sets you back a 5% or 10% cash advance fee, depending on your billing cycle. You must also pay a portion of your cash advance each billing cycle, and if your carried balance is more than $10, Elastic charges you a fee between $5 and $350. Despite the costs, many customers give Elastic good reviews online.
- Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
Pros
- Positive customer reviews
- Same-day funding in some cases
- Can help boost your credit score
- No hidden fees
Cons
- Costs can run high
- Not available in all states
- No Android app
| Loan amount | $500 - $4,500 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Up to 10 months |
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| Turnaround time | 1+ business day |
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| Loan amount | $500 - $4,500 |
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| Turnaround time | 1+ business day |
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| Online application | Yes |
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How does Tally compare?
Tally calls itself a “debt-fighting” app and claims it can help members save thousands in interest with its debt reduction tools and strategies. It also offers a credit line of up to $20,000 that you can use to pay off credit cards — but with a variable APR, you could end up paying more than you bargained for.
If you prefer payment predictability, a fixed-rate debt consolidation loan could be better for paying off your credit card debt. Read our full Tally review to learn more about its benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Manage all your cards in one place
- Offers different personalized payoff strategies
- Can pay your credit cards off automatically for you
Cons
- Variable APR could increase suddenly
- Tally+ membership required to access a larger line of credit
- Tally+ membership costs $300 per year
- Not available in Nevada, Vermont and West Virginia
More alternatives to payday and installment loans
We didn’t include payday and short-term installment loans as alternatives to Tally, as they’re considered predatory and come with sky-high interest rates.
Consider that:
- A typical $375 payday loan comes with $520 in fees because of repeat borrowing.
- The average APR on a payday loan can reach as high as 650% in states with no protections against predatory short-term lenders.
- While payday loans are designed for one-time emergencies, about 70% of borrowers use them for recurring costs like utilities and bills.
- Most payday loan borrowers stay in debt for at least 11 months.
For short-term borrowing, cash advance apps are a cheaper option, as they never charge finance fees or interest on what you borrow.
If you prefer not to use a payday lender or cash advance app that monitors your bank account for direct deposit activity, consider these other options for accessing cash:
- Credit card cash advance. Credit card cash advances are a fast and convenient way to access cash at an ATM or bank counter. Cash advance fees run high, so it’s best to limit how often you use them. Compare the best credit cards of 2023.
- Personal loan. If you need to borrow more than $500, compare personal loan providers with Monevo to narrow down the best offer from multiple lenders based on your credit score.
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) app. BNPL apps let you purchase items you need today and pay them off later. Discover the best BNPL apps offering low fees and interest.
- CDFI loan. These are small-dollar, short-term loans at a lower cost than from a payday lender. They’re available from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
- Employer advance. If you need funds before payday, your employer may be willing to advance part of your paycheck.
Our payday loan alternatives guide offers even more low-cost options to Tally for accessing cash to cover emergency expenses.
