Varo is a banking app that offers a cash advance feature as part of its banking products. With Varo, you can borrow between $20 and $250 with no interest, and you decide when to repay within 30 days of the advance. But you can only borrow $20 for free. Advances of $50 and higher have a fee based on the size of your advance, from $4 up to $15.
You could also choose to use another cash advance app, but not all apps work with Varo. And you’ll want to make sure yours does before you download and take the time to register.
The 6 best apps that work with Varo
If you already have a Varo account, using the Varo cash advance is probably the easiest way to get the money you need. But if you don’t want to pay Varo’s fees or need more money than their program has to offer, we’ve collected the best cash advance apps that work with Varo:
- Best for free overdrafts: Chime
- Best for frequent advances: Cleo
- Best for staying on budget: Dave
- Best for free instant delivery: Empower
- Best for a full banking experience: MoneyLion
- Best for no-fee advances: Klover
Best for free overdrafts: Chime
Chime SpotMe is a free, optional service that allows Chime account holders to overdraft their Chime Spending accounts up to $200 on purchases and ATM withdrawals. To qualify for SpotMe, you need to have at least $200 direct deposited into your Chime checking account every month.
The good news is, Chime and Varo are compatible, allowing you to transfer money across platforms. This means you could use Varo's cash advance feature and then transfer money to your Chime account, or transfer funds out of your Chime account to Varo if needed.
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
- No fees or tipping required
- Low monthly direct deposit requirement of $200
- Bill payments, Venmo, and Pay Anyone not covered
Cons
- Overdraft limits start at $20
- Must use with Chime Checking account and debit card
- Only for debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals
| Loan amount | $20 - $200 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Next deposit |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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| Loan amount | $20 - $200 |
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| Turnaround time | Same day |
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Best for frequent advances: Cleo
With its 24-hour cooling-off period between loans, Cleo allows you a new advance only one day after paying off your previous one. This is way faster than other cash advance apps that make you wait three to five days between advances. Cleo also lets you reschedule your payment due date once, if your finances change.
On the downside, Cleo's cash advance limit may be lower for those who aren't subscribed — and new users are approved for $20 to $70 at first.
Pros
- New advance available 24 hours after payoff
- One-time due date extension
- Budgeting and saving tools through app
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 - $250 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee. |
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| Loan amount | $20 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 express fee. |
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Best for staying on budget: Dave
Dave is another popular cash advance app that works with Varo. Customers like it because it analyzes your spending patterns, helps you avoid over drafting and comes with early paydays — all of which can help you stay on budget. Beyond that, Dave's cash advance limit is $500 — $250 higher than Varo's. And you can use your Dave advance for anything.
There is a $1 monthly membership fee to access all of Dave's features, including ExtraCash, which is much lower than many other cash advance apps, but is higher than Varo, which doesn't require a membership fee. If you're okay waiting three to four days for your advance, it is free, But if you want it next day, Dave charges an express fee that ranges from $1.99 to $13.99, depending on the amount of your advance and whether the money is transferred to your Dave account or a third-party bank account.
Pros
- Borrow up to $500
- Tipping is optional
- 10% of every tip is pledged to the Feeding America charity
- Free credit builder program for one year
Cons
- $1-monthly fee is higher than Varo
- Fees of up to $13.99 for $500 same-day funding
| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 3 business days, or instant for a fee |
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| Loan amount | Up to $500 |
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| Turnaround time | Up to 3 business days, or instant for a fee |
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Best for free instant delivery: Empower
Empower is a cash advance app that can provide you up to $250 between paydays. You can also get free instant delivery when you accept funds onto your Empower debit card. But where Empower stands out is that it lets you set your own repayment date and reschedule it if your finances change without any kind of late fee.
If you use an external bank account like Varo, expect to pay up to $8 for one-hour funding. Otherwise, you can wait one business day for free standard delivery. You can get a 14-day free trial to try out Empower's features, but after that you'll be enrolled in an $8 monthly subscription fee.
Pros
- $250 maximum advance limit
- $0 instant delivery to your Empower debit card
- Tipping is optional
Cons
- $8 monthly subscription fee
- Instant delivery fee applies for external bank accounts
| Loan amount | $10 - $250 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Repay automatically at a specified date. |
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| Turnaround time | Same day, instant delivery available |
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| Loan amount | $10 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | Same day, instant delivery available |
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Best for a full banking experience: MoneyLion
MoneyLion Instacash advances
If you want a cash advance app that offers a more traditional banking experience, look to MoneyLion. The app supports a range of products to help you build up your financial toolkit, including investment accounts, crypto accounts, credit builder loans and debit card rewards.
The standard cash advance limit is $500 — much higher than Varo. And you can unlock an additional $300 to $500 advance when you open a RoarMoney account or join Credit Builder Plus.
- 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
- $500 maximum advance limit
- Ability to unlock and additional $500 with memberships
- Full suite of financial products
Cons
- $0 standard delivery can take up to five business days
- Fees of $1.99 to $7.99 for same-day funding
- New users may have a $50 advance limit to start
| 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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Best for no-fee advances: Klover
Klover offers up to $150 in cash advances up front, but you can earn $50 more—up to $200 in a cash advance—by watching ads, providing your data for anonymous market research and scanning receipts. Not only does Klover work with Varo, but its Balance Boost cash advance is very similar to Varo's advance program.
Neither Klover or Varo charge a membership fee to access the feature or charge interest on the advance. But where Varo charges a fee for any advance over $50, Klover only charges an express fee if you need the money the same day. The fee is a lot higher than its competitors, up to $12.49 for advances of $75 or more. But if you don't mind waiting two to three business days, your advance is free. You can also subscribe to Klover's Financial Management service for $3.99 a month, but you don't have to be subscribed to take advantage of Klover's Balance Boost.
Pros
- No credit check required
- No membership fee required to access advances
- Earn points through the app to increase advance amounts
Cons
- High same-day funding fee, up to $12.49 for $75 or more
- Relatively low advance amount
- Uses your data for ad revenue
| Loan amount | Up to $200 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | Until your next payday |
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| Turnaround time | As soon as the same day with fee; 2 to 3 business days for no fee |
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| Loan amount | Up to $200 |
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| Turnaround time | As soon as the same day with fee; 2 to 3 business days for no fee |
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How we chose these providers
We compared multiple pay advance apps that were compatible with Varo and compared loan amounts, turnaround times, subscription fees, the time between advances and eligibility requirements.
Does my cash advance app work with Varo?
If you have a favorite app that didn’t make our list, it might still work with your Varo account. Take a look at our table to see which cash advance, payday loan and installment loan apps work with the banking app.
Should I just use Varo?
Varo offers its own cash advance, which may negate your need for another cash advance app. They offer up to $250, which is pretty typical for cash advance apps, and give you 30 days to pay back the loan, where most advances will be due your next pay day.
But Varo charges a fee for any advance over $50, and you have to be a Varo banking customer with an open and active account in order to be eligible for their cash advance program. If that doesn’t appeal to you, consider other top cash advance apps or some of the alternatives we’ve listed.
Alternatives to cash advance apps for Varo customers
Cash advance apps are best if you need small sums of money between paydays. The maximum loan amount is typically around $250. And in most cases, new users can’t borrow more than $50 at a time until they’ve used the app for several months.
If cash advance apps are too restrictive for your needs, consider alternatives that include:
- Short-term or installment loan. If you’re looking to borrow higher amounts consider an installment loan or short-term personal loan.
- Credit card cash advance. If you need money in a pinch, consider withdrawing cash from your credit card. You’ll pay a transaction fee and interest will be charged immediately without a grace period, but your limit could be higher than a cash advance app. Cash advances come with a high interest rate, so consider a card like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card that offers a lower than average cash advance rate.
- Local resources. Many cities and states support local programs to help you cover food, utilities and rent when money’s tight. Consider looking into these resources if you tend to rely on cash advance apps to get by.
- Credit counseling. A credit counselor can help you create a plan to bring your spending back in line with your income. And in some cases, they may be able to find enough “free money” in your budget to avoid borrowing money at all.
These cash advance apps that work with Varo aren’t your only means of getting a short-term loan when you need it. Compare other cash advance apps or payday loan alternatives before you make a final decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does Varo offer personal loans?
Varo no longer offers personal loans and is now exclusively focused on its banking program. As the first fintech company to receive a national bank charter, it’s making headway in the finance industry — but this does mean you’ll need to look elsewhere for loans. However, you can still find alternatives to Varo personal loans.
