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7 Loans Like ACE Cash Express for Quick Cash in 2026

These eight alternative lenders offer payday loans and installment loans.

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By

Megan B. Shepherd

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Anna Serio

Updated

Fact checked

ACE Cash Express is a short-term lender that offers same-day loans both online and in-store at 850 locations nationwide. It offers payday, installment and title loans, as well as cash advances, which typically range from $100 to $2,500 — depending on the state. The exception is Texas, where it offers $1,500 title loans.

But its rates run high, with APRs exceeding 660%, making ACE Cash Express loans best for emergencies only. Because the rates charged are so steep, repeatedly using short-term installment loans from lenders like ACE Cash Express can lead to a cycle of debt that can be hard to break.

But there are alternatives, particularly cash advance apps, which offer paycheck advances from $20 to $250 per pay period in most cases without interest or fees on what you borrow. These alternatives offer speedy funding, low fees and a cheaper way to access cash for emergencies.

ACE Cash Express alternatives

Alternative for credit building

Cleo

8.2 Great

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Cleo can save you money over ACE Cash Express, with no interest charged on its cash advances. Members can request a cash advance through customer support for free, starting with $20 to $70 advances at first and eventually qualifying for up to $250. Advances are easier to request through the app if you pay the $5.99 monthly subscription fee, which also comes with personal financial management tools.

If you're willing to pay $14.99 per month, you can access credit builder tools, which include a secured credit card, early access to your paycheck and up to $500 in emergency cash advance if you set up direct deposits. And Cleo reports to all three credit bureaus, which can help you build credit if you keep up on your payments.

Loan Amount $20 - $250
Turnaround time 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Costs $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances
  • Available in all states

Alternative for accessing wages

EarnIn

9.5 Excellent

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EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $1,000 of your earned wages before payday with its Cash Out feature. This borrowing limit is significantly higher than most cash advance apps, and unlike payday loans, there’s no interest or financing fees to use Cash Outs.

To qualify for EarnIn Cash Outs, you need to be employed, have regular direct deposits and earn a minimum of $320 each pay period. You can transfer $150 a day to a linked bank account or more than $150 per day to an EarnIn card. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee.

Loan Amount Up to $1,000
Turnaround time 1-2 business days standard, in minutes with a small fee
Costs Free
  • Not available in: Connecticut, District of Columbia

Alternative for subscription fee

Albert Instant

8.8 Great

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Albert is a popular all-in-one money app that provides up to $1,000 to members. You don't need a subscription to use Albert Instant, it's available to any eligible Albert member subject to eligibility requirements.

Albert also offers optional subscription tiers which include extra tools like budgeting insights, automated savings, spending alerts, and other financial management features. Combined with Albert Instant, these features help users manage short-term cash gaps and stay on top of their finances.

Loan Amount $25 - $1,000
Turnaround time Within minutes
Costs No subscription required

Alternative for flexible payments

Brigit

8.4 Great

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Brigit is a no-credit-check cash advance app that can help you cover emergency expenses between paydays — and unlike ACE Cash Express, never charges interest or fees on what you borrow. Brigit offers cash advances up to $500 per pay period and lets you extend your due date, as long as you've made two consecutive on-time payments.

To get advances, you need to sign up for Brigit's paid subscription, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 a month. This fee includes Brigit's credit builder program and up to $1 million in identity theft protection. Brigit can also auto-advance money to your bank account if you're at risk of an overdraft.

Loan Amount $50 - $500
Turnaround time 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Costs Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month
  • Available in all states

Alternative for higher loan amounts

OppLoans Installment Loans

9.4 Excellent

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OppLoans is a highly rated online lender that offers loans up to $5,000 — which is higher than ACE Cash Express' typical loan amount of $100 to $2,500, depending on the state and type of loan. OppLoan's APR is 195% — significantly lower than ACE's rates, which could help you save money.

But unlike ACE Cash Express, there are no storefront locations, so you won't have access to services like check cashing and prepaid debit cards. That said, it's one of the most transparent lenders in terms of costs, and it reports your activity to the three major credit bureaus to help boost your credit score.

Loan Amount $500 - $5,000
APR 129% - 195% APR
Turnaround time As soon as the same business day
Online application Yes
  • Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia

Alternative for gig workers

Cash App

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Cash App Borrow is a pilot feature that hasn't been rolled out to all users yet. But it may become available to you, depending on your app usage. If eligible, you could borrow up to $500 for emergency expenses. But unlike cash advance apps, there's a 5% finance charge to use the service.

While Cash App doesn't disclose eligibility requirements, users have reported getting access to Cash App Borrow after loading funds to Cash App and sending out payments. Some users have also reported getting access without having a job. This could make it ideal for people who get paid in cash or don't receive direct deposits — as having direct deposits is a requirement for most cash advance apps.

Loan Amount $20 - $500
Turnaround time Same day
Costs 5% flat fee
  • Available in all states

Alternative for quick installment loans

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

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Possible Finance is an online lender that offers short-term installment loans up to $500. Like ACE and cash advance apps, there's no credit check required, making it good for bad credit. But you'll pay a high rate — up to 200% APR — on what you borrow. But you may get up to eight weeks to repay your loan — longer than with a cash advance app.

As part of its service, Possible Finance reports your payments to two of the three major credit bureaus, which could help build your score — ACE doesn't do this. However, taking out too many loans in a short period could actually hurt your score. Due to its high cost, Possible Finance is best for emergencies where you need a longer time to repay your loan.

Loan Amount $50 - $500
APR Varies by state; fees are $10–$25 per $100 borrowed in most states
Turnaround time As fast as 1 business day
  • Not available in: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin

How does ACE Cash Express compare?

Because it’s available both online and in-store, caters to bad credit borrowers and doesn’t require a credit check, ACE Cash Express can be a fast and convenient way to get cash in hand same-day for emergencies.

But it’s pricey compared to cash advance apps, which don’t charge interest or fees on the advances themselves. Even when you factor in membership fees, cash advance apps are less expensive than a traditional payday loan for frequent borrowers.

If you have bad credit or don’t want to get verified with a cash advance app, an installment loan from ACE Cash Express may be worth the higher cost. But for ongoing borrowing, a cash advance app is a more economical choice that can help you stay within your budget.

Pros

  • 72-hour return period
  • 850 store locations
  • Same-day funding available

Cons

  • Loan options vary by state
  • Not upfront about costs
  • Mixed customer reviews
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Editor, Loans & Insurance
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Megan B. Shepherd is a personal finance expert and editor for loans and insurance at Finder. Her personal finance expertise has been featured on Forbes, Nasdaq, MediaFeed, Fox News, Time, Reviews.com, and carinsurance.com, adding invaluable information related to personal loans, financial strategies and smart borrowing tactics. Megan graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BS in Business Administration with an entrepreneurial focus. She's worked as a certified financial adviser and has earned certificates of completion from A.D. Banker & Company. See full bio

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