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5 Loans Like LendUp for Fast Cash for Bad Credit in 2026

LendUp is now a connection service that helps you find cash advance, installment, and bad credit loans — but you have comparable options.

Megan B. Shepherd's headshot

By

Megan B. Shepherd

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Anna Serio

Updated

Fact checked

LendUp restructured in July 2022, becoming a connection service to connect borrowers with lenders that offer the following short-term financing:

  • Bad-credit loans
  • Credit cards
  • Emergency loans
  • Installment loans
  • Payday loans
  • Same-day loans

The service gives you 24/7 access through its app and can have your loan funded either same-day or within a single business day. It also claims to work with poor credit borrowers. But the service is only offered in 29 states, and as LendUp isn’t an actual lender, potential fees and details of your loan offers aren’t transparent on its website until after you’ve applied and been approved.

While LendUp’s structure has changed, it might be useful to compare other cash advance apps to what LendUp can offer, so you can decide which is best for you.

Our top 5 picks like LendUp

Alternative for frequent advances

Cleo

8.2 Great

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Cleo enforces a 24-hour cooling-off period between loans, allowing you a new advance only one day after paying off your previous advance. 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, you can only request a cash advance through the app if you're subscribed, which costs $5.99 per month. But you can request an advance through Cleo customer service for free. The app charges $3.99 to fund the advance same-day.

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 building a portfolio

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 repayment flexibility

Brigit

8.4 Great

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Brigit is a cash advance offering up to $500 per pay period. Brigit is one of the few apps that let you extend your due date if you need extra time to repay. To get an extension, you'll need to have two previous consecutive on-time payments — and you can store up to three extensions at a time for later use.

To get cash advances, you must sign up for Brigit's paid subscription, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 a month. While pricier than some other apps, this fee includes Brigit's credit builder program, overdraft protection and $1 million in identity theft protection.

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 if you’re a gig worker

Cash App

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Cash App Borrow is a feature inside of Cash App that's available to select users. It's still in pilot mode, which means not everyone will see this option inside the app interface. But if you're chosen to use it, you can potentially borrow up to $500 — but you'll pay a 5% finance fee on the amount borrowed.

Eligibility requirements for Cash App Borrow aren't clear, but some report getting access to it after uploading cash to Cash App and sending payments. Some say they can access the feature without having direct deposits or a job. So, if you get paid in cash only, Cash App Borrow could work better for you than other cash advance apps that require proof of direct deposits to qualify.

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

Alternative for building your credit

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

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Possible Finance is an online lender that offers quick-turnaround, short-term installment loans up to $500. It's geared towards bad credit borrowers and doesn't require a credit check. But APRs can hit 200% APR, making it best for emergency borrowing only when you need a little extra time to repay.

Unlike cash advance apps, which take repayment from your next paycheck, Possible Finance offers repayment terms up to eight weeks. Like LendUp promised to do but didn't, Possible Finance reports your payments to two of the three major credit bureaus, which could help boost your credit. But taking out too many loans in a short time could lower your score.

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

What happened to LendUp?

LendUp stopped offering loans in January 2022 due to a lawsuit filed against it by the CFPB, which ended its misleading lending practices. The most recent lawsuit from August 2021 revolved around LendUp violating a 2016 consent order to stop misleading consumers with false claims about the benefits of repeated borrowing. There have also been lawsuits against LendUp in the past.

In December 2020, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against LendUp, accusing it of violating the Military Lending Act (MLA) by charging active-duty service members and their dependents APRs over the legal limit of 36%. It also states that LendUp allegedly included an arbitration clause in its contracts — which is against the MLA — and failed to make required disclosures.

Luckily, LendUp has been able to shift its focus under new management. Here’s a quick recap of the alternatives:

  • Alternative for repayment flexibility: Brigit
  • Alternative for building your credit: Possible Finance
  • Alternative for investment advice: Albert
  • Alternative if you’re a gig worker: Cash App Borrow
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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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Megan B. has written 300 Finder guides across topics including:
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