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8 Loans Like Speedy Cash: Better Options for Fast Cash in 2026

Compare alternative lenders that offer payday and installment loans.

Bethany Hickey's headshot

By

Bethany Hickey

Edited by

Holly Jennings

Reviewed by

Anna Serio

Updated

Fact checked

Speedy Cash is a direct lender well-known for its payday loans. It also offers title loans, short-term installment loans and lines of credit. You can get funds the same day you apply, and in most states, its payday loans range from $100 to $500, with actual amounts and costs varying by state.

However, payday loans aren’t known for being the most affordable borrowing method. And with Speedy Cash, you might pay as much as 460% APR or more on its payday loans. This can get expensive — over 80% of people who take out payday loans have to renew it at least once, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and it can trap you in a cycle of debt.

If you just need a small amount of cash to get through to your next payday or you’re looking for more affordable borrowing options, we’ve got you covered.

Our 8 top alternatives to Speedy Cash

Alternative for employees

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 longer repayment window

Varo Cash Advance

9.4 Excellent

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Varo is a more affordable alternative to payday lenders like Speedy Cash. It offers cash advances from $20 to $1,000 with no credit check, no interest, no late fees, and no tipping prompts, just a flat fee between $1.60 to $100.

You'll get up to 30 days to repay, giving you more time than typical payday loans. To qualify, you'll need at least $800 in direct deposits over the past 30 days and an active Varo Bank account.

Loan Amount $20 - $1,000
Turnaround time Instant, once qualified
Costs No membership fees, Flat Fees of $1.60 to $100

Alternative for freelancers

Cleo

8.2 Great

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Cleo offers cash advances from $20 to $250 with no required credit check or interest charged on the loan. They appeal to freelance workers specifically by not asking for employer verification or timesheets. Advances are easier to navigate through the app with a $5.99 subscription, but you can apply through customer service for free, without one.

Cleo also allows you to take a new advance just 24-hours after paying off your previous advance. And you can reschedule your payment one time, if your finances don't allow you to pay back the money at the agreed upon time.

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 instant delivery

Brigit

8.4 Great

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Brigit offers cash advances with delivery speeds as fast as 20 minutes, up to $500 per pay period. It also has overdraft protection features, alerting you when it thinks you're about to overdraft, and you set it to automatically deposit funds into your account to overdraft fees.

But Brigit isn't free if you want cash advances — it charges a $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership. There's also an extra fee if you want same-day funding. However, there are no interest charges or late fees and you have the option to change your cash advance due date up to three times.

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 short installment loans

OppLoans Installment Loans

9.4 Excellent

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Unlike Speedy Cash, OppLoans only offers online installment loans. But with rates capped at 195% APR and terms from 9 to 18 months, it can be a more affordable alternative to Speedy Cash. OppLoans also reports payments to credit bureaus to potentially improve your credit score with timely payments and offers higher loan amounts than Speedy Cash.

But monthly income requirements can be high in some states, and you must be paid with direct deposit to qualify. You'll also need to make at least $1,500 each month to qualify. OppLoans rates and availability vary widely by state, so you may have to do some comparison shopping to see if OppLoans actually is a more affordable option for you. Like many short-term lenders, it's faced lawsuits for charging higher interest rates than legally allowed in Washington, DC.

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 all-in-one mobile banking

Cash App

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Cash App is a very popular banking app, namely for its convenient peer-to-peer (P2P) payment services which allow you to quickly and easily send money to friends and family. But that's not all it's got — you can also invest in stocks and crypto, get paid early, earn discounts with the Cash Card, and possibly borrow with its latest feature.

Qualified users can take out small loans with the Cash App Borrow option, which offers small loans up to $500 with a 5% interest rate, repaid within four weeks. But since it's still a new feature, not all of its eligibility requirements are clear. You'll likely need to be an active user, make regular deposits, have good credit and be in an eligible state.

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

Alternative for mobile installment loans

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

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Possible Finance offers short-term loans of up to $500 with terms up to 2 months that you can apply for on your phone. Similar to a banking app, you can borrow these small loans right from the app. No matter how much you borrow, the term is always four payments over eight weeks. And unlike Speedy Cash's payday loans,
Possible Finance does report payments to two credit bureaus, so there's an opportunity for you to build a credit history and improve your credit score. Funding can also be as soon as one business day.

However, rates vary by state, with costs likely ranging from $15 to $20 per every $100 borrowed — a slightly lower APR than Speedy Cash in some cases. But in a few states, APRs can be around 200%, so it may be wise to compare other options before going with Possible. And it's only available in 16 states.

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 Speedy Cash compare?

Speedy Cash has been around since 1997 and offers multiple loan types. It has other financial services available, like checking cashing, money orders and money transfers.
Speedy Cash has 161 physical locations, and if you apply in person, you could get your funds the same day. However, locations aren’t in every state, and its online installment loans are only available in 12 states. You can get a full rundown with our Speedy Cash review.

Pros

  • Funding in as little as one day
  • Online and in-store applications
  • Multiple types of loans
  • Other financial services

Cons

  • Limited state availability
  • Amounts and rates vary by state
  • APRs can be high
Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Bethany Hickey's headshot
Written by

Banking editor
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Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 474 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Banking
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  • Cryptocurrency and NFTs
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2 Responses

    Cody's avatar
    CodyJanuary 1, 2019

    Hello I recently got approved for financing on a used vehicle. Little money down with weekly payments of an agreed amount. Is there financed options to have my vehicle payed off, and allow me to arrange monthly payments just pay much longer term?

      Joshua's avatarFinder
      JoshuaJanuary 2, 2019Finder

      Hi Cody,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. Congratulations for having a car, Cody!

      Regarding your question, yes, there are a few things you can do. One is to refinance your car loan and the other is to apply for a personal loan and use the money to pay your existing car loan debt. That way, you can simply pay your personal loan lender.

      Please make sure that you’ve read the relevant T&Cs or PDS of the loan products before making a decision. Moreover, check the eligibility requirements as well and consider whether the product is right for you.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

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