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.
Chime doesn't offer loans like ACE Cash Express, but the SpotMe overdraft feature offers up to $200 in overdrafts without the interest and fees you'll pay to ACE. This protection is only for your Chime Checking account, and to qualify, you need to make a monthly direct deposit of $200 or more into your account and activate your Chime debit card.
SpotMe only covers overdrafts caused by ATM or debit card transactions and starts with just $20 in overdrafts. You can raise this limit with regular deposits and a solid account history, by qualifying for promotional bonuses offered by Chime or by using SpotMe Boost, a program that allows existing members to boost each other's SpotMe limit.
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 obligation
Low monthly direct deposit requirement of $200
Cons
Overdraft limits start at $20 and max out at $200
Must use with Chime Checking account and debit card
Overdraft only covers debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals
EarnIn is a cash advance app that lets you borrow up to $750 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 $100 a day to a linked bank account, or more than $100 per day to an EarnIn card. Regular transfers are available in one to three business days or in minutes for a fee.
Not available in: Connecticut
Pros
No credit check required
No mandatory fees, interest or tipping
Free credit score tracking included
Cash Out more than $100 per day with an EarnIn card
Albert is a banking app that offers a suite of financial services, including free cash advances up to $250. But what makes Albert stand out from the field is its Genius service, which can help you design an investment portfolio suited to your goals — just by answering a few questions.
The Genius service costs $14.99 to $16 a month, and it automatically enrolls you in a free 30-day trial when you sign up. However, some users report having difficulty canceling their subscription, making it best for users who want the Genius service as part of their cash advance app experience.
Available in all states
Pros
Genius offers budgeting, loans and investment help
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 $40 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.
Available in all states
Pros
New advance available 24 hours after payoff
One-time due date extension
Budgeting and saving tools through app
Build credit with Credit Builder subscription
Cons
$5.99 to $14.99 monthly subscription fee
Non-subscribers must contact customer service to apply for cash advances
$3.99 express fee for same-day funding
Loan amount
Up to $250
Loan Term
Next deposit
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 to $9.99 express fee.
Loan amount
$40 - $250
Turnaround time
3 to 4 days standard transfer. Same day with $3.99 to $9.99 express fee.
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 $250 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 monthly membership fee 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.
Available in all states
Pros
Store up to three payment extensions
Save on bank overdraft fees
Credit builder program included with subscription
Cons
$8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly membership fee
Instant transfers cost extra
No phone support
Loan amount
$50 to $250
Loan Term
Varies
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Loan amount
$50 - $250
Turnaround time
2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
OppLoans is a highly rated online lender that offers loans up to $4,000 — 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 179% — 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.
Not available in: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia
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 $200 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.
MoneyLion is a free banking and cash advance app that offers up to $500 per pay period. But it offers more than just advances, with a banking account called RoarMoney, a crypto trading feature, an investment account and a credit builder program for Free (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account) a month.
By opening a RoarMoney account, you can potentially increase cash advances to $1,000 instead of just $500. Unlike some cash advance apps, MoneyLion doesn't charge a monthly fee for advances, but instant transfers cost extra. And there have been some negative reviews from customers recently.
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
$1,000 paycheck advances available to qualified users
No monthly subscription fees and no tipping required
Round Up investing feature
Cons
Regular funding takes 24 to 48 hours
Instant transfers cost between $1.99 and $8.99
A pattern of customer complaints
Loan amount
Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account
Loan Term
Due by your next pay date
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
Alternative for quick installment loans: Possible Finance
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 460% 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.
Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
Pros
No credit check required
More flexible loan repayment terms
Reports activity to the three major credit bureaus
Cons
APRs can reach over 460%
A history of negative customer reviews
More costly than using a cash advance app
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Interest rate type
Fixed
Loan Term
2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround time
As fast as 1 business day
Loan amount
$50 - $500
Turnaround time
As fast as 1 business day
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.
Kat Aoki was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. She’s written thousands of articles to help consumers make better decisions on their home loans, bank accounts, credit cards, cryptocurrency and more. Kat is well versed in working with leading brands in the real estate, mortgage and personal finance industries, and her expertise has been featured on Forbes Advisor, Lifewire and financial comparison sites like iSelect and realestate.com.au. She holds a BS in business administration from California State University, Sacramento and enjoys hiking and yoga in her spare time. See full bio
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