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 7 picks like LendUp
Alternative for overdraft feature: Chime SpotMe
Chime SpotMe is a free, optional overdraft feature for Chime customers with an active debit card. SpotMe offers between $20 and $200 in overdrafts if you overspend on your card or take out cash from an ATM when your bank balance is low. This means you can borrow money through SpotMe, but unlike other lenders, you don't pay fees or interest.
To qualify for SpotMe, you need to have at least $200 in eligible direct deposits every month from a regular payer. And because it's an optional feature, you need to switch it on inside the app. Just look for the Overdraft fee-free option under services and view your SpotMe limit underneath.
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
- Can be used for ATM withdrawals
- Potentially qualify for $200 in overdrafts
- Easy to switch on overdraft feature
Cons
- SpotMe limits start at $20
- SpotMe doesn't cover bill pay or P2P transfers
- Must be used with Chime checking account
| Loan amount | Up to $200 |
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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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Alternative for frequent advances: Cleo
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.
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 |
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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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Alternative for investment advice: Albert
Albert is a banking app that offers free pay advances up to $250 with a two- or three-day turnaround. But if you want your funds same-day, it will set you back $6. But what makes Albert different is its Genius feature. Genius is an AI-driven, human-supported service that can answer your financial questions and help you build an investment portfolio with just a few details.
Be aware that Albert requires you to sign up for a 30-day free trial of Genius, which costs $14.99 to $16 a month if you don't cancel during the free trial — and some users report having difficulty canceling their subscription. This makes Albert best for people who want its built-in Genius service as part of their cash advance app experience.
Pros
- Investment and financial advice
- Advances don't require a paid subscription
- No late fees or inactivity fees
Cons
- Automatically enrolled in a free trial of Genius
- Instant transfer fees aren't advertised
- No phone number
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
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| Loan Term | N/A |
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| Turnaround time | 2–3 business days or instant for a fee |
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| Loan amount | $25 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 2–3 business days or instant for a fee |
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Alternative for repayment flexibility: Brigit
Brigit is a cash advance offering up to $250 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 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.
Pros
- Payment extensions
- Credit builder program
- Overdraft protection
Cons
- $8.99 monthly membership fee
- Instant transfers cost extra
- Some users complain subscription hard to cancel
| Loan amount | Up to $250 |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $250 |
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| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instantly with a fee |
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Alternative if you’re a gig worker: Cash App Borrow
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 $200 — 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.
Pros
- Works as part of Cash App
- Credit check not required
- Direct deposits may not be required
Cons
- Doesn't disclose finance charges
- Limited to $200 per advance
- Eligibility requirements are unclear
| Loan amount | $20 to $200 |
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| Loan Term | Varies |
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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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Alternative for no-fee cash advances: MoneyLion Instacash
MoneyLion Instacash advances
MoneyLion is a no-fee banking and cash advance app that offers free cash advances up to $500. Unlike some other cash advance apps, MoneyLion doesn't charge a monthly subscription to get advances with a 24- to 48-hour turnaround. But getting an instant transfer costs between $1.99 and $8.99, depending on the amount advanced.
MoneyLion's other features include a banking account called RoarMoney, an investment account and a crypto trading feature. If you open a MoneyLion account and do direct deposits, you can potentially increase the advance amount to $1,000 per pay period. Many users appear to like the app, but some have complained about billing errors and poor customer support.
- 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
- Monthly subscription not required
- Potential for $1,000 cash advances
- Auto-investing feature
Cons
- Regular turnaround is 24 to 48 hours
- Instant transfers cost extra
- Mixed customer reviews
| Loan amount | Up to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account |
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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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Alternative for building your credit: Possible Finance
Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans
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 460% 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.
- 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
- Credit check not required
- Longer repayment terms than a cash advance app
- May help boost your credit
Cons
- APRs can reach up to 460%
- Many negative customer reviews
- Won't save you money over a cash app
| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Interest rate type | Fixed |
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| Loan Term | 2 to 8 weeks |
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| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
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| Loan amount | $50 - $500 |
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| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
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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:
