Cash advance apps like Chime, EarnIn and Dave promise quick funds that can help cover you if you’re short on cash.
These apps typically look at your checking account history and income to qualify you. Once you’re approved, they’ll deposit the funds in your bank account within a few days (or instantly for a fee) and automatically withdraw repayment from the same account on your next payday.
We reviewed eight of the most popular cash advance apps and compared amounts, funding time, fees and other important features. See which app may be the best fit for you, plus explore the pros and cons of getting a cash advance and other ways to access money in a pinch.
Quick glance: Comparing the best cash advance apps
| Advance amounts | Standard delivery | Instant delivery fee | Best for | |
| Chime | $20 to $500 | 24 hours | $2 to $5 | Best overall |
| Brigit | $25 to $500 | 2 to 3 business days | $0.99 to $5.99 | Repayment flexibility |
| Current | $50 to $750 | 3 days | Undisclosed | No disbursement limit |
| Dave | $25 to $500 | Instant | Free | Fast funding |
| EarnIn | $10 to $1,000 | 1 to 2 business days | $3.99 to $5.99 | Large advances |
| Klover | $5 to $750 | 1 to 2 days | $3.99 to $37.49 | Unique points program |
| MoneyLion | $10 to $500 (up to $1,000 for some users) | 1 to 5 business days | $0.49 to $8.99 | Existing MoneyLion customers |
| Tilt | $10 to $400 | 1 business day | $1.00 to 3% of advance amount | Standard bank account delivery |
⚠️ Before you borrow
Cash advance apps can seem like a quick and easy way to get money. But since most apps charge fees, you’ll likely end up owing more than you originally borrowed. This can trap you in a cycle of repeat borrowing that’s hard to break.
Chime MyPay: Best Overall 🏆
| Advance amounts | $20 to $500 |
| Standard delivery | Within 24 hours to your Chime checking account |
| Express delivery | Instantly to your Chime checking account: $2 to $5 |
| Mandatory fees | None |
Chime’s MyPay cash advance is hard to beat — it has zero mandatory fees, free funding within 24 hours and a reasonable express fee if you need the money sooner. The catch? You’ll need to be an existing customer with a Chime checking account to qualify.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Chime MyPay
Brigit Instant Cash: Best for repayment flexibility 🤸
| Advance amounts | $25 to $500 |
| Standard delivery | Within 2 to 3 business days to an external bank account |
| Express delivery | Within 20 minutes to an external bank account: $0.99 to $5.99 |
| Mandatory fees | None (Brigit charges a subscription fee, but you can opt out) |
Many apps won’t let you change the due date for repaying an advance, but Brigit gives you a payment extension credit for every two consecutive advances you repay on time. You can even bank up to three extension credits at a time.
Key tip: Brigit charges a monthly subscription fee ($8.99 or $15.99, depending on the plan you choose), but you can opt out by emailing [email protected].
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Brigit Instant Cash
Current Paycheck Advance: Best for no disbursement limit 🔓
| Advance amounts | $25 to $750 |
| Standard delivery | Within three business days to your Current account |
| Express delivery | Instantly to your Current account: Undisclosed fee |
| Mandatory fees | None |
Current offers larger paycheck advances than most apps, and it doesn’t impose disbursement limits. That means if you qualify for $750, you can borrow the full $750 at once. Other apps may limit you to $100 or $200 at a time.
Current has pretty slow funding compared to other apps, and it didn’t disclose its express delivery fee to NerdWallet.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Current Paycheck Advance
Dave ExtraCash: Best for fast funding ⏱️
| Advance amounts | $25 to $500 |
| Standard delivery | Instantly to your Dave checking account |
| Express delivery | Within 1 hour to an external debit card: 1.5% of transfer amount |
| Mandatory fees | Membership fee: Up to $5 per month Service (overdraft) fee: 5% of transfer amount ($5 minimum) |
Dave is the only cash advance app we reviewed that offers instant funding for free. Most apps take a few days for free delivery, and there’s a fee if you need the money sooner. Dave only charges a fee if you want the money sent to a linked debit card.
But you’ll need a Dave checking account to qualify. You’ll also be charged two mandatory fees, which is unusual for a cash advance app, so keep an eye on the overall cost.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Dave ExtraCash
EarnIn Cash Out: Best for large advances 💰
| Advance amounts | $10 to $150 per day or $1,000 per pay period |
| Standard delivery | Within 1 to 2 business day to an external bank account |
| Express delivery | Within minutes to an external bank account: $3.99 to $5.99 |
| Mandatory fees | None |
EarnIn’s higher advance amounts are the largest of any app we reviewed and may be a good fit if you have an emergency expense and can’t get the money elsewhere. Just make sure not to borrow more than you need.
Note that EarnIn asks for an optional tip. We recommend avoiding tipping, so you don’t tack on additional costs.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for EarnIn Cash Out
Klover Balance Advance: Best for earning points ⭐
| Advance amounts | $5 to $750 |
| Standard delivery | Within a couple days to an external bank account |
| Express delivery | Within minutes to an external bank account: $3.99 to $37.49 |
| Mandatory fees | None |
Klover is the only app on this list that lets you use points to get a cash advance or cover an express delivery fee. You earn these points by completing tasks like watching video ads, taking surveys or testing websites.
As part of your participation in the points program, Klover collects your personal information, including sensitive data. Make sure you’re comfortable with this before signing up for Klover.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Klover Balance Advance
MoneyLion Instacash: Best for existing MoneyLion users 🦁
| Advance amounts | $10 to $500 (up to $1,000 for some MoneyLion users) |
| Standard delivery | 1 to 5 business days to an external bank account Within 2 business days to a RoarMoney account |
| Express delivery | Instantly to an external or RoarMoney account: $0.49 to $8.99 |
| Mandatory fees | None |
MoneyLion’s Instacash is already a solid product, but if you’re an existing MoneyLion user, it goes from good to great. You can get advance amounts as high as $1,000 — among the highest we’ve seen with these apps — and have the money deposited for free within two business days.
Pay attention to your disbursement limit, though. If your overall advance limit is $400, but the app allows you to receive only $200 per advance, you’d need to take out two advances to get the full $400.
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for MoneyLion Instacash
Tilt Cash Advance: Best for standard bank account delivery 🏦
| Advance amounts | $10 to $400 |
| Standard delivery | Within 1 business day to an external bank account Instantly to a Tilt debit card |
| Express delivery | Within 15 minutes to an external bank account: $1 to 3% of advance amount |
| Mandatory fees | None (Tilt charges a subscription fee, but you can opt out) |
Tilt stands out for its external funding: It can send the funds to your existing bank account in one business day, which is particularly convenient if you don’t want to sign up for a new bank account to quickly get a cash advance.
Similar to Brigit, Tilt charges a monthly subscription fee of $8, but you can opt out by contacting Tilt through the mobile app, by phone or by emailing [email protected].
Ready to learn more? See our full 2026 review for Tilt Cash Advance
How do cash advance apps work?
Cash advance apps work by giving you an advance or loan on your paycheck. There’s no credit check, and you won’t be charged traditional interest. You may be charged fees.
Here’s a breakdown of the cash advance process:
What happens if I can’t repay a cash advance?
If you can’t repay an advance, some apps let you change your due date. You usually need to do this up to two business days before the payment is due.
Other apps only withdraw the funds you have available in your bank account to avoid triggering an overdraft fee. For example, if you owe $150, but you only have $100 available in your account, the app will only withdraw $100. Familiarize yourself with the app’s policies around repayment, which you can find in the app’s FAQ.
Mobile cash advance products are non-recourse, meaning there’s no consequence for not repaying any advance. You won’t be charged a late fee, and it won’t hurt your credit. But you probably won’t be able to request another advance with that app until you’re caught up.
How to compare cash advance apps
If you’re not sure where to start with picking a cash advance app, here are the features to consider.
Advance amount
Most cash advance apps offer advances of $500 or less, but some may offer higher amounts. Keep in mind that just because an app offers large advances, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically qualify. Some apps publish their average advance amount on their website, which can help you know what to expect.
Mandatory fees
With the exception of Dave, it’s uncommon for cash advance apps to charge mandatory fees. Some apps may say they charge a subscription fee, but then let you opt out if you email them. This information is usually buried in the app’s legal terms, which you can access online.
Standard delivery speed
Pay close attention to standard delivery, since this is the free delivery option. Most cash advance apps can fund an advance within three business days, but some promise one-day funding, while others may take up to five days. If you already have a bank account with that company, you’ll likely get faster funding.
Express delivery cost
Fees for express delivery depend on the advance amount — the larger the advance, the higher the express fee. Many apps we reviewed charge a max of $5 or $6, but some charge significantly more. Requesting an advance a couple days before you need it can help you avoid these fees.
Eligibility requirements
All cash advance apps look at your checking account history to qualify you, whether that’s your existing external bank account or a bank account you’ve set up with the app. Most apps like to see two to three payroll deposits from the same employer on a consistent pay schedule, meaning weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly. Some may require a checking account history of 60 to 90 days.
Whether you need to switch banks
Many apps let you link your existing bank account when you sign up. But apps like Chime, Dave and Current require you to bank with their company. This includes having your direct deposits sent to that account. This usually comes with special perks, like larger advance amounts or faster funding.
How much do cash advance apps cost?
To calculate the true cost of a cash advance app, consider three factors:
- The advance amount
- What fees and tips are added to the advance amount
- How long you have to repay the advance
Let’s say you take out a $200 cash advance with a $4 express fee and a $1 tip. The advance is repaid automatically in two weeks. That’s an APR of roughly 65%.
For context, a typical payday loan has an average APR of almost 400%, so a cash advance is much cheaper. But anything above 36% APR can be unaffordable.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
You can make cash advances more affordable by always choosing standard delivery and avoiding tipping. If there’s a chance you can’t repay the advance, contact the app’s customer service department and ask if you can extend the payment due date. You can also try disconnecting your bank account from the app, but you’ll lose access to the service. Pros and cons of cash advance apps
Pros
Fast cash
No credit check
May prevent overdraft fees
Cons
Fees add up
May lead to repeat borrowing
May drain funds
Regulatory issues
Pros
- Fast cash in an emergency: Some apps can immediately deposit money into your checking account. Others may charge an extra fee for that service. Either way, a cash advance app is a quick way to get access to amounts up to $1,000 if you're in a tight spot.
- No credit check to apply: Cash advance apps don't check your credit, so a low score won't keep you from qualifying for an advance. Cash advance apps also don't report repayment history to the credit bureaus, so there’s no credit consequences if you don't repay the advance.
- May prevent costly overdraft fees: If your choice is between a cash advance app and overdrawing your checking account, the advance is likely cheaper. Most apps don’t charge any mandatory fees, and optional express fees are less than $10. Average overdraft fees, on the other hand, are $27.
Cons
- Miscellaneous fees add up: Cash advances are generally cheaper than other fast financing options, but that doesn’t mean they're free. Subscription fees, service fees, express fees and optional tips can add up quickly.
- May lead to repeat borrowing: Because these apps make borrowing from your next paycheck relatively easy, they could lead to a cycle of debt if you rely on advances to cover your regular expenses.
- May drain your available funds: When it’s time to repay, cash advance apps typically withdraw whatever you have available in your bank account until you’re caught up. That means any time new money is deposited, the app withdraws it before you have a chance to put it toward other expenses. Plus, if the app accidentally overdraws your account, it’ll trigger an overdraft fee.
- Apps often face regulatory issues: Many of the apps we reviewed this year were subject to fines and penalties from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission. These fines were the result of misleading customers about fees and subscriptions services. Just think carefully about borrowing from a company that’s had recent regulatory action.
Nerdy Perspective
Is using a cash advance app a good idea?
“If you’re using a cash advance app for a true one-time cash shortage, and you’re avoiding fees and tipping, it’s probably okay. It’s a cheap way to get quick cash, which is especially important in an emergency when people are tempted to turn to more predatory lenders. But using these apps regularly is unsustainable, especially if you’re taking on fees."
Alternatives to cash advance apps
It’s smart to compare all options before you use a cash advance app to borrow money.
Other ways to make quick cash: You may be able to earn extra money and opt out of cash advances altogether. Participating in online surveys, selling gently used clothes or taking on a flexible side gig like dog-walking can eliminate the need to borrow altogether.
» MORE: How to make extra money
“Buy now, pay later”: BNPL apps like Affirm, Klarna and Afterpay can split a large purchase into smaller payments at almost any retailer nationwide. The most common structure is the pay-in-four plan, where you pay 25% of the expense upfront and then make three more biweekly payments. These plans typically have no interest and no fees if you pay on time, and they don’t require good credit to qualify.
Friend and family loans: It can be difficult to ask someone for money, but it may be your best option if you’re in a bind. Borrowing from someone you trust, like a friend or family member, can get you the money you need without red tape or risk to your finances. You can even draw up a contract that details repayment terms and interest.
Pawnshop loans: If you have a valuable item you don’t mind parting with, a pawnshop loan can give you a quick influx of cash. The loan amount is based on the item’s value, and as long as you don’t want the item back, you can get the money free and clear.
Cash advance app review methodology
NerdWallet reviews the most popular cash advance apps by collecting product data across more than 35 data points per app, including advance amounts, fees, delivery speed, eligibility requirements, regulatory history and app store ratings.
Information is verified with company representatives where possible and fact-checked annually, with additional updates made throughout the year as product details change. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for its reviews. Read more about our editorial guidelines.
