The best cash advance apps can put up to $1,000 in your account before payday, with no interest and no credit check. The catch is that they are cheap when you can wait a day or two and expensive when you need the money in minutes. Here are eight apps compared on how much each one lets you take, what it really costs and what it asks of you, so you can pick the one that fits.
The short answer
Ben’s pick depends on your paycheck
- No direct deposit, or you want the simplest start: EarnIn. Up to $200/day, $1,000/pay period1, and standard transfers are free.
- Your paycheck can go into a new account: Current. Advances run from $25 to $1,000 once you set up payroll deposits, and delivery takes 3 days at no cost.
- Not sure which fits? Answer three questions in the quick cash finder and it narrows the list for you.
Each app sets its own limits, fees and approval. MoneyAnswers does not lend you money, and not everyone qualifies. Fast delivery costs extra, and standard transfers are free.2
Best cash advance apps compared
The table answers the four questions that matter: how much, what it costs, how fast and whether you need direct deposit. The figures come from each app’s own published terms, and the cards below follow the same order.
| App | Max advance | What it costs | Speed | Direct deposit? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. EarnIn | $200/day, $1,000/pay period1 | Standard free, tips optional | 1 to 3 days free; minutes from $3.992 | No | See EarnIn |
| 2. Current | $25 to $1,000 | Free in 3 days; fee for instant | 3 days free; up to an hour if instant | Yes, payroll into Current | Open Current |
| 3. Grant | $25 to $500, average under $200 | Free standard; Express $2 to $21 | 1 to 3 days free; same day with Express | No | See Grant |
| 4. Brigit | $25 to $500 | No late fees | Shown in the app | Check in the app | See Brigit |
| 5. MoneyLion | Up to $500, or $1,000 with deposits | Standard free; Turbo 7.5%, max $14.99 | 1 to 2 days free; minutes with Turbo | Not to start; deposits raise your limit | See MoneyLion |
| 6. Klover | $25 to $750, average $170 | No interest or late fees; express fees | You pick the speed in the app | No; links your bank | See Klover |
| 7. Tilt | $10 to $500 | $8/month after a 14-day trial | Instant is optional, fees apply | Not listed | See Tilt |
| 8. Cleo | Up to $250 with Plus | Plus is $5.99/month | Shown in the app | $750/month to reach $500 | Get Cleo |
Limits, fees and approval vary by person and state. Most new users start with less than the maximum.
Ben’s take
Read the cost column before the advance column. A big limit means nothing if the speed you need costs $14.99 every pay period. The free options all make you wait a few days, so the real question is how soon you need the money.
How to pick the right cash advance app
Three questions settle it. The first two rule apps out, and the third decides what you pay.
- How much do you need? For $200 to $500, EarnIn, Grant, MoneyLion and Klover all reach that range. For up to $1,000, look at Current, MoneyLion with direct deposit, or EarnIn across a full pay period.
- Can you move your paycheck? Current needs payroll deposits into a Current account, and MoneyLion raises its limit with deposits into its Spend account. If you would rather keep your bank, EarnIn and Grant do not require direct deposit.
- Can you wait? EarnIn, Grant and MoneyLion deliver free in 1 to 3 days, and Current in 3. Paying for minutes is how these apps earn, so do it only when waiting costs you more.
Apps like EarnIn
Grant, Klover and MoneyLion are the closest matches. All three advertise no interest and no credit check, and charge for faster delivery. EarnIn leads on daily size, at up to $200/day and $1,000/pay period1, but asks you to verify your work through a timesheet, location tracking or your employer’s system. Klover and Grant do not. Current is the pick if you can switch your paycheck.
The 8 best cash advance apps, one by one
#1 Best for most people
EarnIn: the simplest place to start
- Max advance$200/day, $1,000/pay period1
- CostNo mandatory fees; tips optional
- SpeedFree in 1 to 3 days; minutes from $3.992
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you are paid by an employer or by shifts, and you do not want to change your direct deposit.
Good to know: you connect your bank, verify your work, and EarnIn collects the repayment automatically when your paycheck arrives.
The catch: new users typically begin with $20 to $100 a day, and larger amounts build with use. Lightning Speed costs from $3.99, so keep to the standard transfer, which is free.2
#2 Best for the biggest advance
Current: up to $1,000 if your pay lands there
- Max advance$25 to $1,000
- CostFree in 3 days; fee for instant
- SpeedUp to an hour if instant
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you can switch your paycheck to a Current account and want the highest limit on this page.
Good to know: the maximum needs eligible payroll deposits of $200 or more into your Current account. Current also lists a $75 bonus with code WELCOME75 for new users who set up $1,500 or more in direct deposits.
The catch: you need the account and the payroll deposits first, so it is not an emergency fix for tonight. The instant option costs a fee that the app shows before you confirm.
#3 Best without direct deposit
Grant: a bank-activity check, not a credit check
- Max advance$25 to $500
- CostFree standard; Express $2 to $21
- Speed1 to 3 days; same day with Express
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you do not have direct deposit and want an app that looks at bank activity, not your credit score.
Good to know: advances carry no late fees or interest. Standard transfers take 1 to 3 business days at no cost.
The catch: the $500 top end is for repeat users, and the average advance is under $200. Grant Plus, the optional membership, costs $9.99 a month, so skip it unless you will use it.
#4 A straightforward advance
Brigit: $25 to $500 with no credit check
- Max advance$25 to $500
- Late feesNone
- Credit checkNone
- Best forSmaller gaps
Who it fits: you want a plain advance from an app that does not pull your credit and does not charge late fees.
Good to know: Brigit also appears in the quick cash finder’s full list of advance apps.
The catch: amounts above your starting limit depend on your account, and any plan or speed fee is worth reading before you accept.
#5 Best if you may add direct deposit
MoneyLion Instacash: cheap if you can wait
- Max advanceUp to $500, or $1,000 with deposits
- CostNo interest or monthly fee
- Speed1 to 2 days free; Turbo in minutes
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you are open to a MoneyLion Spend account, where recurring direct deposits can raise your limit to $1,000.
Good to know: each advance is capped at $100 per disbursement, and tips and Turbo fees are optional.
The catch: Turbo costs 7.5% of the advance, capped at $14.99, and 9% if you send it to an external debit card. Free standard delivery is not available to an external account, so the cheap route needs the Spend account.
#6 For smaller, quick requests
Klover: up to $750, shaped by your data
- Max advance$25 to $750
- Average$170
- CostNo interest or late fees
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you want a smaller advance without direct deposit or a credit check.
Good to know: you can earn points from surveys and ads toward a bigger advance. Express transfer fees may apply.
The catch: Klover says it keeps fees low by using your anonymized data instead, so read its privacy terms before you link your bank.
#7 Only if you will cancel on time
Tilt: $10 to $500, with a subscription
- Max advance$10 to $500
- Cost$8/month after trial
- Trial14 days, first-time users
- Credit checkNone
Who it fits: you want a small advance from an app that weighs more than a credit score.
Good to know: Tilt also offers credit cards and a line of credit up to $1,000.
The catch: Tilt charges $8 a month automatically after the 14-day trial, so cancel before it ends if you do not want it. Returning customers pay the $8 right away.
#8 Best if you like a chatty app
Cleo: a phone app with a membership
- Max advanceUp to $250 with Plus
- CostPlus is $5.99/month
- Higher limit$750/month direct deposit
- Works onPhone only
Who it fits: you want budgeting help and an advance in one phone app.
Good to know: on a desktop, our link shows a code you scan with your phone to get the app.
The catch: Plus tops out at $250, and $500 needs $750 a month in direct deposit. You pay $5.99 every month, advance or not.
What a cash advance really costs
Most of these apps charge no interest, so they feel free. The cost is in the speed option. MoneyLion’s Turbo fee is 7.5% of the advance, capped at $14.99, so on a $200 advance you pay $14.99 to skip a wait of one or two days. Do that every two weeks and the fees add up to about $390 over 26 pay periods.
Where the money goes
- Speed fees. Lightning Speed at EarnIn starts at $3.99 (standard transfers are free), Express at Grant runs $2 to $21 and Turbo at MoneyLion is up to $14.99.
- Subscriptions. Tilt is $8 a month after the trial, Cleo Plus is $5.99 and Grant Plus is $9.99, and they renew whether you borrow or not.
- The next paycheck. The advance comes out of your next deposit, so you start the next pay period short. Borrowing again to cover that gap is how an advance becomes a habit.
Ben’s take
The best cash advance is the one you only use once. If you find yourself coming back every pay period, the problem is the monthly budget, and the next section is a better place to look.
Cheaper options before you borrow against your paycheck
An advance moves your own pay forward by two weeks. It does not add any. If a bill is the problem, call the biller first and ask for an extension or a hardship plan.
For programs that can cover a bill outright, start with help paying bills. If you are borrowing every month to keep up, how to get out of debt lays out six ways to stop. If you own a home and need far more than $1,000, the home equity match compares options that use your equity. For $1,000 or more that you can repay over months, compare personal loans for bad credit.
An advance fits when
- The gap is small and short, like a bill due before payday.
- You can repay it from your next deposit and still cover rent.
- You can wait the free delivery time.
Skip it when
- You need it again every pay period.
- You want a bigger sum than $1,000.
- The speed fee is the only way it works.
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Cash advance app questions
What is the best cash advance app?
For most people it is EarnIn, because it does not require direct deposit and lets you take up to $200/day and $1,000/pay period1. If you can move your paycheck, Current has the highest ceiling at $1,000. The right pick depends on how much you need, whether you have direct deposit and how fast you need it.
Do cash advance apps check your credit?
The apps here say they do not. EarnIn, Current, Grant, MoneyLion, Klover and Tilt all state it on their own pages. Each still sets your limit from your bank activity or income, so approval is not guaranteed.
Are cash advance apps really free?
Waiting is free at EarnIn, Grant, MoneyLion and Current. Speed costs extra: EarnIn Lightning Speed starts at $3.992, Grant Express runs $2 to $21 and MoneyLion Turbo is capped at $14.99. Tilt, Cleo Plus and Grant Plus are monthly memberships on top.
What are the best apps like EarnIn?
Grant, Klover and MoneyLion are the closest, since they skip the credit check and charge for speed instead of a bill. Current is the alternative if you can switch your paycheck. EarnIn is the one with up to $200/day and $1,000/pay period1.
Which cash advance app gives the most money?
Current lists the highest single advance at $1,000, but you qualify with payroll deposits into a Current account. Klover goes up to $750, and MoneyLion reaches $1,000 with qualifying direct deposits. Most new users get far less than the maximum on any of them.
Is a cash advance app the same as a payday loan?
They are different products. Current describes its Paycheck Advance as an earned wage access service, not a loan, and EarnIn describes its Cash Out the same way. The apps here charge no interest, though speed fees and memberships still add up, so compare the total cost before you pick.
What happens if I can’t repay on time?
Most collect the amount automatically when your next paycheck arrives. If the money is not there, your bank may charge overdraft fees and the app may lower your limit. Check the repayment date before you accept.
Keep reading
MoneyAnswers may receive compensation when you apply through partner links, which does not change how an option is described. Cash advance apps are not offered by MoneyAnswers, and limits, fees and approval depend on each company and your profile. Information comes from each company’s published terms and can change, so confirm details with the company before you accept. General information, not personal financial advice.
1 EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
2 Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
