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There are times in my life when I found funds tight between paychecks and didn’t have anyone I could ask for a loan. In those circumstances, I turned to paycheck advances. Unfortunately, the ones I had access to were predatory, but there are significantly better options available today that don’t charge interest and don’t have late fees.
These apps all offer cash advances of at least $100. They do require some form of income, and some have better features than others. Also, many require you to subscribe to their app. This is why Current is my top recommendation — It’s accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and doesn’t require you to subscribe to it.
Overall, these apps are tools to help you when you’re in a tight spot. If you find yourself using them every paycheck, you may want to consider increasing your income or lowering your expenses so you don’t end up in a cycle of debt.
I selected the apps on this list based on several factors.
Cash advance: The apps needed to offer a minimum of $100 as a potential advance.
Subscription fee: Apps without subscription fees are ranked higher on the list.
Other app features: I considered other features of the apps and whether they aligned with the needs of a consumer seeking a cash advance.
Regulatory action: Apps on this list were not subject to FTC actions at the time of writing.
Apps on this list may be current or former FinanceBuzz partners, and this list doesn’t represent all apps available on the market.
How we evaluate products
Best $100 cash advance apps
Cash advance app comparison
| App | Maximum cash advance | Subscription fees | Speed |
| Current1 <p><b>Current is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Choice Financial Group, Member FDIC, and Cross River Bank, Member FDIC</b>. The Current Visa® Debit Card is issued by Choice Financial Group pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The Current Visa® secured charge card is issued by Cross River Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank. Current Individual Account required to apply for the Current Visa® secured charge card. Independent approval required.</p> | $500 | No required subscription |
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| Cleo | $250 ($100 for new users)2 <p>Subject to eligibility. Amounts range from $20-$250, and $20-$100 for first time users. Amounts subject to change. Same day transfers subject to express fees.</p> | No required subscription |
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| Empower4 <p class="">Empower is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by nbkc bank, Member FDIC. Empower offers a 14-day trial for new customers followed by an auto-recurring $8/month subscription fee. Cancel anytime.<br></p> | $3005 <p>Not everyone will qualify for a Cash Advance offer. Offer amounts range from $10 - $300. As of 3/31/2024, the average offer amount is $145. Instant delivery is optional, and fees may apply. See Empower’s Terms for instant delivery fee amounts.</p> | $8 subscription fee |
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| MoneyLion | $500 | No required subscription |
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| Klover | $200 | No required subscription |
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Current
Current, like the other apps on this list, is trying to be a comprehensive financial app. Its offerings include banking, investing, and paycheck advances. Its banking and paycheck advance features are especially strong, and the app has a 4.5 rating on Trustpilot with almost 10,000 reviews and an A rating from the BBB.
I like that there’s no subscription required to get a paycheck advance with Current, and you don’t have to use Current’s banking options to qualify for an advance. You do have to connect your bank to Current, however.
Current’s banking options are worth considering, but I would steer clear of its crypto investing. Crypto is inherently risky, and if you’re sometimes coming up short between your paychecks, it’s not the right time to invest in something like crypto. A better strategy would be to work on building up an emergency fund.
Overall, I would recommend Current over the other apps on this list due to its BBB accreditation and lack of a subscription fee to access advances.
- No interest
- Advances of up to $500 (based on eligibility)
- No credit check
- Regular paychecks of at least $500 total required to qualify for an advance
- Not available in Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, or Washington, D.C.
Visit Current | Learn more in our Current review
Cleo
- Up to $250 advance (maximum of $100 for first-time users)
- Arrives in three to four days for free, $3.99 for same-day advance
If you’re a freelancer or work in the gig economy, Cleo is a good choice for a cash advance due to its flexible income requirements. Rather than just offering a cash advance (and nothing else), Cleo is a full-featured app that includes budgeting tools and access to a high-yield savings account.
You can apply for a cash advance through the app if you have a subscription to Cleo Plus ($5.99 per month) or Cleo Builder ($14.99 per month). You can apply for a cash advance by emailing Cleo’s customer service team if you don’t have a subscription. It’s a bit annoying, but at least cash advances are available to all eligible users regardless of subscription status.
Once you apply, Cleo will tell you how much you’re eligible for. Your first cash advance is limited to $100 (or less, depending on your eligibility). Two big pluses for Cleo are that it doesn’t charge interest for its cash advances, and you don’t need to have regular paychecks. Any income, even the erratic income that comes with freelancing, is acceptable.
- Don’t need to be traditionally employed
- No interest
- App includes budgeting tools and access to a high-yield savings account
- No credit check
- Must contact customer service to apply for an advance if you don’t subscribe to Cleo Plus or Cleo Builder.
- Difficult to find subscription details
Visit Cleo | Learn more in our Cleo review
Empower
- Up to $300 cash advance
- $8/mo subscription required
- App includes budgeting tools and access to AutoSave account7 <p class="">Balances you hold with nbkc bank, including but not limited to balances held in Empower accounts, are insured up to $250,000 through nbkc bank, Member FDIC.</p>
Empower has a lot of the same features as Cleo. While it offers a higher potential cash advance amount, it also requires all users to pay an $8 per month subscription fee. If you’re looking for the highest advance available, you tend to need money quickly, and you prefer to keep your budgeting and saving all in one spot, Empower could be a good fit.
There is a fee for instant delivery, but you could work around this by getting Empower’s debit card before you anticipate needing an advance. If you’re approved for an advance, it could be sent in about a minute if you have it sent to your debit card. Using Empower’s debit card won’t be convenient for everyone, though, so if you’re willing and able to wait a day, you could have it sent to the account where you receive your paychecks.
That said, $8 is a lot to pay for this type of app, even if you consider the other features. After all, there are excellent budgeting apps that are free or half the cost, so if you don’t see yourself regularly using the app, you may want to go with another option.
- High cash advance amount (subject to eligibility)
- Budgeting tools available
- No interest on cash advance
- No credit check
- $8/mo subscription fee
- Cash advance not available in Connecticut or Maryland
Visit Empower | Learn more in our Empower review
MoneyLion
- Offers up to $500 in cash advances (based on eligibility)
- App includes rewards for playing games and banking
- Could take up to five business days to have funds transferred to an external account
My experience with MoneyLion was a little frustrating. I found MoneyLion's website difficult to navigate. Its pages direct you to other options besides MoneyLion, and it’s hard to find information on how cash advances work. If you’re considering getting an advance from MoneyLion, I would use its app rather than its website.
MoneyLion does count independent contractor work as income, but you may need three consecutive deposits for MoneyLion to see it as consistent income. It doesn’t count irregular cash deposits or peer-to-peer transactions as income.
One plus for MoneyLion is that it doesn’t require a subscription to use the app. That sets it apart from other apps on this list like Empower. Another plus is that it offers cash advances of up to $500. You may or may not qualify for that amount depending on your situation, though.
- No subscription requirement
- Offers cash advances of up to $500
- Can earn rewards by downloading games
- No credit check
- Website confusing to navigate
- Free transfers to a non-MoneyLion account could take up to five business days
Klover
- Potential cash advance of up to $200 (based on eligibility)
- Financial tools available with Klover+ subscription
- Subscription isn’t required for a cash advance
Klover combines a rewards app with a cash advance app. You can apply for an advance of up to $200. It has more restrictive requirements than other apps on this list, including:
- You need at least three direct deposits
- No gaps in pay
- All deposits must be from the same employer
- You’re paid weekly or bi-weekly (not monthly or semi-monthly)
The requirements are a significant downside. The upside to this app is that you can earn points to offset fees or increase your advances in a variety of ways, including playing games, scanning receipts, and taking surveys.
I don’t think that’s enough to overcome the strict requirements and relatively low maximum cash advance amount, though. Unless you really like the idea of earning points, I’d go with Current or Cleo over Klover.
- Earn rewards that can be used toward cash advances
- No credit check
- Fairly strict requirements compared to other apps
Risks of using cash advance apps
As you look into cash advance apps, it’s critical to read the fine print. If you can’t find or don’t understand the fine print, that’s a sign you should go with another app.
Cash advance apps have a history of not fully disclosing fees and interest (none of the apps on this list charge interest). The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action against at least two cash advance providers in the past two years. One app allegedly used misleading marketing to deceive customers, charged undisclosed fees, and charged “tips” to customers, while the other allegedly locked customers into a subscription they couldn’t cancel.
Perhaps the biggest risk of using a cash advance app is getting into a cycle of coming up short each paycheck. You borrow from your next paycheck, but then you come up short and you need to borrow from the next paycheck as well, and then the next.
Or you may find yourself applying for multiple advances. Speaking from experience, it can be really hard to break the pattern of using cash advances once you start. Only use them if you’re confident you can pay it back quickly and then be in better financial shape moving forward.
Alternatives to cash advance apps
There are alternatives to cash advance apps. Perhaps the best alternative to a relatively small cash advance is temporarily increasing your income. This might come through reselling items in your home or at thrift stores, gig work through an app like Uber Eats or Instacart, or offering a service like babysitting or pet-sitting.
A cash advance on a credit card might seem tempting, and in some situations, it may be the best option. Just be aware that cash advance fees tend to be high, and interest may start accruing immediately. You may not get a grace period like you do with purchases.
Another option, although a difficult one, is asking a trusted family member or friend. This is something you’ll only want to do if you’re very confident you can repay the loan in a timely manner. Otherwise, you run the risk of jeopardizing your relationship.
FAQs
How can I get $100 right now?
If time is of the essence, a credit card cash advance may be the fastest way to obtain $100. You can also earn and withdraw funds relatively quickly from gig apps like DoorDash. If you have items you can readily part with, you could sell them on a free platform like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to make $100 quickly.
Can I get a loan on Cash App?
Cash App doesn’t offer loans where you receive cash that you can pay back over time. It does offer Pay Over Time loans for purchases made through Cash App. However, this feature doesn’t appear to be available to all users.
Can I get a cash advance with no income?
Unfortunately, cash advances are offered based on your future (and sometimes current) income, so if you don’t have any, you won’t be eligible. Some apps, like Cleo, are more flexible about the types of income they allow, but all require some form of consistent earnings.
Bottom line
These cash advance apps could help you out in a pinch. In the long term, however, you’ll want to find ways to avoid coming up short before your next payday.
Budgeting apps can be a big help in getting your financial life on track. Consider starting to use a budgeting app and get a sense of your spending habits. From there, you can make informed choices to improve your financial life.
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