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I've had to stretch my last few dollars before payday several times over the years, and I know how stressful it can be. Years ago, I had heard of paycheck advances as a potential option to get me through, but I was wary of them.
However, a new generation of advance apps that let you borrow money, often without charging interest, made me take a closer look. In addition to these options, many banking apps offer early direct deposit, letting you get your paycheck up to two days early. If you need to access money instantly with paycheck advance or early direct deposit apps, you can often do so for a fee.
Featured apps to borrow money
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Types of apps that let you borrow money
- Paycheck advance apps
- Early direct deposit apps
Paycheck advance apps offer short-term, small advances (think less than $1,000) that often come from your next paycheck. These apps generally don't charge interest but may require a minimum direct deposit amount to qualify. This type of service is also known as "earned (or "early") wage access" (EWA), and you'll sometimes see apps called "cash advance apps." But this term is a bit misleading, to be honest.
Credit card cash advances differ from paycheck advances, and you don't want to mistake the two. With a credit card cash advance, you borrow against your available credit limit rather than your future wages. A credit card cash advance typically incurs high interest rates, comes with extra fees, and begins accruing interest immediately. Frankly, you should consider many other options before using one. Paycheck advances aren't tied to a credit card, and many don't even check your credit.
But paycheck advance apps aren't your only option for borrowing when you're short on funds, either. Many banks and companies offer early direct deposit services, allowing you to receive your entire paycheck two days earlier than usual. It's usually free, but not every bank offers it, and you can't get money more than two days before your normal pay date.
Paycheck advance apps
The apps below all offer paycheck advances without charging interest or requiring a credit check. We chose them because most have strong Trustpilot ratings, provide relatively large advance amounts, and charge minimal fees.
EarnIn
EarnIn2 <p>EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit <a href="https://www.earnin.com/">EarnIn.com</a> for full details</p> is one of the best advance apps, offering a daily limit of up to $150 for users who qualify. We chose Earnin because it provides one of the highest maximum payouts ($1,000 per pay period) and is highly rated on Trustpilot, earning 4.8 out of 5 stars. But even though EarnIn offers large potential advances, don't assume you're guaranteed to borrow that much. You'll generally qualify for a daily maximum of $85 to start, but borrowing limits vary by person.
Funds arrive within one to two business days for free. You can also pay $3.99 or $5.99, depending on the advance amount, for same-day payment (which is as close as you can get to instant with the app).3 <p>Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. See the <a href="https://www.earnin.com/privacyandterms/terms-of-service/fees">LS Fee table</a> for details.</p> To qualify to use this paycheck advance app, you must receive regular pay and earn at least $320 per pay period.
Visit EarnIn | Learn more in our EarnIn review
Dave
Dave is a financial services app offering a wildly popular borrowing service called ExtraCash. Dave doesn't have many reviews on Trustpilot, but we chose ExtraCash because it works by letting you deposit money for a rainy day in an ExtraCash account, then you're able to overdraft that account by up to $500. It's like a typical paycheck advance with a deposit account in the middle where you can also save. But there are downsides: You'll pay a 5% fee on the amount borrowed (minimum $5), a monthly membership fee of up to $5 to access ExtraCash and other tools, and you must open a Dave Checking account.
Sending ExtraCash instantly to a Dave Checking account is free, or you can send it to a linked bank account and get paid within three business days. Dave charges 1.5% of the overdraft amount (minimum of $5) for sending funds to an external bank account within an hour.
Chime MyPay
Chime MyPay4 <p>MyPay® line of credit provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. MyPay services provided by Chime Capital, LLC (NMLS 2316451).</p> <p>To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A qualifying direct deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. Other restrictions may apply. See <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/bancorp/mypay/">Bancorp MyPay Agreement</a> or <a href="https://www.chime.com/early-pay/mypay/">Stride MyPay Agreement</a> for details.</p> is a feature of the Chime® app.5 <p class="">Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC. <br></p> I like Chime because it's a financial technology company (fintech) that also offers other banking products.
MyPay is not available in every state6 <p>To be eligible for MyPay, you must receive Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposits to your Chime Checking Account as set forth in the MyPay Agreement. A Qualifying MyPay Direct Deposit is a deposit from an employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, government benefits payer, or other permitted source of income by Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) or Original Credit Transaction (“OCT”). Your MyPay Credit Limit and Available Advance Amount may change at any time. MyPay is a line of credit and available limits are based on estimated income and risk-based criteria. Eligible members may be offered a $20 - $500 Credit Limit per pay period. Your Credit Limit and Maximum Available Advance will be displayed to you within the Chime app. MyPay is currently only available to eligible Chime members in certain states. Other restrictions may apply. See <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/bancorp/mypay/">Bancorp MyPay Agreement</a> or <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/stride/mypay/">Stride MyPay Agreement</a> for details.</p> , but if it is in your area and you're approved, you can borrow up to $500 from your next paycheck. It's worth considering if you already use or want to use Chime for other reasons beyond borrowing money. MyPay funds are usually available for free within 24 hours or within minutes for a $2 fee. To use Chime MyPay, you'll need a low-fee Chime checking account with a direct deposit of at least $200.7 <p>Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here. Link leads to <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/fees-info/">chime.com/feesinfo</a></p>
Chime is rated 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot, which is a little lower than other financial technology companies but respectable for a money app.
Learn more in our Chime review
Cash App
Cash App is already a well-known peer-to-peer payment service that has started offering more and more banking and borrowing services in recent years.8 <p>Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s).</p> Its Borrow feature lets eligible users receive up to $500 instantly into their Cash App account for a flat fee.9 <p>Customers can qualify for Cash App Green by spending $500 in Qualifying Purchases using your Cash App Card or Cash App Pay per month, or by depositing $300 of Qualifying Deposits per month. Eligibility restrictions apply +C6to some benefits. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/tos">Terms and Conditions</a> for more information. </p><p>Unlock Borrow limits up to $400 for first time borrowers, and get limit increases of up to $300. Borrow eligibility and limits depend on several factors and are not guaranteed. There are multiple ways to increase your Borrow limit, see <a href="https://cash.app/support/BORROW_LIMIT_REEVALUATION">here</a> for more details. Borrow limit increase for spending may be lower than limit increase for depositing. Limit increases are subject to change. Borrow is not available in Colorado or Iowa. Borrow loans serviced by Square Financial Services, Inc. issued by First Electronic Bank or Square Financial Services, Inc. $500 limit includes <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/tos#cag">Cash App Green</a> limit increase. As of October 1, 2025, the average limit for first time borrowers who are spend actives is $153.</p>
We recommend Cash App for advances because you can receive funds quickly if you qualify, and the app has a high Trustpilot rating of 4.6 out of 5. To be eligible for Borrow, you'll need to receive at least $300 in direct deposits to Cash App each month or a direct deposit of at least $500 from a linked account. Borrow is not available in Colorado or Iowa.
Learn more in our Cash App review
Varo
Varo is an online-only bank with a Trustpilot rating of 4.2 out of 5. It's known for its second-chance bank accounts that cater to customers with imperfect banking histories and need help with their saving, spending, and/or credit.
Varo offers worthwhile bank accounts and cash advances. If you have a Varo account, you may qualify for a cash advance up to $250 on the day you sign up, which is high for a starting limit. Qualified users can borrow up to $500, but you'll need to receive at least $800 in monthly direct deposits.
We also like Varo because it's one of the few apps that offer instant payouts automatically. But there is a flat fee of $1.60 to $40 per advance, depending on the amount, which is pretty expensive and definitely the platform's biggest drawback.
Learn more in our Varo review
MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a financial technology app that offers cash advances called Instacash. You can borrow up to $500, which by now, you can see is pretty standard. But if you sign up for RoarMoney, MoneyLion's deposit account, you may be eligible to borrow up to $1,000 with qualifying direct deposits. That's better than Dave and Chime, which require you to have a deposit account regardless, but there are better checking accounts out there.
Funds are available within one to five business days or instantly for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99. MoneyLion accepts tips and has a 3.8-star rating on Trustpilot, which is lower than most on our list.
Tilt (formerly Empower)
Tilt is a financial technology app similar to Dave and MoneyLion. We chose it because, in addition to cash advances, it does not require a minimum direct deposit and also offers budgeting tools.10 <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> But qualified users can only borrow up to $400, which is somewhat low compared to the other apps on this list.11 <p>Tilt is a financial technology company, not a bank. Tilt offers a 14-day trial for first-time customers only. Once the trial concludes, Tilt charges an auto-recurring $8/month subscription fee. If you do not wish to pay the subscription fee, you must cancel your subscription before the end of your trial. If you are a returning customer, you will be charged $8 immediately. Cancel any time by visiting "<a href="https://support.tilt.com/hc/en-us/articles/19492872887447-Which-states-are-eligible-for-Line-of-Credit">Billing</a>" in the mobile app or contacting help@tilt.com. Tilt's full suite of products and services is not available in all states. Cash Advance is not available to Connecticut, Maine, or Washington, D.C. residents. Click <a href="https://support.tilt.com/hc/en-us/articles/19492872887447-Which-states-are-eligible-for-Line-of-Credit">here</a> to see if the Tilt Line of Credit is offered in your state. Not everyone will qualify. Offers range from $10–$400 and can increase over time with positive repayment history. In June 2025, the average offer was $100 for first-time customers; $174 for all others. As of 01/2025, 75% of those who checked Cash Advance eligibility qualified. See <a href="https://tilt.com/terms/">Tilt's Terms</a> for fee details.</p> Another downside is an $8 monthly subscription fee, but you can get this waived by contacting Tilt's customer service.
We recommend Tilt because it has a 4.9 rating on Trustpilot (the highest on our list) and automatically credits your account within one business day. Instant delivery is free if you have a Tilt card. Otherwise, it costs $1 to $8, depending on the advance amount.12 <p class="">Subject to approval. Instant delivery fees may apply.</p>
Visit Tilt | Learn more in our Tilt review
Early direct deposit apps
Early direct deposit used to be a novel feature offered by a select few banks, but now it's almost commonplace. Think of how mobile banking apps were once unique but are now expected.
The best banks offering early direct deposit almost always do so for free to make their accounts more appealing to customers. It's a great option because, unlike a paycheck advance, you don't have to pay anything back. However, it's not that helpful if you need money in the middle of your pay period. And keep in mind that you won't always receive your paycheck early just because your account offers this. Your employer also has to come through to make it happen.
These apps all offer early direct deposit with other helpful features and have high customer ratings.
Current
Although Current13 <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> is a financial technology company with advance features, I like its banking features, including early direct deposit.14 <p>Faster access to funds is based on comparison of traditional banking policies and deposit of paper checks from employers and government agencies versus deposits made electronically. Direct deposit and earlier availability of funds is subject to timing of payer's submission of deposits.</p>
In addition to potentially getting your paycheck two days early, Current also offers a checking account with no minimum balance or overdraft fees, and it can help you build your credit. And if you do need an advance, it offers advances up to $750.15 <p>Paycheck Advance is for eligible customers only. Your actual available Paycheck Advance amount will be displayed to you in the mobile app and may change from time to time. Conditions and eligibility may vary and are subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of Finco Advance LLC, which offers this optional feature. Finco Advance LLC is a financial technology company, not a bank. For more information, please refer to <a href="https://cdn.current.com/agreements/paycheck_advance_terms_11_25_2024.pdf">Paycheck Advance Terms and Conditions</a>.</p>
Visit Current | Learn more in our Current review
Chime
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We covered Chime's MyPay paycheck advance above, but Chime also offers checking accounts with early direct deposit.18 <p>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.</p> Once you enroll and your paycheck is available, you'll receive a push notification and can access your money as easily as that. Chime offers excellent overdraft protection through its unique SpotMe program, which provides up to $200 in coverage on debit card purchases with no fees for qualifying customers.19 <p>SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account. SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, "SpotMe"). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month.</p>
And remember, you need a Chime checking account to qualify for a paycheck advance anyway.
Visit Chime | Learn more in our Chime review
SoFi®
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Unlike the apps above, online-only financial technology company SoFi does not provide paycheck advances, but it does offer early direct deposit on its standout combined checking and savings account.23 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
We frequently recommend SoFi as one of the best banks for its combined account, among other features. We like that it automatically earns a high annual percentage yield (APY) on your checking and savings balances without requiring you to open multiple accounts or pay many fees.24 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p> SoFi is also highly rated on Trustpilot, earning 4.2 out of 5 stars. But don't think that you can open all the bank accounts you want with this company. SoFi only offers one deposit account.
Visit SoFi | Learn more in our SoFi Checking and Savings review
Pros and cons of using apps to borrow money
Pros
- Fast access: Paycheck advance apps typically offer faster access to funds than traditional loans without charging interest.
- No credit impact: Borrowing money through paycheck advances typically doesn't affect your credit.
- Avoid overdraft fees: Paycheck advance and early direct deposit apps can help you avoid overdrafts by tapping into money ahead of your wages.
- Easy repayment: Some apps offer customizable repayment options and often automatically set up repayments before you even receive funds.
Cons
- Potentially high fees: Paycheck advance fees may be high relative to the amount you borrow.
- Small amounts: Most paycheck advances are only available up to a few hundred dollars, but your approved borrowing limit can vary.
- You still have to pay it back: If you use paycheck advances frequently, you may fall into a debt cycle that's hard to break, and it doesn't help you build your credit score.
- Data collection: Financial technology apps generally collect and store extensive personal data about their customers, including your bank account information and other personal details.
Tips to borrow money quickly and safely
In addition to using paycheck advance apps and signing up for early direct deposit with your bank, consider the following to help you get money as quickly and safely as possible while also minimizing fees.
- Ask your employer directly for a paycheck advance.
- Consider a 0% intro APR credit card — if you can pay off the balance before the 0% intro APR period ends.
- Negotiate your bills or ask for a payment plan to free up cash without borrowing.
- Apply for a personal loan.
FAQs
Are there apps that let you borrow money with no credit check?
Several paycheck advance apps, including Dave, EarnIn, and MoneyLion, let you borrow money without a credit check. However, you will likely need to set up direct deposit to qualify for a cash advance or otherwise provide proof of income and employment. And some apps have other requirements that aren't always obvious, like subscriptions and checking accounts.
Do any apps let you borrow money without a job?
Most paycheck advance apps require proof of regular income, often in the form of direct deposits. But some are more flexible and might permit payments from government benefits or irregular gig work payments.
Early direct deposit apps let you receive your next paycheck early, so they do require traditional pay.
What apps let you borrow money instantly?
Several paycheck advance apps let you borrow money instantly, often for a small fee. While many provide funds within one to five business days, you can also generally pay an instant processing fee to access your money within a few hours or even minutes.
Bottom line
Using apps that let you borrow money, such as paycheck advance and early direct deposit apps, can get you out of a financial bind, but you have to be careful about how you use them.
Consider using early direct deposit whenever possible, rather than borrowing money to avoid any fees, if you only need your money a little early. Borrowing money with paycheck advance apps can make debt feel a little too close to a revolving door for comfort. Before you sign up with a paycheck advance app, be sure to read the fine print and understand the fees, repayment schedule, and any other specifics related to borrowing money. Check out customer reviews and ratings to get a feel for how the app works and whether it's legitimate.
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