Tilt (Formerly Empower) Review [2025]: Instant Cash Advances + More

What is Tilt (formerly Empower)?

Tilt is an Android and iOS app that offers a few features, including paycheck advances. The platform was launched under the name Empower in 2016, unaffiliated with the retirement investment company Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America, but was rebranded to Tilt in August 2025. Tilt is a financial technology company, or fintech. With the name change came the introduction of some new features and tools, including a few credit-building Tilt credit cards.

So far, Tilt Cash Advances have been provided to five million customers and counting. The platform boasts a 75% approval rate for its no-credit-check cash advances, and it lets users access between $10 and $400 from their next paycheck. The Tilt app has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars in the Apple App Store and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google Play.

How does a Tilt Cash Advance work?

Tilt's Cash Advance is straightforward and not unlike how other cash advance apps work:

• Application. When you apply for a paycheck advance with Tilt, you link your main bank account. This is to give Tilt access to the information it needs to determine your eligibility, including your account balance and activity, paycheck details, and more. Linking a bank account also allows Tilt to withdraw funds from your next paycheck, if you're approved for a Cash Advance, for repayment.
• Cash advance amount. If you're approved, Tilt tells you how much money you can advance from your next paycheck. Tilt offers cash advances up to $400, but your own limit depends on your current cash flow and expenses, as well as your history with the app. According to Tilt, first-time users typically qualify for cash advances of $100, while everyone else generally gets $174, on average. The more advances you repay on time, the more likely you are to qualify for more the next time.
• Repayment. Tilt will withdraw the cash advance amount automatically from your linked account at your next regularly scheduled paycheck (within one to three weeks). There are no other fees or interest involved, including late fees, overdraft fees, or insufficient funds fees. In fact, if your bank charges an overdraft fee due to a withdrawal attempt by Tilt, you can request reimbursement. You will, however, pay a monthly subscription fee and a fee for (optional) instant transfers.

Tilt subscription and fees

Tilt requires users to pay $8 per month to subscribe to its service and access all features, which sets it apart in a less-than-ideal way from other paycheck advance apps. However, you can email help@tilt.com to request to have the subscription fee waived, if you're willing to give up some features. There's also a 14-day free trial for new users.

You can pay an instant transfer fee ranging from $1 to $8 or 3% of the advance amount, depending on your advance, if you want to recieve your Tilt Cash Advance as quickly as possible. If you pay for an instant transfer, you could receive funds in less than three minutes. If you don't, you won't have to pay anything extra for your advance and will generally receive your funds within one business day.

Who is a Tilt Cash Advance right for?

Tilt could be a good option if you find yourself paying overdraft fees with your current bank for small shortfalls every now and then. We'd also recommend Tilt Cash Advances if you need access to funds more quickly than other apps allow.

We wouldn't recommend Tilt if you only see yourself needing a paycheck advance once, as this would probably make the subscription fee not worth it. And if you need access to more cash, consider alternatives to Tilt.

Other Tilt app features

The Tilt app features more than just a cash advance. It has a few other features and banking services you might find useful.

Tilt credit cards

Tilt offers three different credit-building credit cards: the Tilt Essentials Card, the Tilt Motion Card, and the Tilt Engage Card. These are all unsecured cards, rather than secured cards that require security deposits, but they have less strict credit requirements than many traditional credit cards. Plus, you can check to see if you prequalify for all three cards at once without hurting your credit, and Tilt can make it easier to qualify for higher credit limits.

After four months, Tilt automatically considers you for a credit limit increase, which is faster than many issuers will review accounts for potential bumps. You can also qualify for a higher limit if you link your bank account for repayments and/or make six consecutive payments on time. This transparency in its review process and requirements for higher limits is nice, and unusual, to see. 66% of customers qualify for higher credit limits within six months of account opening.

Beyond that, here's a brief overview of the key features of each card: 

• Tilt Essentials Card: $0 annual fee, earns 3% cash back on gas and groceries with AutoPay
• Tilt Motion Card: $0 annual fee, earns 1% to 10% cash back at select merchants
• Tilt Engage Card: $59 annual fee, earns 1% to 10% cash back at select merchants (ideal for you if you're working on repairing your credit or are new to credit)

Tilt Line of Credit

A Tile line of credit is a $200-to-$1,000 line of credit you can open without a credit check. A line of credit is a flexible revolving loan you can draw from as needed. You'll start with a limit of $200 to $400, but you can qualify to borrow more with responsible repayment. If you're approved for a line of credit up to $300, for example, you could use $100 now and $150 a few weeks from now. Then, you could pay off the full $250 you borrowed to reset your limit to $300 again. The smart approach is to use only as much as you need, and not more, with revolving loans like this.

These lines of credit have an interest rate of 35.99%, but you can avoid paying interest if you pay off your full balance with your next paycheck. If you can't afford to repay the line of credit in full then, you can either split your repayment into two, three, or four installments or set your own due date. With both of these options, you'll pay the stated interest rate for as long as you're working to pay it off. Tilt reports these payments to the credit bureaus (unlike with its cash advance), which could potentially help grow your credit score if you manage your credit line well. You can track your credit score in the Tilt app. 

If you regularly use the service and pay on time, Tilt may increase your credit limit up to $1,000. If you aren't approved for a Tilt line of credit, you're more likely to be approved for a Tilt Cash Advance.

Tilt AutoSave Account

Tilt can come up with an automatic savings plan for you if you tell the app your savings goals. The AutoSave feature, which was also present in the Empower cash advance app, will calculate when to make the withdrawals to your savings account based on when you earn money and when you spend it, and it'll make those transfers for you.

Alternatives to Tilt cash advances

There are tons of cool fintechs that can help you manage your money better, whether that looks like having a safe way to access cash when you're feeling the squeeze of your expenses or opening a new credit card. But if Tilt's cash advances aren't for you, either because of the subscription fee, advance limit, or something else altogether, here are some similar platforms to consider instead.

Cash advance amounts	$10 to $400	Up to $150 per day or $750 per pay period	$25 to $500
Services offered	Cash advances Line of credit Credit cards	Cash advances Budgeting tools Overdraft protection Credit monitoring	Cash advances Banking Budgeting tools
Monthly fees	$8 per month after a 14-day trial	No monthly fees for cash advances	$1 per month membership fee
	Visit Tilt	Visit EarnIn | Read our EarnIn App Review	Visit Dave | Read our Apps Like Dave list

FAQs

Bottom line

Tilt (formerly Empower) is a decent choice if you're looking for a cheap and safe way to access your own money ahead of schedule, but a few things limit its usefulness. You have to pay a fee for instant transfers, which is very common but a bummer all the same, and the platform may approve you for a lower advance limit than you need right now if it's your first time. Plus, the Tilt app charges a subscription fee. It's possible to access cash advances like this without paying subscription fees, so paying for this is only worth it if you like other services Tilt has to offer. 

As for its strengths, Tilt Cash Advances are faster than other paycheck advances, and the process to qualify could potentially be easier. The Tilt app also provides useful credit-building services and features if that happens to be one of your goals, as it should be for many of us, and is well-reviewed with its millions of customers.

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4.5

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Cash advances up to $400

Zero interest on cash advances

No credit check required

Doesn't damage your credit if you don't repay