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Albert offers instant access to up to $250 in extra cash with no interest and no credit checks. The Albert app comes with a suite of in-app tools to help you track your spending, make budgets, and achieve your savings goals.
With custom personal finance recommendations delivered by ‘Albert Geniuses’ (real people to help you solve real-world problems), there’s a lot to love about this cash advance app.
But there are also some common complaints. Difficulty of use, long waiting times, and express fees might be a deal breaker for some users, especially at a steep $14.99/month subscription.
We’ve rounded up the top apps like Albert to help you compare your options.
What are the top features of the Albert App?
Albert’s best feature is Albert Instant, which gives you the ability to access overdrafts for up to $2502, with no overdraft fees, no interest, and no credit check. Albert’s overdrafts are similar to what other apps usually refer to as cash advances. You can access cash via an Albert debit card or transfer it to your bank account to use it however you like.
By setting up an Albert Cash account, which is Albert’s equivalent to a checking account3, and paying the Genius subscription you’ll be able to access up to $250 in extra cash. You’ll also unlock the ability to request your paycheck 2 days early with no fee.
You can get your Albert Instant advance within minutes by paying a $4.99 express fee. Otherwise, you may choose to wait up to 3-6 business days to get the money.
Albert app users can also tap into the minds of ‘Albert Geniuses’. These are real humans who provide financial advice 7 days a week, so you’re not alone in your quest to better manage your money.
Albert Geniuses might explain to you, for example, the benefits and downsides of different investment and spending opportunities, whether you’re better off buying a product or taking a loan, and how to budget your income, among many other things. You may ask the geniuses just about anything. Be sure to check out our full Albert review to learn more.
Need a quick $250? >>> Get started with Albert
Is the Albert app right for you?
If you want to get the most out of Albert (including fast and fee-free overdrafts), here’s what you’ll need to keep in mind:
You’ll need to pay the $14.99/month Genius subscription to access cash advances and other features. Luckily, you’ll get a 30-day free trial of Genius when you get started. While the Genius service can be great, the monthly fee might be too steep if you’re only interested in occasionally accessing extra cash.
Furthermore, keep in mind that the app isn’t likely to give you a $250 limit from the get-go. The minimum overdraft limit is just $25, and there’s a chance that you don’t qualify for an advance at all. Your limit may increase as you make on-time payments for previous advances.
If you are late in repaying an outstanding overdraft, Albert may suspend your Albert Instant privileges for up to 90 days, even after repayment.
With all of this in mind, it’s worth considering whether Albert is the right app for you. The app shines when you use its unique features, such as the Genius advice, to their fullest, but might not be the best if all you’re looking for is a cash advance to get you off the hook.
Cash Advance Apps Like Albert
We break down the full pros and cons in our comprehensive Albert review, but if you’re looking for higher borrowing limits or different financial features, it helps to know what else is available. To help you save time and better manage your money, here are five cash advance apps like Albert that you might find more useful.
Cleo – Cash advances up to $250 from a sassy personal finance bot
Cleo is a “money app that doesn’t suck” (her words!). It uses a joke-cracking AI bot to help you organize your finances in a fun and intuitive way. Once downloaded, the app will analyze your recent spending and ask a few questions to learn more about your financial situation.
Just like Albert Instant, Cleo’s cash advances can spot you a maximum of $250 4 dollars if you qualify. While this amount is not guaranteed here either, Cleo does have a minimum limit of $70, and the chance that you don’t get that is rare.
With no credit check waiting for you and no proof of regular income to apply, Cleo is a popular alternative to Albert. You’ll need to become a Cleo Plus user ($5.99/month) to unlock cash advances and other premium features, but this is lower than Albert’s $14.99 Genius plan.
On the other hand, Cleo’s turbo fees range from $3.99 to $9.99, as opposed to Albert’s fixed $4.99, so the cost of using Cleo can add up if you use it frequently for cash advances, especially larger ones.
No-interest cash advances for up to $100 >>> Create a Cleo account in two minutes
Chime – $200 in fee-free overdrafts
With no membership fees, no annual fees, and no monthly fees, there are plenty of reasons why Chime is used by over 13 million account holders.
One of Chime’s most useful features is SpotMe®, which lets you access up to $200 in fee-free overdrafts via ATM withdrawals or debit card transactions 5.
Your overdraft limit will start at $20 and can grow based on your account history and activity.
If what you need isn’t cold hard cash, but simply a way to go slightly above your budget, Chime can be a great alternative to Albert, especially since it charges no overdraft fees or monthly fees.
Get no-fee overdrafts with Chime >>> Sign up with Chime in less than 2 minutes
Dave – Get up to $500 ExtraCash advances for $1 per month
Not only does Dave offer one of the lowest-cost cash advances among the dozens of apps we’ve tested, but it’s also one of the few ones that won’t put a very low hard cap on you from the start. You can qualify for a $500 advance from the get-go if you meet the requirements6, but this is rare. The average advance amount for first-time users is somewhere around $160.
Also, unlike Albert, Dave doesn’t require you to set up a direct deposit account with them, although it will lower your turbo fees if you do. Their turbo fees are 3% to your Dave account (with a $3 minimum) or 5% to an external account (with a $5 minimum), making it the least costly way to borrow $100 out of the dozens of apps we’ve tested.
As with most apps, the turbo fees aren’t mandatory, but you’ll have to wait 3 business days to get your funds if you don’t pay them.
Still, with the monthly subscription being just $1, compared to Albert’s $14.99 it’s worth considering Dave over Albert even with the higher turbo fees.
Get up to $250 FAST >>> Download the Brigit app to learn more
MoneyLion – A beastly $1,000 advance
Much like Albert, MoneyLion is a jack-of-all-trades, offering a wide array of banking services and financial products. But this doesn’t mean they’re a master of none.
MoneyLion’s InstaCash cash advances offer one of the biggest caps for an advance with no credit checks or interest, at a stunning $1,000.
So, what’s the catch? For one, you’ll need to set up a RoarMoney account if you want to unlock the full $1,000 limit, which costs $1/month to do.
Additionally, you can only make one $100 advance at a time and will have to get multiple advances if you want to get more. For example, you’ll need to make ten $100 advances if you want to get the $1,000 and pay the turbo fee for each 7.
The turbo fee for a $100 advance in MoneyLion is $6.99 with RoarMoney and $8.99 with no RoarMoney 8. This is way above Albert’s fixed $4.99 express fee, though the monthly subscription cost is much lower. MoneyLion is worth considering if you want larger advances.
Need a $1,000 advance? >>> Check out MoneyLion’s InstaCash cash advances
Final thoughts: should you stay with Albert or look elsewhere?
Albert offers an interesting deal. The entry price is somewhat steep, with a $14.99/month subscription (which can be brought down to $12.99/month if you pay yearly).
Turbo fees for Albert’s advances are $4.99, regardless of how much you get. If you make many multiple advances each month, this could well make up for the monthly subscription. Keep in mind that turbo fees can be brought down to zero for frequent users of their cash account. Plus, you get the Amazon Genius features.
However, you could end up spending less money on apps like Dave or Cleo, which have significantly cheaper subscriptions. Whereas Chime offers fee-free overdrafts and MoneyLion has the highest advance limit at $1,000.
Access up to $500 of your Paycheck Before Payday >>> Get to Know the Earnin App
BEFORE YOU GO…
Check out our most popular content
- Quick and Easy Ways to Borrow $200
- How to Build Your Credit for Just $5/Month!!!
- Overdrafting at the ATM: Proven Strategies
How we picked these apps
To come up with this list of loan apps like Albert, we hit the ‘downloaded’ button, and spent time putting them to the test. We considered features including fees (upfront or hidden), eligibility, borrowing limits, and interest rates. We also looked for additional features that might benefit people looking for nimble cash advances. These include credit checks, speed of accessing funds and overdraft support. We may receive a referral fee if you purchase or use some of the products described in this article.
*Chime SpotMe eligibility requirements and overdraft limits: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Spending Account each month. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Friends transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions .Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
WAIT! Why borrow quick cash when you can earn it?!
Cash advance apps can be a great tool for getting a little extra cash when you need it, but you’ll need to repay it – plus fees – wihtin a week or two. Did you know there’s an easy way to earn extra cash that’s yours to keep?
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There are dozens of high-paying offers available on KashKick, and if you’re into playing new games on your phone, you can earn some serious cash for doing what you love. Though offers change regularly, there are currently1 more than three dozen offers available where you can earn cash – sometimes over $100 – just by downloading and playing popular games like Coin Master, Monoply Go, Bingo Blitz, and more. These games are all free to download, and no in-app purchases are required to earn with KashKick.
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- As of February 13, 2024. Offers may change and may not be available to all users. Eligibity requirements apply. See KashKick's Terms of Service for full details.
- With Instant overdraft coverage, eligible members can overdraw their Albert Cash account for ACH transfers, ATM withdrawals, debit card purchases, and other electronic transfers. Overdraft limits range from $25 to $250. The average approved overdraft limit is approximately $80 as of 11/1/23. Genius is required to access Instant overdrafts but you may cancel any time. Not all Genius customers will qualify for Instant overdrafts. Fast transfer, ATM, and other applicable fees may apply. See the app for details.
- Albert is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Albert Savings accounts are held for your benefit at FDIC-insured banks, including Coastal Community Bank, and Wells Fargo, N.A. The Albert Mastercard® debit card is issued by Sutton Bank, pursuant to a license by Mastercard. Mastercard and the Circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
- Subject to eligibility. Amounts range from $20-$250, and $20-$100 for first-time users. Amounts are subject to change. Same-day transfers are subject to express fees.
- Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member’s direct deposit enrollment status.
- ExtraCash™ is a DDA account with overdraft utility, advances are subject to eligibility requirements and identity verification. Taking an ExtraCash™ advance will make your account balance negative. Express delivery fees apply to instant transfers. As of January 18, 2023, most customers receive an advance of $160 or more. See the ExtraCash™ Account Agreement for more details.
- Turbo Fees vary based on the advance amount and disbursement account you choose
- There is a $1 monthly administrative fee associated with your RoarMoney Account. Please see the FAQ on administrative fees for additional information. Other fees associated with the RoarMoney Account apply. See the Account Agreement for more information.
