Best Cash Advance Apps for Christmas and Holiday Shopping Emergencies

Overdraft Apps » App Reviews » Best Cash Advance Apps for Christmas and Holiday Shopping Emergencies

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Alexander Porter

Unexpected expenses during the holiday season can be a huge headache. With the rise of cash advance apps, getting quick access to funds is easier than ever. Whether you need help budgeting, overdraft protection, or simply a quick cash advance, this guide will help you find the perfect app to navigate financial emergencies and enjoy a stress-free holiday.

The average American spends $997.73 on Christmas each year.

With the cost of living going up, it’s common to feel a squeeze on the finances when the festive time rolls round.

Whether you’re facing unexpected expenses, dealing with changing hours at work, or keen to buy a last-minute gift for a loved one, accessing extra cash can be a life saver.

Fortunately, a growing number of cash advance apps are available to help you cover urgent expenses.

If you’re looking for a cash advance app to help you navigate this holiday season, here are the best options available.

#1 – Dave: Get up to $500 for gifts with no interest and no credit check2

Dave helps you track spending, predicts upcoming bills (which can be super helpful when budgeting during the holiday period), and offers no-interest ExtraCashTM advances up to $500. 

Get up to $500 in five minutes >>> Check out Dave 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Subscription Fee$1/month
ExtraCashTM Advance LimitUp to $500
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)5 minutes (Dave Account) or 1 hour (External Account)
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 3 business days

#2 – Brigit: $250 Instant Cash with no interest or late fees

Brigit provides personalized insights into your spending habits, helping you identify areas where you can cut back. The app also offers up to $250 in Instant Cash to cover bills or unexpected costs.3

Access up to $250 within 20 minutes >>> Explore Brigit Now 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Subscription FeesFree plan (limited features) or Plus plan for $9.99/month (required for cash advances)
Advance LimitUp to $250
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Within 20 minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 2 business days

#3 – Cleo: Access up to $250 in cash advances with AI help to manage your money

Cleo combines AI-powered financial advice with the option for cash advances. Its hilarious chatbot provides personalized guidance on budgeting, saving, and spending. Plus, you can access up to $250 within minutes.4 

Spend, save, laugh >>> Try Cleo for FREE 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Subscription FeesFree plan (basic features) or Cleo+ for $5.99/month (cash advances available without a subscription upon request))
Cash Advance LimitUp to $250
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Same day
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 4 business days

#4 – MoneyLion: Borrow up to $500 (and as high as $1,000) for holiday expenses

MoneyLion offers fee-free InstaCash advances of up to $500 – with the potential to increase your borrowing limit to $1,000 by opening a Roar Money account and setting up qualifying recurring deposits.5 The app also comes with other financial tools like cashback rewards and investment options. 

Get InstaCash advances up to $500 with no interest >>> Check out MoneyLion 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Subscription FeesNo Fee for InstaCash
InstaCash Advance LimitUp to $500 ($1,000 with eligible recurring deposits)
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Within minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 2 business days (Roar Money account) or 5 business days (External account)

#5 – Super: Convenient cash advances from a handy all-in-one app

The Super app is a subscription-based service offering various financial tools, including discounted hotel stays, cashback rewards, discounts on gas, insurance and phone plans, plus cash advances up to $250.6 The all-in-one app can help you earn rewards for your purchases whether you’re traveling or shopping, so it’s a handy addition to your phone around the busy holiday period.

Earn, borrow and get cash back >>> Check out Super.com 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Fees$15/month
Cash Advance LimitUp to $250
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Within minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 3 business days

#6 – Klover: Low fee cash advances with daily prizes

Klover rewards you for completing tasks like watching videos or taking surveys. These rewards can be redeemed for cash or gift cards to be used around Christmas (or any time of year). Klover also offers cash advances up to $200 and is a good option for anyone looking to combine rewards with access to quick cash.

Get up to $200 with no credit check >>> Check out Klover 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
FeesKlover+ is $3.99/month (not required for cash advances)
Cash Advance LimitUp to $200
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Within minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 3 business days

#7 – Chime: Fee-free overdrafts up to $200

Chime is a fee-free mobile banking app with the unique and popular SpotMe feature. Eligible members can use SpotMe to overdraw their account up to $200 without incurring overdraft fees.7

The Chime app is perfect if you’re seeking a simple, no-nonsense banking option with overdraft protection to help avoid overdraft fees when holiday shopping.

🤓 Overdraft Apps Tip: Round ups are available on both the Chime Visa® Debit Card and Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit card so you can set aside money for the holidays without thinking about it.

Open your free Chime account >>> Sign up with Chime in less than 2 minutes 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
FeesNo Fees for SpotMe
OverdraftLimitUp to $200
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Immediately (overdraft debit card purchases)
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)N/A

#8 – Current: Advance your paycheck to borrow up to $500

Current’s Paycheck Advance feature allows you to access a cash advance up to $500 before your next pay day. You can also use Current’s Overdrive feature to borrow up to $200 in fee-free overdrafts.8 With cashback rewards and 4% APY savings accounts, the app is a solid choice for anyone looking for a flexible banking experience with access to quick cash.

Access up to $200 in no-fee overdrafts and up to $500 cash advances >>> Check out Current 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
FeesNo Overdraft Fees
Cash Advance LimitUp to $200 in cash advances or up to $500 in early wage access
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Overdraft available immediately (overdraft debit card purchases)
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 3 business days for Paycheck Advance

#9 – Lenme: Flexible $5,000 personal loans

Lenme helps borrowers access personal loans with shaky credit by connecting you with investors through a peer-to-peer lending platform. The platform offers personal loans up to $5,000 from individuals or businesses with potentially lower interest rates than traditional lenders. 

See what you qualify for in minutes >>> Check out Lenme 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Fees$3 minimum or 1%  of the total loan
Cash Advance LimitUp to $5,000
Interest RateVaries based on lender
Funding Time (With Express Fee)N/A
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 2 business days

#10 – Albert: Borrow up to $250 for holiday spending

Albert offers genius-level financial advice and smart savings tools to help you reach your financial goals. There’s no credit check to get started and, unlike some apps that talk a big game but start your cash advance as low as five bucks, Albert claims its average cash advance limit is around $95, with a borrowing limit of $250. The app is a good fit when you’re seeking personalized financial guidance, with in-app “Geniuses” able to answer questions (they’re humans, not AI chatbots). 

Get up to $250 with no credit check >>> Create an Albert account in two minutes 👈

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Fees$14.99/month (subscription required to access cash advances)
Cash Advance LimitUp to $250
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)Within 10 minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 3 business days

#11 – Empower: Instant cash advances up to $300

Empower combines financial tracking and budgeting tools with the option for a cash advance up to $300. The app also offers an Empower Thrive line of credit between $200 and $400 with flexible payment plans for a chance to build a good credit history. The app is a great choice for anyone wanting to monitor their finances and have a safety net for unexpected expenses around the holidays.

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
Fees$8/month 
Cash Advance LimitUp to $300
Interest RateN/A
Funding Time (With Express Fee)98% of cash advances arrive within 15 minutes
Funding Time (Without Express Fee)Within 5 business days

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?

KashKick is a wildly popular service that lets you earn money for playing games, completing surveys, signing up for trial offers and more. (You’ll even earn cash for just completing your profile!) You can earn cash today and withdraw your earnings through PayPal once you’ve reached $10. You can earn over $100/month with KashKick – and you don’t need to spend a dime or take out your credit card to do it.

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.

Get paid to play on your phone >>> Check out KashKick

Alexander Porter
  1. 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.
  2. Evolve Bank and Trust, Member FDIC, provides the ExtraCash account. Advances are subject to eligibility requirements, and are provided as an overdraft, which causes the ExtraCash account to have a negative balance. Express fees apply to instant transfers to a Dave Checking Account. Transfers to other accounts will take longer. The average approved advance is $160 (typically approved in 5 min), updated quarterly based on the prior 6 months. See the Dave ExtraCash™ Deposit Agreement and Disclosures for details.
  3. Not all users will qualify for advances; Depending on eligibility, advances range from $50–$250. Monthly subscription required; ranging from $8.99–$14.99. Cancel anytime. Instant Cash is not available in all states. Express Delivery is optional and a fee may apply. Most users receive their Express Delivery within 20 minutes. Brigit monthly subscription required; ranging from $8.99 – $14.99. Cancel anytime.
  4. 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.
  5. Instacash is an optional service offered by MoneyLion. Your available Instacash Advance limit will be displayed to you in the MoneyLion mobile app and may change from time to time. Your limit will be based on your direct deposits, account transaction history, and other factors as determined by MoneyLion. See Instacash Terms and Conditions for more information and eligibility requirements.
  6. Not all users will qualify for cash advance. Advances range from $20 to $250. Express transfer fee may apply.
  7. SpotMe® for Credit Builder 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.

    Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined 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 SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won’t cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions.

  8. Actual overdraft amount may vary and is subject to change at any time, at Current’s sole discretion. In order to qualify and enroll in the Fee-Free Overdraft feature, you must receive $500 or more in Qualifying Deposits into your Current Account over the preceding 30-day period. For more information, please refer to Fee-free Overdraft Terms and Conditions . Individual Current Accounts only.

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