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Strapped for cash and need a little extra to keep you going until your next paycheck arrives?
You’re not alone.
If you’re one of the 77% of Americans who feel anxious about their financial situation, having a way to top up your checking account can be a lifesaver.
Enter money lending apps.
The best emergency cash apps that will loan you money can help provide fast funds with lower fees than payday loans – or no fees at all. Even better, with the right loan app, you can get $100 in emergency cash immediately with just a few taps on your phone – even if you have bad credit.
Why is Earnin one of the most popular cash advance apps?
- 💸 Super speed - You could have up to $100 in your bank account in under 10 minutes!2
- 💰 Borrow More - While most apps limit you to just a few hundred dollars, with Earnin you can access up to $750 per pay period
- ❌ No, No, No! - No credit check, no interest, no subscription, no late fees
- 🕺 You can pay ZERO in fees - Earnin has no mandatory fees. Don't need your money today? You can borrow at no cost!3
10 apps for when you need emergency cash immediately
Smoothing out bumps in your finances can be a little more manageable (and less stressful) with your pick of apps that loan you money.
Each lending app on this list is slightly different in how they work, qualification requirements, maximum loan options, and the speed funds land in your bank account. Some will let you immediately borrow $25 and increase your limit through usage history. While $25 may not be much, it can be a lifesaver if you’re out of cash and need necessities like gas or groceries. Others apps can help you borrow $200 and up from the start. Many of these emergency cash apps charge no interest. Many have no credit check. And you can even enjoy zero late fees if you need some extra time to repay your loan.
What they all have in common is that they can help you avoid the cycle of crushing debt and high-interest rates that come with many personal loans. Here are some of the best money lending apps that can help you out of a jam when you need emergency cash immediately.
| Overdraft Apps Tip: Do your homework and compare multiple apps before making your choice. Apps that charge monthly fees or tips can look affordable but may translate into high total costs. The best money loan app for you will be convenient and flexible without unnecessary fees. |
#1. PockBox: Shop for an emergency loan from multiple lenders
PockBox compares lenders for loans up to $2,500 – which is great if you need more than the other money loan apps on this list.
Loans start as low as $100 for smaller expenses. If you need more, simply enter some basic information about yourself and PockBox will compare lenders and outline your options in a few minutes. There’s no obligation to accept any offer so you can see what you qualify for with zero commitment. And since many PockBox lenders offer loans for borrowers with low or no credit scores, you may still be eligible for emergency cash even if you’ve been rejected elsewhere. Many lenders on the PockBox platform can put cash in your account in under 30 minutes.
If borrowing a few hundred bucks isn’t enough to cover your emergency expenses, the $2,500 cash advances through PockBox may be an ideal solution if you need an emergency loan immediately.
Compare Instant Loan Options from $100 to $2,500 >>> Browse PockBox For Free
#2. Earnin: Get up to $750 and you don’t have to pay any fees
We love Earnin for its “Cash Out” feature which makes any day payday. Earnin doesn’t perform a credit check or require you to have direct deposit. Instead, Earnin looks at how much you’ve earned at work but haven’t been paid yet and makes that available to you the same day. For most users, it can do this automatically, so all it takes is a few taps in the app to get cash sent your way.
You can get up to $100 per day and up to $750 per paycheck – and do it without paying a dime in fees – making Earnin a great resource to have on your phone for when you need emergency cash.
Earning doesn’t charge interest, late fees or subscription fees, so it’s quite easy to borrow from Earnin at no cost! You will need to pay a Lightening Speed Fee of $1.99 – $4.99 to get cash immediately (30 minutes or less), but it’s free on your first advance and if you can wait a day or two, there’s no fee. Earnin also asks for tips, but they’re optional as well and skipping the tip won’t impact the amount you can borrow.
Get up to $750 without having to pay fees >>> Get started with Earnin
#3. MoneyLion: Best for low-cost cash advances up to $250 and credit builder loans up to $1,000
MoneyLion earns its spot on the list of best money loan apps with Instacash advances up to $250 – and no credit checks!4
If you send cash to an external account, your funds will be available between 1 – 3 business days. Or, if you opt for a MoneyLion checking account (known as RoarMoney), you can access cash in 12 to 48 hours and increase your borrowing power up to a $300 cash advance.
If you’re in a jam and need your money immediately to pay for emergency expenses, you can choose to pay an Instacash Turbo fee of $5.99 (to your RoarMoney account), or $8.99 (to your external bank account).
Your cash advance limit depends on a recurring direct deposit from an employer or benefits payment, but there is no interest or fees which is a huge bonus when money is tight. And since tipping is optional (and won’t affect your ability to access quick money loans), you can request money quickly without unnecessary costs and fees.
As a bonus, you can apply for a MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus membership to unlock credit builder loans for up to $,1000 – with some of your funds available right away!
Get cash advances up to $250 with no interest >>> Check out MoneyLion
#4. Dave: Best for small cash advances from a full-featured financial app
Of all the apps that lend money, Dave is tough to beat thanks to its $500 cash advances with no interest and no credit checks.5
There are three ways to access your funds through this popular money lending app:
- Dave Spending Account: Get your money in seconds (literally!). Express fees range from $1.99 to $9.99 depending on the size of your advance.
- External Debit Card: Money is sent to your debit card of choice and is available within 1 hour. Fees range from $2.99 to $13.99.
- External Bank Account: Funds are sent as a bank transfer with money available within 3 business days. There is no fee.
You won’t have to pay interest on your cash advance. Instead, there’s a $1/month membership fee. You’re encouraged to tip but there’s no obligation, and your ability to access cash advances won’t be impacted either way.
On top of putting $500 cash in your pocket, Dave also comes with automated budgeting tools and cash-back offers available through select stores and restaurants.
Get a cash advance for up to $500 instantly >>> Check out Dave for free
#5. Chime SpotMe: Best for fee-free overdrafts up to $200 with $20 available today
Why have 14 million people ditched their high-fee bank for Chime?
Chime makes it easy to manage your money through your phone and a Chime debit card.
With a host of features, the best is undoubtedly Chime SpotMe®. This lets you access up to $200 in fee-free overdrafts by withdrawing cash at an ATM or via your debit card. You’ll need at least $200 in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime account each month to qualify. But with no fees (tipping is optional but don’t feel obligated), you can set up SpotMe before you need to overdraw and then use the feature going forward so you can confidently access some extra spending power immediately in case of an emergency.
On top of a handy $200 in fee-free overdrafts you can access your paycheck up to two days early through direct deposits as well as access banking services via the loan app including secured credit cards, high-yield savings, and fee-free ATMs.
Get up to $200 in no-fee overdrafts >>> Sign up with Chime in less than 2 minutes
#6. Current: Best for up to $200 in overdrafts on debit card purchases
Current offers a range of handy features to help you manage your money and avoid contributing to the estimated $8 billion in overdraft fees collected by banks this year.
Current lets you get paid up to two days early with direct deposits. And you can also overdraft your checking account by up to $200 without any fees8. This feature – known as Overdrive – is available via a Current debit card and hugely popular.
To qualify for Overdrive, you’ll need an active Current account, at least $500 in qualifying direct deposits over each 30-day period, and be 18 years or older. As long as you tick these boxes, you’ll be eligible for $25 in fee-free overdrafts immediately. This can be increased to $200 over time so when you’re short on funds, you don’t need to dip into overdrafts and cop the $39 fee (or more!) to cover emergency expenses or bills.
Say Goodbye to Overdraft Fees >>> Sign up for Overdrive in less than 2 minutes
#7. SeedFi: Best for larger loans designed to improve your credit score
Most apps that lend money do just that – they lend you money! SeedFi earns its spot on the list with handy credit builder loans that can deliver cash immediately AND improve your credit history by reporting on-time payments to the major credit bureaus.
Win-Win.
SeedFi provides a couple of options to choose from including a Borrow & Grow plan or a Credit Builder Prime plan. Here’s how each option stacks up:
Borrow & Grow: You get a little cash upfront with the rest of your loan kept in a locked savings account. Loans for first-time borrowers range from $1,500 to $9,000 with $300 to $5,000 cash available immediately
Repayment periods range from 10 months to 48 months and APRs range from 11.59% to 29.99%. You keep all the money in your savings account once you pay off your loan. Spend, invest, save – whatever you want!
Credit Builder Prime: SeedFi opens a $1,000 line of credit in your name and you decide how much you want to draw (from $10-$40) each pay period. SeedFi deposits this amount into a locked savings account in your name as a small, interest-free loan. When you get your paycheck, you simply pay SeedFi back – no fees, no interest.
SeedFi reports your payments to the three credit bureaus. W,ith each payment you are boosting your savings and your ability to build better credit. Once you save $500, SeedFi gives you access to it in full.
If you’re in desperate straights, SeedFi isn’t the place to go to get an emergency loan immediately, but building up your credit score and some savings could make the next financial bump in the road much easier to deal with.
Access up to $9,000 >>> Check Out Our SeedFi Review
#8. Albert: Best for no-interest cash advances up to $250
Albert offers up to $250 in quick cash through ‘Albert Instant’.9
There’s no interest, fees, or credit check, so you won’t miss out just because your credit score has taken a hit. And, with zero late fees, you won’t be stung with frustrating charges if you need a little extra time to pay back your cash advance. Albert does charge a $14.99/month subscription fee, which includes access to Albert Genius – real human money experts who can provide clear advice and maybe help you avoid that next financial emergency. You’ll get a 30 day free trial when you sign up, but be sure to cancel Albert before that period ends if you aren’t using the service and want to avoid those frustrating recurring charges.
In our hands-on testing we had our funds in hand less than ten minutes after downloading the app, making Albert a great choice if you need emergency cash immediately.
You can use Albert Instant up to three Albert cash advances per pay period, while most other apps will only let you go to the well once per pay cycle. So if you need a little more than apps like Go2Bank can provide (starting at just $10), Albert might be your new favorite app.
You have a couple of options for using Albert to get fast access to cash in an emergency:
A). You can create an Albert Cash bank account with no account fees or minimum balance requirements – including near-instant access to cash advances and access to your paycheck up to two days early. You’ll also get an Albert debit Mastercard, which can be used for purchases or to withdraw cash at 55,000 ATMs.
B). You can get your cash advance instantly via an Albert debit card with no express fee, but if need cash immediately for an emergency, you’ll need to pay up to $6.99 to have it sent to your bank account.
Whatever option you choose, getting a $250 money loan with a few taps on your smartphone is easy.
| Overdraft Apps Tip: If your credit score is poor but you don’t want to commit to a long-term or expensive credit builder loan, apps like Kikoff can provide a credit solution for just $5 per month. With a one-year commitment, many customers have seen their credit score jump by 58 points, making it a quick, cost-effective, and credit-boosting option to consider. |
#9. B9: Access up to $500 of your own wages with no interest, credit check or late fees
The B9 app lets you access up to $500 of your earned wages before payday.
Unlike many of the apps that loan you money on this list, B9 doesn’t come with extra fees, charges, or billings. With no credit check (more on that below), no interest, and no late fees, you’ll only have ONE flat fee to consider.
Choose from a Basic B9 Plan ($9.99/month) or a Premium B9 Plan ($19.99/month). Your choice of plan impacts how much of your wages you can access early ($100 vs. $500).
With just ONE flat fee, B9 ranks as the second-lowest-cost app for borrowing $100 based on our in-depth study of cash advance costs and fees.
B9 is a valuable app for gig workers and freelancers because it recognizes a range of income sources. So whether you drive Uber or Lyft, provide Instacart shopping services, or just run a side hustle for extra cash, you can use your income to meet eligibility requirements.
B9 advances are based on your unpaid earnings, not your credit score. You won’t be punished or outright rejected if you’re dealing with a low credit score.
Access up to $500 of your wages early >>> Check out B9
#10. Empower: Up to $250 cash advance but hefty fees to watch out for
Empower provides instant cash advances of up to $250 without a credit check or an obligation to switch your direct deposit.
To determine your eligibility, Empower securely links to your bank account through Plaid. After analyzing your regular recurring deposits, account activity, and history you’ll receive your tailored cash advance limit – which can increase over time as you build a reliable repayment record.
Once approved, you can choose to have your Empower cash advance in one of two ways.
- Instant: Sent to your bank account within minutes for a small delivery fee
- Free: Pay no fee and receive your money in one business day
Additionally, you have the option to access the funds instantly using your virtual Empower debit card, which is provided when you create your account (you can also request a physical card at no extra cost).
our repayment is automatically scheduled on the date of your next recurring bank account deposit, and you have the flexibility to adjust this date within the app. There are no late fees to worry about BUT after borrowing $100 from the 15 most popular cash advance apps, we found Empower to be the MOST EXPENSIVE.
Watch: The emergency loan apps you need on your phone NOW
Need to borrow more? >>> Check out these $500 instant loan apps
Check out our most read articles to help you better manage your money:
- 9 Best Money Borrowing Apps of The Year (We Crown a Champion)
- How to Overdraft $200 From Your Smartphone (and Never Pay Overdraft Fees Again)
- Simple Hack to Overdraw Your Debit Card on Purpose Even If Your Bank Balance is $0
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
- 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.
- Subject to your available earnings, Daily Max and Pay Period Max. EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs.
- Fees apply to use Lightning Speed. Lightning Speed may not be available to all Community Members. Cash Outs may take up to thirty minutes, actual transfer speeds will depend on your bank connection. Restrictions and/or third party fees may apply, see Earnin.com/TOS for details.
- 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 Membership Agreement and help.moneylion.com for additional terms, conditions and eligibility requirements.
- ExtraCash™ is a DDA account with overdraft utility that is subject to eligibility requirements. Taking an ExtraCash™ advance will make your account balance negative. Express delivery fees apply to instant transfers. See the Extra Cash Account Agreement for more details.
- Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month and Visa debit card activation. 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 Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See terms and conditions.
- 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.
- Overdrive™ is available only on Current Individual Accounts and requires $500 in qualifying direct deposits on Current each month. Members will be notified by Current when they are eligible and must opt-in to Overdrive™. The Overdrive™ limit starts at $25, allowing members to overdraft their accounts up to $25 on debit card purchases without any fees, and accounts are reviewed periodically for increases up to $200 at Current’s discretion. Your limit may change based on your account history, spending activity, or other risk-based factors. You will receive a notification of any changes to your limit and your limit may change at any time at Current’s discretion. Your limit and remaining balance will be displayed to you in the Current app. When you receive your next deposit, Current then will apply funds towards your negative balance. Overdrive™ will not cover any non-debit card purchases, including ATM withdrawals, ACH transfers, P2P services (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or similar services), Current Pay transfers and checks. See terms and conditions.
- Download to see if you qualify. Repay the advance with your next paycheck. Fees may apply. Advance amounts based on qualification and may vary. Albert is not a bank. Banking services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.
