The Dave app offers high cash advances for those who can’t make it to their next payday. It also offers features that help you take control of your finances, but there are several cash advance apps like Dave available today.
If you’re looking for more features or other options, I’ve narrowed down the top cash advance apps like Dave below.
Remember, with any cash advance app, always consider why you’re requesting the funds. They shouldn’t help you live beyond your means but be used only for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.
9 Best Apps Like Dave
Most cash advance apps don’t offer cash advances as high as Dave, but these apps offer other features along with cash advances to help you get control of your personal finances.
1. Albert
Albert is one of the most popular cash advance apps. Members can access cash advances of up to $250, but most users start with a much lower limit of $20 to $40
In addition, Albert offers the option to take cash advances up to three times between pay periods, another unique feature of this cash advance app.
Features
The Albert app does much more than offer cash advances. It’s a personal finance app that helps you get control of your finances.
The Albert app partners with FDIC-insured banks to offer checking and savings accounts and a Visa debit card. You can earn cashback when making purchases with the Visa debit card, and an active direct deposit in the Albert checking account provides two-day early access to your funds.
Albert subscribers can access a large fee-free ATM network, build customized investment portfolios, or set up auto savings to reach their financial goals.
Pros
- Many features are available for free
- Users can get advances of up to $250
- Users may have early access to direct deposit funds
Cons
- Most of the personal finance features require an $8 monthly Genius subscription
- You can’t open a joint account
- The savings APY is minimal
2. Chime
Like Dave, Chime offers cash advances only on purchases made with your Chime debit card or cash withdrawals. The program, called SpotMe, is a line of credit you can access if you overdraft your account. The amount you use is deducted from your total line and replenished when you repay it.
SpotMe offers cash advances up to $200, and you repay the amount advanced with your next direct deposit.
Features
Chime is a mobile banking app that doesn’t charge monthly fees and includes a free Visa debit card. You can check your balance 24/7 on the Chime app or set up push-through alerts to be aware of all debit card transactions.
Other features include:
- A fee-free ATM network
- Mobile check deposit
- Instant transfers between Chime checking and savings accounts or external accounts
Chime also offers early access to direct deposit funds, giving you access to pay up to two days early.
Pros
- No monthly fees
- The SpotMe program allows advances up to $200
- All Chime users get early access to their paycheck
Cons
- Cash advances only apply to debit card transactions or cash withdrawals
- First-time users may only get advances of $20
3. Varo
Varo is a full-service online bank that offers a cash advance option like Dave; however, you can only advance up to $100.
What sets Varo apart from other cash advance apps is there aren’t any monthly subscription fees or ‘recommended tips.’ Instead, they charge a flat fee for each transfer, depending on the amount.
For example, a $20 transfer is $0, but a $100 advance is $5. The fee percentage is high if you need a $100 advance, but it can be helpful in an emergency.
Features
As I said earlier, Varo is much more than a cash advance app; it’s a bank for everyone. They don’t require minimum balances or monthly fees, and there are 55,000+ fee-free ATMs in their network.
The Varo bank account comes with a Varo Visa debit card and free transfers via Zelle or to other Varo members. You may also earn cashback at select retailers when you use your Varo Visa debit card. For example, when you hit $5, they’ll automatically transfer it to your bank account.
Varo members also get 2-day early access to direct deposit funds and several ways to save. First, Varo savings account balances earn 3% APY. You can stretch your savings by setting up automatic roundups on debit card purchases or sending a set amount to savings each payday.
Pros
- Cash advances have set fees, so you know the cost
- Direct deposit offers early access to your funds
- Savings account balances earn high-interest rates
Cons
- The percentage of fees compared to the amount advanced is high
- $100 is a low limit for a cash emergency
4. MoneyLion
MoneyLion is an app like Dave; however, you may be eligible to advance up to $500, which is much higher than the limit for most cash advance apps. You’ll need a MoneyLion Roar account to be eligible for cash advances.
MoneyLion doesn’t charge interest or fees on the advances, but if you want the funds faster than a few days, you may pay a Turbo Fee to get it faster.
Features
MoneyLion is much more than a cash advance app. It’s a powerful banking app with many opportunities to take care of your personal finances.
The MoneyLion mobile banking account offers everything you’d want in a bank account, including no fees, cashback rewards on debit card purchases, and early access to your direct deposit. They also offer Mastercard Price Protection that detects when a price drops on a purchase you recently made.
MoneyLion also offers the option to round up debit card purchases to purchase Bitcoin or invest in your portfolio. It also has a Financial Heartbeat feature that monitors your income and expenses and helps you understand your financial picture.
Pros
- Offers many personal finance features to help you take control of your finances
- Offers easy access to cash advances
- Has an investment component to help you easily and affordably build a portfolio
Cons
- Cash advances are only available with a Roar account that costs $1 a month
- Cash advances take a while to receive if you don’t pay the Turbo Fee
How to Download
Click here to create your MoneyLion account and download the app.
5. Brigit
Brigit is a personal finance app that offers cash advances. Most users start with a low limit, but you may work up to a $250 cash advance limit with a solid repayment history. The transfers take a few days, but you can pay for an instant transfer and have the funds within minutes.
Brigit doesn’t charge fees or interest for cash advances; however, they charge a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.
Features
Besides the cash advance features, Brigit offers powerful personal finance tasks to keep you on track. Brigit wants members to take control of their finances so they don’t have to worry about overdrafts and cash advances.
To do this, they monitor your income and spending, helping you understand what changes you can make to improve your financial situation. Brigit also offers a secured credit builder loan that helps you build credit from scratch or repair bad credit, and they provide $1 million coverage in identity theft.
Finally, because Brigit wants users to make the most of their finances, they offer assistance in finding side gigs and jobs to increase their income and exclusive offers to help you save money.
Pros
- There are no fees for cash advances
- You can set up advances to cover overdrafts to avoid fees
- Brigit is a full-service mobile banking app
Cons
- You must provide access to your external bank account
- The monthly cost is high
- The maximum cash advance is low
How to Download
Access the Brigit app on iOS or Google Play.
6. Earnin
Earnin is a spinoff of a cash advance app. Instead of a true cash advance, you get an advance on money you’ve already earned. Earnin works with your employer to determine the hours you’ve worked to determine how much money you’ve made.
You won’t be able to access your full paycheck, but most members can access up to $100 a day and $750 per pay period.
On your payday, Earnin will keep the portion of your pay they advanced you, and it won’t cost you any fees or interest.
Remember, cash advances can take a few days, but if you pay for a Lightning Speed transfer, you can get it instantly.
Earnin doesn’t charge fees; instead, they recommend you tip them to keep the service running, but it’s not mandatory.
Features
Earnin focuses primarily on cash advances, giving employees access to funds as they earn them; however, they also offer a feature called Balance Shield.
This feature watches your bank account balance, and if you near the threshold, it alerts you. If you can’t fix the issue, you can request a cash advance of up to $100 to avoid overdraft fees.
Pros
- You have access to your funds as you make them
- There aren’t mandatory fees
- You don’t pay interest on your cash advances
Cons
- It could be a bad habit to access your earned funds early
- You can only use Earnin if you have a direct deposit
- You must share private information with Earnin, including your bank account and employer information
How to Download
To use Earnin, you must download the iOS or Google Play app. After downloading the app, create a profile and follow the prompts to set up your account.
7. Empower
Empower offers members up to a $250 cash advance if they can prove you have consistent direct deposits from their employer and use their checking account responsibly. You can have funds sent directly to your bank account or your Empower card.
The funds take a few days, but for a small fee, you can get an instant transfer if you need the funds immediately.
The Empower app also costs $8 a month to use.
Features
Empower offers a few other standout features to help keep your personal finances in order, including budgeting and savings features. The budgeting feature sends real-time alerts if you’re at risk of overdrafting or your account balance is low. The savings feature automatically transfers ‘safe funds’ to savings after evaluating your income and expenses.
Empower also offers Smart Recommendations based on your account activity to help you make the most of your finances.
Pros
- Offers a high cash advance limit
- Makes it easy to take control of your finances with budgeting and savings tools
- You can get instant access to funds if necessary
Cons
- $8 a month is a steep cost for the few features it offers
- There are no banking features
- You must provide access to your external bank account, which can feel like an invasion of privacy
How to Download
To download Empower, enter your mobile number and follow the prompts to download the app.
8. Even
Even is another app that offers early access to your earned income. With Even, you can access up to 50% of your income, paying it back when your employer pays you.
Your employer must sign up for Even for you to use it, but when they do, it offers access to your funds as you earn them.
Features
Along with offering early access to your earned income, Even offers helpful tools to handle your personal finances.
Even helps you understand how much money you can safely spend after considering your income and expenses. They also offer an automated savings program that transfers money to your savings account each payday. If you like projecting your income based on worked hours, the app also helps you see the money coming in so you can properly budget.
Pros
- You can access funds you’ve earned without waiting for payday
- The savings feature helps you stay on track with your savings goals
- You can get help with budgeting to stop going over your budget
Cons
- It’s only available if your employer signs up for it
- Accessing your income before payday can be a bad habit
- There’s a monthly fee, but they aren’t transparent about it
How to Download
You can access the Even app on iOS and Google Play.
9. Branch
Branch is an app that offers access to earned funds for independent contractors and employees. Most apps that advance earned income only work with people who work for someone, but Branch is different. It works well for people who work on tips, such as stylists or anyone who performs services yet has to wait to get paid.
With Branch, contractors can get paid after each job, including nights and weekends. In addition, the funds are sent electronically, so there are no checks or paperwork to deal with; everything is online and takes seconds to manage.
Features
Branch subscribers get access to a Branch card, a zero-fee debit card where employees and remote workers can receive funds instantly. You can also add cash to your Branch card at many major merchant locations.
Branch also offers early access to direct deposit funds, giving employees access to their funds up to two days early.
Pros
- Gives users early access to their funds to avoid overdrafts
- Offers tips to save more money
- Can keep funds in the Branch wallet or transfer them to an external account
Cons
- It can be a bad habit to access funds before payday
- Everything is online and can be confusing for new users
How to Download
The Branch app is available on iOS and Google Play.
What Are Cash Advance Apps Like Dave?
Cash advance apps provide subscribers with cash between paydays. Most apps require direct deposit and members to pay back their advance on their next payday. Some apps offer an option to extend the repayment period if they’re experiencing financial trouble.
Cash advance apps are meant to help with emergencies or to make ends meet when you can’t quite make it to the next payday. Of course, you shouldn’t use them consistently, but they can be helpful in situations you can’t help.
To qualify for cash advances, most apps require a direct deposit from your employer, an active checking account, and proof of consistent receipt of income.
Many cash advance apps start users with a low advance limit, usually $40 or less, but with timely repayment and use of the advances, they can work their way to higher advances.
Dave App Overview
The Dave app is a cash advance app with high limits. Unlike most cash advance apps, you may qualify to receive up to $500. New users typically won’t have a limit quite that high, but the opportunity is there for those who use the app properly.
How Does Dave Work?
To get cash advances from the Dave app, you must have an active checking account with at least a 60-day history and at least two direct deposits from your current employer, and your account balance should always be positive.
The Dave app also uses a unique algorithm to determine if you qualify for an advance, including how many times you request cash advances, the time before your next payday, and your spending habits.
The Dave app has a $1 monthly membership fee you must pay whether you request a cash advance that month.
To receive your funds, you can have them sent to an external bank account, your Dave card, or a Dave spend account through Evolve Bank & Trust. There is a small fee if you send the funds to a prepaid debit card (not a Dave card).
All users pay back their advances through automatic withdrawal on their next payday.
Features
In addition to the cash advance, the Dave app offers some great personal finance features, including a budgeting feature that helps you understand how much of your money is free to spend after considering your upcoming bills and income.
The Dave app also has a neat feature that matches you with eligible side gigs, either in-person, on the phone, or online. This helps increase your income streams and reduces the chance you’ll need cash advances in the future.
Pros
- Cash advances are free (except the Dave subscription fee)
- Offers high cash advance amounts
- There’s no credit check required
Cons
- It takes a while to get cash advances higher than $30 to $50
- Your spending habits can hurt your chances of getting approved
- A monthly membership fee is required
How Do You Apply to Receive Funds on Cash Apps Like Dave?
To receive a cash advance on apps like Dave, you must provide access to your checking account and sometimes employment information.
Most services use a site like Plaid to securely access your bank account information, but ensure that they don’t store your bank information.
To apply for a cash advance, you’ll first create a profile on the app, providing the information they require to decide how much they will advance. You must also grant access for an automatic withdrawal of the cash advance amount to repay it on your next payday.
Each app has different requirements regarding applying for a cash advance. For example, some have strict requirements regarding the number of direct deposits, the age of your checking account, or the monthly amount you make.
Should You Use Apps Like Dave?
Cash advance apps like Dave make it easier to make ends meet, but don’t make it a habit. Instead, find ways to improve your personal financial situation so you only need cash advance apps in emergencies you couldn’t prevent.
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