6 Loan Apps in 2025: Cash Advances and Overdraft Protection

• Overview. EarnIn lets you access your earned wages before payday with no interest or mandatory fees. The app connects to your bank account to confirm your pay schedule and uses either GPS or submitted timesheets to track your hours worked. It then calculates how much you can borrow based on the amount you get deposited into your account. EarnIn lets you withdraw up to a set amount of your unpaid wages, and repayment is automatically deducted from your account when your next paycheck hits.

• Advance amount. You can borrow up to $150 per day and $750 per pay period.

• Fees. EarnIn doesn’t charge mandatory fees but offers fast-funding fees from $2.99 to $5.99. You can also choose to leave a voluntary tip up to $13 per advance.

• Repayment. Repayment is automatic on your next direct deposit date. The amount you borrowed will be deducted from your bank account at that time.

• Funding time. If you don’t choose express funding, transfers take 1-3 days. If you pay the express fee, funds are available in minutes.

• Pros. No mandatory fees, and fast-funding and tip fees are optional. The app also lets you borrow relatively large amounts, which can be helpful in emergencies.

• Cons. You have to give the app access to your bank account, and there’s a risk of overdraft fees if there are not enough funds to cover repayment when due.

• Best for. EarnIn is good for people with small emergency expenses who are paid via direct deposit and work with an electronic timesheet, fixed location or employer-provided email. It’s good for users who can rely on their next paycheck to pay back the amount borrowed without financial strain.

• Overview. Brigit, a NY-based company founded in 2019, offers cash advances and budgeting tools. The app has 4.7 stars on Google Play and 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store. Brigit connects to your checking account and looks at your financial history to determine if you’re eligible for advances. Brigit also offers budgeting and credit-building tools to help you manage your finances between paychecks.

• Advance amount. $50 to $250 per advance.

• Fees. Brigit charges a monthly subscription fee of $8.99 or $14.99 for cash advances and other premium features. There’s also an optional fast-funding fee of $0.99 to $3.99.

• Repayment. Repayment is automatic on your next payday as determined by Brigit.

• Funding time. If you don’t choose the express fee, it takes up to 3 days to get your funds. If you pay the express fee, you can get the funds in as little as 20 minutes.

• Pros. Brigit doesn’t ask for tips. Low fast-funding fee and tries to avoid overdraft fees. Budgeting tools and credit-building features to help you become more financially stable.

• Cons. Brigit charges a monthly subscription fee which is higher than most other cash advance apps. Advance amounts are smaller than some competitors, so not good for those who need bigger amounts.

• Best for. Brigit is good for users who need help with small emergency expenses and don’t overspend. It’s also good for users with active checking accounts that receive regular deposits and for those who want to use credit-building and budgeting features.

• Overview. Chime is a financial technology company based in San Francisco that partners with banks to offer various financial services. The app has a large user base with 4.7 stars across 650,000+ reviews on Google Play and 4.8 stars from 820,000+ reviews on the Apple App Store. Chime is associated with the Chime Checking Account, so you can get your direct deposit paychecks up to 2 days early. The app also helps you manage your spending by sending transaction alerts and allowing you to turn off your debit card in case of theft or suspicious activity. One of Chime’s features is SpotMe which allows you to overdraft up to $200 without fees, but new users have a lower limit.

• Advance amount. Up to $500 or 50% of your next paycheck, whichever is less.

• Fees. $2 fast-funding fee if you choose to get your funds instantly.

• Repayment. The advance is repaid when your next paycheck is deposited into your Chime checking account.

• Funding time. Without the express fee, it’s 1 day, with the express fee it’s instant.

• Pros. Funds are available in 1 day, so good for those who need cash fast. The $2 fast-funding fee is lower than most apps. No overdraft fees, so you won’t get hit with unexpected charges. No tips were asked for using the service.

• Cons. You need to have a Chime checking account to use Chime’s cash advance service, which may not be good for those with accounts in other banks. No payment due date extensions, so if you can’t pay on time, you’re in trouble.

• Best for. Chime is good for those who are already Chime customers and receive direct deposit into their Chime checking account. It’s also good for those who need to cover small expenses and have a plan to pay back the advance along with other regular expenses. Borrowers who need cash fast or are willing to pay a small fee for instant access will like Chime’s service. It’s good for those who don’t overspend.

• Overview. Founded in 2013 and based in New York City, MoneyLion has gotten attention for its good reviews and high borrowing limits. MoneyLion’s Instacash service offers large cash advances in small increments so users who receive direct deposit paychecks can get cash fast. The app charges a fee for fast funding but no mandatory fees. MoneyLion tries to avoid overdraft fees with its withdrawals and doesn’t check credit but reviews bank account history to determine eligibility for advances. MoneyLion also offers credit-building and budgeting tools for an extra fee.

• Advance amount. Up to $500, up to $1,000 for members who use other MoneyLion features. Advances are in $100 increments.

• Fees. Optional membership fee: $9.99 or $19.99 per month. Optional fast-funding fee: $0.49 to $8.99 per advance. Optional tip - no maximum.

• Repayment. Funds are withdrawn from your account on the day MoneyLion determines to be your next payday.

• Funding time. Without the express fee: 1-2 business days for MoneyLion checking account holders, and 2-5 business days for non-MoneyLion checking account holders. With the express fee - instantly.

• Pros. MoneyLion tries to avoid overdraft fees so you have flexibility. You can also extend your repayment date if needed. No mandatory fees and you can get budgeting and credit-building features for an extra fee, so it’s good for those who want to improve their financial health.

• Cons. Advances may take a few days to deposit, which may not be good for those who need cash now. Advances are in $100 increments, which may not be good for those who need larger amounts. Fast funding fees can be high depending on the transfer speed.

• Best for. MoneyLion is good for MoneyLion checking account holders. Good for consumers who are direct deposit paid and need to cover small expenses and have a plan to pay back the advance. Borrowers who don’t need cash fast or are willing to pay a fee for instant access will like MoneyLion. It’s also good for those who don’t overspend and want extra financial tools.

• Overview. Varo offers cash advances for its bank account holders who need cash before payday. Unlike other cash advance apps, Varo lets you choose your repayment date, which can be up to 30 days after borrowing. Varo doesn’t ask for tips but charges a flat fee per advance which can be high compared to others. Varo doesn’t check credit to determine eligibility but requires you to have an active Varo bank account and meet certain requirements such as qualifying direct deposits.

• Advance amount. $20 to $500.

• Fees. The advance fee is from $1.60 to $40.

• Repayment. Payment is due 15-30 days after borrowing. You can choose a repayment date when you borrow the advance.

• Funding time. Instant.

• Pros. Varo doesn’t ask for tips, so it’s a straightforward borrowing experience. You can choose a repayment date up to 30 days so it’s flexible. Funding is instant, so good for those who need cash now. Also, Varo has savings and credit-building tools to help you improve your financial health.

• Cons. Varo’s fees are mandatory and can be high compared to other cash advance apps. You need to have a Varo bank account to use the service, so it’s limited. While the repayment period is flexible, you can’t change your repayment date once it’s set. If you don’t pay on time, it can lead to an overdraft on your Varo account.

• Best for. Varo is good for bank account holders who are direct deposit paid and need to cover emergency expenses. Good for those who have a plan to pay back the advance, including the fee and other regular expenses. Borrowers who don’t overspend and can’t find a lower-fee loan or advance will also like Varo.

• Overview. Empower offers cash advances to eligible users, including gig workers and freelancers. The app provides fast funding for small advances within one day and instant funding for a fee. Empower’s requirements are less strict than others and don’t check credit. Instead, it reviews bank account activity and income history to determine eligibility. While it has high optional fees, it has a cancellation option for the $8 monthly subscription fee.

• Advance amount. $10 to $300 for first-time users. Up to $350 for returning users.

• Fees. The monthly subscription fee is $8 (optional, and can be canceled). The fast-funding fee is $1 to $10.50 (optional). Tip is up to 20% per advance, capped at the user’s eligible advance amount for the calendar year.

• Repayment. Advances are automatically withdrawn from your linked bank account on the due date.

• Funding time. Without paying for express funding, advances are funded within one business day.

• Pros. Empower gives you quick access to funds, within a day. Good for gig workers or freelancers, with flexible income requirements. The app has budgeting and credit-building tools and refunds overdraft fees caused by its withdrawals.

• Cons. Empower has high optional fees, subscriptions, and fast-funding fees. Advance amounts are smaller than others and no notifications before repayment, which can lead to overdrafts.

• Best for. Empower is good for gig workers or freelancers who need quick access to funds and have a plan to pay back the advance. Good for those who want to use the app’s budgeting or credit-building tools and don’t overspend. Also, good for those who need funds fast but don’t mind paying a fee for fast processing.

Small personal loans, $1,00 to $2,500, can be a good solution for emergency expenses. These loans have lower interest rates than payday loans or credit cards with APRs ranging from 6% to 36% depending on your credit score. Many online lenders offer fast funding, some can fund within a day or two. Personal loans are unsecured, and no collateral is required, but approval depends on your credit score and income. While they have fixed monthly payments and no risk of losing assets, some lenders charge origination fees or higher rates for lower credit score borrowers. Small loans are available through credit unions, online lenders, and banks, so it’s accessible to many consumers.

Credit union loans are good for borrowers, especially those with fair or bad credit as they offer lower interest rates and more flexible terms than banks. Membership in a credit union is required and loans can be as small as $250. Some credit unions offer payday alternative loans that can be repaid in a few months to a year. Credit unions evaluate borrowers beyond just credit score, they consider membership status and overall financial standing. Rates vary but federally chartered credit unions cap APRs at 18% making it an affordable option for debt consolidation or emergency expenses. However, application may take longer than online lenders and some credit unions may not offer pre-qualification with a soft credit check.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) allows you to split large purchases into smaller payments, usually in a pay-in-four structure where 25% is paid upfront and the rest in three biweekly installments. Available at many major retailers online and in-store, it’s an interest-free way to spread out the cost. But please note that while some BNPL plans have zero interest, others have high interest rates or late fees. No minimum credit score is required, but BNPL can encourage overspending and missed payments can incur additional costs. So evaluate the terms and your financial situation before choosing BNPL to make sure it fits your budget and repayment ability.

Friend and Family Loans can be a convenient and low-cost option if you need quick cash. Borrowing from a family member or friend typically has no formal application, credit check, or income verification. That’s why it’s an attractive option for those who want to avoid high-interest loans or complicated paperwork. The terms of the loan, interest rates, and repayment schedule can be flexible and if you encounter financial hardship, there may be more leniency. But mixing money and relationships can be tricky - failure to repay the loan can strain personal relationships and be awkward. It’s best to put everything in writing, especially the repayment plan and interest rates, to avoid misunderstandings and make sure both parties are on the same page. Also, family loans may have tax implications, especially if it’s large amounts or interest-free.