Cash Advance Apps that Don't Use Plaid

Earnin is not a bank. It provides "access to earned wages" rather than a traditional payday advance or loan, with its advances, known as "Cash Out," being offered at a relatively large amount but only to employees who receive a direct deposit. Obtaining an advance incurs relatively low fees, including fast-funding fees and an optional tip capped at $14.

While Earnin provides a good alternative to high-cost payday loans, users should still explore alternative sources of cash before taking out an advance. According to NerdWallet, Earnin's product can be considered a paycheck advance since the payday advance app acts as an intermediary that provides cash and then retrieves it on the next payday.

Activehours Inc. uses the trade name "EarnIn" and has been providing instant cash advances since 2014. Based in Palo Alto, California, the company has received high ratings on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, with over 200,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating and over 240,000 ratings and a 4.7-star rating, respectively.

Dave is another cash advance app that doesn't use Plaid. Dave allows you to access up to $100 of your paycheck before it is deposited into your bank checking account. The app also has an optional overdraft protection feature available to its members. Additionally, Dave provides a variety of features to help users manage their finances, such as automatic bill payments, expense tracking, and credit monitoring.

Dave is a legitimate enterprise located in Los Angeles that has been providing cash advances since its establishment in 2017. The app has garnered an impressive rating of 4.4 stars from over 450,000 users on Google Play and 4.8 stars from over 600,000 users on the Apple App Store. However, customers have recently submitted complaints to the Better Business Bureau regarding unapproved transactions to their accounts. Meanwhile, recent grievances lodged with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were related to account management issues.

Similar to other cash advance apps, the Dave app assesses the spending habits and income history of users' checking accounts to determine eligibility and the amount they can receive. The app also evaluates the repayment history of returning customers to determine their borrowing limits.

Cash App is a versatile financial platform that enables users to transfer funds, make payments, and invest in various financial instruments such as stocks and cryptocurrency. Moreover, for those who prefer a physical card, Cash App offers an optional Visa debit card that can be linked to their account. You can track these debit card purchases in the app.

Qualified Cash App users may take advantage of their latest "borrow" feature, which allows users to borrow from $20 to $200, with eligibility based on several factors such as state of residence, credit history, payment history, and whether the user receives a salary through Cash App. While the feature is still in its pilot phase and limited in availability, active Cash App users are more likely to meet the requirements for eligibility.

Borrowed money under this feature should be paid back in four weeks. A one-week grace period is provided for an effective five weeks term. Additionally, a 5% fee will be charged, equating to a 60% annual percentage rate (APR). Further, if the loan is not repaid within the allotted time, an extra 1.25% charge per week will be applied. While the APR is higher than that of a typical credit card, it's still significantly lower than the rates charged by payday or title lenders.

Cash App partners with Plaid, but they also offer a manual account-linking option that allows users to sign up for an account without using Plaid. If you want to learn more about Cash App, sign up, or use the loan feature, please see the article linked above.

Line is available only in the US. Line provides cash advances with no credit checks and no interest, along with personalized overdraft and NSF alerts and a comprehensive range of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

To apply for Line, download the app, create an account, and apply for pre-approval by providing a few details, including your phone number. Next, complete the application, which requires your personal information, such as your Social Security number, employment details, and bank information. Line may also request to review your income and expenses. Line will inform you whether you meet the qualification criteria.

To subscribe, choose a plan and link your debit card to pay for it. You must have enough balance to pay the subscription fee.

Line offers two plans:

1. The small plan costs $1.97/month, offering advances of between $20 and $100, identity theft monitoring, and insurance.

2. The medium plan costs $9.97 per month and provides advances of between $50 and $1000, including all the small plan inclusions plus one free transfer per month.

3. The large plan is not currently active, and no price has been indicated.

Branch is a mobile application that enables you to request a wage advance for the amount of money you've already earned, even before your payday. You won't be able to access this app unless your employer has subscribed to it. This service doesn't charge any interest or fees, but you may choose to tip after each transaction. Branch digital wallet provides cashback rewards for purchasing food, fuel, and other products.

The app allows users to access up to $150 of their paycheck before it is deposited into their bank account. To apply for an advance, confirm that your employer is enrolled in Branch, download the app, and set up a Branch wallet. If you're eligible for an advance, go to the "Instant Pay" tab, select the borrowing amount, confirm the loan total and payback date, and swipe up to receive a "Money in the Bank" notification. The requested amount will be deposited into your Branch digital wallet and can be utilized immediately.

Payactiv offers advances on earned wages by partnering with employers. Depending on the employer's policies, advances can go up to 50% of the earned wages. If your employer does not partner with Payactiv, you can still receive your paycheck two days in advance with a Payactiv Visa Prepaid Card.

Payactiv is free if you sign up for the Payactiv Visa Payroll Card and request a cash advance. Otherwise, there are two types of fees: a program fee and a processing fee. The maximum advance and turnaround time depend on the employer's policies.

When you request an advance, the money can be sent to your bank account, debit card, or Walmart Money Center, with instant funding available for free through a Payactiv card or for a fee if you send the funds to another account. The repayment is automatically deducted from the next paycheck.

If you are looking for a cash advance without using Plaid, there are several options available. Some of the traditional lenders, like banks and credit unions, provide cash advances. However, the process of obtaining a cash advance from banks and credit unions is quite complicated as they usually require you to have a good credit score and a stable income source.

On the other hand, there are alternative lenders that offer cash advances without the need for Plaid. These lenders include payday lenders, pawnshops, and car title lenders. However, these lenders charge exorbitant interest rates, and it is recommended to avoid them if possible.

Alternatively, you could consider non-traditional lenders like online lenders and peer-to-peer lending platforms. They usually do not require Plaid. However, their interest rates may be higher than traditional lenders, and you should review the terms before borrowing.

Yes, there are cash advance apps that do not use Plaid. One app is called Earnin, which is a cash advance app that does not use Plaid. This app allows you to borrow against your paycheck with no interest, fees, or credit checks. They use a system called "tip" what you can "tip" is the amount you borrow, and you can choose to tip anything from nothing to $14. They have a limit for borrowing that starts at $100, and as you build trust and repayment history, the limit can increase up to $500.

Another app that does not use Plaid is Brigit. Brigit is also a cash advance app that can lend you up to $250 between paychecks. A $9.99 monthly membership fee is required, and they give you 14 days to repay the loan. However, there is no interest charge on this amount.

Yes, Cash App uses Plaid. Cash App requires Plaid to link your bank account to your application to receive direct deposits, send money to friends, and withdraw money. Plaid allows Cash App to collect the necessary data from your bank account to verify your identity, which is essential for any financial application. Cash App also uses Plaid to monitor your bank account for purchase activity to provide you with rewards and promotions.

Plaid has faced criticism, particularly on issues concerning data privacy and security. As a financial technology provider, Plaid collects and stores its users' information, which includes financial information like accounts, login credentials, and transactions. As such, there is a risk of data breaches, and there are concerns about the potential misuse of stored financial data.

In 2020, Plaid was acquired by Visa for $5.3 billion, and the acquisition faced regulatory challenges, including antitrust scrutiny. The acquisition highlights the increasing influence of financial technology companies on the global financial system and the data privacy and security implications that come with it.