7 Apps Like MoneyLion

blackCAT / iStock.com

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

MoneyLion is a finance app that offers short-term loans for borrowers with poor credit or who simply need money fast. MoneyLion offers loans of up to $1,000 with no interest, no monthly fees and no credit check required. 

However, MoneyLion charges high fees for faster transfers and may also charge interest rates as high as 29.99% APR. If you’re looking for a MoneyLion alternative, these seven top apps offer short-term loans, cash advances and more — with low fees and flexible repayment. 

Top Cash Advance Apps

While MoneyLion is the most well-known cash advance app, there are so many others out there that are worth knowing about.

1. Dave

• Features: Cash advances up to $500, budgeting tools, no credit check
• Pros: No overdraft fees, low-cost subscription
• Cons: Limited borrowing amounts compared to MoneyLion
• Best for: Users needing small, short-term cash advances

Founded by three friends who were sick and tired of bank overdraft fees, Dave is an app that allows users to take a payday advance of up to $500. It charges no interest, no matter the advance amount, and tacks on no late fees. The app also doesn’t require any credit checks, nor does it or make any inquiries or soft pulls. Dave offers instant transfer to your Dave Spending account, which comes with a Dave Debit Mastercard that earns cash back.

The only downsides are that Dave requires access to your bank account and costs $1 a month to use. It also charges a fee to transfer your advance to an external card — but there’s no fee to transfer the money into an external bank account.

2. Earnin’

• Features: Access up to $750 of earned wages, no interest or fees, tipping model
• Pros: No traditional fees, instant transfer option
• Cons: Requires direct deposit and employer participation
• Best for: Users who want fee-free early paycheck access

“Make any day payday” is Earnin’s slogan, and it stands by its word. Founded in 2012, Earnin’ is an app that allows users to take out cash advances of up to $150 a day, with a max of $750 per pay period — based on the hours you’ve already worked. There are no fees and no interest.

The app is free, but does have an optional feature that allows users to leave a tip. Users can also pay up to $3.99 for shorter funding times with Lightning Speed. The only downside is that this app requires access to your bank account, but as you’ll learn, most of these apps do.  

3. Brigit

• Best for: Building credit
• Features: Up to $250 advances, AI-powered budgeting, overdraft protection
• Pros: No late fees or interest, strong financial tools
• Cons: Monthly subscription required
• Best For: Budget-conscious users who want overdraft protection

Branded as a financial health app, Brigit offers several services, including cash advances of up to $250 with no interest and a Credit Builder account. You can either get your cash advance for free in two to three business days or pay a fee for Express Delivery. The Credit Builder account sets you up with a 24-month installment loan and reports your on-time monthly payments to all three major credit bureaus to help improve your credit score.

There is a major downside, though. You must enroll in the Plus plan and pay a monthly fee between $8.99 to $14.99 to get cash advances via the app. The $250 limit isn’t really that much money compared to the limits that other apps offer, and it requires access to your bank account.

4. Chime

• Features: No-fee mobile banking, SpotMe overdraft up to $200, early paycheck access
• Pros: No monthly fees, high savings interest rates
• Cons: No direct cash advances like MoneyLion
• Best for: Users seeking full-service mobile banking with overdraft protection

Chime* is a financial app that offers several services, including early payday — users can set up direct deposit and get their paycheck up to 2 days earlier¹ than they would if not using Chime or a similar app. While plenty of other banks allow early paycheck access, Chime also meets other financial needs, like opening a checking or savings account.

Chime also offers SpotMe®², which offers up to $200 in overdraft coverage with no fee. While it’s not exactly a cash advance, it does provide you with a similar cushion for expenses.

5. Albert

• Features: Up to $250 cash advances, automatic savings, investing tools
• Pros: No credit check, strong money management tools
• Cons: Limited customer support options
• Best for: Users wanting a mix of cash advances and investing tools

Albert is an all-in-one finance app that offers banking services, savings accounts, investing, budgeting and even identity protection. It also offers instant cash advances up to $250 with no credit check, late fees or interest charged.

This feature is not available to all Albert users, but once it becomes available, you can get $25 to $250 sent to your Albert bank account. If you want an Instant Advance, you’ll pay a fee from $5.99 and up to $19.99 — depending on the amount you borrow.

6. Klover

• Features: No-fee cash advances based on income, rewards for sharing data
• Pros: No interest or subscription fees
• Cons: Requires sharing personal data for rewards
• Best for: Users who prefer no-fee borrowing options

Klover, launched in 2019, is an app that allows users to access up to $200 up to two weeks ahead of their payday, with no interest and no late fees. It offers tools to help you track savings goals and your credit score. You can also take surveys and watch ads for points, which you can turn into a bigger payout or use to enter Klover’s sweepstakes.

The cons are that users must share personal and financial info, including linking to a bank account. Plus, there are fees for expedited cash advances.

7. Varo

• Features: Online banking with cash advances, early direct deposit, savings accounts
• Pros: No monthly fees, high savings APY
• Cons: Limited cash advance amounts
• Best for: Users wanting a mix of banking and borrowing options

Varo is a cash advance app that offers bank accounts, savings accounts, credit-building tools and short-term loans up to $500. Loans come with a flat fee ranging from $1.40 up to $40 — depending on how much you borrow. This makes it one of the higher-fee alternatives to MoneyLion.

Varo requires loans to be paid back within 30 days, but doesn’t charge interest. Varo also offers a line of credit for borrowers who need access to more funds, but the line of credit does require a credit check. If you want access to more than just cash advance borrowing features, Varo is worth a look.

How To Choose the Best MoneyLion Alternative

If you’re looking for a short-term loan or cash advance app to replace MoneyLion, here are a few things to consider:

• Fees: First, you’ll want to compare fees between cash advance apps to find one that saves you the most money. Fees may be charged on the initial borrowed amount monthly or for faster transfers.
• Borrowing limits: Short-term loan apps usually have low borrowing limits. You’ll want to check how much you can borrow before signing up for an app to make sure it fits your needs.
• Repayment terms: Cash advance apps may require that you repay the loan in full by your next payday — while others give you up to a year to repay your loan. Be sure to compare repayment terms to find an app you can live with.
• Features: MoneyLion has a lot of additional features, so make sure to find a replacement app that offers things like personal loans, savings accounts and rewards.

You’ll also want to consider how you are charged. While some apps offer a subscription model with a recurring monthly fee, others charge fees for fast transfers. It’s important to run the numbers to find one that will cost less for your specific situation.

You’ll also want to dive into the borrowing terms and conditions to ensure you’re not stuck with unfavorable repayment terms, hidden fees or super-high interest rates.

Final Take

If you’re interested in using an app like MoneyLion, it’s recommended that you take your time exploring each of the apps listed here. Since most of them require providing personal information, including your bank account, make sure you’re ready to pull the trigger. Additionally, for those who require your employer to be partnered with them, make sure to check with your HR department before diving in.

FAQ

Jacob Wade and Amber Barkley contributed to the reporting for this article.

Information is accurate as of April 12, 2025, and is subject to change.

*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.

¹Early 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.

²Chime 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. 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 Friends transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.

Share This Article: