5 Best Paycheck Advance Apps With No Subscription Fees

Skip the ultra-high fees of a payday loan with a paycheck advance app

Carol Pope

Written by  Carol Pope

Michael Kitchen

Edited by  Michael Kitchen

Expert Verified

Updated
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Paycheck advance appBest paycheck advance app for…Amounts availableTimeline for free advanceFee for expedited advanceTimeline for expedited advanceRequires direct deposit to app account
ChimeAdvances plus mobile banking24 hours or less$2InstantYes
Daily PayAccessing wages as you earn themVaries based on earnings, up to a day1-3 business days$3.49 or lessInstantNo, but only available if your employer offers it
EarnInBigger advances for some new users1-2 business days$3.99 to $5.99Up to 30 minutesNo
MoneyLionEarning extra money with gamesUp to 1-5 business days $1.99 to $8.99InstantNo
VaroCustomizable due datesNo free advances$1.60 to $40Instant Yes

Learn more about how we made our picks, as well as when it makes sense to use these apps and what the alternatives are.

Best low-fee and no-fee paycheck advance apps at a glance

Chime

Best for: Advances plus mobile banking – Chime

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
DailyPay

Best for: Accessing wages as you earn them – DailyPay

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
EarnIn

Best for: Bigger advances for some new users – EarnIn

account to qualify like you do with other apps like .

Like ,  allows you to access funds you’ve already earned before your payday. But unlike ,

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
MoneyLion

Best for: Earning extra money with games – MoneyLion

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
VaroBank

Best for: Longer due dates – Varo Bank

, you can have up to 30 days to pay, regardless of your payday. This extra time could be a game changer if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

Like , Varo won’t make sense if you want to stick with your current bank.

Download on the App Store
Download on Google Play
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How do paycheck advance apps work?

A paycheck advance app lets you borrow money in between paydays. Loan amounts range from $5 to $500 or more.

If you’re new to the app, expect a small loan. Typically, you have to use the app for a while (and pay on time) before you’re eligible for a bigger amount.

Repaying paycheck advance apps works about the same as repaying a payday loan. Usually, the app will automatically deduct what you owe from your checking account the next time you get paid.

Some apps actually deduct what you borrow from your paycheck, but this is usually only the case if you’re using an earned wage access (EWA) app that partners with your employer, like .

Paycheck advance apps don’t charge interest. Instead, they usually charge a fee if you want to get your money the same day, and some may also ask for an optional tip. A few also charge monthly subscription fees (but none on our list do).

Qualifying for a paycheck advance app

Qualifying for a paycheck advance app is easier than qualifying for a personal loan or credit card. Apps generally only require a soft credit hit and proof of income, sometimes by electronically connecting to your bank account.

That part about connecting to your account might sound scary, but it’s so the app can see how much you earn and when you usually get paid. They use this info to decide how much to give you and when your payment will be due.

Some apps also require you to get your paycheck directly deposited into a new bank account (like Chime and Varo Bank) or that you work for a partnering employer (like DailyPay).

Is it safe to use paycheck advance apps? 4 ways to tell

Many cash advance apps are legit, but there are always bad actors looking to take advantage of people in desperate situations. To figure out if a paycheck advance app is safe for you to use, you should:

  • Read reviews on the App Store or Google Play
    This can help you figure out how smoothly the app runs and whether users experience issues getting their funds or making repayment.
  • Check the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for complaints
    The CFPB has a customer complaint database you can use to see what users are saying about the company. You can filter complaints by date, type of complaint and more. It’s a powerful tool.
  • Check for CFPB enforcement actions
    The CFPB also keeps a database of enforcement actions taken against paycheck advance apps. These are legal steps the CFPB takes when it thinks a financial institution, company or individual has broken banking or lending laws.
  • Look for lawsuits
    Research online to see if the app has been targeted by any class action suits or by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Many paycheck advance apps have ended up in court over predatory lending, hidden fees or making it too hard to cancel subscriptions.

Avoiding the cycle of paycheck advance apps

Repeatedly taking paycheck advances or payday loans is an easy way to get stuck in a debt cycle.

You might think you only need a little cash, but what happens if you don’t have enough in your checking account when payday comes? Many people resort to taking a second loan to cover the first, and a cycle of debt is born.

If you’re stuck relying on paycheck advance apps, there’s hope. Credit counseling can be a free or low-cost way of getting a handle on your budget and debt.

You can find a list of reputable credit counseling services through the Department of Justice website or with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Paycheck advance app pros and cons

Paycheck advance apps are increasingly popular, but are they a good idea? Review the pros and cons to decide.

Pros

  • Can be helpful in an emergency
    You could get cash almost instantly (for a fee).
  • No credit check
    Paycheck advance apps can be relatively easy to qualify for, and they don’t require a credit check.
  • No interest
    Paycheck advance apps don’t charge interest, although fees likely apply.
  • Convenient
    All you need to do to apply is download an app and fill out a quick form.

Cons

  • May be expensive
    Fees and optional tips can add up, especially if you take a lot of advances over time.
  • Doesn’t help build credit
    Paycheck advance apps don’t usually report your payments to the credit bureaus.
  • Can lead to poor budgeting habits
    Easy access to funds could make it harder to keep up with necessary expenses.
  • Risk of overdraft
    You could overdraft if you don’t have enough money in your account when repayment time comes.

Paycheck advance app alternatives

When used sparingly, a paycheck advance could get you out of a bind. Even so, they aren’t always the best solution, and you may want to consider these options too:

Credit card cash advance

Some credit cards let you withdraw cash from an ATM. This is called a credit card cash advance. Cash advances can be convenient because you don’t have to apply. If you already have the card, and if the card allows advances, then you qualify.

But you should only get a credit card cash advance if it’s an emergency, or if you have a solid plan to pay your advance off quickly. Credit card cash advances often have higher APRs than emergency personal loans, and the interest starts racking up immediately (unlike a standard charge, where you can avoid the interest if you pay your full balance in time).

Buy now, pay later app

Like paycheck advance apps, buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps aren’t a great long-term solution. They allow you to make retail purchases and then pay them back in installments (usually four).

Like paycheck advance apps, most BNPL apps rely on a soft credit hit to determine your eligibility.

BNPL apps are easy to use, but they can lead to overspending. According to LendingTree’s BNPL tracker, 41% of users have paid late in the last year. Common BNPL payment plans also make you pay at least 25% down on whatever you’re buying.

Personal loan

A small personal loan might be easier to manage than a payday app, but it only makes sense if you need a larger amount of money and more time to pay it off. A personal loan is a lump sum of money which you’ll pay back over time — usually 12 to 60 months, depending on the lender.

This longer repayment period means you won’t have to repay your entire balance on your next payday. But personal loans come with interest. The longer it takes to repay your loan, the more overall interest you’ll pay.

Personal loans are also a better option if you have at least good credit. Bad credit loans do exist, but rates can be high.

Get banks to compete for your business with LendingTree

If a personal loan seems like a better fit than a paycheck advance app, let us help. Shopping around for a loan with LendingTree can save you an average of $1,659 over the life of your loan. Here’s how it works.

Tell us what you need
Take two minutes to tell us who you are and how much money you need. It’s free, simple and secure.

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How we chose the best paycheck advance apps

We reviewed 12 paycheck advance apps to determine the overall five best apps for paycheck advances. During our evaluation, we scored apps based on the following factors:

Paycheck advance apps ranked higher if they don’t require a subscription fee and advertise next-day funds without a fee.

We prioritized paycheck advance apps that have a wider range of advance amounts. For instance, an app earned a more favorable score if its maximum advance amount is $250 or higher.

For starters, we considered each paycheck advance app’s reputation and business practices. We chose companies with no recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulatory action. We also favored apps that have a live chat function, customer service phone number and strong mobile app user ratings.

Paycheck advance apps earned a higher score if they offer tools that help you monitor or improve your credit score. The same applied to budget-management tools.

Based on our unbiased scoring, the best apps for paycheck advances are from Chime, DailyPay, EarnIn, MoneyLion and Varo Bank. Read more about our editorial guidelines and standards.

Frequently asked questions

All of the apps listed in this article offer quick cash advances. If you want your money instantly — or near instantly — you’ll probably have to pay a small fee. Also, whether you qualify for a paycheck cash advance depends on your income, spending habits and the information on your soft credit report.

If you’re looking for an app that gives you access to the money you’ve actually earned, you’ll need to target earned-wage access (EWA) apps.

is an EWA app, but you can only access it if your employer offers as a benefit. takes what you borrow out of your paycheck before your check hits your bank.

If you’re simply looking for money in between paychecks, any of the apps on our list above can help. But instead of taking the money you borrow from your paycheck, those other apps automatically deduct what you owe on your pay day (just like with a payday loan).

There are a few ways you may be able to borrow $300 quickly (or any similar amount).

  • Paycheck advance apps let you borrow money in-between paydays. Unless you have a high income and responsible spending habits, most apps won’t offer $300 for new users.
  • Credit card cash advances can be a good choice if you already have a credit card that allows advances and are certain you can pay your advance balance before the end of your first billing cycle.
  • Buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps won’t let you get cash, but you can use them to cover retail purchases and in some cases, bills.
  • Personal loans can be a great way to get a lump sum of cash. However, you’ll likely need good credit (680+) to qualify for affordable rates, and you usually need 740+ for the very best rates. Expect to wait a few hours or days for personal loan funds depending on the lender.
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