You wake up thinking it’s going to be just another day, but then your car breaks down. Your electricity bill arrives and it’s much higher than it usually is. You fall ill unexpectedly.
An old friend comes into town and you have to go have a fun night out with them. You don’t have enough money to cover what you need and payday is still far away.
This is where Dave comes in. Dave helps you get through financial emergencies without throwing you under a pile of debt by providing interest-free cash advances. But despite how popular and useful Dave is, it might not be suitable for you.
You might want a service that offers more substantial cash advances or personal loans. Maybe you don’t want to have to pay monthly membership fees to qualify for an advance.
Or maybe you don’t want to deal with Dave’s standard three-day processing time when you’re in urgent need of money. For these reasons, it’s necessary to explore other and potentially better options for Dave.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the best advance cash apps like Dave that are happy to throw you a lifeline in moments when you need an emergency cash injection.
Best Cash Advance Apps like Dave
1. Chime
Chime has been in the fintech business for almost a decade now serving as an online bank account where you can make direct deposits, transfer money, send checks, pay bills online and get a cash advance on your salary when you’re low on funds.
While Dave charges you a monthly subscription fee of $1 to maintain your account and Express fees between $1.99 and $5.99 for quick processing of your cash advance, Chime is completely free to use. It charges zero maintenance fees, transaction fees, minimum balance fees, or hidden fees.
If you’re in urgent need of a little cash, Chime can lend you up to $100 before your paycheck arrives. With Chime’s Spot Me feature, you can overdraw up to $200 on your account depending on your repayment history.
To qualify for this benefit, you need to have received upwards of $500 in direct deposits over the last 31 days.
Chime also provides a Visa debit card that gives you access to more than 38,000 Visa Plus Alliance and MoneyPass ATMs across the United States for free. However, you’ll have to pay out-of-network withdrawal fees wherever this access doesn’t apply.
Another handy feature that Chime has, and Dave is sorely lacking, is the automatic personal savings and spending accounts. You get these when you open an account with Chime with a 0.5% interest rate on the balance of your savings account.
Find out more apps like Chime Bank here.
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2. Earnin
With Earnin, you can make any day payday by taking an advance on your pending earnings. The platform lets you borrow between $100 to $500 a day from your outstanding paycheck without having to deal with the excessive fees and interests of the usual payday loans.
All you have to do is log into the Earnin app, tell the company where you work and bank, and it’ll use location services or timesheets to calculate how much time you spent on the job that day.
Next, you’ll need to multiply the hours you worked by your hourly rate, and Earnin will advance the money you earned that day within one to two business days or instantly if you opt for the Lightning Speed feature.
Earnin will automatically deduct the same amount you borrowed from your bank account once your paycheck is deposited and it’s time to pay back. Unlike Dave, Earnin doesn’t charge a subscription fee or even interest.
Instead, the company takes a unique approach by requesting that you leave a tip from the goodness of your heart after each transaction. You can tip up to $14 or less per withdrawal depending on your preference.
It even gives you a protection feature against overdraft fees when you set up a recurring tip of $1.50 and above.
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3. Axos Bank
Axos Bank is another financial service that functions like Dave, offering users quicker access to their paychecks. When you open a high-yield savings and checking account with Axos Bank, you automatically qualify for the Direct Deposit Express feature.
This gives you access to an advance on the money you’ve already earned days before the actual check lands in your account. To activate this feature, you simply have to set up a direct deposit for your account and Axos will take it from there.
Compared to its counterpart, Dave, Axos Bank does not charge you a monthly service fee. It doesn’t demand overdraft fees or require you to have a minimum balance to keep your account operative either.
Additionally, the bank offers Cashback Checking, allowing you to earn up to 1% cashback on your transactions. Axos will even reimburse you for ATM fees you incur from other banks in the U.S.
Axos Bank also provides personal finance management services, investment options, and lets you transfer funds, deposit checks, and pay your bills on time—services that are not readily available on Dave.
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4. Brigit
Brigit is one of the best cash advance apps like Dave that you can use. It works by letting you borrow money and pay it back when your next paycheck is deposited.
While Dave only gives you a maximum cash advance of $200 if you have a Dave spending account and $100 without one, Brigit offers up to $250. On top of that, Brigit allows you to extend the due date on your first loan once without incurring a penalty or late fee.
The more you use the service, you’ll be able to earn more extension credits that will let you postpone loan repayment up to three times in a row. Like Dave, Brigit charges a membership fee, but the price points and benefits differ greatly.
Dave’s subscription fee is priced at $1 monthly, while Brigit’s goes for $9.99 monthly. However, when you consider that you won’t have to pay transaction fees, loan interests, or late fees afterward, it pretty much makes up for the high membership charge.
Check out Bridgit’s pricing page for updated information about subscription plans and prices.
Other tantalizing options Brigitt offers that you won’t find on Dave include automated advances that will send cash to your account and prevent overdraft fees whenever your balance is likely to drop below zero.
Also, Brigit gives you financial health updates, tips for improving your credit, identity theft protection, and opportunities to earn extra money on the side.
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5. MoneyLion
Another cash app similar to Dave that you can use to get cash advances whenever you have unplanned expenses that need sorting out is MoneyLion.
The service grants you instant loans of up to $250 per pay cycle depending on how much income you regularly earn and deposit into your checking account.
The process for getting a cash advance on MoneyLion is much faster than Dave by a few days. You can even receive the disbursement instantly or within a few hours if you have a RoarMoney account.
Compared to Dave which charges a $1 monthly fee to enable it to furnish you with loans, MoneyLion doesn’t require any fees or interest on cash advances.
Instead, the company asks that you leave an optional tip whenever you get a cash advance so that MoneyLion can remain interest-free and available to as many users as possible.
MoneyLion doesn’t perform any kind of credit checks before, during, or after you request a cash advance, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your credit or getting disqualified for not having stellar credit.
In addition to quick loans, MoneyLion also provides tools to help you track your savings, spending, and improve your credit.
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6. Empower
Want a quick cash advance but don’t want to deal with interest rates or late fees? Consider using Empower to receive up to $250 whenever you need a cash injection to take care of your bills and expenses.
When you apply for a loan on the platform the money will be disbursed to your Empower checking account free of charge or to an external bank account for a flat fee of $3. You can even get access to your paycheck two days earlier thanks to Empower’s Early Paycheck Deposit feature.
With your Empower card, you can carry out free transactions at over 37,000 ATMs across the U.S. All you have to do to qualify and remain eligible for cash advances from Empower is to regularly make direct deposits to your Empower checking account.
Another great thing about Empower is that it doesn’t do credit checks or charge late fees when you don’t repay your loans on time.
Empower also provides 10% cash back on qualifying purchases at hundreds of grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants, making it a superior alternative to Dave.
Other wonderful features that Empower offers that you’ll be hard-pressed to find on Dave include a budgeting app that helps you tailor your spending to your income. You also get automated savings, monthly expenditure reports, and smart financial recommendations.
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7. Branch
Branch is one of the best cash advance apps like Dave available in the market today. The service is designed to help employees get faster access to their wages, keep track of payments and balances, get spending reports regularly, and receive alerts about upcoming bills.
This fintech platform is particularly useful for employers who have lots of underbanked or unbanked employees. It provides them with a free digital account and debit card for transactions.
Branch lets you withdraw up to $500 in advance per pay cycle of $150 per day based on how many hours of work you do and wages you earn. However, the catch is that your employer also has to set up an account on Branch.
Although Branch and Dave are alike when it comes to speedy payments and ensuring user satisfaction, Branch doesn’t demand any membership fees and is totally free to use.
Additionally, Branch comes with other handy features to support better work-life management such as the ability to track your earnings, chat with colleagues, and even switch shifts at work.
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8. DailyPay
If you’re looking for an app like Dave to help you solve urgent financial needs when you’re low on cash without attracting hefty overdraft fees on your account, DailyPay is one of the best options to consider.
With DailyPay, you can get an advance on your earnings before your next payday and save over $1,205 in overdraft fees, loan interest, and late fees.
Whenever you clock in for a shift, your earnings for the day will be added to your DailyPay account. You can transfer the earned amount to your bank account any time you want and DailyPay will deduct the advances from your salary when payday comes around.
The app charges a modest transfer fee of $1.99—which is on par with what Dave charges—on each withdrawal to deposit your cash advance by the next business day. Alternatively, you can pay $2.99 for an instant transfer.
You can also use DailyPay to set up different kinds of automatic transfers, allowing you to move a set percentage or amount from your paycheck or cash advance to your savings account.
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9. Even
Whether you need to fill your gas tank, pay a bill, treat yourself to a good time, or buy groceries, Even is there to help you deal with life’s surprises by giving you access to cash within minutes. The service puts its own unique spin on cash loans by advancing money from your unpaid wages.
To be eligible to borrow money from Even, you need to work for a qualifying employer. Even will then furnish you with an advance of up to 50% from your paycheck depending on your salary history.
Just like Dave, Even does not collect interest rates or taxes when you take a cash advance from the service. However, like its counterpart, Even requires a monthly subscription fee to enable you to cash out from the platform.
For $2 per week, you can enjoy all of Even’s features including access to a range of useful financial planning tools to help you manage your money better.
Also, it’s much faster to get a cash advance on Even than it is on Dave because the process only takes one business day. If you need the money more urgently, you can visit a Walmart MoneyCenter near you to receive the payment instantly.
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10. Varo
Varo is a powerful digital banking service that provides access to cash advances before your paycheck arrives so you don’t have to put up with the usual delays that accompany traditional banks.
Once you set up a direct deposit on your Varo account, you’ll be entitled to withdraw any amount you want from your earned wages ahead of time.
The pay advances you receive from Varo are interest-free, just like the advances that Dave offers. You won’t even have to pay transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, or keep a minimum balance.
Likewise, your Varo account comes with a debit card with a zero liability guarantee, which means that you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized fees. Your Varo card will give you free access to over 55,000 ATMs in the Allpoint®️ network nationwide.
This is far greater than the 32,000-strong network of MoneyPass ATMs that you can access with a Dave card.
Varo also has a card locking feature similar to Dave’s freeze function that lets you block your card from being used if gets lost or stolen from right within the Varo app.
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11. PayActiv
PayActiv is designed to help employers provide their employees with early access to their paychecks. However, you are still eligible to use the service even though your employers don’t have an account with PayActiv.
In this instance, you’ll have to apply for a PayActiv card to be able to receive a pay advance from your wages up to two days ahead of the due date.
Once you register on PayActiv, you’ll be able to view the number of hours you’ve worked and your current earnings from the app.
You can then transfer the stated amount to your bank account, PayActiv card, third-party card, or pick it up in cash at a Walmart store. Keep in mind that if you choose the third-party card or cash pickup option, you’ll have to pay a $1.99 processing fee.
Like Dave, PayActive doesn’t charge interests on cash advances, the amount withdrawn is simply deducted from your next paycheck.
To add a cherry on top, PayActiv users can enjoy financial counseling, saving tools, and discounts on various prescription drugs and departmental stores.
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12. Floatme
Floatme is a finance app that functions like Dave, enabling you to request and receive money instantly whenever you need it.
Floatme is specifically targeted at millennials and it allows them to request and receive cash advances of up to $50 while avoiding overdraft charges that would ordinarily accrue.
The platform requires a monthly membership subscription of $1.99 to qualify you to receive advances, making it slightly less expensive than Dave’s $1 membership fee. Floatme gives you a 30-day trial period so you can check out the service before committing fully to it.
Another thing Floatme and Dave have in common is their no-interest policy. This means that any cash advance you receive from Floate will not incur interest.
What’s more, the company doesn’t perform credit checks before extending a loan to you. Apart from securing cash advances, Floatme can also be used to track and visualize your spending each month so you can better improve your finances.
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13. SoFi Money
The next app on our list of best cash advance apps like Dave is SoFi Money. SoFi Money gives you early access to your salary before the direct deposit is scheduled to arrive in your account.
Like Dave, this app does not charge overdraft fees or minimum balance fees. It even offers free coverage for accidental overdrafts of up to $50 so you don’t get hit with a penalty.
However, unlike Dave, SoFi Money has zero monthly charges. If you have a SoFi Money card, you get to enjoy access to over 55,000 ATMs across the country without having to pay transaction fees.
Another benefit of using SoFi Money is that you get to earn 0.25% annual percentage yield (APY)—about six times the national average— on your savings. All you have to do to qualify for this rate is direct deposit at least $500 into your SoFi Money account monthly.
This cash management service also provides other benefits such as check deposits, bill payments, person-to-person transfers, FDIC insurance, and more. You even get to receive up to 15% cashback rewards whenever you make payments using your SoFi Money account.
14. FlexWage
FlexWage is an app similar to Dave that helps employees access their earned wages before payday to settle their financial responsibilities. With its OnDemand Pay feature, you can request a cash advance from your salary.
In contrast to Dave which directly regulates the cash advance amount you’re eligible to receive, FlexWage puts this power in the hands of your employer. Your employer gets to determine your advance limit and how often you can request an advance.
In addition, FlexWage is useful for checking transfer history, reviewing account balances, and carrying out transfers among banks. It also provides reloadable charge cards for users that function like a paper check.
However, unlike a traditional check, it gives you immediate access to your wages on payday. You can use the card at any Allpoint ATM, retailer that accepts Visa, or even send the cash to a bank account at no charge.
Other uses for FlexWage include creating a budget, linking and managing all your financial accounts from one place, learning about important financial topics, and speaking to a financial wellness coach.
15. Affirm
Instead of offering you a cash advance outright the way Dave does, Affirm takes a different approach by giving you a virtual credit card loaded with the amount you requested that you can use to make purchases and settle bills.
It also helps you schedule repayment based on your spending habits and the schedule that works for your job. All you need to do is pick the option that works best for you and start enjoying your cash advance.
You can use the Affirm app to buy anything from anywhere. You simply have to enter the purchase amount into the app and it’ll take it from there. Afterward, you can then set up a monthly payment plan to make the payback process as painless as possible.
Affirm outpaces Dave with regards to simplicity and speed. It processes your transfers within minutes so you don’t have to wait around for days for your transactions to be completed.
Conclusion
There are many apps like Dave that offer financial assistance by way of cash advances when you’re in need. You just need to go through their offerings and select the one that works best for you and your needs.
Although this list represents the best cash advance services on the market today, if pressed, we’ll have to give the edge to MoneyLion. It offers advances of up to $250, with the potential for more if you sign up for other of its services.
MoneyLion is also interest-free with zero monthly charges, maintenance, or transfer fees. It even offers mouthwatering cashback rewards on certain purchases.
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing.
Tom has been a full-time internet marketer for two decades now, earning millions of dollars while living life on his own terms. Along the way, he’s also coached thousands of other people to success.