CLEARBORROW · GUIDE · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026

Cash advance apps compared: fees, limits and speed

By Petrov Andriy, founder and editor · AI-assisted desk research

QUICK ANSWER

We put 16 cash advance apps in one table using only each app’s own pages, checked November 12, 2026. Three patterns stand out: a few charge a required fee on every advance (Dave’s 5% with a $5 minimum, Varo’s flat fee, Cash App Borrow’s flat fee); several require a monthly plan (Brigit, Empower, FloatMe, Cleo’s paid tiers); and most others are free if you can wait one to five days, with the cost moving to the express fee.

On this page

The full comparison
What $100 today costs on each app
Three cost models
Advance, loan or line of credit?
How to choose
Questions
Sources and limits

The full comparison

App	Advance amount	Monthly fee	Required fee per advance	Instant / express fee	Free delivery	Key requirement	Source
Dave ExtraCash	$25–$500; few get $500	Up to $5	5% of the amount, $5 minimum	Free to Dave Checking; 1.5% to an external debit card	Instant to Dave Checking	Dave Checking + ExtraCash accounts	source ↗
EarnIn Cash Out	Up to $150/day, $1,000/pay period	None	None (tips optional)	Lightning Speed from $3.99	1–2 business days	Earned wages from employment	source ↗
Brigit	$25–$500 (Maine $25–$250); average $73	$8.99–$15.99 (an advance without a plan is available by email)	None	$0.99–$5.99	Up to 3 business days	Linked bank account with recurring deposits	source ↗ source ↗
MoneyLion Instacash	Up to $500; up to $1,000 for some MoneyLion Spend members	None	None (tips optional)	Turbo fee by amount — e.g. $4.99 on $40	Up to 5 business days to an external bank	Qualifying recurring deposits	source ↗ source ↗
Klover	Up to $750; average about $170	Optional Klover+	None	Express fee shown in the app	2–5 business days	Income and account activity	source ↗
Cleo	$20–$250 ($20–$100 first time); up to $500 on Builder with $750/month direct deposit	Plus $5.99, Pro $8.99, Builder $14.99 (advance also available without a plan)	None	$4.49–$14.99	3–4 days	Income history in a linked account	source ↗ source ↗
FloatMe	$10–$50 first time; up to $200 later	$6.99 in its terms ($4.99 on its blog); a no-membership request is allowed	None	$1.00 ($10) to $10.00 ($200)	Standard ACH, no fee	Linked account with income	source ↗
Albert Instant Advance	$25–$1,000; few get $1,000	Not required for advances	None	Free to Albert Cash; fee to an external account	Instant to Albert Cash	Albert Cash account	source ↗
Chime MyPay	$20–$500	None	None	3% of the amount ($2 minimum, $5 maximum)	Within 24 hours	Qualifying direct deposits of $200+ to Chime	source ↗ source ↗
Empower	$10–$300 first time; $10–$400 after	$8 after a 14-day trial	None	Tiered; e.g. $6 for $150–$199, 3% for $300+	Standard transfer, no fee	Linked primary bank; not in CT, MD or DC	source ↗ source ↗
Varo Advance	$20–$250 at first; up to $700 with direct deposit	None	Flat fee $1.60–$100 by amount (e.g. $8 or $10 on $100)	No separate instant fee	Into your Varo account	Varo Bank account	source ↗
Current Paycheck Advance	Up to $750 (up to $1,000 on its advance page)	None	None	Instant Access fee shown in the app	Within 3 business days	Payroll deposit of $200+ to Current	source ↗ source ↗
Cash App Borrow	Up to $500 (first-time average $153)	None	Flat fee (5% on its direct deposit page); repaid weekly	Included	Instant	$300+ monthly paychecks to Cash App or $500+ deposits to a linked account; not in CO, IA or OR	source ↗ source ↗
Gerald	$40–$200	None	None	None stated	Standard transfer	A qualifying Cornerstore (BNPL) purchase first	source ↗
Grant (ClearBorrow partner)	$25–$500; averages $66 first-time, $155 repeat	Optional Plus $9.99	None	$2–$21 Express	Standard, no fee	Paycheck deposits to a linked account	source ↗
Vola Finance	$15–$500	Membership required; price not posted publicly (third-party)	None	Varies	Varies	Bank activity (“Vola score”)	source ↗ source ↗

“Required fee” means a charge you cannot avoid by choosing slower delivery. Ranges are what each app publishes; first offers are usually far below the maximum. Where an app’s own pages disagree, we show both figures.

What $100 today costs on each app

Our arithmetic for one $100 advance needed today, with no other advance that month, using each app’s fastest published route. Tips are excluded.

App	How the cost adds up	Our total
Dave	$5 fee + up to $5 membership	Up to $10
Chime MyPay	3% of $100 → $3 (minimum $2)	$3
Varo Advance	Flat fee on $100	$8 or $10
FloatMe	$7.50 Instant Float Fee + $6.99 membership (or a no-membership request)	$7.50–$14.49
Brigit (Plus)	$8.99 plan + Express fee up to $5.99	Up to $14.98
EarnIn	Lightning Speed from $3.99	From $3.99
Cash App Borrow	5% flat fee	$5
Gerald	No fees, but a store purchase comes first	$0 + your purchase
Albert	Free to Albert Cash	$0 (to Albert Cash)

The cheapest dollar route is often free standard delivery: EarnIn, MoneyLion, Klover, Cleo, Current and Gerald charge nothing if you can wait. Use our fee calculator to turn any of these into an APR-style figure.

Three cost models

Required fee per advance — Dave ExtraCash, Varo Advance, Cash App Borrow. Simple, but you pay every time.
Subscription first — Brigit, Empower, FloatMe, Cleo (paid tiers), Vola. The monthly fee is charged whether or not you take an advance; Brigit, Cleo and FloatMe say you can request an advance without one.
Free if you wait — EarnIn, MoneyLion, Klover, Chime MyPay, Current, Albert, Gerald, Grant. The cost is the optional express fee and any tip.

See which apps are really free and instant-delivery apps for more detail.

Advance, loan or line of credit?

Apps use different legal labels for similar money: some call it an advance, others a line of credit, a loan or, in Dave’s case, an overdraft. The label decides which disclosures you get and what happens if you cannot repay, so read the agreement for the product you are actually offered before you accept.

How to choose

Need it today and paid by a mainstream employer? Compare EarnIn’s Lightning Speed with Chime MyPay’s 3% fee if you already bank with Chime.
Need it once? Avoid apps that start a monthly subscription, or cancel straight after repayment.
Irregular income? Check the requirement column — several apps need regular payroll deposits.
Need more than $500? An app is the wrong tool; compare a credit union PAL or an installment loan.

Questions

Which cash advance app has no fees at all?

Gerald says it charges no fees, but requires a Cornerstore purchase first. EarnIn, MoneyLion, Klover, Cleo, Current and Chime MyPay have no required fee if you accept standard delivery.

Which app gives the most money?

On published maximums, Albert ($1,000), EarnIn ($1,000 per pay period, $150 a day) and Klover ($750). First advances are usually much smaller.

Do cash advance apps check credit?

Several, including Grant, say they do not run a hard credit check; eligibility usually rests on your bank activity and deposits. Check each app’s terms.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Explore the selected cash-advance partner

Grant is the selected commercial advance partner in our directory. Other apps discussed in this guide have their own separate requirements and terms.

Partner links. We may earn a commission if you continue and complete an eligible action. Selected partners only; no approval or funding guarantee. Advertising disclosure.

Cash advance

Grant Cash Advance

Published amount: Amount depends on current eligibility
Cost: No interest; fees can apply

Plus and optional express delivery can add costs. First-time amounts and state access must be checked directly.

Visit Grant Cash Advance (partner website, opens in a new tab)Read costs and limitations

Alphabetical order, not a ranking. Confirm state availability with the provider. You can review an offer and decline it.

Sources and limits

Sources checked November 12, 2026. Calculators give estimates, not offers; lenders calculate exact payments, APRs and approval. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. How we use sources.