CLEARBORROW · PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
MoneyLion vs Dave: Instacash vs ExtraCash costs
MoneyLion Instacash has no monthly fee for the advance itself and free standard delivery to a MoneyLion Spend account; speed (Turbo) costs 7.5% to Spend, capped at $14.99, or 9% to an outside account. Dave ExtraCash is an overdraft product with a 5% fee ($5 minimum) plus a membership of up to $5 a month. With standard delivery, MoneyLion usually costs less; with instant delivery on small amounts, compare the exact fee.
Independent comparison. Neither app is a ClearBorrow partner and we earn nothing from either. Facts come from the developers’ official pages; we did not open accounts or take advances.
On this page
Side by side
| MoneyLion Instacash | Dave ExtraCash | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Advance (terms ↗) | Overdraft on an ExtraCash account (Dave ↗) |
| Monthly fee | $0 administrative fee (pricing ↗) | Membership up to $5 |
| Standard delivery | Free to Spend; 1–5 business days on the pricing page | Check the transfer option in the app |
| Fast delivery | Turbo 7.5% to Spend (max $14.99) or 9% external | 5% overdraft fee, $5 minimum (fee schedule ↗) |
| Range | Set in the app | $25–$500; few qualify for $500 |
Cost on the same amount
Our arithmetic with the published percentages, one disbursement each:
| Amount | MoneyLion standard | MoneyLion Turbo to Spend | Dave (5%, $5 min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $0 | $7.50 | $5 + membership |
| $250 | $0 | $14.99 (cap) | $12.50 + membership |
| $50 | $0 | $3.75 | $5 + membership |
Dave’s Coastal fee schedule includes a $15 maximum per overdraft (Dave ↗). Neither company’s maximum is a guaranteed offer.
Fees on an advance are not interest, but they are real money: a $5 fee on a $100 advance repaid in two weeks is 5% of the amount. See the APR calculator to compare a fee with a loan’s APR.
If you need it today
MoneyLion’s free route goes to its own Spend account and can take days; Turbo is what you pay for speed. Dave’s fee applies to the overdraft itself. If the bill can wait for a standard transfer, MoneyLion’s free option is the cheapest of the two.
Which to pick
- You can wait a few days: MoneyLion standard to Spend costs nothing.
- You need $50 instantly: MoneyLion Turbo ($3.75) is below Dave’s $5 minimum, before Dave’s membership.
- You already bank with Dave: count the membership as part of the monthly cost.
- You use advances every pay period: neither solves a recurring gap; see alternatives.
Questions
Is MoneyLion or Dave better for bad credit?
Neither advance is priced on a credit score in the pages we checked. Compare the fee for your amount and delivery speed.
Can I have both?
Yes, but each recovers from your income; two advances against one paycheck leave less on payday.
Sources and limits
- MoneyLion: pricing (checked October 24, 2026) ↗
- MoneyLion: Instacash terms ↗
- Dave: current disclosures (checked October 24, 2026) ↗
- Dave: ExtraCash fee schedule ↗
- Dave: Coastal ExtraCash fee schedule ↗
Developer information checked October 24, 2026. Terms change often and the amount you are offered is set in the app. Examples are our own arithmetic, not offers. How we use sources.