Apps to borrow money: four kinds, four prices
“Borrow money” apps come in four kinds. Cash advance apps: $100 instantly for $0.00 to $24.98 on published terms. Wage access through your employer: from $0.00. Small installment loans, such as Possible at a disclosed 136.60%–248.67% APR. And peer-to-peer lending, where another member funds you. Outside the apps, a federal credit union’s payday-alternative loan is capped at 28% APR, plus an application fee of up to $20.
Fees and terms checked · Not financial advice
1. Cash advance apps
A small amount now, taken back from your next deposit. No interest, but memberships and instant fees.
14 ranked · $100 instant: $0.00–$24.98
2. Wage access through work
Pay you’ve already earned, paid back by your employer from your paycheck. Only if your employer offers it.
6 apps · from $0.00 for $100 instantly
3. Small loans
Larger amounts repaid in installments, with a finance charge and a disclosed APR.
Possible Loan, Cash App Borrow
4. Peer-to-peer
Another member decides whether to fund your request; you can offer a tip.
SoLo Funds SoLo Borrow
The cheapest of each kind, for $100
| App | Kind | $100 instant | APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Instant Advance | Cash advance | $0.00 | 0% |
| Chime MyPay | Cash advance | $3.00 | 78% |
| EarnIn Cash Out | Cash advance | $5.99 | 156% |
| MoneyLion Instacash | Cash advance | $7.50 | 196% |
| Tilt Cash Advance (formerly Empower) | Cash advance | $8.00 | 209% |
| Branch On Demand Pay | Through work | $0.00 | 0% |
| Payactiv Earned Wage Access | Through work | $2.49 | 65% |
| DailyPay On-Demand Pay | Through work | $3.99 | 108% |
| Possible Loan | Loan | $20 finance charge (most states) | 136.60%–248.67% |
| Cash App Borrow | Loan | fee shown in app | not published |
| SoLo Funds SoLo Borrow | Peer-to-peer | optional tip, 0–15% | depends on tip |
Advance and wage-access APRs are our calculation for 14 days (method). Possible’s APR range is its own disclosure for a loan repaid in four payments over about eight weeks, so it isn’t directly comparable.
Which kind fits
- Short gap to payday, under $200: an advance, ideally one without a membership, and the free transfer if you can wait.
- Your employer offers wage access: compare it first; it’s often cheaper on published terms, and repayment comes out of your paycheck, so there’s no debit to bounce.
- More than you can repay from one paycheck: an advance will just roll the problem forward. An installment loan, or better a credit union’s payday-alternative loan, spreads it out.
- Behind on a specific bill: ask the company for a payment plan first, and call 211 for local help. See alternatives.
Questions
What is the best app to borrow money instantly?
It depends on what you can use. If your employer offers earned wage access, it is often the cheapest: from $0.00 for $100 instantly on published terms. Among apps anyone can download, a $100 instant advance costs from $0.00 (Albert Instant Advance) to $24.98 (B9 Advance). We rank by cost, not by a judgement of “best”.
What’s the difference between a cash advance app and a loan app?
An advance app gives you a small amount against your next paycheck and takes it back in one go, usually without interest but with fees. A loan app lends a larger amount repaid in installments over weeks or months, with interest or a finance charge and an APR it has to disclose. Advances are smaller and shorter; loans cost less per dollar per year but more in total.
Which apps let you borrow money without a credit check?
Most advance apps say they don’t check credit, and so does Cash App Borrow. See each app’s exact wording on the no-credit-check page.
Is there a cheaper way to borrow a few hundred dollars?
Often, yes: a federal credit union’s payday-alternative loan is capped at 28% APR, with an application fee of no more than $20, and is repaid over one to twelve months. You need to be a member of the credit union. Details on the alternatives page.
Sources for this page
- Albert Instant Advance: Membership — Albert’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Chime MyPay: Membership — Chime’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Chime MyPay: Instant Advance fee (3%, $2–$5) — Chime’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- EarnIn Cash Out: Membership — EarnIn’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- EarnIn Cash Out: Lightning Speed fee — EarnIn’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- MoneyLion Instacash: Membership — MoneyLion’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- MoneyLion Instacash: Turbo to MoneyLion Spend (7.5%) — MoneyLion’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Tilt Cash Advance (formerly Empower): Tilt subscription (1 month) — Tilt’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Tilt Cash Advance (formerly Empower): Instant to a Tilt debit card — Tilt’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Branch On Demand Pay: Membership — Branch’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Payactiv Earned Wage Access: Membership — Payactiv’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- DailyPay On-Demand Pay: Membership — DailyPay’s published price, checked 2026-11-08
- Possible Loan: pricing — Possible’s own disclosure
- Possible Loan: pricing — Possible’s own disclosure
- Cash App Borrow: pricing — Cash App’s own disclosure
How costs are calculated, what is left out and how to send a correction: methodology.
Cite this page
Best Cash Advance Apps. "Apps to Borrow Money: Advances, Wage Access and Loans." Updated November 8, 2026. https://bestcashadvanceapps.com/borrow-money-apps/