7 Best Payday Loan Apps for Instant Cash

The payday loan apps below are cash advance apps that front you a small sum.

None of the seven charge interest or run a credit check. A payday loan runs around 400% APR.

Fast cash isn’t free. All seven charge a fee for it, and some charge monthly.

The other catch is size. First advances average about $66 at Grant and $96 at Tilt. Most payday loans are $500 or less.

Need instant cash with no monthly fee? With regular pay, EarnIn takes up to 30 minutes for $3.99 to $8.99. MoneyLion takes minutes for $0.49 to $8.99 per request. Current has no monthly fee, but nothing until a $200+ paycheck lands there.

Best Payday Loan Apps Compared

These apps give cash advances, not payday loans. Here is how each one stacks up, starting with the numbers that decide whether it actually beats a payday loan. Tap one to jump to it.

1EarnInFree, or from $3.99 within 30 minutes². Needs regular pay.No required fees · $200/day, $1,000/pay period¹2CurrentMinutes for a fee, once payroll lands there.up to $1,0003GrantAn hour costs extra. First advances average $66.up to $5004CleoSame-day cash for a fee. Plans from $5.99.up to $5005MoneyLionMinutes for $0.49 to $8.99. No subscription.$100 a request6BrigitAbout 20 minutes for a fee. Plans from $8.99.up to $5007TiltMinutes for a fee, plus $8 a month.up to $500

¹ EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
² Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.

1. EarnIn

Free, or from $3.99 within 30 minutes. Needs regular pay.

4.5

Max advance$1,000a pay period, $200 a day¹

Monthly fee$0tips optional

Cash in hand~30 minfor $3.99 to $8.99², or free in 1 to 3 days

Get started →

No subscription, ever

Best if you want a payday loan without the interest.

EarnIn lets you take up to $200 a day¹ of pay you have already earned, with no interest, no required fee and no subscription, which is exactly the part of a payday loan that hurts.

No credit check0% interestNever reported to bureaus

1

Connect the account your paycheck lands in

2

EarnIn confirms earnings by work email or location

3

Take up to $200 a day, repaid automatically on payday

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You have a regular paycheck and want the cheapest possible alternative to a payday loan. Free if you can wait one to three days, $3.99 to $8.99 if you want it within 30 minutes.

Skip it if

Your income is cash based or has no regular schedule. EarnIn needs a consistent direct deposit schedule, and without one there is no advance and you are back to shopping for a payday loan.

Fees

Zero required. A $100 payday loan typically costs $10 to $30 in fees for two weeks. The same $100 from EarnIn costs $0 on standard delivery or $5.99 on Lightning Speed. Tips are optional and can stay at zero.

How fast

One to three business days free, or within 30 minutes with Lightning Speed. A storefront payday lender is only faster if you are already standing in the store.

What you get right away

Up to $1,000 per pay period, capped at $200 a day. First-time users usually get less than the maximum, and the limit grows as EarnIn sees your pay history. Unlike a payday loan, the amount is tied to hours you already worked.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check, no interest, nothing reported to the credit bureaus, and no rollover fees.

Also includes

Balance Shield overdraft alertsTip Yourself savingsEarnIn CardCash Back Rewards

If this fits you

Start with EarnIn if you want the closest thing to a free payday advance

Repay on payday with no interest. $0 in 1 to 3 days, or $3.99 to $8.99 to have it within 30 minutes.

Start with EarnIn →Read our full review first

¹ EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
² Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.

2. Current

Minutes for a fee, once payroll lands there.

5

Max advance$1,000grows over time

Monthly fee$0no subscription

Cash in handMinutesfor a small fee, or free in 3 days

Open an account →

No credit check

Best if you will bank where you borrow.

Current adds a fee-free advance of up to $1,000 to a checking account, so instead of a payday lender you get a debit card, early direct deposit and the advance in one app.

No credit check0% interestNon-recourse, no collections

1

Open a Current account

2

Route a $200+ payroll deposit into it

3

Advance up to $1,000, debited when your next check lands

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You are willing to move your direct deposit. Once a $200 or larger paycheck lands you unlock an advance with no interest, no monthly fee and no rollover, plus early pay that can head off the next shortfall.

Skip it if

You will not switch banks, or you live in CT, MD, NV, WI or DC where Paycheck Advance is not offered. Without the deposit there is no advance.

Fees

No subscription and no interest. Standard delivery is free; instant delivery has a small fee shown before you accept it. A payday lender would charge $10 to $30 per $100 for the same two weeks.

How fast

Free delivery lands in about three business days. Instant is minutes to an hour, so you can cover a bill the same day a payday lender would.

What you get right away

Up to $1,000 on paper. Your first advance is usually much lower and grows as Current sees steady deposits. The upside is that the ceiling sits well above the $500 that is a common payday loan limit.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check, no credit impact, and the advance is non-recourse, so an unpaid balance is not sent to collections. That is the opposite of how a payday lender treats a missed due date.

Also includes

Get paid up to 2 days earlyFee-free overdraft with OverdriveSavings pods with interest40,000+ fee-free ATMs

If this fits you

Start with Current if you will move your paycheck

Interest free with no monthly fee. Advances open once a $200+ payroll deposit lands.

Start with Current →Read our full review first

3. Grant

An hour costs extra. First advances average $66.

4

Max advance$500avg first ~$66

Monthly fee$9.99Grant Plus, or free by email

Cash in hand~1 hourfor $2 to $21, or free in 3 days

Check your limit →

Standard delivery is free

Best if a $66 first advance is enough.

Grant fronts money against your next deposit with no interest or late fees. Inside the app you will be pushed into the $9.99 a month Grant Plus plan; the free route is to email support and ask for an advance without subscribing.

No credit checkNo interestNo late fees

1

Link the account your pay lands in

2

Request an advance and pick free or express

3

Grant debits it when it sees your next deposit

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You are fine paying $9.99 a month for the in-app experience, or you can email support and ask for an advance without the plan.

Skip it if

You need cash today and refuse to pay a subscription. The free email route is in Grant’s terms, but Grant gives no timing for it.

Fees

Standard delivery is free and express costs $2 to $21 depending on the amount. Grant Plus is $9.99 a month. Grant’s terms say Plus is optional, and you can get an advance without it by emailing support@grantcash.com. Grant’s app listing says Plus adds bill and spending tools.

How fast

Free standard delivery in about three business days, or express in roughly an hour for $2 to $21. Same day as a payday lender, without the two-week trap.

What you get right away

$25 to $500 on paper, but the average first advance is about $66. That is smaller than most payday loans, and it is also why repayment does not swallow your next check.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check, no interest, no late fees, and the agreement says nothing goes to collections or the credit bureaus. A payday loan can do all three.

Also includes

Bill trackingPlay games for cashLoan and card marketplaceRent Assist

If this fits you

Start with Grant if you can accept the $9.99 Plus plan or wait a day for the free route

Most first advances are about $66. Free in 3 days, or $2 to $21 to get it within the hour.

Start with Grant →Read our full review first

4. Cleo

Same-day cash for a fee. Plans from $5.99.

4

Max advance$250$500 on Builder plan

Monthly fee$5.99+up to $14.99 a month

Cash in handSame dayfor $4.49 to $14.99, or free in 3 to 4 days

Try Cleo →

Plans from $5.99 a month

Best if you also want help fixing the shortfall.

Cleo is a budgeting app with an AI coach, and the $20 to $250 advance comes with the paid membership. If payday loans have become a monthly habit, the coach is the part that might break the cycle.

No credit check0% interestCancel any time

1

Subscribe to Plus, Pro or Builder

2

Connect your bank

3

Advance $20 to $250 based on your account activity

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You want spending help alongside the cash. $5.99 to $14.99 a month is still cheaper than one payday fee if it stops you borrowing next month.

Skip it if

You only want the money. A membership plus a $4.49 to $14.99 express fee on a $20 to $100 first advance can cost as much as a small payday loan.

Fees

Cleo Plus is $5.99 a month, Pro is $8.99 and Builder is $14.99. A plan is the simplest way to borrow, but you can also ask by email without one. Same-day express costs $4.49 to $14.99. No interest, no late fees and nothing rolls over.

How fast

Standard delivery takes 3 to 4 days. Same-day express costs $4.49 to $14.99 depending on the amount.

What you get right away

$20 to $250, with first-timers at $20 to $100 and a $170 a day cap. On Plus and Pro it is the smallest ceiling here, so it covers a bill rather than a rent payment.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check and no interest, and the advance is non-recourse under Cleo’s terms. Do the subscription math first; a $5.99 plan used twice a year costs more than the advance saves you.

Also includes

AI budgeting chatSpending roasts and hypeCredit builder card on BuilderBill negotiation

If this fits you

Start with Cleo if you want the coach as much as the cash

Membership runs $5.99 to $14.99 a month. First advances land at $20 to $100.

Start with Cleo →Read our full review first

5. MoneyLion

Minutes for $0.49 to $8.99. No subscription.

4.5

Per request$100 maxlimit up to $1,000

Monthly fee$0no subscription

Cash in handMinutesfor $0.49 to $8.99, or free in 1 to 5 days

Get Instacash →

No credit check

Best if you want no required fees, $100 at a time.

MoneyLion Instacash charges no subscription and no interest. Your limit can climb to $1,000, but each request caps at $100, which keeps repayment closer to a bill than a payday loan.

No credit check0% interestNo subscription for Instacash

1

Connect your bank

2

MoneyLion sets your limit from deposit history

3

Request up to $100 at a time, repaid next payday

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You want a no-strings advance you can repeat, with free standard delivery and a limit that grows the longer you use it.

Skip it if

You need $500 in a single transfer. That is five requests, and a Turbo fee on each one if you want them fast, which starts to look like payday loan money.

Fees

No subscription and no interest for Instacash. Standard delivery is free. Turbo delivery runs $0.49 to $8.99 depending on the amount and where it goes. A payday lender charges $10 to $30 per $100 for the same two weeks.

How fast

Free delivery is one to two business days to a MoneyLion account and two to five days elsewhere. Turbo is near instant.

What you get right away

Your total limit may be $500, $700 or $1,000, but a single request caps at $100. Five Turbo fees to reach $500 add up, so free delivery is the cheap path.

Is it legit

Yes, and no credit check. MoneyLion settled a CFPB case in November 2025 over its old membership program and the New York Attorney General sued it over Instacash fees in April 2025, so read the fee screen before you tap.

Also includes

MoneyLion Spend checkingCredit Builder Plus loanManaged and active investingPersonal loan marketplace

If this fits you

Start with Instacash if you want no subscription and no interest

Up to $100 per request, repaid on payday. Free in 1 to 5 days, or $0.49 to $8.99 for Turbo.

Start with Instacash →Read our full review first

6. Brigit

About 20 minutes for a fee. Plans from $8.99.

4

Max advance$500starts at $25

Monthly fee$8.99+up to $15.99 a month

Cash in hand~20 minfor a fee, or free in 2 to 3 days

Get Brigit →

Plans from $8.99 a month

Best if overdraft fees are your real payday loan.

Brigit watches your balance and can send an advance automatically before you go negative, on a monthly plan. It replaces both the payday loan and the overdraft fee it was covering.

No credit check0% interestCancel any time

1

Subscribe to Plus or Premium

2

Link your bank

3

Optional auto advances can land before you overdraft

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You overdraft most months. One $8.99 membership is cheaper than one overdraft fee or one payday loan fee, and Auto Advance moves before the bank charges you.

Skip it if

You borrow once or twice a year. The $8.99 to $15.99 membership bills every month whether you take an advance or not.

Fees

Plus is $8.99 a month and Premium is $15.99. Brigit’s terms also allow an advance without a plan if you ask by email. No interest, no late fees and no rollover. Express is free on Premium, and the Plus fee is not published.

How fast

Standard delivery in two to three business days, or express in about 20 minutes. Auto Advance can land before you even know you are short.

What you get right away

$25 to $500. Brigit puts its average advance at $73.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check and no interest. The cost is the membership, which you pay every month, so it only beats a payday loan if you would have borrowed anyway.

Also includes

Auto Advances before overdraftCredit Builder on PremiumIdentity theft protectionBudgeting and bill alerts

If this fits you

Start with Brigit if overdrafts are your recurring problem

Plus $8.99, Premium $15.99 a month. Optional auto advances can land before your balance goes negative.

Start with Brigit →Read our full review first

7. Tilt

Minutes for a fee, plus $8 a month.

4.5

Max advance$500avg first $96

Monthly fee$814-day free trial

Cash in handMinutesfor a fee, or free in about a day

Get started →

14-day free trial

Best if you borrow most months anyway.

Tilt (formerly Empower) puts a $10 to $500 advance behind an $8 a month subscription with a 14-day free trial. One flat fee replaces a new payday charge every time you borrow.

No credit check0% interestCancel any time

1

Link your bank and start the 14-day trial

2

Tilt reads your income and spending and offers an amount

3

Repaid automatically on your next payday

Want the fine print? Fees, speed, and what you really get

Take it if

You would otherwise take a payday loan most months. $8 a month is less than one payday fee, and you get budgeting and credit building thrown in.

Skip it if

You need cash once or twice a year. $96 a year to unlock a $96 average advance is a poor trade; use a $0 app instead.

Fees

$8 a month after the 14-day trial. The advance itself carries no interest and no fee. Instant delivery costs a fee that scales with the amount; free delivery does not.

How fast

Free delivery in about a business day. Instant delivery is minutes for a fee, quicker than driving to a payday store.

What you get right away

$10 to $500. Tilt reports a $96 average first offer and $178 for returning customers, and says more than 75% of new subscribers qualify at signup.

Is it legit

Yes. No credit check, no interest and no late fees. Same company as Empower, renamed in August 2025. Not offered in CT, ME or DC.

Also includes

Budgeting toolsAutomatic savingsCredit building products

If this fits you

Start the 14-day trial if you borrow every month

Cancel before day 14 and pay nothing. $10 to $500 with no credit check and no interest.

Start the free trial →Read our full review first

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What to Look for in Payday Loan Apps

Six things separate a cheap payday loan alternative from an expensive one. Check them before you download anything.

• No interest, ever. The cost should be a flat fee or a subscription, never an APR. All seven apps here qualify; a payday loan does not.
• A free delivery option. EarnIn and MoneyLion send the money for $0 if you can wait one to five days.
• Honest express fees. $0.49 to $21 to get it the same day is normal. Compare that to $15 per $100 at a payday lender.
• No rollover. If your pay is late the app should pause you, not add a fee. Current goes further and says you have no obligation to repay.
• A first advance you can live with. Expect $20 to $100 on day one, not the advertised maximum.
• Subscription math. $6 to $16 a month only pays off if you borrow most months. Otherwise pick a $0 app.

Payday Loan Apps FAQs

Payday Loan Apps Can Help

Payday loan apps, the real ones on this page, solve the same problem a payday lender does without the part that traps people. No interest, no rollover, no collections. The cost is either a few dollars to get the money instantly or a monthly subscription, and both are cheaper than one $45 payday fee on a $300 loan.

Pick by how you will use it. One-time gap and you can wait a couple of days: take the $0 app. Need it within the hour: pay the express fee once. Short most months: a flat subscription beats paying every time, but the better fix is the budget behind the gap, and a few of these apps can help with that too.

All seven at a glance

App	Max advance	Monthly fee	Fastest funding	Best for	Get started
4.5	$1,000 a pay period ($200 a day)¹	$0	~1 hr for $3.99², free in 1 to 3 days	Best if you never want a monthly fee	Get started →Our review
5	$1,000	$0	Minutes for a fee, free in 3 days	Best overall with no credit check	Get started →Our review
4	$500 (avg first ~$66)	$9.99 Plus (free advance by email)	~1 hr for $2 to $21, free in 3 days	Best for a small first advance	Get started →Our review
4	$250 (first $20 to $100)	$1.99 to $14.99	Same day for $3.99 to $14.99, free in a few days	Best to cover bills	Get started →Our review
4.5	~$100 per request (limit to $1,000)	$0	Minutes for $0.49 to $8.99, free in 2 days	Best for no-subscription advances	Get started →Our review
4	$500	$8.99 to $15.99	~20 min for a fee, free in 2 to 3 days	Best for saving on overdraft fees	Get started →Our review
4.5	$500	$8 (14-day free trial)	Minutes for a fee, free in about a day	Best if you borrow most months	Get started →Our review

App	Max	Fee	Speed
4.5	$1,000/pay period, $200/day¹	$0	~1 hr for a fee², or free	Go →Review
5	$1,000	$0	Minutes	Go →Review
4	$500	$9.99*	~1 hr	Go →Review
4	$250	$1.99+	Same day	Go →Review
4.5	~$100	$0	Minutes	Go →Review
4	$500	$8.99+	~20 min	Go →Review
4.5	$500	$8	Minutes	Go →Review

*Grant: a free advance is available by emailing support.

¹ EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.
² Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.

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