15 Apps That Are Like Empower

Have you ever been strapped for cash before payday? If so, you might’ve used (or at least heard of) Empower.

Empower (now Tilt) is a financial app that lets you request up to $400 ahead of your next paycheck. It also offers its users credit lines of up to $1,000.

There’s no credit check, interest or late fees for cash advances, but lines of credit have annual percentage rates (APRs) up to 34.99%. Using the app also requires an $8 monthly subscription fee (after a free 14-day trial).

But Empower isn’t the only financial services app out there. If you’re not sure which to choose, here are 15 alternatives to consider.

MoneyLion offers a service to help you find personal loan offers. Based on the information you provide, you can get matched with offers for up to $100,000 from our top providers. You can compare rates, terms, and fees from different lenders and choose the best offer for you.

MoneyLion

• Advance amounts: Up to $500 (or up to $1,000*)

• Fees: No interest, no mandatory fees**

• Funding time: Within minutes (with a fee) or 1-5 business days (free)

• Repayment options: Automatic with your next scheduled paycheck

MoneyLion’s Instacash® lets you access up to $500 as a cash advance. The money’s available when you need it, so you can rest a little easier knowing you’re covered in case of an emergency. You can also increase your limit to $1,000** as a RoarMoney customer with qualifying recurring direct deposits.

Pros:

• Access within minutes* to up to $500

• No interest or mandatory fees

• No credit check required

• Rebates available for MoneyLion WOW members***

Cons:

• Fast delivery carries a fee

• Need a qualified linked bank account

• Must have qualifying direct deposit for higher limits

Dave

• Advance amounts: Up to $500

• Fees: $5 monthly subscription fee, $3 to $25 optional same-day funding fee

• Funding time: Within five minutes (with express fee)

• Repayment options: Automatic with next paycheck

If you’ve been looking into cash advance apps, chances are you’ve come across Dave. With Dave, you can access up to $500 interest-free. Perhaps equally useful is that Dave comes with built-in budgeting tools and recs for side gigs. You’ll need to pay a $5 monthly subscription fee.

Pros:

• Extra budgeting features

• Mobile-friendly app

• Helps find side hustles to boost income

Cons:

• Subscription required

• Requires linked bank account

👉 Apps Like Dave

Brigit

• Advance amounts: Up to $250 instantly

• Fees: No late fees, $9 monthly subscription fee, no per-advance charge

• Funding time: Same-day

• Repayment options: Next payday or scheduled deposit

Brigit makes it easy to sign up and request a cash advance — all within minutes. There aren’t any hidden fees or credit check requirements. Plus, the app provides financial insights into your spending habits to help you budget better. And if that’s not enough, it’ll help you find side gigs to boost your income.

Pros:

• Helps you build credit while you save

• Built-in credit and identity theft protection (with real-time alerts)

• Exclusive savings on personal loans, car insurance and other financial products

Cons:

• Limited cash advance amount

• Monthly subscription fee

• Linked checking account required

Klover

• Advance amounts: Up to $400

• Fees: No interest, no monthly charge, optional expedited fees

• Funding time: Within minutes or hours

• Repayment options: Automatically taken from next paycheck

Unlike some cash advance apps, Klover doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee. Instead, you can access cash faster by watching ads, completing surveys or linking your bank account. It’s a no-frills app that gets you what you need when you need it. No credit check is required.

Pros:

• Immediate access to cash

• No monthly or mandatory fees

• Quick and easy to use

Cons:

• Limited features

• Faster access to cash requires spending time (like by watching ads)

Cleo

• Advance amounts: Up to $250

• Fees: $3.99 to $14.99 optional express fee, no interest

• Funding time: Instant (with a fee), 3-4 business days (free)

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted from linked card or bank account

Cleo offers small cash advances to people who need them. There’s no credit check or interest. Cleo also offers an array of other free features, including budgeting and credit scoring support. You can even round up purchases to get you closer to your savings goals.

Pros:

• “Boosts” available to increase cash advance limit

• Option to extend repayment

• Budgeting, credit scoring and savings features available

Cons:

• Small cash advance amounts

• Cleo’s AI money coach is only available for iPhone users

Varo

• Advance amounts: $20 to $250 (can be increased to $500)

• Fees: No late fees, no interest, flat fee per advance ($1.60 to $40)

• Funding time: Same day

• Repayment options: Automatically after 30 days

Varo lets you borrow money instantly as long as you have a linked qualifying account. Simply sign up and request the money you need. There are no late or credit check requirements. Over time and with direct deposit, your limit can increase to $500.

Pros:

• Option to increase cash advance amount

• Personal lines of credit up to $2,000 available (no interest, late or prepay fees)

Cons:

• Relatively small cash advance amounts

• Per cash advance fee

• Linked bank account required

Branch

• Advance amounts: Up to 50% of your upcoming paycheck (earned wage access)

• Fees: No interest, $1 to $2.99 per-transaction fee

• Funding time: Immediate (with Branch Wallet)

• Repayment options: Deducted from upcoming paycheck

Branch is an employer-dependent app, so it works a little differently from most cash advance apps. It still gets you early access to your paycheck, though. It also comes with personalized spending insights and other features like digital accounts and debit cards.

Pros:

• Option to borrow large amounts

• Access to features like spending insights, free financial wellness tools, online accounts and bill pay

• Waivable per-transaction fee (with employer support)

• Fee-free banking options

Cons:

• Employer support required

• Charges a fee for instant transfers

FloatMe

• Advance amounts: $10 to $50 (new members), $100 (existing members)

• Fees: $4.99 monthly fee, $1 to $7 instant transfer fee

• Funding time: Same day

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted on next payday

FloatMe is another hassle-free cash advance app geared toward small, emergency expenses. Unlike some apps, it doesn’t require tips. There is, however, a small monthly fee for using the app.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use app

• Available on Google Play and the Apple App store

• No tipping required

Cons:

• Small cash advance amounts

• Limited financial features

Possible

• Advance amounts: Up to $300 ($150 for non-members)

• Fees: Free instant transfers for members, optional membership fee

• Funding time: Within minutes

• Repayment options: One-time repayment or four flexible installments

Possible Advance lets you access instant cash ahead of your next paycheck. There’s no credit check and no security deposit. You can check your eligibility for free online.

Pros:

• No-frills cash advance app

• No hidden fees, interest or tips

Cons:

• Limited repayment options and cash advance maximums for non-members

• Linked bank account required

• Not available in all states

• $15 membership fee

EarnIn

• Advance amounts: Up to $1,000 per pay period (or $150 per day)

• Fees: No interest, no mandatory fees, optional tips, $3.99 expedited transfer fee (optional)

• Funding time: Instant with expedited fee, 1-3 business days (free)

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted from next paycheck

EarnIn lets you access up to $1,000 per pay period with no mandatory interest, fees or credit checks. Funding is available within a couple of business days for free, but you can also pay a small fee for immediate access.

EarnIn doesn’t just offer cash advances—though that’s a definite highlight. It also comes with built-in budgeting tools, credit monitoring and other features.

Pros:

• Access up to $1,000 per paycheck

• Credit monitoring, budgeting and savings features available

• Available internationally to U.S. consumers

Cons:

• Must have an active bank account and earn $320+ per pay period

• Most new users can only access around $85 per day

👉 Apps Like EarnIn

Albert

• Advance amounts: Up to $1,000 (with Instant Advance)

• Fees: No interest, no late fees, no Instant Advance subscription required

• Funding time: Immediate with Albert Cash

• Repayment options: 6 days after requesting an advance

Albert offers its members instant cash advances ranging from $25 to $1,000. As with many of these apps, there’s no credit check required. There also aren’t any late fees or interest.

If a cash advance isn’t cutting it, members may also be eligible for an Instant Loan. These start at $1,000 and have their own terms and eligibility requirements.

Pros:

• Potentially large cash advance amounts

• Offers additional features like banking, budgeting, bill tracking, saving, investing and identity theft protection

Cons:

• Most members won’t qualify for the maximum amount

• Linked bank account and Albert Cash account required

Chime (MyPay)

• Advance amounts: $20 to $500

• Fees: No subscription fees, no mandatory fees, no interest, out-of-network ATM fees

• Funding time: Within 24 hours (free) or instant ($2 to $5 fee per advance)

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted on next payday

Chime gets you early access to funds from your upcoming paycheck—up to 2 days early, in fact. Members also get fee-free daily access to pay, overdraft protection and credit building features. Note that you will need to open a Chime account.

Pros:

• Automatic advance with Chime card

• Banking alternative with cash advance features

• No overdraft fees (with qualifying direct deposits)

Cons:

• Chime Checking Account with direct deposit required

PayActiv

• Advance amounts: Up to 50% in earned wage access

• Fees: No interest, no fees for most employers ($1 to $2.99 per transaction fee for some)

• Funding time: Instant with PayActiv card, 1-3 business days for external accounts

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted from upcoming paycheck

PayActiv offers on-demand earned wage access. This means you can request a certain percentage of the money you’ve already earned (but haven’t received) before your next payday. You don’t have to worry about interest or hidden fees. There’s not even a credit check required.

With PayActiv, you also get access to instant transfers and an array of other financial tools, like budgeting and bill pay. You might even qualify for discounts on everyday purchases.

Pros:

• Access up to 50% of your earned wages

• Payroll complaint in all 50 states

Cons:

• Earned wage access limits vary by employer

• Only available through participating employers

Even (ONE@Work)

• Advance amounts: Up to 50% in earned wage access

• Fees: No interest, no fees (for some members)

• Funding time: Within seconds or 1 business day (depending on Instapay method)

• Repayment options: Automatically deducted from future paychecks

ONE@Work (formerly Even) is another employer-dependent app. With it, you can access earned wages before payday. There’s no credit check or interest involved.

The app also has a few other features, including a credit-building option ($1 per month), earnings tracking and budgeting support. If you’re looking to boost your savings, you could also open a ONE@Work Save account.

Pros:

• Instant funds available

• Offers additional features like earnings tracking and automated savings

Cons:

• Only available through some employers

• Fee structure not transparent

DailyPay

• Advance amounts: Percentage of earned wages (depends on employer)

• Fees: Vary by employer

• Funding time: A few hours (usually)

• Repayment options: Deducted from upcoming paychecks

With DailyPay, users get on-demand access to earned income ahead of their upcoming paycheck. Unlike some apps, this one doesn’t necessarily require employer support. Freelancers and independent contractors can use it, too.

Pros:

• Nearly immediate access to a portion of your earned wages

• Potentially waivable fees

• Includes additional features like personalized savings goal support, expert coaching, 24/7 support and real-time credit score monitoring

Cons:

• Earned wage amounts unclear

• Fees lack transparency

Final Thoughts

Empower certainly has its perks, but it's not the only way to access extra cash when you need it. Choosing the right one ultimately comes down to what you need. Ask yourself how quickly you need the money and whether the fees — if any — are worth it.

Need access to cash within minutes? With RoarMoney, you could receive up to $1,000 within minutes (for a fee).

FAQs

What are some apps like Empower?

If you're looking for an alternative to Empower, you've got choices. Among the best ones are MoneyLion, EarnIn and Dave. Comparing different apps for fees, funding speed and cash advance amounts can help you choose the right one for you.

Which cash advance apps let me access funds fast?

MoneyLion lets you borrow up to $500 within minutes for a fee. If you need a smaller amount, Brigit or Cleo are also worth considering.

Which cash advance apps get me $1,000 now?

EarnIn and MoneyLion both get you access to up to $1,000 within minutes (with a fee) if you're eligible. Before taking out that much money, make sure you’ve got a plan. After all, even if there aren’t any hidden fees or interest charges, you’ll still need to repay your balance.

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