Fast Cash: Top 7 Apps for Instant Payday Advances

Finances would be simple if everything went according to plan. You work and make money, then you pay for what you need. But what if you’re living paycheck to paycheck and you have an unexpected expense?

According to a survey by the American Payroll Association, nearly 69% of Americans would experience financial difficulties if their paychecks were delayed for a week. You could turn to a payday loan or cash advance on a credit card to help get the money you need. But these options can be expensive and may end up being more trouble than they’re worth.

With some help from technology, you have a more favorable option. Paycheck advance apps can help you get the cash you need to make ends meet without the scary feeling of getting into high-interest debt. Here are seven apps that can help you get a paycheck advance when you need it most.

In this article

• 7 apps that could get you a paycheck advance
• Paycheck apps for employers
• FAQs
• Bottom line

Chime

Chime offers typical banking services through a mobile app that’s available on iOS or Android devices.¹ Services include a spending account, savings account, and a secured credit card. If you want to get money early with Chime, you need to open a Chime Spending Account and set up direct deposit. This will connect the account with your employer and automatically qualify you to get early access to your paychecks.ˆ

Paychecks could arrive up to two days early with this feature.ˆ This may come in handy if you run into unforeseen circumstances or want to get a head start on paying for certain expenses.

Chime is considered one of the best banks because it has no hidden fees and often has better benefits than many traditional banks. No hidden fees means no overdraft fees, minimum balance fees, monthly maintenance fees, or foreign transaction fees.* You also get access to more than 38,000 fee-free ATMs in the MoneyPass and Visa Plus Alliance networks and up to $250,000 in Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage on eligible Chime accounts.˜

In addition, the Chime Savings Account offers a generous .50% annual percentage yield (APY) (as of Feb. 10, 2021). This is much higher than the national average for savings accounts of .05% APY (as of Feb. 10, 2021). 

Read our Chime review for more details.