Apps and services like Brigit and MoneyLion allow you to quickly borrow money before your paycheck arrives. However, not everybody may like these options so many people look for alternatives.
Brigit is free to use but there is a “Plus membership” plan with advanced features that costs $9.99 per month. Likewise, MoneyLion may repel many people with its APR of 5.99% to %.
If you like the idea of these financial apps but aren’t quite fond of their terms, then we have 15 alternatives to offer.
The 15 showcased apps below have distinct features and terms, so hopefully by the time you are done with this post, you will know which app/service would be the best for you.
- 1. Earnin
- 2. Branch
- 3. Dave
- 4. PockBox
- 5. CashNetUSA
- 6. Even
- 7. Chime
- 8. Avant
- 9. Varo
1. Earnin
Earnin isn’t exactly a loan app – rather than provide loans for interest, it allows you to access your salary earlier than the payday.
With that, Earnin and similar apps can provide you with financial assistance in case you urgently need money right before your paycheck arrives.
Earnin allows you to cash out up to $100 per pay period. What’s even better is that Earnin has no fees – no commissions or subscription costs. Instead, this platform relies on tips. You are allowed to choose how much to tip to Earnin, which may 
be even $0.
When your paycheck is direct deposited, Earnin deducts the amount that you’ve cashed out. So yeah, this is how Earnin offers early access to your earnings.
Additionally, Earnin allows you to set up alerts that notify you when your bank balance falls below $0-$400, which can help you be more efficient with your money.
2. Branch
Most services and apps on this list are focused on the US, but what if you are in a country not serviced by the likes of Brigit, Earnin, or MoneyLion?
Well, those living in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Mexico, and India can make use of Branch. Branch provides loans for up to 48 weeks with a monthly interest rate.
The interest rate varies based on the location, so make sure to check it out. All loans can be requested and received online from your smartphone.
Unlike Earnin, Branch is focused on more classical loan services. That’s why the cost of Branch is a little higher.
3. Dave
Dave is like Earnin – it allows you to access your salary earlier than the payday, with up to $100 payments. At its basics, the two services are identical, but there are some notable differences that may make Dave more appealing to you.
Most importantly, Dave has partnered with LevelCredit to report your loan payments to major credit bureaus. This means that you can build or improve your credit score with Dave.
Another notable difference is that Dave costs $1 per month to use. This isn’t too much though, so we don’t think that the paid membership will repel many people from Dave.
4. PockBox
PockBox allows you to receive up to $2,500 loans with monthly interest, so it’s again a more classical loan service.
With that said, there’s one important thing to note with PockBox – it doesn’t provide loans by itself but merely connects you with lenders.
Thanks to this, you have more flexibility in choosing a lender. Not only that, but you get access to lenders who are willing to provide loans even to those with bad or no credit scores (though possibly with higher interest rates).