Whenever an emergency situation arises, it is not uncommon to find yourself lacking enough money, let alone the ability to borrow the funds you need from a traditional financial institution.

Luckily, there are a wide variety of legitimate cash advance lenders online that can act as a financial lifeline to help you deal with sudden unexpected expenses like a medical injury, a broken down car, a home repair, etc.

As such, we put together a quick guide on the top 10 best cash advance apps that you can use to secure yourself the cash you need in just a matter of minutes. Below are our top four picks:

1. WeLoans - Provides access to a wide range of financial products

2. CocoLoan - Most competitive interest rates and terms

3. iPaydayLoans - Offers high approval rates for borrowers with bad credit

4. CashAdvance - Has the oldest and most extensive lending network

Top 10 Cash Advance Apps

1. WeLoans

WeLoans is a reputable online lending service that provides borrowers with access to a wide variety of emergency loan products, such as payday loans, personal loans, installment loans, bad credit loans, quick loans, same-day loans, cash advances, and more.

All loans from WeLoans are facilitated through one of the 100+ loan providers within their network, and the added benefit is that the company is open to accepting all credit types.

Borrowers can access cash advances that start from as little as $50 and go up to a maximum of $5,000, with the application process being extremely simple and fast, as it can be completed within a matter of minutes.

WeLoans also provides a fair amount of transparency into the loan rates and terms of its lenders, with all approved loans deposited in your account within 24 hours.

This makes it a great choice for those looking for quick funding to cover a wide range of personal and business-related expenses. And as a bonus, WeLoans' online service is completely free for all borrowers to find and compare lenders online, which means that you do not have to worry about having to deal with any extra costs, either.

Get an Instant Cash Advance Using WeLoans Now!

2. CocoLoan

CocoLoan is a trustworthy cash advance app that is well-known for connecting borrowers to some of the most competitive interest rates and terms in the market, even if they happen to have a poor credit history. You can take out multiple loan products, like title loans, installment loans, and even payday advances of up to $5,000, with the ability to borrow over that amount depending on your credit score.

The platform is also designed to be simple to navigate and it does well to provide excellent data security, as all information you submit is kept encrypted and confidential, which guarantees that your personal data can never be accessed by any unauthorized third parties.

On top of that, since the company facilitates electronic funding to a linked checking account, this ensures that any approved loans will be deposited by the next business day. This makes it especially convenient for those who may be looking for an instant cash advance app to deal with unexpected life emergencies like paying medical bills, home repairs, and so on.

Access Affordable Payday Loan Rates with CocoLoan!

3. iPaydayLoans

For those borrowers with bad credit scores who are in urgent need of a reliable money lending app that can help them access the cash they need, iPaydayLoans is the perfect choice.

The online credit broker offers a high approval rate for all credit types, as its lending network is usually more interested in your ability to afford the loan amount than your level of creditworthiness. Plus, when it comes to its eligibility requirements, all you need to qualify is to be 18 years of age or older and have a steady income stream.

Aside from that, the platform is extremely user-friendly and when it comes to the loan application process, all it takes is a few minutes to fill out the online form, at which point you will be instantly connected with multiple loan providers, many of whom will be willing to grant you a cash advance loan of up to $5,000. Also, should your loan application be approved, you can expect it to be processed and deposited within the same day.

Secure Instant Approval for a Cash Advance via iPaydayLoans!

4. CashAdvance

CashAdvance is an online loan service that has been operating in the industry since 1997, making it one of the oldest money-borrowing apps on this list. And as the company name suggests, it specializes in providing borrowers access to cash advances that can be used to deal with small and unexpected expenses. The maximum amount that one can borrow is set at $10,000, and the repayment period is usually limited to 12 months.

The company is also a member of the Online Lenders Alliance (OLA), a trade association in fintech that was created to make sure all members remain fully compliant with federal law. This makes it a highly trustworthy lending service that can be relied on, and proof of this can be seen in the fact that CashAdvance provides insightful resources on its website in order to better inform and educate consumers on how to borrow responsibly.

Apply for a Quick Payday Advance Using CashAdvance Now!

5. Dave

The Dave cash advance app allows consumers to borrow a small amount, up to a maximum of $500, to help cover emergency expenses, but the maximum amount that one can be approved for is usually based on how much you can actually afford to repay by the next payday.

Moreover, borrowers are expected to pay back the interest-free advance once their next paycheck is deposited. It also takes up to three days for your approved cash advance to be deposited. However, if you pay the express fee, which ranges between $1.99 and $5.99, you can access the money in just eight hours.

The Dave payday advance app also alerts users before their account is overdrawn, thereby helping to reduce the risk of overdraft fees. Plus, the app even has a 'Side Hustle' feature that can help you find side gigs to earn more supplemental income. And in terms of membership, it only costs $1 a month to join.

6. Chime

Chime is a money lending app that allows its account holders to overdraw their checking account by a small, predetermined amount via its "SpotMe" service. New users are limited to a maximum of $20, but this amount can be increased up to a maximum of $200 based on your account activity.

The app can make a direct deposit to your online Chime checking account, which in turn enables you to access your funds almost two days in advance before deducting the overdraft amount from your next paycheck. Furthermore, the app doesn't impose any added costs on its customers, as it only charges merchants for each debit card transaction.

The app is available on iOS and Android devices and also uses high-end encryption to keep your personal data and transactional information secure.

7. Earnin

Earnin is an instant cash advance app that enables consumers to easily access a cash advance on their next paycheck without having to pay any fees or interest payments on top. Initially, users are able to withdraw up to $100 for each pay period, but established users with a good track record of app usage and repayment will eventually be able to take out up to a maximum of $500.

Normally, withdrawals take 1-3 business days to process, but borrowers can also sign up for the app's Lightning Speed feature, which deposits the payday advance instantly for a fee that varies between $1.99 and $3.99, depending on the amount borrowed.

8. MoneyLion

MoneyLion allows consumers to easily apply for a payday advance that starts at as low as $25 for new users but can be extended to as high as $250 for members with a positive repayment history, all without having to worry about paying any interest or fees. In terms of speed, the service deposits the borrowed funds within 12 to 48 hours for checking account holders, and 3-5 business days for those without a MoneyLion checking account.

However, there is an instant delivery fee that users can pay, which ranges between $1.99 and $7.99. Alternatively, customers can opt to sign up for an online account called RoarMoney, which comes with a $1 monthly fee and allows borrowers to unlock the higher cash advance amounts, as well as facilitate expedited direct deposits to help users in between paychecks.

9. Empower

Empower provides cash advances of up to $250, with repayments typically due at your next paycheck date. The service is also free for the first 14 days, but then charges its users an $8 subscription fee, which includes a wide range of financial features such as budgeting, automatic savings, and spending tools.

Empower allows customers to get a cash advance up to two days in advance, and the service doesn't charge its customers any interest or late fees, but that is usually dependent on your ability to repay the cash on time. When it comes to processing speed, in order to receive 'instant' delivery for amounts over $50, the money lending app requires you to set up a minimum direct deposit to the company 's card account.

10. Brigit

Brigit lets borrowers take out $250 on the same day that they apply, as long as the application is by 10 a.m. EST, at the latest. Otherwise, the money will end up being deposited by the next business day, at the earliest. However, in order to secure instant payment processing with Brigit, you will first have to sign up for the company's monthly paid plan, which costs $9.99/month.

Also, much like other loan apps, the service sets the repayment date according to your payday schedule. However, the added benefit of using Brigit is that it comes with no late fees or penalties should you be unable to repay your payday loan on time. Plus, it allows its customers to reschedule their payment date as well.

Pros and Cons of Using a Cash Advance App

The advantage of using cash advance apps is that they allow you to access funds almost instantly to deal with financial emergencies for an extra fee. Furthermore, most of these apps come with no interest rates or additional fees, especially if you make your repayments on time.

And, since most loan apps come with lenient eligibility requirements, this makes them a viable option for those with bad credit in need of access to short-term funding.

However, the downside is that they usually require access to your bank account to automatically deduct the money that has been borrowed when it's due. So, while some of these apps say that they will not trigger an overdraft, there is no guarantee that it won't happen.

Furthermore, given that loan apps make it easy to borrow, they can also promote bad spending habits, which could result in borrowers falling into serious debt.

Alternatives to Cash Advance Apps

1. Personal loans

Taking out a personal loan from an online credit lender can often be a viable option to consider over payday loan apps, as their interest rates often tend to be lower. They provide you with access to higher loan amounts, and some online lenders are even open to customizing their loan rates to suit bad-credit borrowers.

2. Credit union loans

Borrowing from a credit union is often a great way to qualify for loans with low interest rates, as most federally chartered credit unions offer an 18% interest cap on all loans, most of which are meant to be repaid over a few months to a year. And despite the fact that these institutions usually review your credit score, many of them are open to funding borrowers with bad credit as long as they are considered to be qualified members.

3. Friend and family loans

This is often considered a last resort for many, since few people enjoy the idea of having to borrow money from their friends and family. However, it can often be the best option for those in need of funding who are also looking to avoid having to deal with any red tape or risk to their financial security. Plus, it is the most flexible loan alternative, as it allows you to negotiate your own preferred cash advance terms and conditions.

Conclusion

If you need a same-day loan infusion but can't wait until your next paycheck to get it, then making use of a payday advance app can often prove to be a practical solution worth considering.

However, since every cash advance app comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, it pays to do your research first by carefully reading the terms and conditions to pick the one that works best for your financial situation. You should also avoid borrowing more than you can realistically afford to repay in order to keep yourself from falling into bad debt.