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To qualify for a cash advance, most apps require that you have direct deposit. If you don’t use direct deposit, you may wonder if you’re out of luck.
Fortunately, there are cash advance apps that don’t require direct deposit. They are few and far between, but I’ve located the apps to help you get the cash you need.
4 Cash Advance Apps That Don’t Require Direct Deposit
Check out the best cash advance apps that don’t require direct deposit to see your options.
1. Dave
- Cost: $0 (tips are optional)
Dave calls itself your ‘financial friend.’ It offers a Dave Spending account with robust budgeting and savings tools, cash-back opportunities when you spend with your Dave Debit Mastercard, and the opportunity to round up your purchases for greater savings.
Dave offers a savings account with a higher-than-average APY of 4.0% and assistance to increase your income by finding a side hustle.
Cash Advance
Fortunately, Dave is one of the best cash advance apps that don’t require direct deposit. Dave’s ExtraCash program advances up to $500, but most new members don’t receive that much immediately.
To be eligible for a Dave cash advance, you must have at least three recurring deposits in your checking account (but not direct deposit) and a solid income history and spending patterns.
If you want to get higher advances than the $100 or less most people get to start, you should demonstrate regular deposits of $1,000 or more monthly. They also require you to have an open account for at least two months, and it must have a positive balance.
2. MoneyLion
- Cost: $1/month
MoneyLion is a money app that offers cash advances, personalized tools, and money tips. MoneyLion offers personalized finance tips, financial offers, and even a credit-building service (for a fee).
Cash Advance
MoneyLion’s Instacash feature offers cash advances with no credit checks. If you need a cash advance that doesn’t require direct deposit, you may get it with MoneyLion, but your advance is limited to $25.
Since MoneyLion bases your eligibility on the size and frequency of your direct deposits, they limit those without direct deposit to a much smaller advance than their typical maximum of $500.
MoneyLion doesn’t charge interest, but you must pay the $1 monthly administrative fee.
To be eligible for a MoneyLion cash advance, you must have an active checking account with a positive balance for at least two months.
3. Cleo
- Cost: $5.99/month for Cleo Plus
Cleo is an AI assistant for personal finance. It helps you learn how to get your finances straight by offering humorous ‘roasts’ when you do things wrong, and it hypes you up when you make great financial decisions.
Cleo offers credit building, cash advances, and incredible saving and budgeting tools that make it hard not to save money.
Cash Advance
Cleo is one of the cash advance apps that doesn’t require direct deposit, but it limits how much you can get. Members without direct deposit may get up to $250 in cash advances, and with direct deposit, the limit increases to $500.
However, Cleo states that new customers usually get advances of $20 to $70 until they have a proven history with or without direct deposit.
Your best bet for a larger advance is to use Cleo regularly or ensure your checking account has regular deposits, even if they aren’t direct deposit.
4. Vola
- Cost: Free
Vola helps you get control of your spending, and once you’re a member, you can access cash advances in just three taps. Vola’s algorithms make it easy to see your spending and make important financial decisions. They also offer plenty of educational content to help you learn how to manage your funds.
Vola supports 6,000 banks and uses Plaid, a secure server, to access your bank information. They send real-time alerts when your balance is low, and the more you use Vola, the higher your ‘Vola Score’ will get and the more money you can borrow.
Cash Advance
Vola doesn’t require direct deposit to qualify for a cash advance. However, they do require that your checking account is at least three months old, has regular activity, has an average balance over $150, and has regular income and deposits (not necessarily direct deposit).
Vola allows cash advances up to $300, but new members usually get much less until they prove themselves with a higher Vola Score.
How Cash Advance Apps Without Direct Deposit Work
Cash advance apps without direct deposit usually require that you link a bank account to the app. Even though there may not be direct deposit, they have the reassurance of trying to withdraw the repayment on your due date and afterward, if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
Many cash advance apps without direct deposit track your hours or how much you make, advancing funds you’ve already earned, knowing they will get it back.
Learn More:
Pros and Cons
Not needing direct deposit for a cash advance app has its pros and cons. Here’s what to consider.
Pros
- You can access funds fast to help in emergencies
- Most cash advance apps don’t charge interest
- You don’t have to jump through a lot of qualifying hoops like a bank requires
Cons
- You may not qualify
- Some apps charge a subscription fee
- If you need the funds instantly, you’ll likely pay a fee
Alternatives
If you don’t qualify for a large enough cash advance without direct deposit, there are other ways to get the money you need.
Payday Loans
Payday loans are short-term, high-interest loans usually due by your next payday. They are meant as emergency loans when you can’t wait until your next payday. They have high fees and could quickly put you into a debt cycle if you borrow too much since the interest rates are 300% to 400%.
Credit Card Cash Advance
Your credit cards may allow a cash advance, but you’ll pay interest and fees, unlike the cash advance apps that don’t require direct deposit. Read the fine print to determine how much the cash advance fee is and how much interest you’ll pay.
Usually, the cash advance fee is a percentage of the amount advanced, and the APR is higher than what you’d pay for purchases, so make sure it makes sense to take it.
No Credit Check Loans
No credit check loans are personal loans or short-term loans, usually for loan amounts of $500 or less. Lenders don’t base your eligibility on your credit score and instead focus on your ability to repay the loan.
Some no-credit-check loans are secured by collateral, which may help decrease the interest rate. Otherwise, you’re looking at rates of 150% or higher.
Personal Loans
Personal loans from your bank or an online lender may offer an alternative to a cash advance app. Like credit card cash advances, you’ll pay interest, but it is usually a much lower rate than credit cards allow.
To qualify for a personal loan, you must prove you can afford the repayment but don’t need direct deposit. Proving your employment and income and having a good credit score is usually enough to qualify for a personal loan.
Bank Overdrafts
Some banks allow overdrafts, letting you spend more than you have in your account. While it’s not a good habit to get into, if your bank doesn’t charge overdraft fees and you only spend what you know you can replenish by the next day, you may get away without paying interest or taking out a loan. Keep in mind, though, that if your bank charges overdraft fees, it could be as much as $36/day per overdraft, so always read the fine print.
Pawn Shop Loans
Pawn shop loans are usually a last resort, right up there with payday loans, but they can be an option in emergencies. They are secured loans that require you to put up collateral in exchange for the loan funds. You usually have 30 to 60 days to repay the loan, and they have high fees and interest rates.
Auto Title Loans
Auto title loans are another form of a secured loan. With this type of loan, your collateral is your car title. While you get to keep and drive your car, you must repay the amount borrowed, usually at an interest rate of 150% or higher.
The Bottom Line
Cash advance apps that don’t require direct deposit aren’t as common as those that require it. However, if you don’t have or don’t want direct deposit, there are a few great options that don’t charge fees and make it easy to get the funds you need.
The key is to use the apps regularly so they can see you are a responsible borrower, and your cash advance limits will increase even without direct deposit.
