Best Payday Loan Apps 2023
Do you want to get a loan with the simple push of a button or tap of a screen? There’s an app for that! No, we’re not kidding! The world of online loans in America has made great leaps and bounds towards positive and convenient change. Lenders and brokers have joined the digital revolution, and we’re right there with the rest of the digitally advanced population, offering the ultimate convenience; a loan on your phone!
Loan apps are for the everyday modern American who wants financial options snugly nestled in their pocket or at their fingertips! With some of the best payday loan apps like Viva Payday Loans, Rise, Brigit, and Earnin, consumers are starting to see borrowing differently. Cash advance is no longer something that’s difficult and tedious to get hold of when you need it – instead, it’s a commodity that’s readily available to you in a matter of minutes.
You don’t even need to be high-tech to use money apps. You can have the most basic smartphone knowledge at the very least and still be successful at using a borrow money app. In fact, if you can send a text or generally find your way around a website (and we know you’re all on social media!), then you can effectively put a loan app to work on your phone! If you’ve ever applied for payday loans online, it’s just as easy! It’s quick, easy, simple, and did we mention that it gets you a cash advance within minutes? What’s not to love!
That said, if you’re not familiar with money and borrowing apps, you’re about to find out everything you need to know about them. In the sections below, you will learn more about what payday loan apps are, how they work, consider the advantages and disadvantages and then explore details on the top payday loan apps used in the US, followed by a helpful FAQ section.
Top Payday Loan Apps for a Cash Advance
Before we take a look at what a loan app and what each one has to offer, here’s our pick of the top three money borrowing apps on the market.
- Viva Payday Loans
- Rise
- MoneyLion
Of course, these are just the top three. If you look in your mobile phone’s App Store, you will find many payday loan apps available. If you’re shopping around for a payday loan app, make sure that you do due diligence to ensure you’re not downloading a malicious app. Before you click the download button, investigate the terms, read the app reviews and double-check that the institution is, in fact, a financial institution operating in the United States.
What Are Cash Apps & How Do They Work?
Money apps are all about the future – they allow you to borrow against your future income! Loan apps allow people just like you to borrow small amounts of money from their next paycheck before they actually receive it. It’s an instant cash relief for people who find themselves in a financial pickle and need money now. If you’ve ever been faced with an emergency or sudden expense that leaves you in a fluster, you know just what sort of financial pickle we’re talking about – the expensive kind.
Before you can truly understand how a money loan app works, you must realize that all apps are unique, just like people. They are unique to the company the app represents. So while we can share general information on how they work, the finer intricacies of each will depend on the app itself. In the way of disclaimers, that’s as far as it goes.
When you apply for payday loans online, you will see that lenders charge annual interest and other fees – this is how they make their money. However, loan apps are quite different. Most apps designed for borrowers don’t charge the cost of borrowing via an interest rate. Typically, they charge subscription and expedited funding fees, and in some instances, apps may even encourage you to tip them for the undeniable convenience they’ve brought into your life. Of course, some money apps do charge an interest rate – it all depends on which app you choose to use.
Borrowing apps work pretty simply. First, you have to download the app and sign up with all your personal details. This is a quick and painless process. Then, the app is linked to your bank account to verify your financial conduct and so that the app can detect your income and automatically deduct any amounts you owe as per the agreement. Don’t worry – these are set amounts, and there’s no need to be concerned about surprise deductions.
When you need quick cash, you simply open the app and request the loan. The money is pushed into your bank account, and you’re ready to start spending! When your next payday comes around, the loan is repaid. See? Quick and easy.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Money Loan App
What makes mobile paycheck and payday loans all the rage? It all comes down to the benefits. Of course, there are disadvantages, but we’ve noticed that those are few and far between. Below is a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a payday loan app.
Advantages of a Borrow Money App
No Credit Check
When applying for personal loans, the credit check comes into play. Paycheck apps don’t focus purely on credit checks. In fact, many of them don’t do a credit check at all. Most money apps base their decision on how much you earn when your next payday is and how much you wish to borrow. When you request money, the app automatically checks you can afford it and either approves or denies your request, so they can provide you with no credit check loans.
No Need to Register Each Time
While same-day cash loans are easy to get these days, you have to apply for a new cash loan every time you need a payday advance, and that can be a bit of a hack. What if you got a cash advance last month that really helped you out. You’ve paid it back now, but you could do with a helping hand again. Now you have to go through the application process again. With a payday loan app, all your details are saved and readily available to the broker or lender. You can simply log into the app, make the request and wait for an outcome. It saves a lot more time and hassle.
Instant Cash
Applying for a cash advance has never been simpler or quicker. Simply log into the app, select the amount you wish to loan, and within seconds your request is accepted or rejected. If it’s accepted, the money is sent immediately to your bank account. Some users have experienced instant cash. Others receive the money within a few hours or 24 hours at the most. Again, this depends on the lender.
Easy Way to Build Credit
Even though you’re using a money borrowing app, and it might not feel like you’re taking out a traditional loan, the transaction can still impact your credit score. Because most money apps only offer loans of a few hundred dollars, you can take out several loans over the course of the year and pay them back quickly and in full. Every time you repay a loan successfully, you earn points towards your credit score.
Added Perks
Many of the cash apps out there offer some great financial perks. For instance, the MoneyLion app offers a feature to invest your savings into a diversified portfolio of ETFs, while the Brigit app provides clear financial insights into what you spend your money on and also allows you to keep on top of your credit score and financial status. At Viva Payday Loans, we offer you the opportunity to apply for payday loans online of between $100 and $5,000 with interest rates of between 5.99% and 35.99%. Each app offers some perk(s), which make them quite alluring to the modern, financially savvy American.
Apply When You Have a Moment
Life can get busy. In fact, it can be hard to find time for the gym, a soak in the bathtub, or cook a full wholesome meal. When on earth are you meant to find time to sit down at your computer to fill out a form, consider your options and end up with a loan? Payday loan apps put the power to apply for a loan in an instant right into your pocket. Power walking on the treadmill at the gym? Find yourself getting a moment of peace in the bath? Have a few minutes where you’ll be sitting in a waiting room at an appointment or waiting for your child to come out of school? These are perfect moments to whip out your mobile phone and apply for that loan you need. And because you’re using a mobile payday app, you can apply for the cash you need while on the move.
No Calls
There’s something to be said for the convenience of applying for a loan using an app and coming back to it later to check the progress and manage it. We’ve already spoken about life being busy, and mobile apps simply made it easier to get the loan you want in your spare time without feeling pressure to “make time” to complete the entire loan process at once.
Disadvantages of Money Apps
Risk of Getting into a Debt Cycle
While having financial assistance readily available at your fingertips is convenient, it’s also risky. You might find yourself quickly taking out cash advances left, right, and center, which doesn’t bode well for your paycheck when it arrives in your bank account. Money borrowing app users should be responsible lenders, even if it’s tempting to loan more than you need.
Best Payday Loan Apps 2022
Are you ready to discover the best payday loan apps in America? Here’s a list of the most commonly downloaded and used.
1. Viva Payday Loans
Best for instant approval and high credit limits
If you’re looking for the best payday loan apps in the US, Viva Payday Loans is the place to go. You can apply for a loan quickly and easily online using your mobile phone.
Viva Payday Loans is a company that matches borrowers with lenders most likely to pay out their loan. You complete one application form, and your request is extended to several of the best lenders in the country. If a lender accepts your request, your loan is approved in just a few minutes. All that’s left to do is e-sign your online contract and get the cash into your account. Because Viva Payday Loans works with a panel of lenders, there’s a higher chance of getting the loan you want. One lender may say no, but another may say yes!
| Pros | Cons |
| Loan approvals within two minutes | You only know what interest rate you’ll pay on approval |
| Flexible loan amounts | Expensive form of borrowing |
What you need to know about payday loans online via mobile with Viva Payday Loans:
Amount: $100 to $5,000
Pay Back: 2 to 24 months (smaller loans: 7 to 30 days)
Payout: Same day or within 24 hours
Payment Schedule: On your payday (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly)
Cost: Interest rates ranging from 5.99% to 35.99%
2. Earnin App
Best for low fees
Earnin is one of the more unique apps in that it tracks your working hours. It’s a paycheck advance app that can track your location or work according to a timesheet to monitor how you work. This feature is quite nifty because you can use it to request a cash advance. If you expect to earn a certain amount next week for all the hours you put in at work this week, you can borrow money against that amount. The app can also keep you up to date on your finances by sending you a quick reminder if your bank balance drops below a certain amount.
| Pros | Cons |
| Instant money with Lightening Speed feature | Links directly to your bank account |
| No mandatory fees | May create negative spending habits |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with the Earnin app:
Amount: $100 to $500
Pay Back: On your very next payday
Payout: Instant with the Lightening Speed feature, alternatively 1-2 days
Payment Schedule: On your payday (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly)
Cost: Voluntary tips capped at $14 or opt-into the overdraft protection feature by paying a$1.50 recurring tip
3. Rise
Best for same-day payouts
Rise offers payday loans online for borrowers with excellent credit scores as well as those with poor credit scores. It’s ideal for borrowers who need to cover a short-term expense like medical emergencies or car repairs. Rise doesn’t use just your credit score to determine loan approval. Instead, it generates an internal score based on bank account data, income, and overall credit. The service is only available in 31 states to borrowers with a regular income and an active checking account. You can expect high-interest rates to be attached to the service. One of the perks is that users can use the service to access their credit score for free.
| Pros | Cons |
| Quick and easy process | No pre-qualification option |
| Free access to your credit score | High rates |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with Rise:
Amount: $500 to $5,000
Pay Back: 4 to 26 months
Payout: Same-day
Payment Schedule: Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly
Cost: Rise loans come with hefty interest rates of between 50% and 299%
4. Brigit App
Best for financial budgeting tools
Brigit is an app mainly used for budgeting that can get borrowers instant access to small loans when they need it most. The app offers a free plan that includes financial insights, financial advice, and overdraft notifications. You cannot get a cash advance if you’re on the free plan. Instead, you have to be on the paid plan that includes all the free plan’s features as well as credit monitoring, automatic deposits, and cash advances.
The main feature of Brigit is to make sure that users can avoid going into overdraft by monitoring their checking accounts and providing cash advances if the user is most likely going to go into the red. The app will send you an alert if it determines you’re going to enter into overdraft. As such, it acts as a safety net.
| Pros | Cons |
| Small cash advances | Monthly membership fee |
| Includes budgeting tools | Not available for joint accounts |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with Brigit:
Amount: $50 to $250
Pay Back: On your next payday. You can extend repayments once for every two successfully repaid cash advances (do this within the app)
Payout: Same-day if requested before 10 am; otherwise, the next day
Payment Schedule: According to your income payment dates
Cost: $9.99 per month
5. PayActiv App
Best for easy signup and qualification
PayActiv sells itself as a “wellness platform,” but it also acts as a cash advance service. The app provides borrowers with earned wage access where they can access a portion (50%) of the wages they earn for the hours they’ve already worked. The app can also be used to pay bills, receive pharmacy discounts, start saving, and get financial counselling.
Once a user has downloaded the app and registered, they can log into the app to keep track of hours worked and amounts earned, along with a display of the wages you can access as a cash advance. Getting the cash requires selecting the desired amount and transferring it to your bank account. The app also allows users to pay bills from the app or loaded cash onto a prepaid card for spending.
| Pros | Cons |
| Register with a text message | May lead to depleting wages early |
| Same day deposits on transactions before midnight | Only three advances are allowed in one pay period |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with PayActiv:
Amount: Up to $500
Pay Back: On your next payday. You can extend repayments once for every two successfully repaid cash advances (do this within the app)
Payout: Same-day if requested before 10.50 pm
Payment Schedule: On your very next payday
Cost: $5 flat fee per pay period when services are used
6. MoneyLion App
Best for money management tools
MoneyLion offers a broad array of services, including cash advances, loans to build credit, money tracking, investment accounts, and mobile bank account services. MoneyLion offers a membership program that offers members access to different features. You can create a MoneyLion account absolutely free, and this will give you access to a checking account with no fees and an investment account. To get access to all of the features including 0% APR on loans of up to $250, you must be a paid member. The Credit Builder Plus membership costs $19.99 per month
For those who want cash in a hurry, the Instacash feature is available. This feature is free to existing members but is a paid service to those who don’t already have a MoneyLion account. The app doesn’t charge any interest or fees, but users are asked to pay a voluntary tip if the cash advance you request is granted.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy registration | Late fees on failed debits |
| Quick payouts | Fee charged for instant payout |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with MoneyLion:
Amount: $25 to $250
Pay Back: On your next payday
Payout: Instant delivery if you pay the fee or 12 to 48 hours if you don’t
Payment Schedule: Bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly according to your income
Cost: Optional tip plus a fee for instant delivery
7. CashNet
Best for free finance courses, discounts, and coupons
CashNet is a mobile paycheck loans app that links to your bank account. The app is popularly used by individuals with poor credit scores and those who can’t get traditional bank loans. The app has different loan approval requirements per state. Users can check their balance with the app, make payments from their smartphone, and request cash loans. The app also gives users access to various CashNetUSA benefits like coupons, discounts, and free financial courses.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy application | High-interest rates |
| Same-day funding | No concurrent loans allowed |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with CashNet:
Amount: Up to $500 on small loans and $300 to $3,500 on installment loans
Pay Back: 8 to 31 days
Payout: Same-day if requested before 10.30 am
Payment Schedule: Bi-weekly, weekly, or monthly
Cost: Interest rates vary per state, with some reflecting 250$ to over 1000%
8. Check Into Cash
Best for free finance courses, discounts, and coupons
Check Into Cash provides payday loans online. Once you’ve registered on the Check Into Cash website, you can download the app and manage your account from there. The app allows users to manage their loans on their mobile phones with balance checks, refinancing, online payments, and finding store locations. Check Into Cash requires applicants to be at least 21 years of age except for individuals in Alabama who can apply for a loan if they are 19 years and older.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy application | Cap on the loan amount for new users |
| Same-day funding | Only available in 26 states |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with Check Into Cash:
Amount: Up to $1500 except for new users who are capped at $750
Pay Back: Your next payday or within 14 days
Payout: 24 to 48 hours
Payment Schedule: Next payday
Cost: Over 300% APR depending on the state
9. Credit Clock App
Best for easy payment terms
Credit Clock is a provider of payday loans online that are quick and easy to apply for. The service provides a three-step signup process and offers instant cash loans to both fair and poor credit individuals. The interest rate appears to vary from lender to lender on the site’s panel, with most charging anything from 5.99% to 35.99%.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy repayments | No alerts features |
| Low interest | Not available in all the states |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with Credit Clock:
Amount: $100 to $5,000
Pay Back: 3 to 6 months
Payout: Same-day or next day
Payment Schedule: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
Cost: Between 5.99% and 35.99%
10. Money Lender Squad
Best for decent credit limits, instant approval, and fast payout
Money Lender Squad is a payday app designed for everyday Americans looking for decent cash loan deals at the click of a button or tap of a screen. With the Money Lender Squad app, you can register in a matter of minutes and immediately apply for a cash advance or personal loan of between $100 and $5,000.
The app is designed to match a borrower’s loan request with lenders most likely to approve and pay the loan. The borrower’s application is presented to many of the country’s top lenders with one application form. The system, which is fully automated for convenience, provides a decision in as little as two minutes, and once the loan contract has been digitally signed, the cash is sent to the borrower’s bank account within an hour. The interest rate appears to vary from lender to lender on the site’s panel, with most charging anything from 5.99% to 35.99%.
| Pros | Cons |
| Decent loan amounts | Some lenders could charge high interest |
| No credit check options | Expensive form of borrowing in general |
What you need to know about paycheck loans with Credit Clock:
Amount: $100 to $5,000
Pay Back: 2 to 24 months
Payout: 60 minutes or within 24 hours
Payment Schedule: Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly
Cost: Between 5.99% and 35.99%
Now that you’ve got a better idea of what top payday loan apps are available, let’s get to answering a few questions you might have.
FAQ’s
Are Loan Apps Safe?
We’re not surprised that you would ask this question, especially as cybersecurity events are on the rise. Most paycheck and loan apps are safe to use, and there should be no concern about being hacked or scammed. That said, tech is fallible, and there’s no guarantee that a security breach will never happen.
What’s the Point of a Paycheck Mobile App?
That depends on what app you choose to use. Some apps are designed primarily to provide helpful budgeting advice and financial tracking while others are designed to provide borrowers with quick loans and the ability to manage their loans from their mobile phones.
Can I Apply for a Viva Paydays Loan on My Mobile Phone?
The Vivapaydayloans.com website is designed for mobile. You can quickly and easily complete your online application from anywhere using your mobile phone.
What’s the Downside of Using the Earnin App?
The Earnin service is only available to individuals who earn an official salary, wages, or hourly pay. Freelancers, self-employed, or side-hustlers aren’t able to use the app.
How Do I Access a Lender or Broker’s Mobile App?
You don’t always need a loans app to apply for a loan using your mobile device. Many broker’s and lender’s websites are designed for mobile use. In most instances, you can use their online features on your mobile phone via their website. However, if you wish to use dedicated mobile apps for your Apple or Android device, you can download your chosen app by visiting the mobile app store on your device.
How Do Paycheck Apps Work?
Most paycheck apps allow users to borrow small amounts of cash. The amount an individual can loan depends on their upcoming payment/salary/wages. That said, some apps allow borrowers to request more significant amounts that they can pay back over several months.
I Came Across a Loan App I’m Not Familiar With – How Do I Know if it’s Legitimate?
It’s good to be aware of the risks when inputting your personal details into a website or app. Here’s how to tell if a loan company or app is legitimate.
- First and foremost, check for transparency. Companies that withhold information may have something to hide. Contact information should be clearly and readily available. This includes the phone name, website, email address, and head office physical address.
- Search for online reviews and read them. If someone has been scammed by an app posing as a financial institution, you may find information online about it. Even if the company is legitimate, you might find out what type of lender they are, which can help you decide if you want to do business with them or not.
- Investigate the company with the Better Business Bureau, which is a good source for reviews on financial lending institutions. You can do this by going to the BBB website here. When you’re there, you can find businesses, look up reviews, read through resolved and unresolved claims, and get the general ratings on the company.
- Check the legitimacy of the business. Legitimate lenders are registered with state agencies. If you’re unsure if a lender is safe or registered, you can contact the attorney general’s office for your state.
If I Use a Paycheck App, Can I Change My Repayment Dates if I Run Into Financial Trouble?
This all depends on the loan app you are using. Some lenders will allow you to make alternative arrangements via the app, while other paycheck apps are specifically short-term loans and don’t offer extended periods. While apps are easy to download and register with, it’s important to investigate the service’s terms and conditions, especially regarding repayments. Also, make sure you’re aware of any penalties that come along with late payments.
