Dave App Review [Best Apps Like Dave] 2023

In this article, I will be reviewing the top 15 best apps like Dave to assist in small cash advances when you are in a financial strait. Dave is one of the most popular pay advance apps currently in the market for quick small advances and to protect customers from overdraft and interest charges  typical with traditional banks. Another popular payday advance app is Beforepay in Australia.

Dave, an American cash advance app, offers consumers between $50 to $100 to help prevent customers’ bank accounts from over-drafting while they are waiting for their next paycheck. Dave platform also offers a checking account to people who might have trouble getting (or do not want to use) traditional bank accounts.

Are there alternative money apps like Dave that can help you quickly access urgent cash advances before your payday when you are hit with unexpected expenses or low in cash? Are there other similar loan apps like Dave that can help you get through financial emergencies without throwing you under a pile of debt by providing interest-free cash advances? Let me delve into deeper reviews about the Dave app and why it is unique. Then I will explain the best 15 cash advance apps like Dave that you can use if you want to enjoy similar Dave’s features but not its limitations.

What is Dave app?

Dave app is a mobile banking and financial management application, founded in 2017 in Los Angeles and offering consumers small cash advances of up to $500 with no interest or fees thereby providing a way to avoid bank overdraft fees. To enjoy Dave cash advances, which is obtainable using your Apple or Android devices, you’ll need to pay for a $1 per month membership. The app can be used with your existing bank account or opt for Dave’s deposit accounts and debit card.

The Dave application which was one of the first low-cost cash advance apps to provide a cheaper alternative to costly payday loans with over the roof overdraft fees, has teamed up with a banking partner since its creation to develop a pay advance service that’s positioned to signing on more than 10 million members.

The Dave app functions as a financial management tool, focused on preventing overdrafts by monitoring your spending patterns and sending alerts when your checking account balance is at risk of going negative. In addition to its budgeting features, the app offers an attractive perk: interest-free cash advances of up to $500.

To qualify for these cash advances, Dave assesses your financial stability. It requires users to have a steady job with a consistent income stream, often in the form of regular direct deposits into their checking accounts. Dave’s algorithm also considers how quickly you typically spend your paycheck after receiving it, ensuring that the cash advances are manageable for your financial situation.

If you meet the requirements and qualify for an advance, Dave provides two options for repayment. The first is an automatic deduction from your next direct deposit paycheck, simplifying the process. Alternatively, you can proactively repay the app at an earlier date to settle the advance.

One noteworthy feature is that Dave claims using their cash advances won’t impact your credit score, and they charge no additional fees or penalties.

Best Apps Like Dave That Offer Small Cash Advances Before Payday

The best and most popular apps like Dave that offer quick and small payday advances with no overdraft fees or interest charges are Brigit, Earnin, Empower, MoneyLion, Even, PayActiv, Branch, Chime, Dailypay and Varo App. These instant lending applications can give you instant access to your paycheck without any credit check or paper, when you are faced with unexpected expenses while you pay back on your next payday.

1. Brigit App

Brigit is one of the most popular and most reputable apps like Dave for small payday advances. It works by letting you borrow money and paying it back when your next paycheck is deposited. With Brigit Plus, you get a cash advance within 20 minutes whilst the standard accounts get it within 1 to 2 business days. To be able to request up to $250, you need to upgrade to the $9.99 per month plus plan. 

While Dave only gives you a maximum cash advance of $200 if you have a Dave spending account and $100 without one, Brigit offers up to $250. On top of that, Brigit allows you to extend the due date on your first loan once without incurring a penalty or late fee. Like Dave, Brigit charges a membership fee, but the price points and benefits differ greatly.

2. Earnin App

Within 1-2 business days or even less depending on which option you opt for, you can get a cash advance with Earnin, another reputable app like Dave. With Earnin, originally called ActivHours, you can make anyday your payday by taking an advance on your pending earnings.

Like Dave, the Earnin app lets you borrow an average of $100 to $500 a day from your outstanding paycheck without having to deal with the excessive fees and interests of the usual payday loans.

3. Empower App

One of the most popular apps like Dave, Empower is a simplified lending platform which allows you to withdraw from $25 to $250 while you pay automatically when you receive your next paycheck.

If you want a quick cash advance but don’t want to deal with interest rates or late fees, Empower, a veritable app that works similar to Dave is available whenever you need a cash injection to take care of your bills and expenses.

When you apply for a loan on this platform, the money will be disbursed to your Empower checking account free of charge or to an external bank account for a flat fee of $3. You can even get access to your paycheck two days earlier if you are using Empower’s Early Paycheck Deposit feature.

4. MoneyLion App

MoneyLion is one of the best apps like Dave that allows you to draw up to $250 urgent payday advances without credit check or interest charges. You can use MoneyLion to get a quick loan from your next paycheck whenever you have unplanned expenses that need sorting out. The process for getting a cash advance on MoneyLion is much faster than Dave and other apps like Dave by a few days.

Compared to Dave which charges a $1 monthly fee to enable it to furnish you with loans, MoneyLion doesn’t require any fees or interest on cash advances. Instead, the company asks that you leave an optional tip whenever you borrow a cash advance so that it can remain interest-free and available to as many users as possible.

5. Even App

Even is another very popular and leading loan app like Dave that help you apply for quick emergency cash advances to meet unexpected bills. Even facilitates your request to get payment on-demand by working with thousands of employers who have partnered with the platform. There’s no interest involved, but the app charges a membership fee of $8 per month.

To be eligible to borrow money from Even, you need to work for a qualifying employer. Even will then furnish you with an advance of up to 50% from your paycheck depending on your salary history. Just like Dave, Even does not collect interest rates or taxes when you take a cash advance from the service.

6. PayActiv App

Next on our list of the best apps like Dave is PayActiv. One of the most attractive features of PayActiv is the fact that you can use the pay advance service during federal holidays and weekends in the US. The platform is designed to help employers provide their employees with early access to their paychecks.

However, you are still eligible to use the service even though your employers don’t have an account with PayActiv. In this instance, you’ll have to apply for a PayActiv card to be able to receive a pay advance from your wages up to two days ahead of the due date.

Once you register on PayActiv, you’ll be able to view the number of hours you’ve worked and your current earnings from the app. Like Dave, PayActive app doesn’t charge interests on cash advances, the amount withdrawn is simply deducted from your next paycheck.

7. Branch App

Yet on our collection of popular and reputable apps like Dave is the Branch application which offers personal loans and cash advances in most countries it operates in. In the US, it offers a payday advance of up to $150 per day or up to $500 of your paycheck.

You can use Branch to receive money, transfer funds, and pay bills through the Branch app. Unlike Dave, this app charges $2.99 to $4.99 for instant advances to your debit card, while standard advances to your bank account are free of charge but take up to 3 business days.

8. Chime App

Chime, a top-rated money app that works similar to Dave, Even and DailyPay though it doesn’t directly provide you with a cash advance like Dave. The platform offers earned wage access to users, allowing employees access to their salaries two days earlier than the scheduled payment date. The maximum amount you can request is $200 but you have to start building your account to qualify. However if you’re in urgent need of a little cash, Chime can lend you up to $100 before your paycheck arrives.

While Dave charges you a monthly subscription fee of $1 to maintain your account and Express fees between $1.99 and $5.99 for quick processing of your cash advance, Chime is completely free to use. It charges zero maintenance fees, transaction fees, minimum balance fees, or hidden fees. With Chime’s Spot Me feature, you can overdraw up to $200 on your account depending on your repayment history.

9. DailyPay App

If you’re looking for a reliable cash advance app like Dave to help you solve urgent financial needs when you’re low on cash without attracting hefty overdraft fees on your account, then Dailypay is a good option. With the app, you can get an advance on your earnings before your next payday. It only charges a modest transfer fee of $1.99—which is on par with what Dave charges—on each withdrawal to deposit your cash advance by the next business day. Alternatively, you can pay $2.99 for an instant transfer.

10. Varo App

The final platform on our list of top-rated apps like Dave for quick payday advances without interest charge is Varo, a reputable alternative loan app that works similar to Dave by allowing you access up to $100 and paying a fee depending on your loan request. All of the advances from Varo must be paid back within 30 days. Once you set up a direct deposit on your Varo account, you’ll be entitled to withdraw any amount you want from your earned wages ahead of time.

The pay advances you receive from Varo are interest-free, just like the advances that Dave offers. You won’t even have to pay transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, or keep a minimum balance.

11. Axos Bank

Axox Bank is one of the top financial service apps like Dave, offering users quicker access to their paychecks. When you open a high-yield savings and checking account with Axos Bank, you automatically qualify for the Direct Deposit Express feature.

This gives you access to an advance on the money you’ve already earned days before the actual check lands in your account. To activate this feature, you simply have to set up a direct deposit for your account and Axos will take it from there.

Compared to its counterpart, Dave, Axos Bank does not charge you a monthly service fee. It doesn’t demand overdraft fees or require you to have a minimum balance to keep your account operative either. The bank is our 11th pick for cash advance apps like Dave for fast and emergency instant cash.

12. Ingo Money

Ingo Money is yet another reputable instant cash advance app like dave, offering variety of features, including instant access to personal checks, cash paychecks, and business checks. It outruns Dave in terms of speed. Ingo Money facilitates money transfers in a matter of minutes. Users do not have to queue until the next business day to obtain their loan.

Ingo Money can be used as a pay advance app, it can also be used to pay outstanding bills, transfer money to different accounts, and purchase Amazon gift cards. Additionally, this app lets users participate in the referral program. If your mates, family, or coworkers download this app using your referral code, you will earn extra points, improve your chances of acquiring Amazon gift cards without having to spend any real cash.

13. LenMe App

If you need instant money apps like Dave, LenMe is another good option in the way it helps users to borrow from various financial institutions. It connects users with different categories of lending platforms, private investors, and companies that are eager to lend you money via its iOS or Android app. As just a peer-to-peer payment network, you can borrow or lend money digitally in less than a few minutes.

14. SoFi Money

Another very popular cash advance app like Dave is SoFi Money which is known for giving quick and early access to your paycheck before the direct deposit is scheduled to arrive in your account. Like Dave, this app does not charge overdraft fees or minimum balance fees. It even offers free coverage for accidental overdrafts of up to $50 so you don’t get hit with a penalty.

However, unlike Dave, SoFi Money has zero monthly charges. If you have a SoFi Money card, you get to enjoy access to over 55,000 ATMs across the country without having to pay transaction fees.

One unique benefit of using SoFi Money is that you get to earn 0.25% annual percentage yield (APY)—about six times the national average— on your savings. All you have to do to qualify for this rate is direct deposit at least $500 into your SoFi Money account monthly.

15. Affirm

Affirm is yet one of the best picks of instant cash advance apps like Dave to get quick and emergency cash. Instead of offering you a pay advance outright the way Dave does however, Affirm takes a different approach by giving you a virtual credit card loaded with the amount you requested that you can use to make purchases and settle bills.

You can use the Affirm app to buy anything from anywhere. You simply have to enter the purchase amount into the app and it’ll take it from there. Afterward, you can then set up a monthly payment plan to make the payback process as painless as possible. Affirm outpaces Dave with regards to simplicity and speed. It processes your transfers within minutes so you don’t have to wait around for days for your transactions to be completed.

What Are The Features of Dave App?

Dave offers more than just cash advances. The payday advance application provides users with a comprehensive suite of financial services, including:

1. Checking Account: Dave’s Spending account is a standard checking account that boasts no minimum balance requirements and no fees for ATM usage, late payments, or overdrafts. This account is designed to empower users with greater control over their finances.

2. Goals Account: With Dave’s Goals account, users can establish a savings plan for various financial objectives, such as vacations or emergency funds. While this feature is undoubtedly beneficial, it’s important to consider interest-bearing savings accounts at traditional banks for more robust savings growth.

3. Side Hustle Feature: The app’s Side Hustle feature helps users discover additional income opportunities by finding and applying for side jobs directly within the app. This feature can be a valuable resource for users seeking ways to boost their earnings.

How do I qualify for Dave cash advance loan?

Dave has a mission to provide financial assistance to a wide range of individuals, including those who rely on each paycheck to make ends meet. Unlike many traditional lending institutions, Dave offers more flexibility when it comes to eligibility requirements.

To qualify for an ExtraCash advance from Dave app, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Have at least three recurring bank account deposits.
• Receive monthly deposits totaling at least $1,000.
• Maintain a minimum bank account history of 60 days.
• Pass identity verification and fraud detection checks.
• Possess a valid Social Security number.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Reside in the United States.
• Returning users may also have their advance amount influenced by their repayment history.

How does Dave App works?

Getting an ExtraCash advance from Dave is a straightforward process, broken down into the following steps:

1. Create a profile in the Dave app.
2. Link an external checking account.
3. Open a Dave checking account and an ExtraCash account, the source of your advance.
4. Request an advance and discover your approved amount.
5. Upon approval, the approved amount is transferred from your ExtraCash account, creating a negative balance, to your checking account. This balance remains negative until the advance is repaid.
6. Optionally, you can add a tip or fast funding fee, the amount of which depends on your advance size.
7. On your repayment date, Dave withdraws the necessary funds from the checking account where your paychecks are deposited, bringing the balance back to $0.

Dave app login

Here are the steps on how to login to the Dave App:

1. Download and Install the App: Start by downloading the Dave App from your device’s app store, whether it’s the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iOS.
2. Open the App: Once the app is installed, tap on its icon to open it.
3. Create an Account: If you’re a new user, you’ll need to create an account. This typically involves providing your email address, creating a password, and verifying your identity. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete this step.
4. Log In: If you’ve already created an account, you can simply log in. Tap on the “Log In” or “Sign In” option, and enter your registered email address and password.
5. Authentication: Depending on your security settings, you may be required to go through additional authentication steps, such as providing a verification code sent to your email or phone number.
6. Access Your Account: Once successfully authenticated, you’ll have access to your Dave App account. Here, you can manage your finances, check your balance, request cash advances, and explore various financial features the app offers. Remember to keep your login credentials secure and avoid sharing them with anyone to protect your account.

How Long Does It Take Dave App to Deposit Money?

There are three ways the Dave app provides to access your cash advance loan, each with different turnover time and fees, depending on the size of your advance.

• Dave Spending account – Get your funds in seconds! Express fees range from $1.99 to $9.99, depending upon the size of your advance.
• External debit card – Funds are sent express to your debit card and are ready within 1 hour. Fees range from $2.99 to $13.99.
• External bank account – Funds are sent as a bank transfer, and you will receive the funds in up to 3 business days. There is no fee.

Pros and cons of Dave app

Here are some pros and cons of the Dave app that will give you a full insight on what the app offers:

Pros

1. Dave’s interest-free loan feature is a convenient solution for individuals who frequently experience small expenses that push their checking accounts into negative balances, saving them from non-sufficient funds (NSF) or overdraft fees.
2. The option to boost your credit score by making rent and utility payments through CreditPop adds significant value to the app’s offerings.
3. Dave’s monthly fee of $1 is competitive with the pricing of other cash advance apps, making it an affordable choice for users.

Cons

1. The rigidity of Dave’s cash advance feature, with an unchangeable payback date and a maximum advance limit of $75 for standard accounts, may be frustrating for some users seeking more flexibility.
2. Qualifying for the short-term, interest-free loan can be challenging, particularly for individuals with irregular income streams, such as freelancers, who don’t receive regular paychecks.
3. The three-day processing time for free cash advances might pose a problem for users at immediate risk of overdrafting, as they seek to avoid additional fees.
4. Dave’s Banking cash management account offers no Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and comes with a low monthly fee, whereas many free checking accounts available on our site provide decent APY rates.

Does Dave app contact your employer?

Is Dave App safe and legit?

Dave, a Los Angeles-based company, is a legitimate and reputable financial app that has been offering cash advances since its establishment in 2017, providing users with valuable financial solutions and payment on demand services. With a stellar reputation of helping consumers manage their finances more effectively, Dave has earned the trust of countless users, as reflected in its impressive ratings. On Google Play, the app boasts a rating of 4.4 stars from over 450,000 reviews, while on the Apple App Store, it enjoys an impressive 4.8-star rating from more than 600,000 reviews. These ratings underscore Dave’s legitimacy and the positive experiences of its users.

Are there other similar apps like Dave?

Plenty of apps out there are similar to Dave for small cash advances with no interest charges such as Chime, Earnin, Brigit, Empower, MoneyLion, Even, Branch, PayActiv, Dailypay and Varo among other reputable platforms that are helping thousands of Americans everyday cover up their financial emergencies before payday. These lending applications can give you quick access to your paycheck you have worked for, without any credit check when you face unexpected bills while allowing you to pay back on your next payday.

What app is as good as Dave?

Empower cash advance app is a good choice and works similar to Dave, especially if you’re looking for cash back. I recommend MoneyLion if you are looking to build your credit, while Brigit is your best choice for planning and budgeting tools to help you learn to manage your finances. Ultimately, whether an app is as good as – or better than – Dave depends on what you need from it.

What makes Dave app unique?

Dave’s biggest advantage and many alternative loan apps like Dave, is that they learn your spending habits. That sounds a bit invasive, but the information gathered is used to help you keep better track of your finances.

These loan apps like Dave achieve this by letting you know if your account gets below a certain amount and if you have an automatic payment coming up but don’t currently have enough in your account to cover it.

How much can I withdraw from Dave?

With Dave and many other loan apps like it, you can request and access a cash advance of up to $250 with no interest charges and no credit check required. Dave and its alternatives will look at your bank account history to determine the amount you’re eligible for. You’ll likely get a higher amount on the advance platform if you receive a total deposit of $1,000 or more each month.

Dave App review

Dave app stands out as a user-friendly and innovative financial application that redefines short-term loans, especially with its groundbreaking ExtraCash feature that provides cash advances up to $500 without mandatory fees or interest. Dave provides a lifeline to users facing financial challenges. Beyond this, it offers comprehensive banking services, including fee-free ATM withdrawals and the absence of overdraft fees.

Dave’s commitment to financial inclusivity and accessibility, along with its user privacy safeguards, makes it a trustworthy choice. On the flip side however, Dave app comes with potentially high fees for same-day funding and a mandatory $1 subscription fee every month. You must also have a Dave checking account before you can use the app.

Conclusion

Cash advance apps like Dave are easy to use, simple to set up, and you can instantly get your funds wif you easily apply with your smartphone, without any credit check or interest payment. These applications give you an almost seamless disbursement of cash until your next paycheck. They also don’t have the loan sharking fees and high interest rates associated with typical payday lenders.

Many of these apps like Dave help you pay bills and offer a safety net to cover expensive overdraft fees. Additionally some also offer various other business and financial tools, including access to digital banking services, investment, savings and a lot more.