10 Best Cash Advance Apps That Work With Chime in 2023

Have you ever had to ask your family or friends to help you out with money? You’re not alone. A CareerBuilder survey says approximately 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Thankfully, cash advance apps can lend you a hand (and some much-needed cash) in these sticky situations.

These apps are usually free. Some will charge a fee for letting you access a portion of your paycheck before you receive it. But what are some of the cash advance apps that work with Chime? Read on to find out—

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What Are Some of the Cash Advance Apps like Dave that Work with Chime?

Over 12 million Americans rely on fast cash options like payday advance apps or payday loans to make ends meet every year. But which popular money advance apps like Dave work with Chime?

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the pay advance apps that are compatible with Chime:

Our Picks for the Top 10 Payday Advance Apps that Work with Chime

Here’s a detailed look at the best money advance apps that work with Chime (and some that don’t)—

1. Albert

Does Albert work with Chime?

Yes, Albert is an efficient cash advance app that’s compatible with Chime. You can easily link your Chime Account to Albert and get an advance of up to $250. 

Why we like it

Albert’s free plan lets you get a cash advance of anywhere from $100 to a maximum of $250 (depending on your income). Its premium service—Albert Genius—includes:

• Personal finance tips.
• Advice from live experts. 
• 1% reward on your savings
• A micro-investment account. 

An additional $4.99 fee can fetch you an instant cash advance. Albert handles repayment automatically, and won’t charge a fee if your payment’s late. The app also offers a $150 sign-up bonus when you meet specific criteria. Not too shabby.

Keep in mind

• Albert Genius costs at least $8 per month—this can be steep if you don’t use all the features the app offers.
• Qualifying for cash advances can take time. You’ll need consistent direct deposits into your checking account over two months.

How to link Chime to Albert

• Go to the profile tab.
• Tap “Linked accounts.”
• Click on “Add account.”
• Select Chime or search for it by name if it’s not listed.
• Enter your account credentials.

2. Empower

Does Empower work with Chime?

Empower is another pay advance app that works well with Chime. Qualifying members can get an interest-free cash advance of up to $250.

Why we like it

Empower is intuitive and easy to use. It has a 14-day free trial and doesn’t charge interest or late fees. The app also offers cashback of up to 10%. 

Keep in mind 

• The party will be over after the free trial—you’ll need to pay an $8 monthly subscription fee to continue using Empower.
• To qualify for cash advance, you need to have a bank account that’s over 30 days old and have made two deposits of over $200 in the last three months.

How to link Empower to Chime

• Go to the home page of the app.
• Scroll to the “Accounts” section.
• Click on the “+” icon on the upper right.
• And enter your account information.

3. MoneyLion

Does MoneyLion work with Chime?

Yes, MoneyLion works well with Chime and can fetch you instant cash of up to $250 directly to your Chime account.

Why we like it

MoneyLion lets you borrow interest-free up to $250 if you’re using an external bank account like Chime. The limit can be higher if you’re using a MoneyLion checking account.

Funds may typically take two to five days to get to your Chime account—but you can receive them within four hours for a $1.99 to $8.99 fee (depending on how much you’re borrowing). The app also lets you defer repayment by 14 days.

Keep in mind

• You’ll need an established checking account of two months, regular deposits, and a positive checking balance to qualify for a cash advance—it’s quite the list.
• Most of the awesome perks like expedited funds and larger advance limits are reserved for folks who have a MoneyLion bank account.

How to link MoneyLion to Chime

• Navigate to the “Transfers” section on the app.
• Click on the “Add account” link. 
• Add in your account details.

4. Varo

Does Varo work with Chime?

Yes, Varo is compatible with Chime and can get you an interest-free cash advance of up to $250.

Why we like it

Varo gives you cash advances starting at $20. You can extend your pay advance limit through direct deposits and a history of timely payments. 

The app also gives you a flexible timeline of 30 days to repay your debt. 

Keep in mind

• Varo’s fee for cash advances ranges from $0 (for advances up to $20) to $12.50 (for advances between $200 and $250). 
• Qualifying for cash advances can be an uphill battle—you’ll need to set up direct deposits and have received $1,000+ in direct deposits within the last 31 days.

How to link Varo to Chime

• Open the Varo app, and tap on “My Varo” option.
• Go to “External accounts.”
• Choose “Link an account.”
• Select “Chime” from the list of options or search for it.
• Tap on the bank icon.
• Follow the steps to complete the verification process.

5. Klover

Does Klover work with Chime?

Klover is another payday advance app that works with Chime and lets you access a cash advance of up to $200 ($20 for Chime customers).

Why we like it

Klover stands out because of its unique points system that rewards you for referring a friend (600 points), monitoring spending habits (50 points), scanning purchase receipts (20 points), and more.

Keep in mind

• The cash advance limit is very low ($20) for Chime customers right now—but you can increase your limit by gathering more points.
• The app has a monthly membership fee of $3.99 (which may not be worth it because of the negligible cash advance limit).
• To qualify for a cash advance, you’ll need three direct deposits from your employer to your checking account within two months. 

How to link Klover to Chime

Linking Klover to Chime is easy. You’ll be prompted to link your bank account during the app registration process.

6. Cleo

Does Cleo work with Chime?

Yes, Cleo works with Chime. You can register an account on the app and get a cash advance of up to $100.

Why we like it

Cleo is an AI program. Its free plan lets you monitor your finances and monthly budget expenses. The premium version—Cleo Plus—comes with a $5.99 fee per month and gives you access to a cash advance of up to $100. (This fee is lower than for apps like Empower and Albert.)

Keep in mind

• The maximum cash advance amount ($100) is low compared to other cash advance apps. Plus, if you’re new to Cleo, you can only borrow between $20 and $70 until you establish a payment history.
• The app charges an additional $4 for instant cash advances.

How to link Cleo to Chime

• Go to the “Accounts” section on the Cleo app.
• Search for Chime and hit “Connect.”
• Enter your credentials.

7. Dave

Does Dave work with Chime?

Yes, Dave works well with Chime. A Dave spending account can give you access to a cash advance of up to $500.

Why we like it

Dave’s ExtraCash™ feature offers a cash advance of up to $500, for the membership cost of just $1 per month. The app automatically deducts the payment from your bank account on the nearest Friday to when you borrowed an advance (or on your next payday).

Is your account dried up? Don’t sweat it. Dave will simply withdraw partial payments until your debt is paid. 

Keep in mind

• The actual amount you get depends on a number of factors (including deposit history, monthly income, transactions from the past two months, and more).
• These guys aren’t patient, which is why Dave has short repayment terms—you’ll repay your loan on your next payday. 

How to link Dave to Chime

• Go to the “Profile” tab in the app.
• Choose the “Linked banks” option.
• Tap on the “Change” button.
• Select Chime and click “Continue.”

8. Earnin

Does Earnin work with Chime?

Earnin currently allows a small test group of people who bank with Chime to use the app—meaning it may or may not be compatible with your Chime account.

Why we like it

Earnin is a popular paycheck advance app that lets you borrow up to $100 a day and up to $750 during each pay period.

The app also comes with a unique balance shield feature that notifies you when your account balance falls below a specified amount. Opt into the balance shield cash-out feature and EarnIn will also send up to $100 when your bank balance drops below $100.

Keep in mind

• Earnin is as unpredictable as the weather in Oklahoma. It may support your Chime account if you’re lucky.
• The app will need access to your checking account information.

How to link Earnin to Chime

• Go to the app settings on Earnin.
• Tap on “My bank” option.
• Check if Chime appears on the list of Earnin’s partners, this will show you if your account is supported.
• Enter your banking username and password.

9. Branch 

Does Branch work with Chime?

Branch does work with Chime, but it’s reserved for those workers whose employers are part of the program. Plus, Branch is only available to people working in traditional offices, meaning remote employees don’t qualify.

Why we like it

Branch lets you access a cash advance of up to $500 per request. The standard advance is completely interest-free and takes about three business days to reach you.

Keep in mind

• Branch isn’t available to remote workers—and even if you work in a traditional workplace, you’ll need to have a low-spending activity and two consecutive months of direct deposits to qualify for a cash advance.
• Branch charges anywhere between $2.99 to $4.99 for an instant advance to your bank account.

How to link Branch to Chime

• Open up your Chime app and select “Settings.”
• Go to “Payment methods,” and click on “Add bank or card.”
• Click on the instant verification option.
• Type “Branch” in the search box of the “Select your bank” page.
• Enter your registered phone number and wait for a text from Branch.
• Enter the code and your personal Branch passcode.
• Click “Next” to finish linking your account and go back to Chime.
• Confirm the account by clicking “Add.”

10. Brigit

Does Brigit work with Chime?

No, Brigit doesn’t work with Chime. This budget-tracking app lets you borrow cash advances of up to $250—but it’s incompatible with several banks (ncluding Chime, Varo, and Net Spend). 

Chime Cash Advance Features & Money Advance Apps that Work with Chime

We’re answering the most common questions you may have about Chime’s cash advance features and how Chime works with other cash advance apps.

1. What are cash advance apps?

Cash advance apps or payday advance apps let you tap into your earned paycheck before your next payday. 

They are a digital equivalent of a payday loan provider and usually charge a fee in exchange for an advance payment. The cash advance is interest-free and typically comes with a flexible repayment plan.

2. What are the spot me apps that work with chime?

Chime works with several popular cash advance apps, including:

• Albert
• Empower
• MoneyLion
• Klover
• Cleo
• Dave
• Varo
• Branch
• Earnin

Aside from these, Chime also has an in-house overdraft protection service called Chime SpotMe, which covers your account for an overdraft of up to $200 without penalty fees. 

Your Chime cash advance limit will range from $20 to $200, depending on your account history and risk assessment.

Qualify for this service with a single deposit of at least $200 from an employer, government benefits payer, or gig economy payer. 

Mind you, the overdrafts only cover debit card purchases, cash-back transactions, and ATM withdrawals.

Keep in mind:

• SpotMe is an overdraft service, and won’t give you instant cash access like other cash advance apps.
• You can’t use the overdrafts to pay a friend, transfer funds to Venmo or CashApp, pay automatic bills from your spending account, or do Chime checkbook transactions.
• Freelancers can use the service, but gig economy payments don’t qualify for instant payouts.

3. What are the costs and fees for apps like Earnin that work with Chime?

Each cash advance app has its own costs and fees. Most of these apps charge a monthly subscription fee but won’t charge you for the actual cash advance. 

Some apps may charge a per-advance fee, along with an extra fee for an instant cash advance. Almost all cash advance apps solicit a tip every time you make a cash advance.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the costs of using some of the most popular pay advance apps:

4. What are some of the instant cash advance apps that work with Chime?

Several cash advance apps (Albert, Empower, MoneyLion, Cleo, Dave, Earnin, and Branch) let users borrow money instantly in exchange for an extra fee. 

5. Why do some cash advance apps not work with Chime?

Here’s why Chime may not work with a cash advance app:

• It doesn’t allow some ACH e-check payments (bank-to-bank money transfers processed through the Automated Clearing House Network).
• Some cash advance apps are employer-sponsored—meaning you can only use the service if your employer partners with the app.

6. Does a cash advance app affect your credit score?

No, a cash advance app won’t affect your credit score. These apps don’t report your cash advance as if you took out a traditional loan—so there’s no hard credit pull and no impact on your credit score.

Harry Turner, the founder of The Sovereign Investor, explains,

Andrew Latham, the managing editor at Supermoney.com, adds,

Key Takeaways