Best Apps Like Branch When You Need Money Today

Cash advance apps like Current and EarnIn can help when Branch’s payroll advance of up to $500 per paycheck isn’t enough. They give you access to money you’ve already earned before payday, so you can cover a bill without waiting. Many of these money apps work with Varo, Chime, Current, and even traditional bank accounts.

If you’re facing a financial emergency and need access to cash, an instant cash advance can be a helpful solution. These apps allow you to borrow money against your next paycheck, which can help you make ends meet until your next payday arrives.

If you’re strapped for time, I’ll go ahead and share the best cash advance apps like Branch that actually work, so you can borrow money fast without the hassle.

What Is Branch?

Branch offers a mobile digital wallet for working Americans. An on-demand hub that helps them meet their everyday financial needs, this get paid today app allows any employee to receive a payroll advance (up to $500 in earned wages per paycheck), manage their cash flow, and spend anywhere – all from their smartphone.

Are there better cash advance apps than Branch?

It depends what you need. If you want a bigger advance, Current goes up to $1,000 and EarnIn lets you take up to $200 a day and $1,000 a pay period. Jump to Current or EarnIn below for the details. If you want to avoid required fees, EarnIn has none, and Klover has no interest, no late fees and no credit check.

Can I get more than $500 from an app like Branch?

Yes. Current goes up to $1,000. Klover lists up to $750 for eligible users, and your first limit depends on your account, so don’t count on the top number right away. EarnIn tops out at $1,000 a pay period, capped at $200 a day. Your own limit depends on your income and bank activity.

Which apps like Branch have no monthly fee?

EarnIn has no mandatory fees and you choose what to tip, even if that’s nothing. Klover has no interest, no late fees and no credit check. Tilt is $8 a month after a 14-day free trial, and Cleo Plus is $5.99 a month, so those two are the ones to skip if you want to pay nothing.

Can I use more than one cash advance app at once?

Nothing stops you from installing a few to compare limits. Every advance has to be paid back, usually from your next deposit, so stacking them leaves you with less on payday. I’d start with one, Current or EarnIn, and see what limit you get.

Best Cash Advance Apps Like Branch

These apps help you get your paycheck early and can help you get paid today.

Try these free mobile applications available in the App Store and Google Play Store, so you can borrow cash with ease:

1. Current

Best for: Anyone who wants an app like Branch with double the $500 payroll advance and is willing to move a paycheck.

Current advances up to $1,000 for eligible customers, twice Branch’s $500 per paycheck. You can get spotted as often as you need, up to the amount you qualify for. Standard delivery is free and takes about 3 business days. Faster delivery has a fee, shown in the app before you confirm. Direct deposit can arrive up to 2 days early.

Opening the account doesn’t involve a credit check.

How it compares to Branch: Branch’s advance is tied to your employer and earned wages. Current looks at your deposits instead, so your paycheck has to go into a Current account to qualify.

Watch out for: You need at least one eligible payroll deposit of $200 or more in the last 35 days. The advance isn’t offered in Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Wisconsin or Washington, D.C.

Read our full Current review.

2. EarnIn

Best for: Employees who want a Branch alternative with a bigger pay-period limit and no mandatory fees.

EarnIn lets you take up to $200 a day and up to $1,000 a pay period from pay you’ve already earned. Standard transfers are free. Lightning Speed gets the money to you in minutes and starts at $3.99.

There’s no interest, no credit check and no mandatory fees. Tips are optional. EarnIn needs to verify your job.

How it compares to Branch: Both apps advance earned wages. EarnIn’s $1,000 a pay period beats Branch’s $500 per paycheck, though you are capped at $200 a day.

Watch out for: New users often start well below the top limit, and irregular income can make verification harder.

Read our full EarnIn review.

3. Brigit

Best for: People who want an app like Branch that reads your bank account instead of your employer.

Brigit advances $25 to $500 with no interest, no late fees and no credit check. Sign-up takes about 2 minutes, and the app has 15M+ users. Standard delivery is free and takes up to 3 business days. Express delivery usually lands in about 20 minutes and costs $0.99 to $5.99.

Brigit also has budgeting and saving tools. Paid plans exist, but you can ask support for an advance without subscribing.

How it compares to Branch: Brigit’s $500 matches Branch’s top amount, so this is a swap and not an upgrade. The difference is how you qualify: Brigit connects to your bank account.

Watch out for: Brigit isn’t available in every state, and in Maine the range is $25 to $250. It also doesn’t work with Chime, Capital One, Net Spend or Varo.

Read our full Brigit review.

4. Grant

Best for: People who want a Branch alternative with no interest and are fine starting small.

Grant advances $25 to $500 with no interest, no late fees and no credit check. The average first advance is about $66. Standard delivery is free and takes about 3 business days. Express delivery arrives in about an hour for a fee.

Grant Plus is $9.99 a month. To skip it, email [email protected] for a free advance, which takes about a business day.

How it compares to Branch: Grant’s top end lines up with Branch’s $500 per paycheck, so it’s more of a swap than an upgrade. You can start with a free advance and no employer connection.

Watch out for: Grant isn’t available in every state, so check the app for yours before you plan around it.

Read our full Grant review.

5. Cleo

Best for: Anyone who wants a small advance with budgeting help and picks their own repayment date.

Cleo advances up to $250 with no interest. You choose a repayment date 3 to 14 days out. The advance comes with Cleo Plus at $5.99 a month. Standard delivery is free and takes 3 to 4 days, and same-day delivery costs $4.49 to $14.99.

Cleo won’t affect your credit score. The free version has the budgeting tool and wallet, but not the advance.

How it compares to Branch: Cleo’s $250 is half of Branch’s $500 per paycheck, and it needs a paid plan. Cleo makes more sense if you want the budgeting side than if size is the goal.

Watch out for: First-time users get less. Cleo’s own page says $20 to $100 for a first advance.

Read our full Cleo review.

6. MoneyLion

Best for: People who want an app like Branch that doubles as a bank account and tops out at $500.

MoneyLion Instacash advances up to $500 at 0% APR. You link a checking account that’s been open at least two months and apply in the app. Standard delivery to a MoneyLion Spend account is free, and a Spend account can get your paycheck up to two days early.

MoneyLion also covers saving and investing in the same app.

How it compares to Branch: MoneyLion’s $500 matches Branch’s top amount. Branch ties the advance to your employer’s payroll, and MoneyLion looks at your linked checking account.

Watch out for: Free delivery only goes to a Spend account. Money in minutes is Turbo, which costs 7.5% of the advance (capped at $14.99) to Spend or 9% to an outside account.

Read our full MoneyLion review.

7. Klover

Best for: People with steady direct deposits who want a Branch alternative with a higher listed limit.

Klover lists advances of up to $750 for eligible users, and your first limit depends on your account. There’s no interest, no late fees and no credit check. Standard delivery is free and usually takes two to five business days. Express delivery costs extra, and the fee on a $200 advance is $15.25.

Klover+ costs $4.99 a month.

How it compares to Branch: Klover’s listed $750 is above Branch’s $500, but your first limit depends on your account, so you may start lower than either cap.

Watch out for: You need at least three consistent direct deposits in the past two months from the same employer, with no gaps in pay.

Read our full Klover review.

8. Tilt

Best for: People who want a free trial first and a $500 advance with no credit check.

Tilt advances up to $500 with no applications, no interest, no late fees and no credit check. Tilt reports the average first offer at about $98. You get a 14-day free trial, then it’s $8 a month.

Repayment comes out of your next direct deposit automatically, and AutoSave can set money aside for you along the way.

How it compares to Branch: Tilt’s $500 matches Branch’s top amount, so it’s a swap, not an upgrade. The 14-day free trial lets you test Tilt before you pay.

Watch out for: Tilt isn’t available in Connecticut, Maine or Washington, D.C. The $8 a month starts after the trial, so cancel before day 14 if you only want to try it.

Read our full Tilt review.

Apps Like Branch FAQ

Here are the questions people ask most when they’re comparing Branch with other cash advance apps.

External resources, so you don’t have to do the research:

1) Have you lost your job? You can file for unemployment. While you wait for it to kick in, apps like Klover, apps like Cleo and apps like Albert are worth a look.

2) Looking to earn money? We have two articles about this, one for people looking for full-time online jobs and another for people looking for part time income (the gig economy).

3) Worried about bills? Here is an article from our team on ways to save money on groceries. It also helps to compare the best credit cards if you carry a balance.

4) Trying to stretch your budget? Check out our guide on living cheap. Maybe you already know it all, but maybe there are some tidbits in there to help.

Borrow Responsibly when Using Cash Advance Apps Like Branch

If you’re like most people, any new financial need or demand makes you irritated and tense. The best money borrowing app can help you meet your immediate demands without delay or having to seek personal loans. Since you’re likely unready for financial emergencies and each additional financial obligation can put you on edge.

There are several advantages of borrowing money via an app rather than going to a local bank or pawnshop to try and get quick cash. Even though there are many lending institutions in each city today, you may not be aware of all the nuances, interest rates and fees among them.

Every potential borrower must understand that he or she is fully responsible for any loan or cash advance obtained. This money should not be taken for granted, since it will only be used for a brief period of time.

Finally, such small amounts of loaned money can’t accommodate long-term financial objectives. Consider alternative ways to finance your long-term goals and needs, or try to increase your income potential with side hustles.

With that said, good luck with borrowing money with these cash advance apps like Branch.