Best Apps Like FlexWage When You Need Money Today

Cash advance apps like Current and EarnIn can help when FlexWage is not an option at your job. FlexWage only works if your employer offers it, while these apps connect to your own bank account and get you money before payday.

Sometimes you need money and you need it now. An advance on pay you already earned is usually a simpler fit for a short gap than a traditional loan.

If you’re strapped for time, I’ll go ahead and share the best FlexWage competitors, from the employer-sponsored pay apps to the cash advance apps you can download on your own.

What is FlexWage?

FlexWage is another employee-sponsored platform where you can get paid today if your employer offers it. If they offer it you can get access to your paycheck via a reloadable card tied to your earned wages. If your employer offers this, the fees will be determined by the employer. You can typically get 70% to 80% of earned income with instant funding.

But today we will go over FlexWage competitors.

Is there an app like FlexWage that does not need my employer?

Yes. FlexWage, PayActiv and DailyPay all depend on your employer offering them, but cash advance apps like Current and EarnIn work off your own bank account and paycheck instead. Grant and Tilt are two more I would check.

Which app like FlexWage gives the most money?

Current lists a Paycheck Advance of up to $1,000 for eligible customers. EarnIn shows up to $200 a day and $1,000 per pay period. Grant, Tilt and MoneyLion are up to $500, and Klover says it can go as high as $750.

Do apps like FlexWage charge fees?

With FlexWage the employer decides the fees. With the cash advance apps it depends on the app. EarnIn has no mandatory monthly fees or interest, and you choose what you want to pay. Tilt costs $8 a month after a 14-day free trial, and Cleo Plus is $5.99 a month.

Can I use more than one app at once?

You can have several installed, but every advance gets paid back from your next deposit, so stacking them leaves you short on the next paycheck. I would start with one, and add a second only if the first one does not cover what you need.

Best FlexWage Competitors to Get Paid Early

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 FlexWage that doesn’t need an employer sign-up.

Current advances up to $1,000 through its Paycheck Advance for eligible customers. That is the highest cap in this comparison, and you open the account yourself.

You need at least one eligible payroll deposit of $200 or more in the last 35 days. With direct deposit you can be paid up to 2 days early, and there is no credit check to open the account.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage usually gets you 70% to 80% of earned income, and your employer decides the fees. Current has a set top number, $1,000, and you choose to sign up without involving your employer.

Watch out for: Your pay has to be deposited into Current, so you’re switching where your paycheck lands. The advance is for eligible customers.

Read our full Current review.

2. EarnIn

Best for: Workers who want a FlexWage alternative with no mandatory fees and no employer program.

EarnIn lets you take up to $200 a day and up to $1,000 per pay period from pay you’ve already earned. There is no interest, no credit check and no mandatory fees.

Standard transfers are free. Lightning Speed gets the money to you in minutes and starts at $3.99. Tipping is your call, even if you tip nothing.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage depends on your employer, and its fees depend on your employer too. EarnIn is the one you set up yourself, and it spells out its caps: $200 a day, $1,000 per pay period.

Watch out for: EarnIn has to verify your job, so gig or irregular income can be a harder fit.

Read our full EarnIn review.

3. Brigit

Best for: People who want apps like FlexWage in a small, quick-to-start package.

Brigit advances $25 to $500 with no credit check and no interest. It says it has 15M+ users, and sign-up takes about 2 minutes.

Express delivery costs $0.99 to $5.99, so check the price in the app before you confirm.

How it compares to FlexWage: With FlexWage the employer sets the fees and the card. With Brigit you decide to sign up, and the price is posted: nothing for standard delivery, $0.99 to $5.99 for express. The ceiling is $500.

Watch out for: Speed is what you pay for. Skip express if you’re not in a rush.

Read our full Brigit review.

4. Grant

Best for: Anyone looking for an app like FlexWage for a small gap, with no credit check.

Grant advances $25 to $500 with no interest, no late fees and no credit check to apply. The average first advance is about $66.

Standard delivery is free and takes about 3 business days. Faster delivery costs extra.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage lets you reach a share of earned income through your employer. Grant works at any job, but the first advance is small, around $66 on average.

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. PayActiv

Best for: Employees comparing FlexWage with another employer-sponsored pay app.

PayActiv lets you withdraw the greater of $500 or up to 50% of your earned wages, so you can get paid today on money you’ve already earned.

It only works if your employer offers it as a benefit.

How it compares to FlexWage: Both are employer-run, so neither is something you can sign up for alone. FlexWage typically gives you 70% to 80% of earned income, and PayActiv uses the greater of $500 or 50% of earned wages.

Watch out for: If your employer doesn’t offer PayActiv, you can’t use it. Ask HR which one they have.

6. DailyPay

Best for: Employees whose employer offers DailyPay and who are weighing it against FlexWage.

DailyPay gives employees access to their pay in between paydays. It only works if your employer signs up and offers DailyPay as a benefit.

It isn’t a cash advance app, because the money is pay you’ve already earned.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage pays through a reloadable card and typically covers 70% to 80% of earned income. DailyPay gives access to earned pay between paydays. Either one is only available if your employer chose it.

Watch out for: No employer sign-up, no DailyPay. If your job doesn’t offer it, look at the cash advance apps.

7. Tilt

Best for: Anyone who wants an app like FlexWage with a no-credit-check advance up to $500.

Tilt advances up to $500 with no application, no interest, no late fees and no credit check. It repays itself from your next direct deposit.

You get a 14-day free trial, then it’s $8 a month. Tilt also has AutoSave to set money aside automatically.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage fees depend on your employer. Tilt’s cost is known up front: $8 a month after the trial. You get a flat $500 ceiling instead of a percentage of earned income.

Watch out for: Tilt isn’t available in Connecticut, Maine or Washington D.C. Cancel before day 14 if you only want to try it.

Read our full Tilt review.

8. Chime SpotMe

Best for: Anyone who already banks with Chime and wants a FlexWage alternative.

Chime SpotMe covers overdrafts up to $200 with no overdraft fees, so if you need to pay for something and don’t have the money, SpotMe can step in.

It’s tied to the Chime account, and many other cash advance apps work with Chime too.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage is an employer benefit that gets you to earned pay. SpotMe is a cushion on a Chime account, so it covers overdrafts rather than an advance on your paycheck. The cap is $200.

Watch out for: SpotMe is a smaller cap than most apps in this list, and you need a Chime account to use it.

9. MoneyLion

Best for: People who want a FlexWage alternative from a full banking app.

MoneyLion offers Instacash advances of up to $500 at 0% APR once you link your checking account.

Its Spend account can get your paycheck up to two days early, and the app also bundles saving, investing and earning tools. The instant-delivery Turbo fee is 7.5%, capped at $14.99.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage works only through your employer, and you take the card they give you. MoneyLion is an app you join yourself, with a $500 cap and its own account.

Watch out for: Turbo is the option that costs money. If you can wait, skip it.

Read our full MoneyLion review.

10. Cleo

Best for: Someone looking for an app like FlexWage who is fine with a subscription.

Cleo advances up to $250 with no interest, but only through Cleo Plus at $5.99 a month. You pick a repayment date between 3 and 14 days.

The free version has a budgeting tool, a digital wallet and a weekly quiz with chances to win cash rewards, but no advance. An advance won’t affect your credit score.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage ties the cost to your employer. Cleo has a clear price, $5.99 a month, but a smaller number at $250.

Watch out for: You pay for Cleo Plus even in months you don’t borrow.

Read our full Cleo review.

11. Klover

Best for: Someone who needs a bigger FlexWage alternative and has steady direct deposits.

Klover lists up to $750 for eligible users, and your first limit depends on your account. You need at least three consistent direct deposits in the past two months, with no gaps in pay from the same employer.

Klover’s advances come with no interest, no late fees and no credit check, but funding can be slower than some competitors. Its optional express fees are relatively high.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage depends on your employer. Klover depends on your deposit history. If you’ve had steady pay from one employer, Klover can be the easier route.

Watch out for: If your income is new or irregular, you may not qualify. Express delivery is the costly part.

Read our full Klover review.

12. Branch

Best for: Employees who want a FlexWage alternative built around a digital wallet.

Branch offers a mobile digital wallet that lets an employee receive a payroll advance of up to $500 in earned wages per paycheck. You can also manage cash flow and spend from your phone.

It’s pitched as a get paid today app for working people.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage pays out on a reloadable card, with 70% to 80% of earned income. Branch caps the advance at $500 per paycheck and runs from a wallet in the app.

Watch out for: The $500 cap is per paycheck, so it won’t stretch to a larger gap.

13. Dave

Best for: People comparing apps like FlexWage who want an advance up to $500 and early pay.

Dave offers advances up to $500. You can get paid up to two days early and build your credit history, and Dave says it has 7 million members.

It’s one of the better-known cash advance apps.

How it compares to FlexWage: FlexWage works through your employer. Dave works from your own bank account, so it’s available at any job, with a $500 limit.

Watch out for: The $500 cap is the ceiling, and a first advance may be lower. Check the app for what you qualify for.

Cash Advance FAQs

Here are a few more questions people ask when they are looking for an app like FlexWage:

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, DailyPay alternatives, PayActiv alternatives and money borrowing apps 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. Credit card companies and some banks are also delaying payments, waiving fees, and removing interest charges. Read about it here. You can get out ahead of these problems.

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 Apps Like FlexWage

If you’re like most people, any new financial need or demand makes you irritated and tense. Most cash advance apps can help you meet your immediate demands without delay or having to seek secured 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 getting a cash advance 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 apps like FlexWage!