Sometimes one finds themselves in a financial bind and needs help to get back on track. Brigit is one app that can give you cash advances to help cover expenses until your next payday.
One of the best things about the app is that it can help you get small loans quickly and easily without having to go through a traditional lending process.
This means no credit check is required and you can have the money in your account in as little as 24 hours.
Brigit can earn you up to $250 which can be extremely helpful in emergency situations, but what happens if you need more than that? Or if you are not happy paying Brigit’s monthly membership fee, which they charge whether you use the app or not?
Luckily, there are a number of great Brigit alternatives out there that can help you get the money you need.
So, if you’re looking for a cash advance app that you can access quickly, here are some of the best options available.
Best Brigit App Alternatives
1. Dave
Dave is a great Brigit alternative if you’re looking for quick access to cash. It boasts of a large user base which is not surprising since the app is incredibly easy to use and offers instant approval decisions.
Dave gives you the ability to get up to $100 within 24 hours, and there are no fees associated with using the app.
While the advance cap is less than Brigit’s, there are many reasons why you might find Dave more appealing to use – the most significant being that Dave Partners with LevelCredit to help you improve your credit score.
This means that as you repay your loans, your actions will be reported to major credit bureaus and help you improve your creditworthiness – which could come in handy if you need to access more cash later on.
Even if you have a low credit rating or no credit history at all, Dave is still a great option to consider.
Another area where using Dave has an advantage over Brigit is in the monthly subscription costs. Although Brigit can be used for free, access to its premium plan and all the features that follow cost $9.99 per month while Dave’s membership cost $1 per month which is fair considering all the features it offers.
When should you use Dave over Brigit?
Pick Brigit when you are looking for an amount that is over $100 and you don’t care about improving your creditworthiness. But if you are not in desperate need of huge funds and merely need to pay for quick stuff like fuel or groceries, Dave is the best alternative to Brigit.
2. Earnin
Earnin used to be known as ActiveHours, and it’s one of the most popular cash advance apps out there.
With Earnin, you can get an advance on your paycheck for up to $100 per day and sometimes even qualify for up to $500 per pay period which is twice the maximum amount that Brigit offers.
However, qualifying for the $500 depends on factors such as your creditworthiness, so your account has to be in good standing for your advances to be that high.
To get started with Earnin, you just need to link your bank account and provide your employment information.
To get started with Earnin, you just download the app and link it to your bank account and employer. Once that’s done, you can start “cashing out” whenever you need extra money.
Unlike Brigit, there are no fees associated with using Earnin, but there is a “tip” option if you want to give the company a little something extra for their service.
Earnin will recover their money back when you get paid by making a withdrawal from your account on the date that you receive your paycheck. They will take their money out first, and then you will have access to the rest of your funds.
One other feature you’ll find with Earnin is that you will be notified once your account balance falls below a certain threshold that you set. This allows you to take action and either transfer money into your account or find another source of funds before you face any overdraft fees.
3. MoneyLion
MoneyLion is a strong name for a cash advance app but does it live up to the hype? For the most part, yes. MoneyLion offers access to quick cash when you need it.
It gives you the same borrowing limit of $250 that Brigit offers, and you will have access to this advance before your next payday. The only thing you have to do is register with your checking account.
One fantastic thing about MoneyLion is that it lets you transfer the loan directly to your account the same day you apply for it. This is a lifesaver if you’re in a bind and need cash quickly.
However, you are only entitled to at least 10% of your next paycheck, which means that, for you to qualify for the full $250, your wage/salary must be $2500 and above.
Perhaps the best part about MoneyLion, however, is that apart from the payday loans, you may also qualify for consecutive loans which will come in handy if you want to build your credit score or in case of an emergency.
The app operates a 0% annual percentage rate policy on its short-term advances, so you only need to pay back what you borrow with no added interest, but if you want to take out huge loans, then it comes with a $1 monthly fee that could grow as high as $19.90 depending on the amount of the loans.
This app also allows you to manage your personal finances and provides access to a free financial coach.
4. Chime
There’s no doubt that Chime is one of the best Brigit alternatives out there even though it operates a bit differently from the other apps on this list.
It is a digital bank account that also aids you from going into overdraft while allowing you to set up automatic savings and still carry out safe and secured transactions as traditional banks would.
Like Brigit, Chime gives you access to your payday advances, but not in the same way. Instead of giving you access to a loan, it lets you access your money two days earlier than when you will be paid, and there are no charges whatsoever.
The advantage of this is that Chime lets you skip the traditional bank bureaucracy and its high-interest rates. This can come in handy when things are a bit tight towards the end of the month and you need access to your money as soon as possible.
The app also has a credit builder feature that helps you build up your credit score so you can access better financial products in the future. Here, you can take up to $100 at a 0% APR.
There’s a saving feature on the app that automatically rounds up your transactions to the nearest dollar and saves the difference. You can also set up recurring transfers into this account so you can save without even thinking about it.
This is a great way to get started if you’re looking to break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.
By signing with Chime, you have access to their network of over 38,000 fee-free ATMs, and there are no foreign transaction fees when you use your Chime Visa Debit Card overseas to a limit of $500.
5. Ingo Money
When it comes to fast access to cash, Ingo Money is one of the best tools like Brigit out there. With this app, you can simply link your bank account and receive money in as little as 10 minutes. There are no fees for using Ingo Money, making it a great option for those who need quick access to cash.
The app is reputed to be one of the most user-friendly apps like Brigit, with a simple and straightforward interface.
You can manage all your finances in one place with Ingo Money, as the app also allows you to track your spending and set budgets.
Besides being an app that offers pay advances, Ingo Money is also a great tool for handling other financial transactions like transferring money to friends, paying bills, and more.
It also has a reward system where you can earn points for every referral and cash them in for free gift cards.
The app helps you process your checks faster, which speeds up access to your money.
It does not come with monthly charges like Brigit if you are in no hurry to access your advance, but you will have to pay a small processing fee if you want lightning-fast access to your money.
6. Branch
Surely you have heard of Branch if you have ever looked up any sort of financial advice on the internet. They are one of the most popular personal finance apps and offer a variety of services including cash advance apps. They have an app for both Android and iOS devices.
First, let’s look at what you can do with the Branch app. You can use it to set up savings goals and track your progress. You can also use it to find new opportunities to save money. For example, if you have a credit card with a high-interest rate, you can use the Branch app to find a better deal.
You can also use the app to get a cash advance. The app lets you borrow up to $150 per day or $500 per pay period and it requires that your employer also uses it before your qualify for a payday advance.
Aside from the US, Branch is also available in India, Nigeria, and Kenya, and users can get up to $700 depending on where they live.
The app also has social features that you will not find with Brigit and other cash advance apps. For example, you can join conversations where you can chat with other people about saving money and reaching your financial goals.
Branch does not require any credit history to determine your eligibility for a cash advance, instead, it uses your smartphone’s data to assess your risk. Your data will be protected by 256-bit AES encryption and you can also set up a PIN to keep your account safe.
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7. Even
Even is a popular financial planning and management app that offers users quick access to cash when they need it. It also provides tools to help users budget and save money, making it a great option for those looking for a comprehensive financial solution.
Luckily, it also offers you pay advances like Brigit and the like, but Even offers up to 50% of your paycheck in advance, rather than the maximum of $250 that Brigit offers.
Since Even partners with your employer, they must be eligible for the program in order for you to use it.
The app has many similar features to Brigit such as dedicating funds for expenses, notifying you when your account is low on cash to avoid overdraft charges, and it even has a monthly fee of $8 which is slightly less than Brigit’s.
Once you qualify for Even, they bind your account to a line of credit together with your employer, and this mitigates the financial risk for Even.
It also has some financial management tools that include the ability to plan your work schedule in the app so you can manage your finances around your upcoming paycheck.
8. DailyPay
If Even makes this list for its functionality as a great Brigit alternative, DailyPay definitely makes the cut too. With DailyPay, you can get your hands on your earnings once certain hours have been worked.
This on-demand model is fantastic for those who are looking to get paid as soon as possible after completing a shift or task.
When you first start using the app, you may think that it was designed with the employers in mind rather than the workers.
However, after using it for a while, you’ll realize that it’s a great tool for employees as well seeing that it shares a lot of similarities with Brigit.
How does it work?
You build up a pay balance by completing shifts and then, once you’ve hit the minimum amount, you can withdraw the funds immediately, so when your paycheck comes in, you’re not waiting around for days or weeks to get your hands on the money. The advance you have received will be deducted.
DailyPay charges a small fee of $1.25, which is the cost of sending the advance from your DailyPay account to your bank account. Aside from this transfer fee, there are no other fees involved, so users don’t get charged monthly fees like Brigit.
With this app, the insecurities that employees have about their finances are greatly reduced, and they are able to live their lives without stress.
On their part, employers use DailyPay as an incentive to attract and retain the best talent.
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9. Affirm
Affirm has a slightly different model than Brigit and the other cash advance apps you are used to. Instead of giving you a lump sum of money upfront, they provide you with financing for your purchase. This can be a great option if you’re looking to finance a large purchase.
The app has other components that make it a formidable opponent to Brigit such as features to help you control your expenses effectively, as well as make safe transactions.
This app is perfect if you do large amounts of shopping online as it is somewhat of a shopping management tool since it helps you buy more for less.
In addition to keeping track of your shopping expenses, Affirm offers you the ability to find coupons and promo codes for the stores you love, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.
The app works online so you do not have to download anything to use it. Simply sign up and get started.
10. Empower
Like Brigit, Empower is willing to lend you up to $250. However, unlike the former, Empower does not come with monthly charges. Instead, it has an APR of 0.25% and a money control charge of $8.
With Empower, there is no credit check. Instead, the app analyzes your spending habits to give you a cash advance.
They also do not charge for late payments, but if you default on your loan, you will be harming your chances of getting access to another one when you might need it.
To qualify for the $250 advance, you must operate a healthy account for at least 60 days and have at least $500 as your monthly income.
Empower also features other services such as interest-free checking, helping you to automate your savings, tracking your expenses, and more.
Its saving feature is called “Empower AutoSave Account” and it is a joint account with Empower. It works intuitively and will help you stay ahead of your finances.
It studies your spending habits and income, then moves money from your checking to savings automatically.
The app also helps you get cash-back at some of your favorite stores, so you can save even more money.
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11. Varo
Varo is a complex financial management app that offers a cash advance feature. The app boasts of more than one million users and has a high rating among users because of the unique features it offers.
As far as the cash advance feature is concerned, Varo offers a line of credit without fees up to $50. There is also no transfer fee, foreign transaction fee, or annual fee. You can access the funds through an ATM, or direct deposit into your account.
Varo also offers personal loans as high as $25,000 payable within three to five years. This comes with a low APR of between 6.9%-23.9%.
Unlike Brigit, Varo carries out credit checks, but this also means that you can use the app to improve your credit score.
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12. SoFi Money
SoFi Money works just like Brigit. It allows you to access salary advances but without overdraft fees.
It also has a savings tool called “Money Vaults”. This is a great feature if you want to save for future expenses or goals. Here you can earn competitive interest rates on your savings if you set up auto-transfers from your checking account.
You will still earn good rates if you don’t have auto-transfers set up, but they’ll be a little lower.
SoFi APYs are currently 1.5% for all balances in your account if you have auto-transfers set up, and 0.9% if you don’t.
It also has a hybrid checking/savings account which comes with a Mastercard debit card that you can use to make purchases and withdrawals and offers cash back rewards on certain types of spending.
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Wrap Up
Nowadays, loaning is a lot easier and faster, thanks to technological advancements. There are a number of apps that offer quick access to cash when you need it. Brigit is one such app, but there are many others that are worth considering.
In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the best Brigit alternatives out there. We’ve looked at a variety of factors such as ease of use, loan amounts, repayment terms, and fees.
So, if you’re looking for a cash advance app that can help you in a pinch, be sure to check out one of the options on our list.
Our best Brigit alternative is Dave because of not only its similarities to Brigit but also its unique features that help you stay ahead of your finances. You can get more value out of Dave by using it to track your spending, set up budgets, and avoid overdraft fees.
Scott L. Macarthur is a marketing consultant and an online author. He is mostly engaged in providing his expertise to startups and SMBs. He is also an author on TheNextWeb.