Feeling short on cash, and thinking “Where can I borrow $100 instantly?”. Fortunately, today, it’s easy to get your hands on cash instantly using a $100 loan instant app.
I’ve rounded up the best money-loaning apps available today. I looked at the fees, annual percentage rate, ease of use, and qualifying requirements and created this top list of instant money apps.
$100 Loan Instant Apps (No Credit Check Required)
Here are the top $100 loan instant apps that you can download to get the cash you need today:
- Chime®
- Dave
- Empower
- Earnin
- Brigit
- PayActiv
- MoneyLion
- Albert
1. Chime®
🏆 Best for Small Dollar Loans
Chime is a fintech app that acts like a bank. If you need fast cash for a $200 loan, you must have a Chime bank account before you can use their SpotMe® service.
The Chime bank account is called a Spend account. It’s a checking account with no minimum balance requirement. There also aren’t any fees.
All qualified checking account customers can use the SpotMe® service, which provides instant cash when you get low. To qualify, you need qualifying direct deposits of at least $200, and you must fill out an application. The good news is there is no credit check.
Chime doesn’t charge for their SpotMe® service, but you’re limited to $20 at first. Once you use the service and prove you can pay it back on time, they may increase your limits up to $200.
Pros:
- No credit check
- No fees
- Works as overdraft protection
Cons:
- Only covers purchases or ATM transactions; it’s not a loan
- You must have a Chime Spend account to qualify
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
Chime SpotMe® is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe® won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions
2. Dave
🏆 Best for Repeat Users
Dave is another app that loans you money. You can borrow up to $500 between paychecks, but there is a $1 monthly fee. Dave doesn’t charge interest or have other hidden fees. However, like most of the best cash advance apps, you will pay a fee if you want an instant loan transfer.
Dave doesn’t do a credit check. Instead, they use your banking and Dave history if you have one. If you’ve used the Dave app before, they’ll look at the average loan balance, the frequency at which you borrow money, and how well you pay the loans back.
Your employer must direct deposit your check into your Dave account to use Dave. This way, Dave can automatically withdraw payment when you get paid. The nice thing about sending your paycheck directly to the Dave app is you can access your funds up to 2 days early with no fee.
If you need an instant loan transfer, it will cost you $1.99 – $13.99, which is a hefty fee.
Pros:
- Allows much higher than $100 advances
- No interest
- No credit checks
Cons:
- Must pay $1 monthly subscription
- Low starting loan amounts
Get Started with Dave
3. Empower.me
🏆 Best for Trimming Expenses
With Empower.me, you can receive an advance for up to $250. They don’t charge interest or late fees, and they don’t do credit checks. If approved, you can have the money sent to an Empower debit card instantly or an external bank account.
Empower looks at your bank account history, average direct deposit amounts, and general history to qualify you for a loan. They need to ensure you can afford to pay the loan back using your next paycheck.
Empower is free for the first 14 days but costs $8 a month. Along with cash advances, Empower helps you get better control of your money by cutting unnecessary expenses and learning where you can save money.
Pros:
- Can try for free for 14 days
- Doesn’t require a credit check
- Offers personal finance tools
Cons:
- Monthly fee is steep
- Instant delivery isn’t always immediate
Get Started with Empower.me
4. Earnin
🏆 Best for Hourly Employees
A paycheck advance app provides access to your paycheck early, and Earnin is one of the most popular apps to offer this service. It tracks the hours you worked with either a timesheet or using your location (with your permission) to give access to the funds you’ve earned.
Once you earn money, Earnin allows you to access it with a payday advance. At first, you can borrow up to $100 a day and up to $750 per pay period. Receiving the funds in your checking account can take up to three days, but you can pay for a Lightning Speed transfer to get it in hours.
Earnin doesn’t charge interest, but you can ‘tip.’ This is almost like paying interest or a fee for borrowing money.
Pros:
- No fees
- Access to your earned funds without waiting for a check
- Doesn’t require a credit check
Cons:
- You must provide access to your timesheets or location
- Requires direct deposit
5. Brigit
🏆 Best for Budgeting
Brigit is a budgeting app that also offers access to quick cash when you need it. You can borrow up to $250, but only if you use the paid plan, which costs $9.99 – $14.99 per month, though there is no credit check to get the advance. You can choose standard delivery for free, which takes 1 – 3 business days, or instant delivery for a small fee.
Brigit sets up your repayment terms based on how often you get paid. You may be eligible to extend your due date, but they limit the number of times you do this. They allow you to extend your due date once for every two loans you pay back on time.
Pros:
- Allows repayment extensions
- Offers other tools to help with your personal finances
- Doesn’t charge interest
Cons:
- You must have a Plus or Premium plans to get advances
- It’s an additional fee for instant delivery
6. PayActiv
🏆 Early Access to Your Paycheck
Payactiv is an employer-based payday loan app. If your employer signs up for the app, they can offer it to employees as a benefit. The most significant benefit is early access to your paycheck. In addition, your employer links the app to their time system, so the app knows when you work.
With the online cash advance, you can access up to 50% of the amount you’ve earned or $500, whichever is less. If you set up a direct deposit with PayActiv, you can access up to $1,000 at a time.
It’s easy to access your funds with the paycheck advance app because they are always there once you earn them. You can leave the funds untouched and wait for payday or transfer your earned funds to your bank account or debit card.
Like most other apps, PayActiv expects payment with the funds from your next paycheck.
The service is free if you use direct deposit to your PayActiv card. If you don’t have direct deposit to your Payactiv card, you’ll pay $1.99 for deposits to your Payactiv card or $2.99 for deposits to an external account. However, there’s a $5 maximum fee per pay period, no matter how many times you borrow money.
Pros:
- Provides early access to your earned funds
- No interest for taking your funds early
- No fees
Cons:
- Can be tempting to spend your earnings early
- Your employer must offer it
7. MoneyLion
🏆 Best for Extra Cash When You Need It
MoneyLion is a banking app, but so much more. With your checking account, you get access to cash advances. Everyone starts with $50 cash advances, but with regular direct deposits, MoneyLion may automatically increase your limit from $50 to $500.
It usually takes six to eight weeks of owning the account to reach the maximum threshold of $500. But if you have your paycheck sent direct deposit to your MoneyLion account, you can get advances as high as $1,000.
There’s no credit check, and they don’t charge interest. Also, MoneyLion automatically deducts the amount you owe from your balance on your due date. The due date is usually two weeks after borrowing the funds, depending on your pay schedule.
You choose how fast you receive the funds. It’s free if you wait two to three business days, or you can pay a small fee to receive it instantly.
Pros:
- Offers many personal finance tools including a Credit Builder program
- Standard transfers are free
- Doesn’t require a credit check
Cons:
- Standard delivery can take five business days
- You must have a MoneyLion bank account to get the maximum advance
8. Albert
🏆Best for Automatic Savings
The Albert app offers advances up to $250 when you come up short for bills or emergency expenses. There are no fees or interest charges, and they don’t do a credit check.
Albert is more of an overdraft coverage service. They cover your overdrafts from purchases or ATM transactions up to $250, depending on what you qualify for. However, you must subscribe to the $14.99 per month Genius plan to use the service.
There aren’t any additional hidden fees unless you want the money instantly. You’ll pay a small fee to get the funds the same day, or you can wait two to three business days.
Pros:
- Helps you avoid overdraft fees
- No credit check
- Offers loans up to $250
Cons:
- High monthly subscription fee
- Can’t use the cash for ‘anything,’ only overdrafts
Get Started with Albert
Learn More:
- Best $50 Loan Instant Apps
$100 Instant Loan Apps with Interest
We prefer the $100 loan instant apps listed above for the lack of fees and no credit check – but if those do not work for your financial situation here are the top options for instnat $100 loans that will charge interest.
CashSpotUSA
CashSpotUSA offers instant loans starting at $100. You can get money the same day, and the application process takes only a few minutes. CashSpotUSA doesn’t fund the loans themselves, though. Instead, they are a marketplace that brings together lenders and borrowers.
After completing an application, you’ll hear from lenders that have a loan for you. Most lenders don’t check your credit history or ask for any other documentation. CashSpotUSA doesn’t charge fees, but the lenders they work with might. So before accepting an advance online from any lenders, make sure you read the fine print.
Ask the lender about the interest rate, fees, and repayment terms before you borrow money instantly from one of their lenders.
Pros:
- Offers access to many loans with one application
- Free platform
- Offers low and high loan amounts
Cons:
- You must work with a third party lender
- You won’t know the rates, fees, or terms until you get an offer
PockBox
PockBox is an outstanding $100 loan instant app. So if you find yourself in a bind, needing $100, you can usually get it within one business day.
Unlike most money-borrowing apps, PockBox is a marketplace or the middleman between you and lenders. After you complete an application, which only takes a few minutes, multiple lenders will review it, and if you qualify, they’ll reach out with an offer.
You can borrow from $100 to $20,000, depending on the lender and your qualifying factors. PockBox doesn’t charge a fee for their service, but the lenders that offer you a loan might. So, always ask to see the total cost of the loan before accepting one.
Pros:
- Makes shopping around fast and easy
- Allows large loan amounts
- No fee for the service
Cons:
- You don’t know what the third party lenders may charge
- Must share your information with multiple lenders
Instant Cash Loan vs. Instant Cash Advance Loan vs. Pay Day Loan
When you need money instantly, there are many options. You’ll likely hear the terms instant cash loan, instant cash advance, and payday loan used interchangeably. They sound similar, but each works a little differently.
You should understand the difference between apps that loan money because each loan structure affects you differently. They each have different repayment terms, costs, and interest. Some cash advances don’t even charge interest, which is the best-case scenario when you need money.
Instant Cash Loan
An instant cash loan is a loan from a financial institution via a fintech app, otherwise known as a neobank. These instant loan apps offer loans almost on the spot. For example, you can borrow $100 and have it within a few hours (for a fee) or in a couple of days. They rarely charge fees and can help you avoid overdraft fees and other penalties for going over your balance.
The fintech app works with a bank that ‘backs them up.’ Most banks are FDIC insured, but always read the fine print before borrowing money to be sure.
Instant Cash Advance Loan
An instant cash advance loan is a cash advance on money you have already earned. Think of it as payday coming early. For example, if you’re paid every two weeks but have a small emergency in between, you may need your funds sooner. Many apps that give you money instantly work with your employer or track your hours so you can access your funds as you earn them. This could be extremely helpful for people who get paid bi-weekly or monthly.
With a cash advance app, you link your bank account and get the $100 you need. Then, the app will automatically withdraw the funds to repay the loan on your next payday. Make sure you never borrow more than you can afford to pay back on your next payday. The penalties can be high.
Payday Loan Apps
Payday loan apps should be your last option. They are usually for larger amounts and have high fees. There are quick payday loans online but always ask about the total cost.
Unfortunately, they often aren’t transparent about the total cost, which can be misleading if you think you’re not paying interest or there aren’t any fees. For example, if you miss your payment, you’ll be responsible for even more penalties, and the interest rates on payday loans are usually astronomical.
Pros and Cons of Instant Loan Apps
At first glance, instant loan apps may seem like a great idea, especially if they don’t charge any fees. But, like any personal finance decision, they have benefits and drawbacks.
Understanding the good and bad sides of instant loan apps can help you decide if it’s the right decision when you need a loan now.
Pros
- You can get cash fast, especially if you pay the instant transfer fee
- You might save money by avoiding overdraft fees, and get by without paying any interest.
- Overdraft fees are expensive and ongoing. A same-day loan can help you avoid the costs, and you might not pay interest or fees on the loan.
- They are usually easy to qualify for and don’t require a credit check. You don’t need good credit to use cash advance apps; they use your bank account history instead.
- You pay the loan back in one payment with your next paycheck; you don’t have to worry about monthly payments.
Cons
- The fees for instant loan apps transfers are usually high.
- You could get caught in a borrowing trap because you have to repay the loan on your next payday and should only use instant loan apps in emergencies.
- There are many scams that people fall for when they need to borrow 100 dollars. Be sure you can recognize the scams and only use reputable companies.
How to Use Instant Pay Apps Wisely
Borrowing money isn’t always the ideal option, but sometimes it’s inevitable. For example, it might be worth it to avoid overdraft fees or paying a bill late. However, there are ways to ensure you use money-lending apps wisely.
- Only use instant loan apps in emergencies: Spending money you don’t have is a bad habit. However, if you have emergencies or unforeseen circ*mstances, an instant loan can be beneficial, but only on occasion.
- Borrow only what you can afford: Paying back $100 is one thing, but many instant loan apps allow much higher loan amounts, making it difficult to pay them back. Stick to what you can afford to pay off on your next payday.
- Pay the loan off early: If you can, pay the loan as fast as possible. This minimizes any interest (if applicable) and allows you to cancel subscriptions required for some of the $100 loan instant apps in my list.
How to Pay Off Instant Loans Faster
Most of the instant loan apps I talked about here don’t charge interest, so there’s no harm in waiting until your payday, but debt feels burdensome.
If you don’t like debt hanging over your shoulders, here are a few ways to pay them off faster.
- Start a part-time job: If you have some spare time, consider adding a ‘fun’ part-time job to your schedule and use the funds to pay off your instant loan faster. This may also help you avoid needing a loan in the future.
- Start a side hustle: If you don’t want to have another boss, consider a side hustle you can do from home and be your own boss. You set your schedule and rates and can do anything from freelance writing to pet sitting. Think about what you love to do; chances are there is a side hustle.
- Make extra payments: If your instant loan app allows payments, consider making extra or higher payments than is required when you can. This is especially helpful if the loan charges interest or you pay a monthly subscription fee and want to cancel it to save money.
Alternatives to $100 Loan Apps
Trying to avoid borrowing money from a $100 instant loan app is ideal, but they are there for emergencies and when you have no other options. Before borrowing from an instant loan app, consider these alternatives.
- Sell unwanted items: If you have clothes, toys, sporting goods, or household items you don’t use, consider selling them. Sites like eBay, Poshmark, and Facebook Marketplace are great ways to sell items quickly to make extra cash.
- Borrow from friends or family: If you only need $100, chances are a friend or family member can lend it to you. Even if you need more, if you explain the situation and create a repayment agreement, you may find people willing to help.
- Personal loan: If you need much more than $100, you may consider an unsecured personal loan from a bank. They charge interest, but you get more time to repay it versus the one-time repayment instant loan apps require.
- Ask for a payment plan: If you have an unexpected emergency, consider asking the creditor for a payment plan you can afford. This works well for medical emergencies, but most creditors are willing to work with you if you ask.
Should You Use an Instant 100 Dollar Loan App?
A $100 loan instant app can help if you need money fast. Before you borrow the money, though, understand the total cost and repayment terms.
If it’s an occasional issue, the best $100 loan instant apps can be a great way to help, but if it becomes too common, you may want to revisit your spending habits or increase your income.
Methodology
When choosing the best $100 loan instant apps, we consider important criteria to provide you with the best options. Here’s what we consider.
- Minimal fees: We look for apps that keep fees to a minimum. While some of the apps on our list charge a fee, it’s a monthly subscription versus a per-advanced fee.
- Easy to qualify: The instant loan apps on our list don’t require credit checks or extensive requirements. At the most, you may need a certain size direct deposit or a linked checking account.
- Speedy transfers: We looked for apps that offered instant transfers (most charge a fee) as well as a free, standard transfer option.
