Our wallet is like an onion; whenever we open it, it makes us cry. It hits us harder when we’re short on cash and must pay a crucial expense for housing, food, health care, or transportation.
The Chime app can help. This mobile banking app allows borrowers to make paycheck advances up to two days earlier with direct deposit and early access to monies already earned before payday. Chime has a lot of benefits, but it can sometimes be difficult to find compatible cash advance apps.
Our #1 Pick: Albert
- New customers can get up to $150 Free
- No cost to borrow – they make money from tips
- Real human support to help you out
Which paycheck advance apps work with Chime?
| Cash advance app | Does it work with Chime? | Maximum advance |
| Albert | Yes | $250 |
| Dave | Yes | $100 |
| Cleo | Yes | $100 |
| Empower | Yes | $250 |
| Klover | Yes | $100 |
| Earnin | Sometimes | $100 |
| MoneyLion | Yes | $250 |
| Branch | Yes | $500 |
| Chime SpotMe | Yes | $200 |
| Brigit | No | $250 |
Cash advance apps don’t always work with Chime
If you have a Chime account but need a quick cash advance, you might want to consider one of the many available low-cost cash advance apps (or payday advance apps). These apps can help you get a quick loan until your next paycheck, usually with minimal or no fees, though some charge a small membership fee. The money is either instantly transferred to you or by the next business day. But not all of them are compatible with your Chime account. Finding one that works can help you get your funds quickly and seamlessly, and most don’t require a credit check, so you can borrow even if your score is low. And their growth has been rapid: more than 33% of Americans have already used at least one of these apps.
These are the best payday advance apps that work with Chime
Albert
Albert can give you a cash advance from $100 to a maximum of $250, depending on your income. Albert is free but offers a premium service, Albert Genius, at $3.99 a month. Genius features include personal finance tips and advice from live experts, a 1% reward on your savings, and a micro-investment account. You can also shell out an extra $4.99 fee for an instant cash advance.
Albert is currently offering a $150 sign-up bonus for customers who meet specific criteria.
To link Chime to Albert:
- Navigate to the Budget tab.
- Tap + at the top of the screen.
- Select Chime, or search for it by name if it’s not listed.
- Enter Chime’s account credentials on the following screen.
Dave
Dave is a cash advance app that links to an external account like Chime and offers early payday access. This payday advance app covers up to a $100 advance if connected to a Chime account and a $200 advance for a Dave direct deposit. The advance amount will depend on two qualified direct deposits, anticipated income, history of deposits and transactions for the last two months, how much you keep in the account, and if you have had recent negative balances on the account. The Dave app works on tips and a $1 monthly subscription fee.
To link Chime to Dave:
- Go to Profile Tab
- Choose Linked Banks and Card
- Tap Change next to Linked Banks
- Select bank and continue
Cleo
The Cleo app has a money management app that allows you to link your bank account and analyze spending patterns and deposits. If you have been a long-term user, it will enable you to borrow funds based on your spending habits and balances. You would need to subscribe to Cleo Plus and can get up to a $100 salary advance.
To connect Cleo with Chime, all you have to do is follow the steps provided on the app to add an external account.
Empower
Qualified members who set up an Empower checking account can get an interest-free advance of up to $250. Eligibility requires a healthy current bank account, recurring deposits higher than $500 from your employer, and an $8 monthly subscription fee. In addition, you need two deposits of at least $100 within the last two months and a balance of over $100 for at least ten days within the previous 30 days.
How to connect Chime to Empower:
- Go to the Home page of your app
- Scroll down to the Accounts section
- Click on the + icon on the upper right.
Klover
Klover is an Illinois-based cash advance app established in 2019. The Klover app has a cash advance limit of up to $150 and will need three direct deposits to the primary checking account from the same employer within the past two months to qualify. Your paycheck must average $250 or greater, a bank account at least three months of history, and regular biweekly or weekly deposits. No monthly or semi-monthly deposits are accepted. It also offers spending insights and overdraft protection. They use a points system to increase your borrowing limit.
Chime customers can only be approved for a maximum boost of $20 due to their limited partnership. They recently started a collaboration with Chime and are trying to see how to service all Chime customers. For now, all Chime customers are placed into a points program, where they must earn points to cash out. Options to accumulate points can be made by watching ads, scanning receipts, and referring friends.
Linking your bank account is easy. You will see the prompt during the registration process during the initial phases of getting started.
MoneyLion
MoneyLion allows you to borrow up interest-free up to $1000 with optional tipping to keep it free. You need an established checking account of two months, regular income deposits, and a positive checking balance. They have other services like credit builder loans, checking accounts, managed investing, personal loans, and credit score tracking.
To link Chime to MoneyLion:
- Click on the ‘Add Account’ link under the Transfers section. Or you can click on the ‘More Options’ menu located under the Finances tab.
- Select Add Account option.
Does Chime offer cash advances?
How does Chime SpotMe work?
Chime SpotMe is Chime’s in-house product offering overdraft protection that covers an overdrawn account up to $200 for certain transactions with no penalty fees. Your limit starts at $20 and can go up to $200, depending on your account history and risk assessment.
To qualify, you need a single deposit of at least $200 from an employer, gig economy payer, or government benefits payer. While freelancers can use the service, gig economy payments do not qualify for instant payouts and must arrive as an ACH payment.
SpotMe covers overdrafts for debit card purchases, cash-back transactions, and ATM withdrawals. You cannot use it to pay a friend, transfer funds to Venmo or CashApp, use it for automatic bill payments from your spending account, and Chime checkbook transactions.
Signing up for SpotMe is pretty simple if you already have a Chime account.
- Activate your Chime Visa debit card.
- Make sure you have the latest version of the Chime app.
- Open the Settings tab in your Chime app to find out if you’re eligible for SpotMe.
- Once you agree to the terms and conditions, you are enrolled.
Cash advance app that sometimes works with Chime
This app will work with Chime, but on a very limited basis.
Earnin
Earnin is another cash advance app, but what makes it stand out is a unique feature called Balance Shield. By activating Balance Shield Alerts, customers are informed by push notification whenever their bank balance falls below an amount they specify, up to $400. If the balance falls below $100, customers can also enable Balance Shield Cash Outs, which preemptively cash out up to $100 of their earnings.
If you have a Chime account that Earnin can support, turn on Allow Transactions in your Chime settings. This will give Earnin access to send Cash Outs to your Chime account and debit you on payday.
Earnin is testing new ways to support Chime users and currently allows a small beta testing group to use its platform.
One “earned wage access” app works with Chime
Earned wage access apps allow you to access some of your pay as soon as you’ve earned it. With these, you don’t have to wait until the end of the pay cycle to get your money. One of them so far is compatible with Chime.
Branch
The Branch app is only available to workers whose employers participate in the program. It is also only available to people who work in traditional offices or workplaces. Remote employees aren’t eligible. And if even if you work in a traditional workplace that participates, there are a few criteria you’ll have to meet before you can get an advance.
- Two consecutive months of direct deposits into a checking account at a supported bank
- A debit card matching your checking account
- Recent spending activity that Branch doesn’t consider “high”
Some of the companies that offer Branch include global workforce solutions provider Kelly, Cartwheel, tipping platform Tippy and SuperSalon.
To link Branch and Chime, you’ll need to do the following.
- Open up the Chime app and select Settings, then Payment Methods.
- Click on add bank or card and select Bank.
- Click Instant Verification (where you’ll receive an agreement to allow Chime to use Plaid to verify and link your Branch account).
- When you get to the ‘select your bank’ page, enter Branch in the search box.
- Enter the phone number listed with your Branch account.
- Wait for a text from Branch with a code.
- After entering the code, you’ll put in your personal Branch passcode
Click Next to finish linking your account and then return back to Chime. - To confirm the account, click Add.
Other “earned wage access” apps
Other popular earned wage access apps include:
- DailyPay (Chime tried to purchase DailyPay in late 2022 but was unsuccessful)
- Even
- PayActiv
- TapCheck
Your employer must offer these as a company benefit in order for you to be able to use them.
Unfortunately, none of these currently work with Chime.
These apps won’t work with Chime — at least for now
This list is constantly being updated and fluid as cash advance apps evolve and the market matures.
Brigit
Brigit is a cash advance app that also helps you manage your budget. Although the basic membership to Brigit is free, the free version won’t give you access to most of Brigit’s features. Brigit Plus costs $9.99 a month, and offers instant access to instant cash advances whenever you need them.
Unfortunately, due to connectivity issues, Brigit doesn’t work with Chime, Capital, Net Spend, and Varo. But some have reported that it can work for some old users but no longer supports new users due to connectivity issues.
Possible
Possible is limited to 20 specific states; you need a state-issued ID, three months of transaction history, and a positive checking account balance. The fees vary by state, and you can borrow up to $500 and be repaid in multiple payments over several pay periods. This app reports to the three major credit bureaus allowing you to build credit history.
Unfortunately, Possible says that it currently is not compatible with Chime.
What you need to know about Chime
Chime says it’s created a new approach to online banking with no monthly fee that helps you grow your savings automatically. When you open a bank account through Chime, you’ll get a Visa debit card, a spending account that can be managed entirely from your smartphone, and an optional savings account. The Chime app is available on both Android and iOS.
With direct deposit, Chime lets you access your paycheck up to two days early. It is technically not a bank but rather a financial technology company with banking services provided for them by third-party banks, which are FDIC members.
While Chime doesn’t offer a traditional credit card, it can help you build credit with its secured Credit Builder Credit Card. Qualifying is simple. You can enroll in the program after your first direct deposit of $200. Then you can move money from your Chime Spending Account into the Credit Builder account and set your own credit limit.
Chime uses Plaid
Chime uses a third-party provider called Plaid to facilitate external account linking and transfers. However, not all banks are compatible with Plaid. If you find you’re unable to connect your bank account with Chime, that could be the reason. Check with your bank to figure out whether there is a limitation. Chase, Capital One and PNC Bank are some of the major banks that won’t connect through Plaid. In this instance, if you want to utilize Chime’s features, you’ll have to set up a banking account and set up direct deposit straight to Chime. If you need a quick cash advance and your bank doesn’t work with Plaid, your options will be limited. These apps don’t require Plaid: B9, Venmo, Cash App Borrow, Branch, Line and Grid Money.
To learn more about the Chime Credit Builder Card, check out this video:
Pros and cons of Chime
Chime has quite a few benefits and drawbacks.
Pros
- Get access to funds up to two days in advance for your paycheck
- Better interest rate on savings account
- 38,000 +Free-ATM network
- Doesn’t charge fees to use your card abroad
- Mobile check deposit available through the app with direct deposit
- Easy to qualify and sign up
- FDIC insured, no minimum balance, no overdraft fees, no hidden fees
- Award-winning app with instant notifications and banking on the go
- It won’t impact your credit scores
Cons
- There are no physical locations
- You cannot hold a joint account
- They do not offer loans
- Fees for out of network ATMs can be high
- It can be expensive to deposit cash due to fees when you have to use a retail location
- Monies held in a cash app account are not FDIC insured
Why do some cash advance apps not work with Chime?
Chime doesn’t allow some ACH e-check payments, and some payment apps are incompatible with Chime because they are employer-sponsored. That means you can only use the service if your employer partners with them and offers it an employee benefit.
Cash advance apps: What you need to know
Cash advance apps — also called payday advance apps — allow you to tap into earnings you’ve already earned before your next payday. They are a digital equivalent of a payday loan provider and are known as earned or early wage access apps.
Does a cash advance app affect your credit score?
It doesn’t report your cash advance as if you took out a traditional loan, and there is no hard credit pull to affect your credit score. Your credit history will not reflect an actual loan. But it can hurt your credit score by adding more debt, pushing your debt-to-income ratio higher.
Pros
Cash advance apps have some key advantages — especially when compared to payday loans — but you have to use them smartly. Otherwise, the drawbacks may outweigh the benefits.
- Fees aren’t as high as typical payday loans
- A fast, convenient way to get extra cash
- Some apps can help users avoid overdraft fees and late fees
- It gives less stress and more control over your financial situation
- Some companies like Walmart and Kroger qualify you for Chime
- It avoids payday loans, title loans, black market lenders
- Some apps help with budgeting, saving, earning extra income, and money management
- Safer to use than other short-loan solutions
Cons
- They can encourage bad money habits
- They aren’t a permanent solution to overspending
- They operate without regulation
- They aren’t ideal for freelancers
- You’ll pay monthly fees
Why is a cash advance app better than a payday loan?
Cash advance apps are easy to use, simple to set up, and you can instantly get your funds with just a few taps on your phone. They give you an almost seamless infusion of cash until your next paycheck. They also don’t have the loan sharking fees and high interest rates associated with typical payday lenders, and some help pay bills and offer a safety net to cover expensive overdraft fees. The high costs of payday loans make repayment difficult and often lead to a second — and third, and fourth — loan. The interest rate on a short-term loan from a payday lender can be as high as 600%.
Best of all, there are no annoying, threatening phone calls to contend with because what you owe is automatically deducted from your account at the next pay period.
The bottom line
While this is a cheaper alternative to payday loans, you should avoid making it a habit of using these services. If it becomes a habit it can it can be detrimental to your long-term personal finance goals and lead to a debt trap. You might want to explore a more long-term solution such as credit counseling or a budgeting app (Mint is a good option).
And before using any cash advance app, you will want to make sure to check out each app review and general online reputation before deciding to do business with them.
FAQs
Yes, Chime works with Venmo, but there’s a limit of $15, and pay a 1.5% transfer fee for instant funding when you withdraw from Venmo to Chime.
Yes, Chime can receive money from Cash App if the linked bank accounts are correctly set up.
You must have a Chime spending account or checking account to open a Chime savings account. The spending or checking account is free with no monthly fees or minimum balances and access to 38,000+ fee-free ATMs. You will be issued a Visa debit card.
No physical checkbook is needed, and you can pay bills via the Chime Checkbook feature. This checking account is an FDIC-insured deposit that can receive direct deposits, ACH transfers, authorized withdrawals, and free peer-to-peer transfers and is compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
There is a $5,000 limit per payment/ $10,000 limit per calendar month, and a maximum external online bank transfer limited to $200/ day or $1,000/ month.
The Chime savings account pays .50% APY with no minimum or maximum balance requirements and automatic savings features. One feature rounds up transactions to the nearest dollar and puts the difference into your savings account. Another feature is automatically transferring a percentage of your paycheck directly into the savings account.
The main difference between these two is when it comes to saving money. SoFi keeps your checking and savings in one account, and Chime allows multiple separate accounts. Chime gives you a 0.50% APY on a savings account and 0% on checking. SoFi gives you 0.25% APY for both checking and savings.
