LendUp restructured in July 2022, becoming a connection service to connect borrowers with lenders that offer the following short-term financing:
- Bad-credit loans
- Credit cards
- Emergency loans
- Installment loans
- Payday loans
- Same-day loans
The service gives you 24/7 access through its app and can have your loan funded either same-day or within a single business day. It also claims to work with poor credit borrowers. But the service is only offered in 29 states, and as LendUp isn’t an actual lender, potential fees and details of your loan offers aren’t transparent on its website until after you’ve applied and been approved.
While LendUp’s structure has changed, it might be useful to compare other cash advance apps to what LendUp can offer, so you can decide which is best for you.
Our top 5 picks like LendUp
Alternative for frequent advances
Cleo
Cleo enforces a 24-hour cooling-off period between loans, allowing you a new advance only one day after paying off your previous advance. This is way faster than other cash advance apps that make you wait three to five days between advances. Cleo also lets you reschedule your payment due date once, if your finances change.
On the downside, you can only request a cash advance through the app if you’re subscribed, which costs $5.99 per month. But you can request an advance through Cleo customer service for free. The app charges $3.99 to fund the advance same-day.
| Loan Amount | $20 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. |
| Costs | $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances |
| Loan Amount | $20 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 3 to 4 days or instant for a fee. |
| Costs | $5.99 monthly membership fee to access cash advances |
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Alternative for investment advice
Albert
Albert is a banking app that offers free pay advances up to $1,000 with a two- or three-day turnaround. But if you want your funds same-day, it will set you back $6. But what makes Albert different is its Genius feature. Genius is an AI-driven, human-supported service that can answer your financial questions and help you build an investment portfolio with just a few details.
Be aware that Albert requires you to sign up for a 30-day free trial of Genius, which costs Optional $14.99 monthly subscription to access budgeting and basic savings to $16 a month if you don’t cancel during the free trial — and some users report having difficulty canceling their subscription. This makes Albert best for people who want its built-in Genius service as part of their cash advance app experience.
| Loan Amount | $25 – $1,000 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
| Costs | Optional $14.99 monthly subscription to access budgeting and basic savings |
| Loan Amount | $25 – $1,000 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Instant |
| Costs | Optional $14.99 monthly subscription to access budgeting and basic savings |
Read review
Alternative for repayment flexibility
Brigit
Brigit is a cash advance offering up to $250 per pay period. Brigit is one of the few apps that let you extend your due date if you need extra time to repay. To get an extension, you’ll need to have two previous consecutive on-time payments — and you can store up to three extensions at a time for later use.
To get cash advances, you must sign up for Brigit’s paid subscription, which costs $8.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee a month. While pricier than some other apps, this fee includes Brigit’s credit builder program, overdraft protection and $1 million in identity theft protection.
| Loan Amount | $50 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. |
| Costs | Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month |
| Loan Amount | $50 – $250 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | 1 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee. |
| Costs | Brigit Plus: $8.99/month; Brigit Premium: $14.99/month |
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Alternative if you’re a gig worker
Cash App
Cash App Borrow is a feature inside of Cash App that’s available to select users. It’s still in pilot mode, which means not everyone will see this option inside the app interface. But if you’re chosen to use it, you can potentially borrow up to $200 — but you’ll pay a 5% finance fee on the amount borrowed.
Eligibility requirements for Cash App Borrow aren’t clear, but some report getting access to it after uploading cash to Cash App and sending payments. Some say they can access the feature without having direct deposits or a job. So, if you get paid in cash only, Cash App Borrow could work better for you than other cash advance apps that require proof of direct deposits to qualify.
| Loan Amount | $20 – $200 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Same day |
| Costs | 5% flat fee |
| Loan Amount | $20 – $200 |
|---|---|
| Turnaround time | Same day |
| Costs | 5% flat fee |
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Alternative for building your credit
Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans
Possible Finance is an online lender that offers quick-turnaround, short-term installment loans up to $500. It’s geared towards bad credit borrowers and doesn’t require a credit check. But APRs can hit 460% APR, making it best for emergency borrowing only when you need a little extra time to repay.
Unlike cash advance apps, which take repayment from your next paycheck, Possible Finance offers repayment terms up to eight weeks. Like LendUp promised to do but didn’t, Possible Finance reports your payments to two of the three major credit bureaus, which could help boost your credit. But taking out too many loans in a short time could lower your score.
| Loan Amount | $50 – $500 |
|---|---|
| APR | 150% to 460% |
| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
- Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
| Loan Amount | $50 – $500 |
|---|---|
| APR | 150% to 460% |
| Turnaround time | As fast as 1 business day |
Read review
What happened to LendUp?
LendUp stopped offering loans in January 2022 due to a lawsuit filed against it by the CFPB, which ended its misleading lending practices. The most recent lawsuit from August 2021 revolved around LendUp violating a 2016 consent order to stop misleading consumers with false claims about the benefits of repeated borrowing. There have also been lawsuits against LendUp in the past.
In December 2020, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against LendUp, accusing it of violating the Military Lending Act (MLA) by charging active-duty service members and their dependents APRs over the legal limit of 36%. It also states that LendUp allegedly included an arbitration clause in its contracts — which is against the MLA — and failed to make required disclosures.
Luckily, LendUp has been able to shift its focus under new management. Here’s a quick recap of the alternatives:
