Direct Cash Advance Loans Vs. Earned Wage Access: 6 Options Compared

You need to buy groceries and bills are due in a few days, but you don't get paid for another week. Having some cash to bridge that gap could be really good right about now. But you don't have time for long processes or slow approval times. Instead, you'd like to work with a lender that could offer you cash ASAP — with minimal fees.

Most likely, conducting an online search will yield you cash advance loan apps or aggregates — but not direct lenders, which can cut out the middle man when choosing a loan. To help you narrow down the field, we compare three options for direct cash advance loans — plus three alternatives that give access to your earned wages. Discover the pros and cons of each and some best practices on how to choose the right path for you.

What is a direct cash advance loan?

With a direct cash advance loan, a lender funds the short-term loan directly to you.

These types of loans are often referred to as short-term personal loans or fast cash advance loans. You’ll typically only be able to borrow a small amount with these loans — such as up to $500. The loan may also have short repayment terms and charge extra fees to get the cash faster.

Direct cash advance loans are different from affiliate networks or payday loan aggregators that give you a list of cash advance loan lenders. These online platforms let you pick from a list, and the aggregator or affiliate network will earn a small commission from the lender.

What makes a lender “direct”?

A direct lender is one where you don’t have to work with middlemen or brokers in order to take out a loan — you’re working directly with the lender. You submit the application to them, and the lender's own employees review your paperwork to assess your eligibility.

The lender is also the one that either approves or denies your loan. And — if you get approved — the lender releases the funds directly into your account.

Working with a direct lender for a fast cash advance loan can be more streamlined because you know exactly what you’re getting. For example, the fees and any interest charges you might need to pay are usually more transparent. With aggregators, you may not find out this information until much later. Plus, direct lenders may offer faster funding than other, indirect options.

3 direct cash advance loans compared

Here are three lenders that offer fast cash advance loans that borrowers can use. Below are the different fees, loan amounts, and eligibility requirements for each.

1. Fifth Third Bank MyAdvance

Loan amount: $50 to $1,000
Funding time: Available almost instantly 24/7
Repayment terms: Loan is repaid on your next qualified direct deposit
Fees: 3% to 5% depending on length of enrollment in the program

Cash advance loans from Fifth Third bank act like a line of credit and are only available to those that have a Momentum® checking account, which is also where the loan gets funded. The amount you can borrow is based on your direct deposit amount during the past 35 days. As for fees, the longer you have your line of credit open, the lower they are.

2. Varo Advance

Loan amount: $20 to $500
Funding time: Immediately upon approval
Repayment terms: 30 days, or choose between 15 to 30 days if you want to pick an auto-repayment date
Fees: $1.60 to $40

Varo Advance allows you to borrow small amounts and the initial maximum amount is $250. You can increase the amount up to $500 over time. This loan is a little different from the others in that you can choose the exact date you pay the money back. The flat fee increases the more you borrow.

3. Brigit

Loan amount: $25 to $250
Funding time: One to three business days, or faster for an additional fee
Repayment terms: Repay by your next payday
Fees: $0 to $14.99 per month

Brigit connects to your main checking account to fund your loan and doesn’t charge any interest. You can request a cash advance for free, but you will need to email them each time. This can be a holdup if you want cash fast and have to wait for Brigit's response.

Otherwise, you can pay the monthly membership fee to access the cash advance feature — with the higher tier giving you instant funding.

How to choose the right cash advance option for you

The best cash advance option is based on your needs and preferences. For example, if you want to pay as little fees as possible, Varo Advance or Brigit could work for you. Or, if getting cash fast is your highest priority, then consider looking at lenders who offer quick payout options with low fees.

Watch the fees — fast doesn’t mean free

As you can see from the direct cash advance lenders above, accessing funds fast can come at a price. Most use common fee models like a flat fee or subscriptions. For example, Varo charges a flat fee based on the advance amount, whereas Brigit has two subscription tiers.

What’s more, if you need a one-time funding solution, direct lenders may be a fine option — since the fees may not be that much on occasion. However, if you need financial help more often, there are also other solutions to consider.

A smarter alternative: EarnIn and other EWA apps

Earned wage access (EWA) apps, like EarnIn, Dave, and MoneyLion, offer you a way to access the cash you’ve already earned with no mandatory fees and no interest.³

Since you don’t pay interest — and are not at risk of needing to pay late fees — EWA apps can be a safer alternative to direct cash advance loans. Here are three:

1. EarnIn

Amount: Get up to $150/day, with a max of $750 per pay period¹
Funding time: In minutes to three business days
Repayment terms: Automatically withdraws the borrowed amount from your linked bank account on your next payday
Fees: Expedited funding fees and optional tips

Get up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays with EarnIn's Cash Out¹ tool. There are no mandatory fees. However, you can tip² the app if you feel so inclined. Since the money is due to be paid back when your next payday hits, you should have the money in your account to cover the amount.

You also have the option to get money the same day with EarnIn's Lightning Speed³ feature. Funds can go directly to your debit card — with no credit checks. Fees start at $3.99 for this service. Simply download the app and set up your account.

2. Dave

Amount: $25 to $500
Funding time: Instantly to three business days
Repayment terms: Due on an agreed-upon “settlement” date
Fees: Varies based on the service you want

With Dave, you can choose where you get your cash; there's no interest; and you have a few options for how fast you want it. There is no fee if you send funds to your Dave checking account or another bank account — if you're comfortable getting your money within three business days. If you need the cash within an hour, you’ll need to pay 1.5% of the amount transferred. You may also have to pay late fees if you don’t have the money in your account by your payment due date.

3. MoneyLion Instacash

Amount: Up to $1,000
Funding time: One to five business days, or in minutes for a fee
Repayment terms: Automatic repayment with your next paycheck
Fees: Expedited funding fees and optional tips

MoneyLion's Instacash doesn't charge interest or fees unless you want your funds within minutes. The fee you’ll pay is based on the cash advance amount, which can be as high as $8.99. You can only borrow up to $500 — unless you sign up for MoneyLion’s checking account.

A comparison chart for direct cash advance loans and earned wage access (EWA)

Lender	Type	Funding speed	Repayment terms	Fees and transparency
Fifth Third Bank MyAdvance	Direct lender	Same-day, 24/7 deposit into eligible Fifth Third accounts	Automatically repaid from your next qualified direct deposit	Flat fee disclosed at time of advance, which is either 3% or 5%
Varo Advance	Direct lender	Immediate deposit into your Varo bank account	Choose auto-repayment date from 15 to 30 days to repay in full	Transparent flat fee from $1.60 to $40 based on advance amount; fees are shown before you confirm the loan
Brigit	Direct lender	Standard transfers are one to three business days; express transfers within 20 minutes	Can choose repayment date and reschedule repayment date up to three times for free	Subscription required, either $8.99 or $14.99 per month with no additional fees
Dave	EWA	Three business days with ACH transfers, one hour with Dave checking account or external debit card	Choose a “settlement” date and partial payments may be accepted if you have insufficient funds	No interest or late fees with optional 1.5% fee for fast transfer; monthly membership fee up to $5
MoneyLion Instacash EarnIn	EWA EWA	Standard transfers are one to five business days; express is within minutes Standard transfers are one to three business days; expedited transfers in minutes (for a small fee)	Automatic repayment on next payday but need to repay in full to borrow again Automatic repayment from your linked bank account on your next payday	Optional tipping and express funding fee from $0.49 to $8.99 No interest or mandatory fees for standard service, just optional tipping²; Lightning Speed³ pays out in minutes (fees starting at $3.99)

As of August 6, 2025

Fast access to cash doesn’t have to mean high cost

Getting a direct cash advance from a lender can be fast but it’s not always the cheapest option. Fees, subscriptions, and repayment terms can vary widely, so it’s worth comparing more than just funding speed.

EarnIn lets you access your earnings without loans, interest, or late fees.³ You’re essentially tapping into money you’ve already earned. It can be a smarter, more flexible way to cover expenses.

Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.

This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.

EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by our bank partners on certain products other than Cash Out.

¹A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits ("Daily Max" and "Pay Period Max") based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.

EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.

²
Tips go to EarnIn and help us provide tools such as Credit Monitoring for free and keep Lightning Speed fees low. Your service quality and availability aren’t affected by whether you tip or not.

³
Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. Lightning Speed may not be available in all states and/or to all customers. Restrictions and terms apply. See the Lightning Speed Fee Table for details.