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MoneyLion presents a paycheck advance to customers who present a historical past of standard direct deposits from their employer. There’s no obligatory charges for this service, and advances are repaid mechanically in your subsequent payday.
On this evaluation, I cowl how the MoneyLion app works, what it prices, who qualifies and the way it compares to related money advance apps.
⚠️ Earlier than you borrow
Money advance apps can appear to be a fast and straightforward option to get cash. However since most apps cost charges, you’ll doubtless find yourself owing greater than you initially borrowed. This could lure you in a cycle of repeat borrowing that’s onerous to interrupt.
At a look: MoneyLion app money advance
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Quantities obtainable |
$10 to $500 (as much as $1,000 for some MoneyLion customers) |
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Free supply |
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Categorical supply timing and costs |
Immediately to an exterior or RoarMoney account: $0.49 to $8.99 |
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Obligatory charges |
No obligatory charges |
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Eligibility necessities |
Should present 60 days of historical past and no less than three recurring direct deposits from the identical employer in your checking account |
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Reimbursement |
Robotically withdrawn on the date MoneyLion determines to be your subsequent payday |
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State availability |
Undisclosed |
MoneyLion works by supplying you with an advance in your paycheck as much as $500. This characteristic is named MoneyLion Instacash.
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You’ll first must obtain the MoneyLion cellular app and create an account together with your electronic mail handle. You’ll be requested to hyperlink your major checking account.
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After requesting an advance, you’ll obtain the funds in a single to 5 enterprise days, relying on the place you will have the cash deposited.
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In case you have a RoarMoney account (MoneyLion’s model of a checking account), it could take as much as two enterprise days. For an exterior checking account, it could take as much as 5 enterprise days.
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In case you want the cash sooner, you may pay a “turbo supply” charge, and the cash will likely be deposited within the account of your selecting inside minutes.
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You’ll then repay the advance quantity, plus any charges or suggestions, on the date of your subsequent payday.
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You’ll be able to request a later cost date or defer cost for as much as two weeks. Deferment is allowed as soon as per reimbursement cycle.
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In case you don’t come up with the money for in your account, MoneyLion will try partial reimbursement, withdrawing what you will have obtainable till you’re caught up. You received’t be capable to use Instacash once more till your advance is totally repaid.
Prospects can entry bigger advances in the event that they decide into different MoneyLion merchandise. For instance, if you happen to add a MoneyLion credit score builder mortgage with disbursement, you may stand up to $700. In case you swap your direct deposits to a RoarMoney account, you may stand up to $1,000.
How a lot does MoneyLion price?
MoneyLion Instacash doesn’t have any obligatory charges.
If you would like the advance funds instantly, you’ll pay a turbo supply charge starting from $0.49 to $8.99. The quantity depends upon the scale of the advance and the place you need the cash deposited. Smaller advances deposited in a RoarMoney account have the bottom turbo charges.
MoneyLion requests an non-obligatory tip for its service, which not all money advance apps do. NerdWallet recommends avoiding tipping for a money advance with the intention to cut back prices.
🤔 What does that actually price?
MoneyLion is a reliable monetary providers firm. Right here’s what we all know:
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On the time of scripting this evaluation, MoneyLion just isn’t accredited by the Higher Enterprise Bureau.
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The MoneyLion app is rated 4.5 stars on Google Play (212,000 critiques) and 4.8 stars on the App Retailer (309,000 critiques).
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In November 2025, the Shopper Monetary Safety Bureau reached a $1.75 million settlement with MoneyLion after accusing the corporate of violating the Army Lending Act , which primarily protects servicemembers from high-interest loans.
Although MoneyLion has principally optimistic critiques on the app shops, the latest penalty from the CFPB is price noting, notably for servicemembers.
Who qualifies for MoneyLion?
To qualify for MoneyLion Instacash, you’ll want to satisfy the next necessities:
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Should be a United States resident.
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Should be no less than 18 years previous.
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Should present your full authorized title and have a legitimate and distinctive electronic mail handle.
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Should open a RoarMoney Demand Deposit Account or hyperlink an exterior checking account and related debit card to your Instacash account.
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The exterior checking account should be no less than 60 days previous, obtain common revenue deposits and be registered in your title.
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Should present no less than three recurring direct deposits from the identical employer on a constant schedule (weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or month-to-month).
Identification verification could also be required, so MoneyLion suggests preserving a photograph ID close by. You might also must snap an image of your self.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
To maximise your Instacash restrict, it’s best to preserve a optimistic stability in your linked checking account and pay again all earlier Instacash advances in full and on time (which means by the unique due date).
Execs and cons of utilizing MoneyLion
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Affords massive advances: MoneyLion’s money advance quantities could enable you to pay for a big surprising expense. Customers with an exterior checking account can entry as much as $500, however if you happen to open a RoarMoney account, you may qualify for as much as $1,000. This most is increased than most of MoneyLion’s opponents.
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No obligatory charges: Not like different money advance apps, MoneyLion has no obligatory charges, so that you received’t pay something further to obtain a portion of your paycheck early. The one charge is an non-obligatory Turbo supply charge, which you’ll be able to keep away from by selecting the usual supply possibility.
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Disbursement limits: Along with your total advance restrict, MoneyLion imposes a disbursement restrict, which is the sum of money you may request at one time. Your disbursement restrict could also be lower than your advance restrict, so that you’ll need to make a number of requests. For instance, in case your total credit score restrict is $300, however your disbursement restrict is $150, you would wish to take out two advances to get the total $300. In case you want the cash instantly, this will increase the price, because you’ll pay Turbo supply charges on each.
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Sluggish funding time: In case you hyperlink an exterior checking account to get an Instacash advance, MoneyLion could take as much as 5 enterprise days to deposit the cash in your account. That is for much longer than different money advance apps, which have a tendency to vow funds in a single to 3 days, even with an exterior account.
MoneyLion vs. EarnIn vs. Brigit
Evaluate MoneyLion to different money advance apps like EarnIn and Brigit, which fund advances sooner, however could produce other drawbacks.
Brigit presents advances as much as $500, additionally with sooner funding than MoneyLion. However you’ll pay a dear membership charge except you electronic mail Brigit to decide out.
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MoneyLion |
EarnIn |
Brigit |
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Max advance |
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Obligatory charges |
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Free supply |
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Categorical supply |
Alternate options to utilizing MoneyLion
There are different methods to get fast money apart from taking out a money advance.
Discover different methods to make cash: As an alternative of borrowing cash, take into account a brief gig to cowl small gaps in your price range. You may make cash at residence or on-line by promoting stuff you don’t want, taking surveys and testing web sites, amongst different choices.
Obtain a BNPL app: In case you want money to buy an important merchandise, like a laptop computer or mattress, “purchase now, pay later” apps like Affirm and Klarna could also be a superb possibility. These apps break up your buy into smaller installments, often with no curiosity and no charges if you happen to pay on time, and also you don’t want good credit score to qualify.
Take out a pal or household mortgage: Family and friends are sometimes an untapped useful resource for small loans. Although it could be troublesome to ask for assist, you may make it simpler by drawing up a contract that clearly lists once you’ll repay the mortgage and if you happen to’ll pay curiosity.
Think about a pawnshop mortgage: A pawnshop mortgage permits you to borrow cash by utilizing a priceless merchandise, like jewellery or electronics, as collateral. You permit the merchandise with the pawnshop and obtain a mortgage primarily based on the merchandise’s worth. In case you repay the mortgage, together with charges, by the due date, you get your merchandise again. In case you don’t repay, the store retains the merchandise.
Steadily Requested Questions
What’s MoneyLion Instacash?
Instacash is a money advance product supplied by the cellular app MoneyLion. It permits you to borrow as much as $500 in your subsequent paycheck, with free supply in a single to 5 enterprise days. If you would like sooner funding, you’ll must pay a charge as much as $8.99. Some MoneyLion customers could have entry to money advance quantities as excessive as $1,000.
Does MoneyLion do a credit score verify?
MoneyLion doesn’t do a credit score verify for its Instacash product. It additionally doesn’t report Instacash reimbursement to the credit score bureaus, so there’s no impact in your credit score rating.
Does MoneyLion work for gig employees?
So long as you present constant revenue from the identical employer, MoneyLion could approve gig employees for an Instacash advance. This revenue should be instantly deposited in your checking account on a daily schedule, which means weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or month-to-month.
What’s the distinction between MoneyLion Instacash and a MoneyLion Credit score Builder mortgage?
MoneyLion Instacash is a money advance product that permits you to borrow out of your upcoming paycheck. A MoneyLion credit score builder mortgage is a sort of installment mortgage that reserves some or the entire mortgage funds in a separate account till you’ve paid off the mortgage. Then, any remaining mortgage funds and curiosity are disbursed to your checking account. Your mortgage funds are additionally reported to the credit score bureaus, which might help you construct your credit score rating.
What occurs if you cannot repay MoneyLion on time?
MoneyLion doesn’t cost curiosity or charges if you happen to can’t repay an Instacash advance. Nevertheless, you’ll lose entry to the service till you’re caught up. In case you want extra time, MoneyLion presents the choice to both change your cost due date or defer cost for as much as two weeks.
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