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Cheaper options to check before a cash advance
None of these pay us. They're here because they often cost less.
A credit-union payday alternative loan
Federal credit unions may offer two kinds of small Payday Alternative Loans (PALs), set by the regulator, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA):
- PAL I: $200–$1,000, repaid over 1–6 months. You must have been a member for at least a month.
- PAL II: up to $2,000, repaid over 1–12 months. Available as soon as you join.
Both are capped at 28% a year (the NCUA's general 18% ceiling plus 10 points), with an application fee of no more than $20. There are no rollovers, and you can take at most three in six months.
How to find one: search for credit unions you can join (by where you live, work or worship) and ask whether they offer a "PAL" or "payday alternative loan". Not every credit union does.
The rule (12 CFR 701.21) · NCUA announcement · Find a credit union
A pay advance through your employer
This is "earned wage access" offered as a workplace benefit. It lets you take out part of the pay you've already worked for before payday, and it's deducted from your next paycheck. It isn't a loan against future pay, and there's usually no subscription.
Fees are typically low. For example, DailyPay's standard transfer (1–3 business days) is free, and an immediate transfer costs $3.49. Ask your HR or payroll team whether your employer offers it; they rarely advertise it.
Ask the bill for more time
If the money is for a specific bill, ask the company for a payment plan or a due-date extension before borrowing. Utilities, phone and internet providers, hospitals and many landlords have hardship or payment-plan options. Ask for the exact new date and any fee in writing. For help with rent, utilities or food, dialling 211 connects you to local assistance programmes in most of the US.
Borrow from family or a friend, in writing
A loan from someone you know can cost nothing, but misunderstandings about when and how it's repaid are common. Writing down the amount, the repayment dates, any interest and what happens if a payment is missed protects both of you.
Make a free agreement or IOU: a plain, signable agreement with a repayment schedule and calendar reminders. We never hold or move the money.