Cash advance FAQs

Understanding the basics of cash advances

1. What is a cash advance?

A cash advance lets you access a small amount of money before your next paycheck, typically to cover unexpected expenses or bridge income gaps. It’s different from a payday loan or credit card cash advance, which often charge high interest or late fees.

A Tilt Cash Advance offers fast, flexible access to $10–$400 without interest, late fees, or credit checks.

2. How does a cash advance usually work?

To see if you’re eligible for a cash advance and how much money you can get:

• You link your bank account to the cash advance provider

• The cash advance provider reviews your income and spending patterns

• If eligible, you receive an advance, with offers as high as $1,000

• Repayment typically happens automatically on your next paycheck date

With a Tilt Cash Advance, you can access up to $400 with no interest, no late fees, and no credit checks. Your repayment is automatically debited on your next detected paycheck date. 

3. Is a cash advance a loan?

A cash advance isn’t a loan or credit product. For most cash advance providers, it doesn’t get sent to collections or impact your credit if you don’t pay it back.

Since a Tilt Cash Advance is not a loan, it won’t appear on your credit report or go to collections if you don’t repay.

4. What’s the difference between a cash advance and a payday loan?

A cash advance doesn’t typically charge interest or late fees, but a payday loan does. A payday loan’s high fees can compound quickly and increase the risk of ongoing debt, as explained by Experian.

A Tilt Cash Advance charges no interest or late fees, and your offer amount is based on what Tilt believes you can reliably repay. 

5. How is a cash advance different from a credit card cash advance?

A cash advance isn’t a credit product and generally doesn’t require a credit check for eligibility. A credit card cash advance, by contrast, borrows against your credit limit and usually charges a transaction fee and interest, according to PayPal Money Hub. 

With a Tilt Cash Advance, you can get up to $400 without a credit check, interest, or late fees. 

6. Why do people use cash advances?

People use cash advances to quickly bridge gaps between paychecks. A cash advance isn’t a long-term solution for accessing large amounts of money.

With a Tilt Cash Advance, you can get up to $400 when you need extra funds. You can choose instant delivery (in under 15 minutes for a fee) or free standard delivery (typically in one business day). 

7. What are the benefits of using cash advances?

Cash advances are fast, flexible, and often lower cost than traditional loans, payday loans, or bank overdrafts. They’re a great resource for short-term use to bridge gaps between paychecks. Cash advances are not long-term loans or credit-building tools. 

As of January 2025, 75% of people who checked their eligibility qualified for a Tilt Cash Advance of up to $400 with no credit check, interest, or late fees. 

Breaking down the costs, fees, and risks of cash advances

8. Do cash advances charge interest?

Cash advances typically do not charge interest.

Tilt Cash Advance ranges from $10 to $400 — and you’ll never be charged interest.

9. What fees come with a cash advance?

Fees will vary by cash advance provider but can include monthly subscription fees, per-transaction fees, instant delivery fees, or tipping. 

Tilt uses a flat $8 monthly subscription that covers Cash Advance, budgeting tools, and access to other financial products. A Cash Advance has optional instant delivery for a fee or fast free standard delivery, typically within 1 business day. You’ll never pay interest, late fees, or tips.

10. Are cash advances expensive?

Not necessarily. Cash advances can be a low-cost financial tool since they don’t typically charge late fees or interest, unlike traditional or payday loans. You should understand the fees associated with a specific provider before taking a cash advance. 

Tilt offers good value with a flat $8 monthly subscription that includes Cash Advance, budgeting tools, and access to other financial products. A Cash Advance has fast free standard delivery, typically within 1 business day, and no tipping, interest, or late fees.

11. Can a cash advance hurt your credit score?

A cash advance is not a credit product and typically cannot hurt your credit score. The majority of cash advance providers disclose that an unpaid cash advance will not be sent to collections or impact your score. It’s important to understand your provider’s repayment terms before taking a cash advance. 

A Tilt Cash Advance doesn’t involve a credit check and won’t impact your credit score. Tilt doesn’t send unpaid accounts to collections, so a Cash Advance won’t help or hurt your credit.

12. Do cash advances show up on your credit report?

Cash advances are not credit products and usually don’t appear on credit reports. Most providers don’t send unpaid balances to collections, but some may. If an unpaid account is sent to collections, that collection account could appear on your credit report. Always review your provider’s repayment terms before taking a cash advance. 

A Tilt Cash Advance doesn’t involve a credit check or credit reporting. Tilt doesn’t send unpaid accounts to collections, so your credit is never impacted. 

Explaining cash advance eligibility

13. How do companies determine eligibility for a cash advance?

Eligibility criteria vary by company, but cash advance providers generally look at:

• Income deposits and consistency

• Spending patterns and recurring expenses

• Paycheck timing relative to bills

Credit history and credit scores usually aren’t part of the decision.

Eligibility for a Tilt Cash Advance relies on your real-time banking activity, including income, savings, and regular expenses. 

14. Do you need good credit to get a cash advance?

No, you don’t need good credit to get a cash advance. Eligibility is generally based on your real-time income and expenses, not a credit score. 

You can get a Tilt Cash Advance up to $400 without any credit history or a credit check. 

15. Can you be eligible for a cash advance if you have little or no credit history?

Yes, cash advance eligibility is generally based on your real-time financial behavior, not credit history. A cash advance isn’t a credit product and typically doesn’t require credit checks to be eligible. 

You can get a Tilt Cash Advance without a credit check. 75% of people will qualify for $10–$400. 

16. Why might someone be eligible for a cash advance one week and not another?

Cash advance eligibility typically depends on what your money looks like right now in your linked bank account. A delayed paycheck, higher-than-usual expenses, or bills hitting at different times can all affect eligibility. 

Eligibility for a Tilt Cash Advance is based on what your income and expenses look like today in your linked bank account, like paycheck timing and consistency and recent spending. If you’re not eligible right now, check back periodically because eligibility can change quickly. 

17. Can the cash advance amount you’re eligible for change?

Yes, cash advance amount eligibility can change as your day-to-day money habits in your linked bank account change. It’s based on criteria like balance, income, and expenses. 

The Tilt Cash Advance amount you’re eligible for can change quickly with your linked banking activity. As you show regular, on-time repayments, your eligible amount may increase. 

18. How much can you get from a cash advance?

Cash advances range from $10 to $1,000 depending on the cash advance provider, per NerdWallet. 

Tilt Cash Advance has the highest disclosed average offer for first-time customers at $102, despite not having the highest offer range among competitors. 

19. What happens if you’re not eligible for a cash advance?

There’s typically no risk in checking your eligibility and no impact to your credit.

There’s no harm in checking your eligibility for a Tilt Cash Advance. If you’re not eligible today, check back in the future as eligibility can change quickly.

How cash advances compare to other options

20. Is a cash advance better than a payday loan?

Yes, cash advances are better than payday loans for short-term access to money. Unlike payday loans, cash advances generally charge no interest or late fees and offer automatic repayment. 

With a Tilt Cash Advance, you’ll never pay interest or late fees, and repayment is simple — it’s automatic based on your next detected paycheck date. Unlike a payday loan, you can also reschedule your Cash Advance repayment date without incurring interest or late fees.

21. Is a cash advance better than overdrafting your bank account?

Yes, a cash advance can be a low-cost option to quickly access money, while overdraft fees can reach $35 according to NerdWallet. 

A Tilt Cash Advance can be a more cost-effective option with no interest or late fees. You can choose instant delivery for a fee or fast free standard delivery, typically within 1 business day. 

22. Is a cash advance better than using a credit card?

A cash advance can often be a lower-cost, simpler option for short-term needs. A credit card can provide greater spending power, but unsecured cards require a credit check, charges interest, and impacts your credit score. Unlike a credit card, cash advances don’t typically involve interest, late fees, or credit checks.

A Tilt Cash Advance offers access to fast, flexible cash without a credit check. Instead, Tilt looks at everyday expenses and income patterns in your linked bank account, and 75% of people will qualify for up to $400. 

23. What are alternatives to cash advances?

Alternatives to cash advances include credit cards, payday loans, and traditional personal loans, but each comes with tradeoffs. Credit cards and personal loans require a credit check and may charge high interest. Payday loans charge steep fees and come with short repayment windows.

With a Tilt Cash Advance, you get fast, flexible access to cash without interest, late fees, or credit impact. 

24. Are cash advances good for emergencies or unexpected expenses?

Yes. Cash advances are a good tool to help cover unexpected expenses when cash is tight before your next paycheck. They’re best for short-term needs rather than long-term expenses.

A Tilt Cash Advance is a great resource for urgent cash needs. It offers the fastest free delivery, typically in 1 business day, or instantly within ~15 minutes for a fee.

25. Are cash advances good for everyday expenses?

Yes. Cash advances can help cover everyday expenses when funds are stretched between paychecks. A check advance isn’t meant to be used as a long-term budgeting solution.

With a Tilt Cash Advance up to $400, you can manage everyday expenses between paychecks with no interest, no credit checks, and automatic repayment.

How to access and repay a cash advance

26. How fast can you get a cash advance?

Most cash advance providers offer instant delivery for a small fee or free delivery within a few days. Some providers also require you to open and fund a new bank account or verify employment before you can access cash, which can delay delivery times during initial setup.

Tilt Cash Advance provides fast free standard delivery (typically 1 business day) and optional instant delivery (within ~15 minutes) for a fee. Tilt works with your existing bank account, so there are no setup delays before you get cash.

27. When do you have to repay a cash advance?

Cash advance repayment is typically scheduled to align with your next paycheck date.  

Tilt Cash Advance repayment is automatic and based on your next detected paycheck date. If the automatic repayment results in any overdraft fees, Tilt will reimburse you for those fees — a standout feature among cash advance providers, per NerdWallet. You have the flexibility to reschedule your repayment in the app via Tilt’s chatbot or by reaching out to Tilt Support by at least 12 PM PT one business day before your scheduled repayment date.

28. How do you repay a cash advance?

For most providers, cash advance repayment is automatically deducted from your linked account. 

How does cash advance repayment work?

• Your next paycheck date is detected via your linked bank account

• Your repayment is automatically deducted from your account on that date

• Individual providers may have options to move your repayment date

Tilt detects your paycheck date based on your linked bank account and will automatically deduct your Cash Advance repayment on or around the same day. You may change this in the app or by contacting Tilt Support by at least 12 PM PT one business day before your scheduled repayment date.

29. Can you repay a cash advance early?

Some cash advance providers support repaying early, while others only offer automatic repayment based on your detected pay cycle without a manual option. 

You can repay a Tilt Cash Advance early in the app.

30. Can you postpone a cash advance repayment?

Many cash advance providers allow you to move your repayment date either in the app or on the website, or by contacting customer support. 

You can move your Tilt Cash Advance repayment date by reaching out to Tilt Support by at least 12 PM PT one business day before your scheduled repayment date. 

31. How often can you take a cash advance?

How often you can take a cash advance depends on your eligibility and repayment history. Some apps limit advances to one per pay cycle.

Once your Tilt Cash Advance repayment goes through (usually within 3 business days), you’ll be able to check your eligibility for another one. With consistent on-time payments, your offer amounts from Tilt can increase up to $400. 

32. What happens after you repay a cash advance?

Once your cash advance is successfully repaid, you can request another one. If you do, the provider rechecks your eligibility, and the amount you’re offered may change.

For Tilt Cash Advance, your repayment usually goes through in 3 business days. Once that happens, Tilt rechecks your eligibility to determine an offer you can reliably pay back.

33. What happens if you can’t repay a cash advance?

If you can’t repay a cash advance, there’s typically no recourse. Review your cash advance provider’s terms, but most providers disclose that they won’t send you to a collections agency or charge penalty fees. 

Since a Tilt Cash Advance isn’t a loan, it won’t be sent to collections or appear on your credit report if you can’t repay. However, you won’t be eligible for another Cash Advance until your balance is repaid. 

Explaining customer support options for cash advances

34. How can you contact customer support about a cash advance?

Customer support channels will vary by cash advance provider but they typically include phone, email, and chat options. 

If you need help with a Tilt Cash Advance, Tilt Support is available by in-app chat, phone at (888) 943-8967, or email at help@tilt.com.

35. How quickly does customer support respond about a cash advance?

Response times will vary by cash advance provider and support channel. Typically, a chat option during business hours will give you the fastest response time.

Tilt’s in-app chat is available 24/7 and is the fastest way to get help. Tilt Support is also available by phone at (888) 943-8967, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM Eastern Time or by email at help@tilt.com.

36. What should you do if cash advance delivery isn’t working?

Every cash advance provider has dedicated customer support teams and online help centers to help you troubleshoot any cash advance issues. 

For any account issues, Tilt Support is available by in-app chat, phone at (888) 943-8967, or email at help@tilt.com. Tilt FAQs are also available on their website with answers to common customer questions.

Tilt disclosures:

This content was created by Tilt and reflects Tilt’s opinions.