MoneyLion App Review

MoneyLion’s Instacash feature lets you tap into your upcoming paycheck for as little as $10 and as much as $1,000 without paying interest, passing a credit check, or getting tangled up in a traditional payday loan. The advance is labeled “non-recourse,” so missed payments don’t land on your credit report and there’s no monthly membership fee to worry about; only optional tips or a Turbo delivery charge if you want the money in minutes.

Most first-time users start with an advance cap of up to $500, but routing your direct deposit to a MoneyLion RoarMoney account can bump that ceiling to the full $1,000. MoneyLion looks for at least two months of steady direct deposits, a positive balance, and good account activity in a checking account that’s in your name and in good standing.

Funding is free if you’re okay with waiting: expect 1–2 business days for RoarMoney or 2–5 days for an external bank. Need cash now? Turbo delivery hits your debit card in minutes for about $0.49–$8.99 per $100. Repayment happens automatically on your next payday (or the date you pick) and MoneyLion will even split or reschedule the debit if your pay cycle is a little messy.

MoneyLion might work well for you if:

• Fee-free advance: You can wait a day or two for a standard transfer and want a 0 % interest advance with no mandatory membership costs
• Regular pay: Your paycheck hits the same checking account every pay period, so MoneyLion can automatically collect on your next payday
• RoarMoney perks: You’re happy to send direct deposits to a RoarMoney account to unlock up to $1,000 in Instacash and get paid up to two days early
• Small draws: Grabbing up to $100 at a time, as often as needed, fits your spending style
• Avoid overdrafts: Partial repayments when your balance is low help prevent overdraft fees

When MoneyLion might not be a good fit:

• Need cash now: Instant Turbo delivery can cost up to $8.99 per $100, so urgent funding gets pricey
• Irregular income: No steady, verifiable direct deposits makes qualifying tough
• New account: A checking account that’s less than two months old or often dips negative may fail MoneyLion’s eligibility checks

MoneyLion Instacash requirements:

1. Age & state: Be at least your state’s age of majority and live in a location MoneyLion supports.
2. ID verify: Pass MoneyLion’s identity and account-ownership checks.
3. Bank account: Link a personal checking account that’s been open 2+ months, stays positive, and sees regular activity.
4. Direct deposits: Show ongoing, verifiable paycheck deposits (the steadier the flow, the better your chances).
5. Good standing: Keep no unpaid Instacash balance, overdue Turbo fees, or late Credit Builder Plus loan payments; routing your pay to a MoneyLion RoarMoney account can unlock higher limits.

MoneyLion doesn’t run hard or soft credit pulls, so approval hinges on your banking habits—not your credit score.

Pick the speed that fits your situation:

• Free standard delivery drops the money in your MoneyLion RoarMoney account in 1–2 business days, or in any linked checking account in 2–5 business days.
• Turbo delivery costs a small, one-time fee and lands the cash in minutes—$0.49–$6.99 if you send it to RoarMoney, or $1.99–$8.99 if you send it to an external bank, with the exact price tied to the size of your advance (about $5–$100).

MoneyLion grabs the money back automatically when your next paycheck lands. Keep in mind:

1. Typical due date: The app shows your repayment date at checkout and it’s usually your next direct-deposit payday.
2. Schedule changes: Need more time? Push the date back or split it into two repayments if you’ve taken multiple draws in one pay period.
3. How it collects: On that date MoneyLion auto-debits the advance plus any optional Turbo fee or tip; if cash is low it’ll try smaller partial pulls and may tap other payment methods you’ve saved.
4. If unpaid: You can pay early or cancel the debit at least three business days ahead. Not paying just pauses new advances—MoneyLion won’t charge interest, send collectors, or report you to credit bureaus unless there’s fraud.

MoneyLion packs a few extra perks around its Instacash advances that can make borrowing (and paying it back) feel more flexible.

Boosts and higher limits

Everybody starts with up to $500, but routing your paycheck to a RoarMoney account can push the ceiling to $1,000. You can also snag small, temporary “Boosts” in-app—plus a monthly Peer Boost—that add a few extra bucks to your available limit.

Delivery options and cost

Standard deposits are free: 1–2 business days to RoarMoney or 2–5 days to any linked bank account. Need cash now? Turbo delivers to your debit card or bank within minutes for roughly $0.49–$6.99 when sending to RoarMoney or $1.99–$8.99 to an external account (based on each $5–$100 you pull). Tips are totally optional.

Easy repayment with no credit hit

MoneyLion automatically pulls the advance on your next payday and, if your balance is low, tries smaller partial debits to help dodge overdraft fees. The advance never shows up on your credit report, and there’s no hard or soft credit check to get started. Using RoarMoney can also unlock early paycheck access and round-up savings that may raise your Instacash limit over time.