MoneyLion App Review 2026
MoneyLion is a financial super-app offering cash advances (Instacash), mobile banking (RoarMoney), investing, and credit building. With so many features, is MoneyLion a jack of all trades or a master of none? We tested every feature to find out.
What Is MoneyLion?
MoneyLion is a fintech platform founded in 2013. It offers four main products: Instacash (cash advances), RoarMoney (mobile banking), investment accounts, and Credit Builder Plus. The app aims to be a one-stop financial solution for people who want banking, borrowing, and investing in one place.
MoneyLion Instacash
Instacash is MoneyLion's cash advance feature. Key details:
- Advance amount: $25-$500 (up to $1,000 with direct deposit)
- Cost: $0 for standard delivery (3-5 business days). $1.99-$8.99 for instant transfer.
- Repayment: Auto-debit on next payday
- Requirements: Linked checking account, consistent income, positive account history
Instacash is competitive with other cash advance apps. The $500-$1,000 limit is higher than Brigit ($250) and Dave ($500). The free standard delivery is a nice feature, though 3-5 days is slower than competitors.
MoneyLion RoarMoney
RoarMoney is MoneyLion's mobile banking account. Features include:
- No monthly fees, no minimum balance
- Direct deposit up to 2 days early
- Debit card with cashback rewards
- Price protection (refunds if price drops after purchase)
- FDIC insured through MetaBank
RoarMoney is a solid free checking account. The early direct deposit and cashback rewards are nice perks. However, it is not as feature-rich as Chime or Varo.
MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus
Credit Builder Plus is a credit-building loan with a twist:
- $500-$1,000 credit builder loan
- $19.99/month membership fee
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- APR ranges from 5.99% to 29.99%
- Loan funds are held in a reserve account and released after full repayment
Credit Builder Plus is expensive at $19.99/month plus APR. For comparison, Brigit's credit builder is included in the $9.99/month plan with no APR. MoneyLion's version is more expensive but offers a larger loan amount.
MoneyLion Investing
MoneyLion offers managed investment accounts with no minimum balance. You can invest spare change (round-ups), set recurring deposits, or make one-time investments. The portfolios are built from low-cost ETFs. This is a nice feature for beginners but not competitive with dedicated investment apps like Robinhood or Fidelity.
MoneyLion Pros and Cons
Pros
- All-in-one app (banking, borrowing, investing)
- High Instacash limit ($500-$1,000)
- Free standard delivery
- Credit builder available
- Early direct deposit
Cons
- Credit Builder Plus is expensive ($19.99/mo + APR)
- Instant transfer fees are high ($1.99-$8.99)
- App can feel cluttered with too many features
- Customer service complaints
- Investment feature is basic
MoneyLion vs Competitors
| Feature | MoneyLion | Dave | Brigit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max advance | $500-$1,000 | $500 | $250 |
| Monthly cost | $0-$19.99 | $1 | $9.99 |
| Banking | Yes (RoarMoney) | Basic | No |
| Investing | Yes | No | No |
| Credit builder | $19.99/mo | No | Included |
Bottom Line
MoneyLion is best for someone who wants an all-in-one financial app. If you want banking, cash advances, and investing in one place, MoneyLion delivers. However, if you only need cash advances, Dave or Earnin are cheaper. If you only want credit building, Brigit is better value. MoneyLion's strength is convenience — everything in one app — but its individual features are not best-in-class.
Disclosure: CashAdvanceFinder.com is an independent review site. This review is based on our testing and analysis of publicly available information. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links, but this does not influence our ratings.