10 Best Check-Cashing Apps
From getting fast access to a birthday check to turning that tax refund check into cash, there are several reasons why you might need to cash a check from your phone. If you don’t have a bank account with access to mobile check deposits, you can still compare the top check-cashing apps to find the best one for your needs.
10 Best Check-Cashing Apps
Here’s a look at 10 of the best apps you can use to cash a check on the go:
Brink’s Money Prepaid: Best for transferring money to Netspend accounts
Ingo Money App: Best for transferring money to a debit card or gift card
Netspend: Best for sending money to family and friends with Netspend accounts
PayPal: Best for traditional checking account alternative
Western Union Netspend Prepaid: Best for long-distance money transfers
Green Dot: Best for someone looking for a high-yield savings account
Venmo: Best for those already using the app and needing ATM access
Flare Account: Best for those without a traditional bank account
The Check Cashing Store: Best for Florida residents
GO2bank: Best for bank-like features without the hassles of a bank
1. Brink’s Money Prepaid
How it works: The Brink’s Money Prepaid mobile app offers mobile check cashing to a prepaid Mastercard debit card with many of the same benefits as bank debit cards. You can add funds by loading a check, scheduling direct deposits or transferring money from another Brink’s card or a bank account.
Cost: The Pay-As-You-Go Plan has no monthly fee, but you’ll pay $1.50 for signature and PIN purchase transactions. The monthly plan is $9.95 per month and includes signature and PIN purchase transactions. Set up qualifying direct deposits for a $4-per-month discount. Domestic ATM and over-the-counter withdrawals incur $2.50 and $3 fees, respectively.
What the app is best for: Transferring money to family and friends who use Netspend accounts
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
2. Ingo Money App
How it works: The Ingo Money app is a favorite choice for payroll check cashing. When you sign up, you must link at least one debit card, prepaid card, credit card or PayPal account to your user profile. To cash a check, take a photo of it in the app, choose when and where you want to receive the money and submit the check for review.
Cost:
Preprinted payroll and government checks: $5 fee for checks that are $250 or less; checks that are more than $250 will face a fee of 2%
All other checks and money orders: $5 for checks that are $100 or less, 5% fee for checks more than $100
Preferred pricing plan, available to customers who’ve cashed at least six checks within the last 90 days, offers discounted rates
No fee if you choose to receive your money in 10 days
What the app is best for: Transferring money to a debit card or gift card
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
3. Netspend
How it works: The app makes it easy to reload a Netspend prepaid debit card without stopping at an ATM. In addition to check-cashing services, you get direct deposit and the option to receive paychecks up to two days early.
Cost: No mobile check load fee applies for standard service. For expedited service, you’ll pay either 2% to 5% of the check amount or a flat $5 fee.
What the app is best for: Sending money to family and friends with Netspend accounts
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
4. PayPal
How it works: The PayPal app has a check-cashing feature that lets you add funds from checks to your PayPal Balance account.
Cost: No fee applies if you choose the 10-day delayed funding option. Cash government and payroll checks with a preprinted signature for a 1%, minimum $5, fee. All other checks have a 5% or $5 flat fee.
What the app is best for: An alternative to a traditional checking account
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
5. Western Union Netspend Prepaid
How it works: The Western Union Netspend Prepaid Mastercard offers popular features like direct deposit and cash-back rewards in addition to check cashing through the mobile app. You also can send and receive money through a Western Union money transfer.
Cost: Pay-As-You-Go incurs $1.50 signature transaction and PIN transaction fees. The monthly plan is $9.95 per month, or $5 per month with qualifying direct deposits. The inactivity fee is $5.95 after 90 days of inactivity. Direct deposits are free.
What the app is best for: Sending and receiving money from long distances
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
6. Green Dot
How it works: Green Dot makes your paychecks and government benefit checks available up to two days sooner. There’s no minimum balance requirement, and you can cash checks online. The app offers up to $200 in optional overdraft protection.
Cost: There’s no charge for mobile check deposits to your account using the Green Dot app.
What the app is best for: Combining a spending account with a high-yield savings account, which pays a competitive APY
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
7. Venmo
How it works: Venmo offers direct deposit and the Venmo Debit Card, which, if you sign up for it, allows you to cash checks right from the app. If you already have a Venmo account, this is an easy way to take advantage of instant mobile check deposit. Note, however, that check cashing is not available to users in the state of New York.
Cost: There is a 1% fee for paychecks or government-issued checks and a 5% fee for any other type of check if you opt to get your money in minutes. The minimum fee is $5 per check. There’s no fee to get your money in 10 days.
What the app is best for: Convenient for those already using the app and grants access to numerous fee-free ATMs
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
8. Flare Account
How it works: You can add check funds using the Flare Account’s Mobile Check Capture service on the app (not available in New York). The Flare Account uses First Century Bank, N.A., as the provider of this service. You also have the option of opening a high-yield savings account in addition to the Flare Account.
Cost: Money in Minutes mobile check deposits incur a fee from First Century Bank.
What the app is best for: Those without a traditional bank account
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
9. The Check Cashing Store
How it works: With this mobile app, you have the choice to deposit checks directly to your bank account or to add those funds to your personal Mastercard, Visa, Discover or other prepaid debit card.
Cost: Fees may vary depending on the type of check.
What the app is best for: Florida residents with basic check-cashing needs
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
10. GO2bank
How it works: GO2bank makes check cashing easy and offers additional benefits, such as high-yield savings and a credit-builder credit card, to help you manage your money. Check cashing is not available in New York.
Cost: There’s no fee to get your money in 10 days. Otherwise, the fee is 1% for payroll and government checks with a preprinted signature and 5% for all other accepted checks. The minimum fee for receiving your money in minutes is $5.
What the app is best for: Bank-like features without the hassles of a bank
Where to download the app: Google Play or the App Store
How Can I Cash a Check Instantly?
Most check-cashing apps offer expedited service that processes the check within a few minutes or hours.
Alternatively, the following options are available if you’d like to get your cash in person:
Visit a local check-cashing store.
Use the check-cashing service available at many Walmart stores.
Some banks, like Regions Bank, also offer check-cashing services for non-account holders.
Cynthia Measom, Valerie Smith and Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of March 20, 2024.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Best Check-Cashing Apps
