Key facts
- $500Brigit max
- $500Dave max
- $8.99–$15.99Brigit monthly
- $1–$5Dave monthly
- From $0.99Brigit instant
- 5% + ≤1.5%Dave instant
Quick verdict
Dave moved from tips to a 5% ExtraCash fee in 2025. That made small advances cheap and large ones expensive: $500 through Dave costs up to $15 plus up to $7.50 express plus the membership, versus Brigit's $8.99 flat. The crossover is around $150–$200 per advance.
- Choose Brigit if: you borrow $200 or more, or more than once a month — Brigit's flat fee beats Dave's 5% per advance quickly. Also if you want Credit Builder or hate percentage fees.
- Choose Dave if: you only need $50–$100 occasionally (Dave's $5 minimum fee plus a $1–$5 membership is cheaper than $8.99), or you want the Dave Spending account and side-gig board.
Brigit vs Dave: side by side
| Brigit | Dave | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum advance | $25–$500 | Up to $500 |
| Monthly fee | $8.99 or $15.99/mo | $1–$5/mo (varies by account; new members often $5) |
| Instant delivery | From $0.99 on Plus; free on Premium | 5% service fee ($5 min, $15 max) plus express fee up to 1.5% for debit-card delivery |
| Free delivery speed | 1–3 business days, free | Up to 3 business days, free of express fee (service fee still applies) |
| Tip prompts | No | No — removed in 2025 |
| Credit check | None | None |
| Repayment | Next payday, auto-debit | Next payday, auto-debit |
| Requirements | Checking account 60+ days, 3 recurring deposits, balance > $0 | Checking account with recurring income; Dave Spending account unlocks higher limits |
| Extras | Budgeting, Auto Advances, Credit Builder (Premium), ID protection (Premium) | Dave Spending account, Side Hustle job board, budgeting |
Provider websites and app-store listings, last checked November 6, 2026. New users on both apps start well below the advertised maximum.
What one instant advance a month costs
Mandatory fees only; optional tips excluded. Brigit express fees scale with amount and are shown in-app before you confirm.
Dave's 2025 fee change explained
Until 2025 Dave relied on optional tips and a $1 membership. Following an FTC lawsuit over tip and fee disclosures (filed November 2024), Dave switched ExtraCash to a mandatory 5% service fee with a $5 minimum and $15 maximum, dropped tips, and raised the membership for many accounts to up to $5 a month. Express delivery to a debit card adds up to 1.5%. The FTC action against Dave remains unresolved as of our last check; Brigit's own FTC case was settled in 2023.
| Advance | Dave fees (5% + express ≤1.5% + $1–$5 membership) | Brigit Plus (membership + express) |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | $5 + $0.75 + $1–$5 = $6.75–$10.75 | $8.99 + $0.99 = $9.98 |
| $100 | $5 + $1.50 + $1–$5 = $7.50–$11.50 | $8.99 + ~$1.99 = $10.98 |
| $250 | $12.50 + $3.75 + $1–$5 = $17.25–$21.25 | $8.99 + ~$2.99 = $11.98 |
| $500 | $15 + $7.50 + $1–$5 = $23.50–$27.50 | $8.99 + ~$3.99 = $12.98 |
The Dave Spending account factor
Dave's best limits and lowest fees go to members who open a Dave Spending account (a checking account through Dave's partner bank) and route direct deposit there. If you're willing to switch banks, Dave becomes more competitive and the express fee drops when delivering to a Dave card. Brigit works with the bank you already have and never asks you to move your deposit — a meaningful difference if you like your current bank.
Budgeting and extras
Both apps include budgeting and low-balance alerts. Dave adds a Side Hustle board with gig and survey offers; Brigit has a similar earn-money section plus overdraft-predicting Auto Advances. For credit building, only Brigit (Premium) offers a bureau-reported product. Neither charges interest or late fees, and both auto-debit on your next payday.
Need more than $500?
Brigit caps advances at $500. Compare personal-loan offers from $200 to $5,000 — free, no obligation, and checking won't affect your credit score.
Apply now- Soft check to see options
- Funds as soon as next business day
- All credit types considered
