iCash is a major player in the marketplace of fast, short-term loans, but there are many others. If you’re dealing with an emergency and need a small loan right now, here are alternatives to iCash that are worth checking out.
High-cost payday loans are unsustainable for long-term borrowing, with up to $14 charged per $100 borrowed. If you're experiencing financial hardship, consider calling Credit Counselling Canada for free financial counselling (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm at +1 866-398-5999). You may also want to consider payday loan alternatives.
Get a cash advance ranging from $20 to $250 when you pay 0% + subscription fee starting at $2/month. You'll need a KOHO account to access this service. The KOHO app has a 4.7/5 rating on the Google store and a 4.8/5 rating on the Apple store.
Apply online for an interest-free line of credit of up to $250 to cover small expenses and build your credit. Get funds in 1-3 business days with a free account. For $11.99, get access to premium services, including funding in 1-30 minutes, credit monitoring and identity theft protection. The Nyble app has a 4.7/5 rating on the Apple store. It doesn't have an Android app, but you can still get a loan via Nyble's web app.
Easy application process
No credit check
No interest
Can improve your credit score
Roll over your loan
$11.99 for fast transfers, a full credit report and other premium perks
Small loan amounts only
Loan amount
Up to $250
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
30 days, extendable
Fees
0%
Origination fee
$11.99
Turnaround time
1-30 minutes with a paid membership or 1-3 business days with a free membership.
Bree lets you borrow up to $500 to help cover expenses until your next payday. You won't have to pay any interest, but there's a $2.99 monthly membership fee plus a small extra fee if you want funding within minutes. Bree has a 4.9/5 rating on the Apple store. It doesn't have an Android app yet, but you can still apply on its web app.
Easy application process
No credit check
0% interest and no late fees
$2.99 monthly membership fee
Loan amount may not be enough for your needs
Extra fee for fast transfers
May not improve your credit, unlike Nyble
Loan amount
Up to $500
APR
Starting at 0%
Term
Next pay cycle (65 days max)
Fees
0% + $2.99/month membership fee
Turnaround time
Receive funds within 5 minutes with express delivery (the fee is based on the advance amount) and up to 3 business days for standard delivery.
Payday loans like iCash
If you have non-employment income or bad credit: Cashco
Cashco is an established installment loan provider that recently entered the payday loan space. It's a solid iCash alternative because it offers quick payday loans with flexible requirements. You can apply if you're currently receiving non-employment income, such as government benefits. Cashco also doesn't do credit checks, so it's possible to get approved with bad credit.
Like iCash, Wagepay offers 24/7 loans through its app. Credit checks aren't part of its process, so you can apply if you have bad credit. If you have non-employment income, you may want to apply elsewhere because Wagepay has stricter income requirements than iCash.
Easy application
Fast funding
Licensed lender
Very expensive
Loan amount
$100 – $1,500
APR
$14 per $100 borrowed
Term
Up to 62 days
Min. Turnaround time
As little as 2 minutes with Interac e-Transfer
How to apply
Online
Credit Check
No
If you want a payday loan with no documents required: GoDay
Like iCash, you won't need to send GoDay any documents to get approved. Instead, you need to give GoDay view-only access to your bank statements via instant bank verification.
Apply online within minutes to receive instant pre-approval on your application
Receive funds via Interac e-Transfer within an hour of accepting your contract
Apply with bad credit, no credit and if you're self-employed or receiving benefits
Extremely steep rates
Short repayment terms
First-time borrowers can only get approved for up to $500
Loans Canada is an online loan search platform that matches you with lenders when you fill out a single application. It has a large lender network to help you find the right loan. Like iCash, Loans Canada can help you access a loan even if your financial situation isn't the best.
Get matches fast
Funding in 24-48 hours
Bad credit is okay
Limited to Loans Canada's partners
High rates for bad credit
Loan amount
$250 – $50,000
APR
9.99% – 35%
Term
3 - 60 months
Min. credit score
300
Fees
No application, origination or brokerage fees
Origination fee
0
Turnaround time
Receive funds in as little as 24 hours.
If you want a fast funding small loan: LoanConnect
LoanConnect is a loan search platform that connects borrowers with small and large loans. Fill out one application and get pre-approval within minutes. You can apply with fair or bad credit.
LoansLoans.ca offers short-term installment loans online. It doesn't do any credit checks and has more lenient requirements than traditional lenders. It's a good iCash alternative if you're looking for a small no credit check loan that you can repay in installments.
Funding in 24 hours
No credit check
High rates and fees
Loan amount
$500 – $1,000
APR
28% – 32%
Term
3 - 12 months
Min. credit score
300
Fees
Late payment fee (2.66% per month), $45 NSF fee, broker fee
$35 per hour on average (depends on chosen tasks & engagement)
Sign-up in minutes
Instant cash-outs from $2
$5 sign-up bonus when you start your first task
Summary of loans and apps like iCash
Lender
Instant?
Credit check required?
iOS app
Android app
KOHO
Yes
No
4.8 stars
4.4 stars with 1m+ downloads
Bree
Yes
No
4.9 stars
4.8 stars with 10k+ downloads
Nyble
Yes
No
4.8 stars
4.8 stars with 1k+ downloads
Wagepay
Yes
No
4.8 stars
4.8 stars with 500k+ downloads
How does iCash compare?
You can read our review of iCash for more details, but here are the highlights:
Pros
High app ratings on the App Store and Google Play Store.
One of the fastest payday loans you can get, thanks to its automated process.
Get your loan in as little as 30 minutes after applying.
Accepts many forms of income, including EI, child tax, ODSP, AISH, provincial disability, CPP, OAS and social assistance.
Bad credit and no credit are okay.
Cons
Extremely steep rates.
Must have a net income of at least $800 per month to qualify.
Must consistently receive income for the past 3 months.
Features of payday loans like iCash
A payday loan is an unsecured loan of up to $1,500. It must be paid back when you receive your paycheque—hence the term “payday loan.” Key features include:
Small loan amounts
The amount you can borrow may depend on the province or territory you’re in, but you can usually get small loans ranging from $100 up to $1,500 maximum.
Short loan terms
Payday loans are designed to be short-term solutions to your financial problems. When you apply for a loan, the lender asks you how frequently you’re paid to determine your final repayment due date.
Incredibly high rates and fees
Expect fees of $14 for every $100 borrowed. With fees like this, APRs are typically over 300%, making payday loans one of the most expensive ways to borrow money.
Quick access to cash
Most payday lenders will give you a decision within minutes. If you clear the income and identity verification process, you could receive funds via e-Transfer immediately after approval. Learn more about e-Transfer payday loans.
Use the funds for any purpose
Once you’re approved for a payday loan, you have the freedom to use the money however you want, as long as it’s legitimate and legal. Payday lenders don’t keep tabs on how you’re making use of your loan.
Bad credit is okay
Payday loan providers usually accept applications from people with poor credit because they prioritize income and the ability to repay loans on time over credit scores.
What do I need to apply for a payday loan like iCash?
While the application process for any iCash alternative varies from lender to lender, the following eligibility criteria must usually be met:
Age. You must be of the age of majority in your province or territory.
Residency. You need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have a valid Canadian address.
Income. You need proof that you have some form of income, whether it’s employment income or government benefits.
Bank account. If you’re applying online, you need a working bank account. If you apply in person at a store, you may not need a bank account.
Remember that meeting the eligibility requirements doesn’t guarantee you’ll get approved for a payday loan.
Required information
Lenders may not ask for all of this information, but to speed up the process as much as possible, gather these details in advance:
Valid ID with your name and address
Valid phone number
Proof of income
Net and gross income amounts
Bank account information (chequing account, transit and institution numbers)
Reference
What do I need to watch out for?
Aside from quick repayment terms and the sky-high fees you’ll pay to borrow money, look out for these risks with payday loans like iCash:
Disreputable lenders. Not all lenders follow provincial or territorial laws and regulations. Check to make sure the payday lender you’d like to work with is licensed and isn’t a scam. Always choose a reputable company that has positive feedback from real customers.
Cycle of debt. Unless you have a clear-cut plan to pay off your loan by your next payday, you could end up in a spiral of debt. With steep interest rates and more penalties for not repaying your loan on time, payday loans can trigger a snowball of debt if you don’t have an exit strategy. This could negatively affect your credit rating, too.
How do I get my payday loan?
You can receive your payday loan in several ways:
Interac e-Transfer. This is one of the fastest options, and instant funding is possible.
Direct deposit. Get your money in a few hours or the next day.
Cash. If your lender has a physical location close to you, head over and apply for a payday loan to receive cold, hard cash.
Canadians’ finances in 2024 vs 2025
According to the Finder: Consumer Sentiment Survey January 2025, Canadians appeared to be in a weaker financial position compared to the same time last year. Just 30% said they were in a stronger financial position, down from 33% in January 2024. Meanwhile, 30% said they were not in a stronger position, up from 27% the year before.
Bottom line
A payday loan should be used as a last resort when you’re facing a financial emergency. While iCash is a viable option that provides a quick application process, a speedy decision on your loan request and a smooth process for receiving funds, there are plenty of iCash alternatives too. If you believe a payday loan like iCash is right for you, always compare your payday loan options to find the best deal available to you.
Frequently asked questions
Other lenders that are similar to iCash and also have apps include Credit Club Loans, Money Mart, PAY2DAY and Cash Money.
If you need to borrow $50 instantly, you're going to have to look into iCash alternatives, since the minimum amount you can borrow from iCash is $100. Instead, opt for a cash advance app like Bree or Nyble, which are typically much cheaper than payday loans. Learn more about your options in our guide to getting a $50 loan.
Yes, you can. Most provinces offer a cooling-off period of about two business days in which you can cancel a payday loan without penalty.
If you're late or you miss a repayment, you may be charged other fees, such as late payment fees, NSF fees, arrears fees and even collection fees if your account remains unpaid.
Contact your lender as soon as possible if you're having trouble repaying your loan on time. If you don't inform them, your loan eventually goes into default. Having a defaulted loan on your credit report causes your credit score to drop, making it difficult to qualify for financing in the future.
Carmen Chai is a freelance writer at Finder, specializing in financial products. She is an award-winning Canadian journalist who has lived and reported from major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, London and Paris. She has reported on personal finance, mortgages, and banking products for nearly a decade. See full bio
Leanne Escobal is a publisher for Finder. She has spent over 12 years working with financial products and services, specializing in content and marketing. Leanne has completed the Canadian securities course (CSC®) as well as the personal lending and mortgages course by the Canadian Securities Institute. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English literature and creative writing from Western University. See full bio
Leanne's expertise
Leanne has written 184 Finder guides across topics including:
Check out the best payday loans in Canada based on speed, reliability, flexibility and more.
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