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Tilt (previously Empower) is a mobile app that offers cash advances up to $400 to eligible users who link a primary checking account and show consistent income. The advance is automatically repaid in full on your next payday, though you can request a due date extension.
In this review, I cover how the Tilt app works, what it costs, who qualifies and how it compares to similar cash advance apps.
⚠️ Before you borrow
Cash advance apps can seem like a quick and easy way to get money. But since most apps charge fees, you’ll likely end up owing more than you originally borrowed. This can trap you in a cycle of repeat borrowing that’s hard to break.
At a glance: Tilt app cash advance
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Amounts available
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$10 to $400
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Free delivery
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Express delivery timing and fees
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Within 15 minutes to an external bank account: $1.00 to 3% of advance amount
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Mandatory fees
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No mandatory fees (Tilt charges an $8 subscription fee, but you can opt out)
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Eligibility requirements
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Must link your primary checking account where you receive paychecks
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Repayment
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Automatically withdrawn from your bank account on the date of your next paycheck
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State availability
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Not available in Connecticut, Maine and Washington D.C.
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Tilt works by giving you a cash advance, ranging from $10 to $400, that’s repaid from your next paycheck. This feature is known as Tilt Cash Advance.
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To request a cash advance, you’ll need to download the Tilt mobile app and link your primary checking account.
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If eligible, you’ll receive the advance amount in your linked bank account in one business day.
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If you want the money sooner, you’ll need to pay a fee, which varies based on the advance amount (more on that below).
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On your next payday, Tilt automatically withdraws the amount you owe in full — the cash advance, plus any fees — from your linked account.
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If you can’t repay the advance, you can reschedule your due date via the Tilt app or by contacting support. You must submit the request by 12 p.m. PT one business day before your scheduled repayment date.
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You can only request one advance at a time. Tilt says it takes three business days to process your repayment.
How much do Tilt cash advances cost?
The only other fee Tilt charges is for instant delivery.
While instant delivery to a Tilt debit card is free, sending the funds to an external bank account triggers a fee, which varies based on the advance amount:
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Advances of $10 to $99: $1 to $4.
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Advances of $100 to $299: $5 to $8.
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Advances of $300 to $400: 3% of the advance amount.
🤔 What does that really cost?
Tilt is a legitimate financial services company. Here’s what we know:
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At the time of writing this review, Tilt is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
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The Tilt app is rated 4.6 stars on Google Play (291,000 reviews) and 4.8 stars on the App Store (433,000 reviews).
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There’s no pending federal regulatory action against Tilt.
Tilt receives relatively high marks from users on the app store, but it’s rare that a company offering financial services isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau. BBB accreditation helps vet businesses and gives customers an additional way to file and resolve a complaint.
Who qualifies for Tilt cash advances?
Tilt discloses very little about how to qualify for a cash advance.
According to the company, it looks at the “real-time financial habits” of your linked checking account. This includes your income and spending habits. From there, it decides what amount you can comfortably repay. There’s no credit check when you sign up for Tilt.
In the last quarter of 2025, first-time Tilt customers received a cash advance offer of $102.
Returning customers were offered $171, but Tilt is not available to residents of Connecticut, Maine, and Washington D.C.
Nerdy Tip: According to Tilt, you can potentially increase your advance amount eligibility by demonstrating a history of on-time payments. This entails repaying each Tilt advance promptly and in full, avoiding missed payments or extensions.
Pros and cons of using Tilt:
– Accepts external bank accounts: Unlike other apps, Tilt allows you to link an existing bank account where your paycheck is deposited, without needing a separate Tilt account.
– Refunds overdraft fees: Tilt reimburses overdraft fees charged by your bank if you provide proof of the overdraft via email to [email protected], a rare feature among cash advance apps.
– Charges subscription fee: After a 14-day free trial, Tilt charges an $8 monthly subscription fee for new users. However, cash advance customers can opt out by emailing [email protected] Many cash advance apps do not require a subscription.
– High fast-funding fees: Tilt’s instant cash advance incurs an instant delivery fee ranging from $1 to $8 for advance amounts up to $299.99, plus 3% of the advance amount. This fee is higher than competitors with maximum fees of $5.99 or less.
Tilt vs. EarnIn vs. Brigit:
Compare Tilt to EarnIn and Brigit, other cash advance apps that offer larger amounts but have their drawbacks.
– EarnIn offers up to $1,000 with no mandatory fees for standard delivery, but asks for tips, increasing the borrowing cost.
– Brigit offers a slightly larger advance of up to $500 but charges a hefty subscription fee that cannot be opted out of, unlike Tilt.
Alternatives to using Tilt:
Consider other ways to get quick cash besides a cash advance.
– Explore other ways to make money, such as temporary gigs or selling items online.
– Download a “buy now, pay later” app like Affirm or Klarna for essential purchases split into smaller installments.
– Consider a friend or family loan, with clear repayment terms.
– Pawnshop loans allow you to borrow money using valuable items as collateral, to be repaid by a specified date.
About the author:
Jackie Veling covers personal loans for BW, with her work featured in various publications. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in journalism. “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
as:
“The speedy brown fox leaps over the tired dog.”