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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.
13 Best Check-Cashing Apps
If you need to cash a check on the go, you need a free instant mobile check deposit app. It would also benefit you to know where to go to cash checks online instantly without a bank account. Here’s a look at the best check-cashing apps:
- Brink’s Money Prepaid app: 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
- Lodefast: Best for Florida residents or Akimbo cardholders
- ACE Flare: Best for those without a traditional bank account
- AnytimeCheck: Best for small business owners
- The Check Cashing Store app: Best for Florida residents
- Waleteros: Best for avoiding fees like monthly maintenance fees or overdraft fees
- Deposit2Go: Best for those who want an easy to use app
1. Brink’s Money Prepaid Mobile App
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 add funds by loading a check, scheduling direct deposits or transferring money from another Brink’s card or a bank account.
Cost: The check-cashing fees are third-party fees that are subject to change.
What the app is best for: Transferring money to family and friends who use Netspend accounts.
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.
A Better Way to Bank
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.
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.
4. PayPal
How it works: The PayPal app has a check-cashing feature that lets you add funds from checks to your PayPal balance.
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% fee or a $5 flat fee. All other checks have a 5% or $5 flat fee.
What the app is best for: An alternative to a traditional checking account.
5. Western Union Netspend Prepaid Mobile App
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.
A Better Way to Bank
Cost: A card purchase fee of up to $4.95 is applicable. Transaction fees may vary.
What the app is best for: Sending and receiving money from long distances.
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: Accessing funds in 10 days is free; accessing funds in minutes has a 2% or 5% fee with a $5 minimum.
What the app is best for: Combining a spending account with a high-yield savings account, which pays a competitive APY.
7. Venmo
How it works: Venmo offers direct deposit or 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 step to take to take advantage of instant mobile check deposit.
Cost: There is a 1% fee charge for paychecks or government-issued checks and a 5% fee for any other type of check.The minimum fee is $5 per check.
What the app is best for: Convenient for those already using the app and grants access to numerous fee-free ATMs.
8. Lodefast
How it works: This app allows you to cash checks and access your money anytime and anywhere conveniently. You can also deposit checks to your Lodefast account.
Cost: Fees range between 3% to 5% for instant access to checks.
What the app is best for: Florida residents or Akimbo cardholders.
9. ACE Flare
How it works: You can direct deposit or add check funds using ACE Flare’s Mobile Check Capture on the app. ACE uses First Century Bank, N.A. and has a high-yield savings account option as well.
A Better Way to Bank
Cost: No charge for cashing standard checks and a fee ranging from 2% to 5% for expediting check cashing.
What the app is best for: Those without a traditional bank account.
10. AnytimeCheck
How it works: AnytimeCheck is an app and platform that allows you to easily send and receive all of your check payments in one place.
Cost: The cost and fees vary depending on what type of check you need to cash.
What the app is best for: Small business owners would benefit from this app.
11. The Check Cashing Store App
How it works: With this mobile app, you have the choice to download 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.
12. Waleteros
How it works: This app allows you to cash checks online and transfer funds to a Waleteros prepaid Visa. The prepaid cards can be linked and set up to pay your bills or other uses.
Cost: Fees range depending on the type of check you need to cash.
What the app is best for: Avoiding fees such as monthly maintenance fees or overdraft fees.
13. Deposit2Go
How it works: As a no-frills check-cashing app, it is pretty straightforward and what is saved on pageantry is provided in user-friendly service. You can also find copies of your checks for 18 months for easy retrieval if you need them for reference.
A Better Way to Bank
Cost: Free check cashing for members of GTE Financial.
What the app is best for: Those who want a cheap and easy check-cashing app.
Final Take To GO
Most check-cashing apps offer expedited service that processes the check within a few minutes or hours. Whether you need to split a check, see if a check is approved or cash a check online instantly without a bank account, there are options available that best suit your needs.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cashing checks.
- What app will instantly cash a check?
- There are many apps available that will instantly cash checks such as the following:
- Brink's Money Prepaid Mobile App
- Ingo Money App
- Netspend
- PayPal
- There are many apps available that will instantly cash checks such as the following:
- How can I cash a check online instantly?
- To cash a check online instantly, you can download one of these apps from either the App Store or Google Play:
- Venmo
- Lodefast
- PayPal
- To cash a check online instantly, you can download one of these apps from either the App Store or Google Play:
- Where can I cash a check online instantly without Ingo?
- There are many apps available besides Ingo where you can cash your checks such as:
- The Check Cashing Store
- Deposit2Go
- Green Dot
- There are many apps available besides Ingo where you can cash your checks such as:
Cynthia Measom, Valerie SmithandDaria Uhligcontributed to the reporting for this article.
Data is accurate as of Aug. 22, 2023, and is subject to change.
As an expert in financial technology and mobile banking, I bring a wealth of knowledge about the concepts and applications discussed in the article. My expertise is grounded in a thorough understanding of the digital finance landscape, including mobile check-cashing apps and their functionalities. Let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:
1. Brink’s Money Prepaid Mobile App
How it works: This app facilitates mobile check cashing to a prepaid Mastercard debit card. Users can add funds through check loading, direct deposits, or transfers from other Brink’s cards or bank accounts.
Cost: The check-cashing fees are third-party and subject to change. Ideal for transferring money to Netspend accounts.
2. Ingo Money App
How it works: Ingo Money is popular for cashing payroll checks. Users link a debit card, prepaid card, credit card, or PayPal account, take a photo of the check in the app, and choose when and where to receive the funds.
Cost: Fees vary based on the type of check. Preferred pricing plans offer discounted rates, and there's no fee for a 10-day fund transfer.
3. Netspend
How it works: Netspend offers easy reloading of prepaid debit cards, along with check-cashing services, direct deposit, and early paycheck access.
Cost: Standard service has no mobile check load fee. Expedited service incurs either a percentage-based fee or a flat $5 fee.
4. PayPal
How it works: PayPal's app allows users to add funds from checks to their PayPal balance. It serves as an alternative to traditional checking accounts.
Cost: Fees vary based on the type of check, with options for a 10-day delayed funding with no fee.
5. Western Union Netspend Prepaid Mobile App
How it works: This app offers check cashing, direct deposit, cash-back rewards, and long-distance money transfers through Western Union.
Cost: Various transaction fees, and a card purchase fee may apply.
6. Green Dot
How it works: Green Dot provides early access to paychecks and government benefit checks, online check cashing, and optional overdraft protection.
Cost: Fees for accessing funds in minutes, with no minimum balance requirement.
7. Venmo
How it works: Venmo allows direct deposit and check cashing through the app, with a fee structure based on the type of check.
Cost: 1% fee for paychecks, 5% fee for other checks, with a minimum fee of $5 per check.
8. Lodefast
How it works: Lodefast enables check cashing and fund access anywhere, with fees ranging from 3% to 5%.
Cost: Ideal for Florida residents or Akimbo cardholders.
9. ACE Flare
How it works: ACE Flare facilitates direct deposit and check fund addition through mobile check capture, with various fees.
Cost: No charge for standard checks, with fees for expediting check cashing.
10. AnytimeCheck
How it works: AnytimeCheck is a platform for sending and receiving check payments in one place, tailored for small business owners.
Cost: Fees vary depending on the type of check.
11. The Check Cashing Store App
How it works: This app allows the download of checks to bank accounts or prepaid debit cards, serving the basic check cashing needs of Florida residents.
Cost: Fees may vary depending on the type of check.
12. Waleteros
How it works: Waleteros enables online check cashing and fund transfers to a prepaid Visa, with fees depending on the check type.
Cost: Ideal for avoiding fees like monthly maintenance or overdraft fees.
13. Deposit2Go
How it works: Deposit2Go is a no-frills check-cashing app, offering straightforward services and free check cashing for GTE Financial members.
Cost: Best for those seeking a cheap and easy check-cashing app.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of various mobile check-cashing apps, their features, and associated costs, catering to different financial needs and preferences.
