Cash Advance Calculator: The Cost Before You Commit

A cash advance priced in dollars: the fee, the repayment date, and the APR behind it.

A cash advance is the same product as a payday loan under a different name, and it prices the same way: a flat fee per $100 borrowed, repaid in one payment on your next payday. The calculator takes your amount, your state’s fee, and the term, then shows the dollar cost and the annualized APR behind it.

The defaults above match a $300 advance at a 15% fee over two weeks, which produces a $45 fee and a $345 total repayment. That is the middle of the market: fees run from roughly $10 to $30 per $100 depending on the state, and thirteen states do not license the product at all.

App-based advances change the pricing model rather than the economics: Chime, Cash App, Varo and similar products charge tips or subscriptions instead of per-$100 fees, and they cap amounts far below storefront limits. If your need is small and your bank supports one, the app route is usually cheaper; our guides on Chime and Cash App cover the mechanics.

Loan amount ($100-$1,000) Fee per $100 ($10-$30) Term in days (7-31)

Fee

Total due on payday

Annualized APR

In California the fee is 15% of the check itself: a $300 check costs $45 and delivers $255 net. See your state page.

When the fee fits your budget, the request form returns offers in minutes with no fee to apply. For the slower, cheaper routes, start with the alternatives ranking.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cash advance the same as a payday loan?

Functionally yes: a small-dollar advance repaid in one payment on your next payday. The terms are used interchangeably by lenders and regulators; the cost structure is identical.

How is this different from a cash advance app?

App-based advances (Chime, Cash App, Varo and similar) price through tips and subscriptions instead of per-$100 fees, and cap amounts near $500. Our guides cover Chime cash advances and Cash App in detail.

What does a $300 cash advance cost?

At a typical 15% fee, $45, making the total repayment $345 on your next payday. At the highest legal fee regimes the same advance costs up to $53. The calculator above turns your state's number into the exact figure.

Can I repay a cash advance early?

Yes. Reputable lenders do not charge a prepayment penalty on single-cycle advances, and paying early never adds cost. Confirm the payoff figure with the lender before you send it.

Reviewed by Marcus Bell, Reviewer, credit counseling background. Every fee, cap, and formula on this page was checked against the published state rules.

Last reviewed: 2026-09-26