Dave review: is the Dave cash advance app legit?
Dave is a legitimate cash advance app, and The app terms are with Dave Operating LLC, a unit of Dave Inc. is the company behind it.
- Biggest advance
- $500
- Fee per month
- $5
- Fast transfer cost
- $1.50 on $100
- Complaints to the CFPB
- 829
Dave on file
- Owner
- The app terms are with Dave Operating LLC, a unit of Dave Inc. (Nasdaq: DAVE)
- Issued by
- Evolve Bank & Trust (provides the ExtraCash account; Dave Operating LLC serves as program partner)
- Product
- Within the Dave banking app, ExtraCash overdraft advances top out at $500, with Evolve Bank & Trust providing the ExtraCash deposit account for those advances
- Subscription
- $5 a month, required
- Fee for a fast transfer
- An outside debit card transfer costs 1.5%; sending to Dave Checking is free. Separately, every advance carries a required overdraft fee of 5% ($5 minimum).
- Tips
- None asked
- Time without a fee
- Free: the money reaches an outside bank account within 3 working days.
- Credit checks
- No credit check is performed; eligibility relies on linked bank data that Dave's CashAI assesses
- Time to get the money
- Approval usually happens within 5 minutes; Dave Checking receives funds instantly, while external debit cards take under an hour for a fee.
Taken from what Dave publishes, CFPB complaint counts and public enforcement files. All sources are listed at the foot of the page
Dave fees and costs
Convert Dave's fees to a yearly rate using the calculator on our cash advance apps page.
Good to know about Dave
- Dave describes ExtraCash as an overdraft on a deposit account at Evolve Bank & Trust rather than a loan or cash advance
- Each advance includes a mandatory 5% overdraft fee with a $5 minimum, plus a monthly membership costing up to $5
- According to Dave, few members qualify for the advertised $500; available amounts begin at $25
- A pending DOJ/FTC lawsuit challenges Dave and its CEO regarding advertised amounts, hidden fees, tips, and memberships that are hard to cancel.
States where Dave works
The Dave pages we read give no list of states. Ask which license covers your state and check it on NMLS Consumer Access before you share bank details.
Dave complaints and lawsuits
The CFPB database lists 829 complaints naming Dave Operating, LLC. Most common issues: account management; you cannot prevent withdrawals from your bank account; trouble when a lender or some other company charges your account. Check the CFPB count
- 2024 · FTCThe FTC took Dave to federal court over misleading advertised advance amounts, fees it did not disclose and tips it charged without consent Source
- 2024 · U.S. Department of Justice, acting for the FTCAn amended complaint from DOJ names CEO Jason Wilk, with civil penalties sought under the FTC Act and ROSCA; the case is still pending Source
Short on cash before payday?
Talk to a specialist about lower-cost ways to cover the gap in your state. Talk to someone about cheaper options: 855.947.5189
This line reaches a debt and loan options specialist. We are not Dave and cannot reach your Dave account.
Dave alternatives: apps like Dave
| App | Fee a month | Biggest advance | Fast transfer on $100 | CFPB complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave (this record) | $5 | $500 | $1.50 | 829 |
 Brigit | $8.99 | $500 | – | 384 |
 Cleo | $5.99 | $500 | – | None filed |
 Empower | $8 | $500 | $5 | 330 |
 Cash App Borrow | None | $500 | – | 72,532 |
– means the company does not publish it. Complaint counts are totals, not rates: a bigger company draws more. Open any name for its full record.
Questions on Dave
Is Dave a legitimate service?
Dave Inc runs the real cash advance app Dave, while its unit Dave Operating LLC holds the app terms. You can get up to $500, and the cost is $5 each month. We located 2 government or court actions on record; additionally, the CFPB complaint database lists 829 complaints against Dave Operating, LLC.
Who is the owner of Dave?
The parent firm is Dave Inc. (Nasdaq: DAVE), and the app terms belong to its unit Dave Operating LLC. Evolve Bank & Trust is named as the lender; it offers the ExtraCash account while Dave Operating LLC serves as the program partner.
Does Dave perform a credit check?
Dave states: no credit check; instead, Dave's CashAI analyzes linked bank data to determine eligibility.
How quickly does Dave send money?
Dave reports: authorization usually happens within 5 minutes; immediate for Dave Checking, while external debit cards take under an hour for a fee.
Has Dave faced lawsuits or fines?
In 2024, the FTC sued Dave in federal court, saying advertised advance amounts misled users, fees were undisclosed, and tips were charged with no consent. In 2024, CEO Jason Wilk was named when DOJ, the U.S. Justice Department, acting for the FTC, filed an amended complaint. Civil penalties were sought under the FTC Act, and also under ROSCA; the case is still open.
Where the Dave facts come from
- The Dave app terms form an agreement with Dave Operating LLCdave.com
- Dave, the parent company, trades on Nasdaq; Dave states its updated fee plan removed optional tipsinvestors.dave.com
- Evolve Bank & Trust provides the ExtraCash account; Fee for each ExtraCash overdraft advancedave.com
- Range of ExtraCash amounts and required overdraft fee; Only a few members receive the full $500; Monthly fee for membership that covers ExtraCash accesssupport.dave.com
- A standard transfer sent to an external bank; No credit check performeddave.com
- Total CFPB complaints filed under the company name for this brandconsumerfinance.gov
- FTC case against Dave: claims of deceptive amounts, undisclosed fees, and tips; The FTC states Dave earned significant revenue from tipsftc.gov
- The DOJ amended complaint identifies the CEOjustice.gov
- The FTC case page lists the matter as pendingftc.gov