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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
Though most of your bank apps will have a check depositing or cashing option by just snapping a photo, there are some other check-cashing app options outside of a bank account. Here’s a look at 13 of the best apps you can use to cash a check on the go:
- Brink’s Money Prepaid: 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
- Flare Account: Best for those without a traditional bank account
- The Check Cashing Store: Best for Florida residents
- GO2bank: Best for bank-like features without the hassles of a bank
- AnytimeCheck: Best for those who send and receive multiple checks.
- Chime* Mobile Banking: Best for those looking for a fee-free user-friendly interface.
- GTE Financial: Best for members of GTE Financial looking for free checking cashing options and services.
1. Brink’s Money Prepaid
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 can add funds by loading a check, scheduling direct deposits or transferring money from another Brink’s card or a bank account.
Cost: The Pay-As-You-Go Plan has no monthly fee, but you’ll pay $1.50 for signature and PIN purchase transactions. The monthly plan is $9.95 per month and includes signature and PIN purchase transactions. Set up qualifying direct deposits for a $4-per-month discount. Domestic ATM and over-the-counter withdrawals incur $2.50 and $3 fees, respectively.
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.
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
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.
4. PayPal
How it works: The PayPal app has a check-cashing feature that lets you add funds from checks to your PayPal Balance account.
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%, minimum $5, fee. All other checks have a 5% or $5 flat fee.
5. Western Union Netspend Prepaid
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.
Cost: Pay-As-You-Go incurs $1.50 signature transaction and PIN transaction fees. The monthly plan is $9.95 per month, or $5 per month with qualifying direct deposits. The inactivity fee is $5.95 after 90 days of inactivity. Direct deposits are free.
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: There’s no charge for mobile check deposits to your account using the Green Dot app.
7. Venmo
How it works: Venmo offers direct deposit and 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 way to take advantage of instant mobile check deposit. Note, however, that check cashing is not available to users in the state of New York.
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Cost: There is a 1% fee for paychecks or government-issued checks and a 5% fee for any other type of check if you opt to get your money in minutes. The minimum fee is $5 per check. There’s no fee to get your money in 10 days.
8. Flare Account
How it works: You can add check funds using the Flare Account’s Mobile Check Capture service on the app (not available in New York). The Flare Account uses First Century Bank, N.A., as the provider of this service. You also have the option of opening a high-yield savings account in addition to the Flare Account.
Cost: Money in Minutes mobile check deposits incur a fee from First Century Bank.
9. The Check Cashing Store
How it works: With this mobile app, you have the choice to deposit 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.
10. GO2bank
How it works: GO2bank makes check cashing easy and offers additional benefits, such as high-yield savings and a credit-builder credit card, to help you manage your money. Check cashing is not available in New York.
Cost: There’s no fee to get your money in 10 days. Otherwise, the fee is 1% for payroll and government checks with a preprinted signature and 5% for all other accepted checks. The minimum fee for receiving your money in minutes is $5.
11. AnytimeCheck – eCheck
How it works: The AnytimeCheck app is set up as both a check-writing and check-depositing service. The app is best for those who send and receive multiple checks or checks on a subscription basis such as a small business owner.
Cost: You are charged by the package so the prices can vary. You can find a plan outline below for price approximations:
- Basic Plan: $35 for 20 checks, or $1.75 per check
- Pro Plan: $75 for 50 checks or $1.50 per check
- Premium Plan: $187.59 for 150 checks or $1.25 per check
12. Chime Mobile Banking
How it works: To cash a check on the Chime app, you can simply follow these steps:
- Log into your Chime account on the app and make sure the name on the check matches the name on your Chime Checking Account.
- Sign the back of the check.
- Tap “Move Money.”
- Select “Mobile Check Deposit” and follow the mobile check deposit prompts.
Cost: Chime is a financial technology company that offers fee-free1 banking services including check cashing through the app’s Mobile Check Deposit2.
13. GTE Mobile
How it works: This app provides free check cashing services for members of GTE Financial which is NCUA-insured. You can deposit up to $10,000 a day.
Cost: There is no cost for GTE Financial members as it offers fee-free check cashing.
Final Take To GO: How To Cash a Check Instantly
Most check-cashing apps offer expedited service that processes the check within a few minutes or hours.
Alternatively, the following options are available if you’d like to get your cash in person:
- Visit a local check-cashing store.
- Use the check-cashing service available at many Walmart stores.
- Some banks, like Regions Bank, also offer check-cashing services for non-account holders.
Cynthia Measom, Valerie Smith and Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.
*Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
1There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.
2Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member’s direct deposit enrollment status.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
