Before you sign up for anything
Firstcard is here to help you understand everyday financial products and make the right choice for you. We show the full cost, the cheapest way to use it, and when to walk away.
Join Firstcard CommunityFree to use. Browsing never checks your credit. Firstcard is not a lender.
Example: a $250 cash advance
Same app. Same $250. Two very different prices.
Standard delivery (2 to 5 days)Standard (2 to 5 days)$0
No fee. Repaid on payday, this advance costs nothing.
Instant delivery$17.99
Repaid in 14 days, that fee works out to roughly 188% APR equivalent.
Firstcard tip: if you can wait a few days, wait.
Illustrative math from a real app listing on Firstcard: fee ÷ amount × 365 ÷ days to repay.
Our promise
A lot of money apps hide the real price in the fine print. Our job is to pull it into plain sight, so you know what you are getting into before you tap “apply.”A lot of money apps hide the real price in the fine print. Our job is to pull it into plain sight.
Fees, subscriptions and the APR equivalent of “small” instant fees, on every product page, before you leave Firstcard.Fees, subscriptions and the APR equivalent of “small” instant fees, before you leave Firstcard.
For every product we spell out the path that costs you the least, even when that path earns us nothing.The path that costs you the least, even when it earns us nothing.
Every product page carries “A warning from Firstcard” with the traps we see members fall into, in plain English.“A warning from Firstcard” on every product page, in plain English.
If a product is not right for you today, the best move is to wait. We will still be here when you are ready.If a product is not right for you today, the best move is to wait.
Seen in
Screenshots from firstcard.app
No sign-up needed to see any of this. Here is what a product page on Firstcard looks like on your phone, using a real cash advance app as the example.What a Firstcard product page looks like on your phone, using a real cash advance app as the example.
01
Max amount, monthly fee, credit check and instant fee sit at the top, before any button.
02
Small fees turned into an APR equivalent, cheapest path next to the most expensive.
03
The traps we see members fall into, in plain English.
04
Compare similar apps on max amount and instant fee.
Swipe to see all 4 screens
Screens shown are from a live Firstcard product page on mobile. Partner apps and fees change; we re-check listings on a regular schedule.
Know before you go
The same advice we give in every product review, in one place. Read these before you compare anything.
Cash advance
Instant transfer fees look small, but a $17.99 fee on a 14-day advance is roughly 188% APR equivalent. Standard delivery (a few business days) is often free.A $17.99 instant fee on a 14-day advance is roughly 188% APR equivalent. Standard delivery is often free.
Secured card
On a $200 limit, a $150 balance reports as 75% utilization and can pull your score down. Pay it down early so a low balance gets reported.On a $200 limit, a $150 balance reports as 75% utilization. Pay early so a low balance gets reported.
Credit card
Interest only hits the part you carry. At 29.24% APR, a $500 balance kept for a year costs about $150. Pay in full by the due date and it costs $0.
Partners you know and trust
Where to start
Pick the topic that fits what you need right now. Each one starts with a short guide, then shows every option with its full cost, including options we do not earn anything from.Each topic starts with a short guide, then every option with its full cost.
Every topic opens with a short, plain-English guide before you see a single product.
Our top picks
Every pick shows the full cost and the one thing we would want a friend to know before signing up. Tap through for the full review before you apply anywhere.Each pick shows the full cost and the one thing we would want a friend to know first.
Best for: Banking with advances built in
Current Paycheck Advance
$25 to $1,000 · free in about 3 business days · instant fee not published
A warning from Firstcard
Current does not publish its instant fee. Check the price in the app before you tap instant.
Best for: Cashing out as you work
EarnIn
Up to $1,000 per pay period · free in 1 to 3 business days · instant $3.99 to $8.99
A warning from Firstcard
Not compatible with disability pay or unemployment wages. You need steady paycheck deposits.
Best for: Earning points to cut fees
Klover
Up to $750 · free in 2 to 5 business days · instant $3.99 to $37.49
A warning from Firstcard
Points are payment for sharing your data, and Klover+ costs $4.99 a month after the 30-day trial.
Best for: Chime users building credit for free
Chime Card
$0 annual fee · no deposit minimum · no APR
A warning from Firstcard
You must open Chime Checking to apply, and out-of-network ATM fees may apply.
Best for: Building credit with a small deposit
Self Visa Credit Card
$0 first year, then $25 · $100 minimum deposit · 27.74% APR
A warning from Firstcard
The annual fee is $25 after the first year, and a carried balance at 27.74% gets expensive.
Best for: Current users who want simple credit building
Current Build Card
$0 annual fee · no deposit · no APR (paid in full monthly)
A warning from Firstcard
You need a Current account, and out-of-network ATMs cost $2.50 to $3.50 per withdrawal.
Best for: No credit history, no deposit
Arro Card
Up to $60 a year · up to $300 to start · APR from 24.99%
A warning from Firstcard
Membership costs up to $60 a year even if you never carry a balance, and Arro does not post full card terms on its site.
Best for: Fair credit, no deposit
Avant Credit Card
$0 to $75 annual fee on avant.com · $300 to $3,000 line · 35.99% APR
A warning from Firstcard
Other Avant offers can charge up to $125 a year, and 35.99% APR is high. Check your terms before you accept.
Best for: Paycheck-based credit building
Perpay Credit Card
$5.50 to $9 a month + $9 to open · up to $1,500 · 27.99% to 29.99% APR
A warning from Firstcard
Fees can reach $108 a year, and payments come straight out of your paycheck through payroll deposit.
Best for: Adding a low-cost revolving account
Kikoff Credit Account
$5 a month · no credit check · no money back
A warning from Firstcard
The $750 line only works in the Kikoff store. It is a paid service, not savings.
Best for: Building credit with one simple plan
Ava Credit Builder
$10 a month or $60 a year · includes a card, a 0% savings loan and rent reporting · 0% interest
A warning from Firstcard
The card only works at the Ava store and about 60 approved merchants. Cancel after 7 days and you get no refund.
Facts checked October 2026 from each company’s own site. Terms change, so always confirm on the company’s page before you apply. Firstcard may earn money when you open some of these accounts. That never changes the costs or warnings we show.Facts checked October 2026 from each company’s own site. Firstcard may earn money from some of these. That never changes the costs or warnings we show.
No secrets
Some companies pay us when you open an account through Firstcard. That is how we keep the site free. It never changes the costs we show, and we list and review products we earn nothing from, too.Some companies pay us when you open an account through Firstcard. It never changes the costs we show, and we review products we earn nothing from, too.
We are not a lender or a bank.
We do not make lending decisions or hold your money.We do not make lending decisions.
Browsing never checks your credit.
Only the company you choose can run a check, and only if you apply with them.Only the company you apply with can.
Our ratings are our own.
Payment can affect where a product appears, never the fees, warnings or scores we show.Payment never changes fees, warnings or scores.
Read the details.
Advertiser Disclosure · How We Make Money · How We Rate Financial Products
“I compared 12 cash advance apps in five minutes. The true-cost number told me what nobody else would.”
“Got my first credit card ever — no deposit, no credit history drama. My score went up 52 points in three months.”
“They even list apps they don’t earn a dollar from. That’s when I started trusting the rankings.”
We will coach you through each product so you can make the right decision for you, and not get tricked by hidden fees.We will coach you through each product so you can make the right decision for you.
Join Firstcard Community
Disclaimer: Firstcard works hard to keep its information accurate and up to date, including re-verifying product fees on a regular schedule. Still, this information may differ from what you see when you visit a financial company's own site: companies change their terms, sometimes without notice. All products are presented without warranty. Before you take any offer, please review the company's own terms and conditions. Pre-qualified or "guaranteed" offers described by product companies are made by those companies, not by Firstcard, and are not binding until the company approves you. Firstcard is a financial technology company, not a bank, not a lender, and not a credit repair service; we do not make lending decisions. When we say a product "builds credit," results depend on the product reporting your activity to credit bureaus and on your own payment behavior. Some companies on this site pay us when you get their products through our links; this compensation, along with member engagement, may affect which products we feature and where they appear, but it never affects our star ratings, reviews, or true-cost calculations. See our Advertiser Disclosure, How We Make Money, Our Partners, How We Rate Financial Products, and Editorial Guidelines. If you find errors in your credit score or credit report, contact the credit bureau directly (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion).
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