8 Best Online Banks Like Varo Bank In 2025

If you’re searching for online banks like Varo Bank that offer no-fee checking, sleek apps, high-yield savings, and instant access to your cash, welcome—this is your expert guide. 

Whether you want to build credit, access your paycheck early, or manage your finances on the go, this list of apps like Varo Bank has got you covered. Let’s break down the best alternatives available in 2025.

Below, you’ll discover what makes Varo Bank a top pick for digital banking and explore the best apps and banks that compete directly with Varo for your hard-earned money in 2025.

What is Varo Bank?

Varo Bank is a leading U.S.-based online neobank launched in 2015. It is designed to make banking simple, fee-free, and accessible from your smartphone.

As a fully licensed digital bank and FDIC-insured institution, Varo offers checking and high-yield savings accounts, cash advances, fee-free ATM access, and powerful budgeting tools—all within one easy-to-use mobile app.

Key Features of Varo Bank:

• No monthly fees or minimum balances: Entirely fee-free checking and savings accounts.
• Early direct deposit: Get paid up to two days early.
• High-Yield Savings: Up to 5% APY for qualifying balances under $5,000, 2.5% above that.
• Varo Believe Credit Card: Build credit without a credit check or deposit.
• Instant transfers & mobile check deposit: Deposit checks with a snap from peer apps.
• Robust app: Real-time alerts, budgeting tools, and 24/7 in-app support.
• Cash advances: Eligible users can instantly access up to $250 for emergencies.
• FDIC insurance: Funds insured up to the legal limit.
• Rewards: Cashback and bonus offers for engaging with banking features.
• Financial empowerment: Tools for goal tracking and automatic savings.

Varo Bank is widely lauded for eliminating common banking headaches—no surprise fees, a user-friendly digital experience, and an emphasis on financial inclusion and education.

But what if you want other options with similar benefits? That’s where the following banks, like Varo Bank, come in.

Why Choose Banks Like Varo Bank?

While Varo leads the digital banking revolution, you may want alternatives if you need:

• Different features (higher APY, crypto, or advanced rewards)
• Extended credit products or investments
• Specialty options for gig workers, families, or frequent travelers
• Unique perks like side income, buy-now-pay-later, or expanded cash advance limits

Online banks and apps like Varo offer flexibility, seamless app-based control, competitive savings, and tools uniquely tailored for a new generation of money movers.

Top 8 Apps and Online Banks Like Varo Bank

1. Beem: Better than Cash Advance

Beem is one of the top apps like Varo Bank for users looking to combine financial flexibility with innovative tools.

Beem doesn’t just help you get by — it helps you get ahead. With features like up to $1,000 in instant cash and AI-powered money tracking, Beem outperforms most online banks in speed and usability.

• Instantly access $20–$1,000 with no credit check or interest
• Real-time financial feed powered by AI—predicts spending and budgets on autopilot
• Tax tools, ID theft insurance, free credit monitoring
• Cashback rewards and instant transfers

2. Money App – Cash Advance

The Money App is another great choice among apps similar to Varo Bank. While it focuses more on cash advances, it supports bill payments, expense tracking, and direct deposit features.

This app is great for users who want fast financial help and real-time money management tools, much like Varo Bank’s budget planner and alerts.

• Quickly borrow up to $500—eligibility grows over time
• Simple flat-fee structure, no surprise costs
• Sleek app that syncs with any U.S. bank
• Track spending, set savings goals, and get reminders

3. Vola: Get Cash & Build Credit

Vola is an ideal pick for people looking for apps like Varo Bank with an added focus on credit-building. It provides small cash advances, credit insights, and spending analytics, all via a sleek mobile interface.

Vola also offers an educational experience — empowering users to understand credit and financial literacy, which Varo Bank champions.

Best For: Building credit and instant cash

• Up to $300 instantly—no interest, no credit checks
• Borrow more with a solid repayment history
• Ongoing credit education and reporting
• Budgeting and cashflow tracking built in

4. Lenme: Investing and Borrowing

Looking for a more flexible borrowing experience? Lenme is an alternative to banks like Varo Bank because it connects borrowers and lenders directly. You can request a loan and get matched with an individual investor, often with more personalized terms.

It’s a peer-to-peer approach that contrasts traditional online banks but offers a creative twist for fast funding without rigid rules.

Best For: Peer-to-peer loans and investing

• Advance $100–$5,000—borrowers and lenders connect directly
• Competitive rates and fast approval
• Invest spare cash in peer loans, earn returns
• Flexible repayment and approval based on financial health

5. Current: The Future of Banking

Current is one of the closest apps, like Varo Bank, in terms of functionality. With early direct deposits, no overdraft fees (up to $200), savings pods, and a sleek mobile app, Current is built for the digital generation.

If you love how Varo Bank simplifies money management, you’ll appreciate Current’s real-time alerts, instant gas hold removals, and cashback rewards.

Best For: No-fee banking with rewards and crypto

• 4.00% APY on savings pods
• No monthly fees, overdraft up to $200
• Free instant transfers, early direct deposit
• Up to 15x points with debit card purchases
• Crypto investing is available in-app

6. MoneyLion: Banking & Rewards

MoneyLion is a strong contender among online banks like Varo Bank. It offers a hybrid of banking, investing, and credit-building in one app. It features early paycheck access, mobile banking, and a crypto investment account.

MoneyLion’s financial insights and personalized recommendations make it an excellent choice if you want more depth than basic online banking.

Best For: All-in-one banking, cash advances, and investing

• Up to $500 cash advance when needed
• No hidden fees, robust rewards program
• Investment accounts and credit-builder loans
• Tools for budgeting, high-yield savings, and side gig discovery

7. Chime – Mobile Banking

Chime is the most well-known name among apps similar to Varo Bank. It offers fee-free overdrafts, no monthly service charges, and early access to direct deposits — all with an easy-to-use mobile app.

Like Varo, Chime emphasizes financial wellness, offering automatic savings features and real-time spending notifications.

Best For: Simplicity, no fees, and fast direct deposit

• No monthly service fees or minimums
• Get paid up to two days early
• Over 60,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide
• Optional SpotMe® overdraft protection
• Save automatically with every paycheck

Why Pick Chime? It’s the most direct competitor to Varo—a seamless app that offers free checking, fee-free ATMs, and automated savings in one.

8. Dave: Credit, Cash & Money App

Dave is another trusted name among apps like Varo Bank. It combines features like payday advances, budgeting tools, and a side hustle finder to help users stay financially secure.

Dave’s overdraft protection and no-interest cash advances make it a top pick for users looking for alternatives to Varo Bank’s direct deposit and budgeting ecosystem.

Best For: Fast cash advances plus side hustle finder

• Up to $500 ExtraCash™ instantly, repay flexibly
• Early payday, intuitive budgeting, and alerts
• Gig job finder—earn more side income
• High-yield savings within the app

Why Pick Dave? Dave excels for gig workers or anyone wanting bigger cash advances paired with income-boosting solutions.

How to Pick the Best Varo Bank Alternative

Consider these before choosing:

• Advance Needs: If you want high advance limits, try MoneyLion, Beem, or Dave.
• No-Fee Structure: Chime, Current, and Varo have the lowest ongoing costs.
• Rewards & Savings: Want cashback or high APY? Current and Chime shine here.
• Credit Building: Vola and MoneyLion offer standout options for improving your score.
• Investment Power: If you want to invest in your bank, Lenme and MoneyLion rise.
• Side Income Features: Dave includes built-in gig job connections; MoneyLion helps here, too.

Pro Tip/Stacking: Many users leverage 2–3 of these banks or apps together for maximum features—budget with Chime, earn rewards with Current, and tap into higher advances via MoneyLion or Dave.

Also Read: Top 7 Emergency Cash Advance Apps Of 2025

Conclusion

Varo Bank is an excellent choice for digital banking, but it’s far from the only one. Whether you’re drawn to cash advance features, credit-building tools, or investment options, several apps like Varo Bank fit the bill.

From Beem’s flexible cash access to Chime’s no-fee structure and MoneyLion’s all-in-one platform, you have plenty of digital-first banking choices to explore in 2025.

Choose the app that fits your money style and start taking control of your finances—without the paperwork and outdated systems.

Also Read: Instant Cash Advance Services Compared: Which One Is Best?

Most Searched FAQs About Online Banks Like Varo