Albert App Review
Cash Advance
- Budget, bank, save, and invest all in one app
- Cash advances up to $250
- Cashback-earning debit card
- Investing support for beginners
- 30-day free trial
- Only available through the mobile app
- Costs $9.99 – $14.99 per month
- Cash advances are small at first
- Need the premium Genius plan for most features
| Monthly cost | $9.99 – $14.99, depending on the plan |
| Services included | Budgeting, banking, automatic savings, cash advances, guided investing, identity protection, credit monitoring, & subscription canceling |
| Cash advance limit | Up to $250 |
| Who can use it? | U.S. residents & citizens who are at least 18 years old |
Albert is a comprehensive financial app combining banking, budgeting, investing, and savings features in one place.
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Albert budgeting and banking app review
The Albert app aims to simplify personal finance by providing you with all the tools you need to better manage your money. The app has two subscription tiers:
- Albert subscription ($9.99/month). This plan includes basic features, including budgeting and spending tracking. You link an external bank account, and Albert will help you build a budget and find subscriptions to cancel.
- Genius subscription ($14.99/month). This gets you access to most Albert features, including a checking account with cash advances and a rewards debit card, a savings account with automatic savings tools, an investment account, identity protection, credit score monitoring, and access to real financial “geniuses” who can answer your money questions.
Unless you only need budgeting help, you’ll likely need the Genius plan to squeeze the most out of Albert. This table summarizes what each plan includes.
| Feature | Albert subscription | Genius subscription |
| Budgeting & spending tracking | ||
| Bill negotiation | ||
| Subscription monitoring | ||
| Saving account | ||
| Checking account | ||
| Cashback rewards debit card | ||
| Early paydays | ||
| Investment account | ||
| Cash advances | ||
| Identity protection | ||
| Credit monitoring | ||
| Expert advice |
Is Albert considered a bank?
No, Albert is not a bank. Instead, it offers banking services through three partner institutions—Sutton Bank, Coastal Community Bank, and Wells Fargo. These banks are all FDIC members, so if you open an Albert Cash or Albert Savings account, your money is insured through one of these institutions.
Albert cash advance review
Albert will give you up to $250 as a cash advance if you overdraft your Cash account, with a few caveats: You need a Genius subscription and Smart Money transfers enabled. (Smart Money is an in-app feature that analyzes your Cash account to find extra money you could use to save.)
Here’s how the Albert cash advance works:
- To qualify for a cash advance, you need an Albert Cash account with a history of regular deposits. The more you use your Albert Cash account, the better your chances of qualifying and potentially increasing your limit.
- Once eligible, you can overdraw your Albert Cash account for debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, and transfers. Starting limits are typically $25 but can increase over time based on your account activity. As of mid-2024, the average Albert cash advance was $95.
- Albert doesn’t charge interest on its cash advances, but you must pay the $14.99 monthly fee for Genius. You’ll repay the advance automatically from your next deposit into your Albert Cash account.
Albert Genius review
Albert Genius is a premium feature that costs $14.99 per month, or $12.49 per month when you pay annually. Genius subscribers can access more comprehensive tools and personalized guidance than regular Albert members. Here’s what you get:
- Albert Cash account. Albert offers a cash account with early paycheck access (up to two days) and overdraft protection of up to $250. The account comes with a Mastercard debit card, and you can earn cash-back rewards.
- Albert Savings account. The app analyzes your income and spending to set aside money automatically. You can create multiple savings goals and earn cash bonuses on your savings balance.
- Free ATMs. With the Cash account, you can use over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs without fees. However, a $3.50 fee applies to non-network ATMs.
- Cash advances. Borrow up to $250 if you overspend. (The average limit is $95.)
- Investment accounts. Albert offers custom portfolios based on your goals or lets you choose individual stocks and ETFs. You can start investing with as little as $1.
- 24/7 monitoring. The app offers identity protection, credit score monitoring, and real-time alerts to help keep your financial information safe.
Who’s eligible to use Albert?
The Albert app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. Generally, anyone who meets these requirements can use it:
| Requirement | Details |
| Citizenship | U.S. resident or citizen |
| State of residence | Anywhere in the U.S. |
| Minimum age | 18 years |
| Minimum credit score | None |
| Minimum income | None |
| Bank requirements | Must have a bank account with a U.S. financial institution |
| Tech requirements | Must have a mobile phone that supports the Albert app and uses a U.S. mobile carrier |
Remember, if you want a cash advance, you need an Albert Genius membership and a Cash account with regular deposits.
Pros and cons of the Albert app
The Albert app has these benefits and drawbacks:
Pros
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Can budget, bank, save, and invest all in one app
If you don’t want separate banking, budgeting, and investing apps, the Albert app can help you streamline.
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Offers cash advances up to $250
Cash advance apps can be a low-cost way to float you until your next payday. Many people use Albert to get cash advances.
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Banking features
The Albert Cash and Save accounts offer various resources to help you save money, including automatic savings tools, cash bonuses on savings balances, and rewards on debit card purchases.
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Investing support for beginners
With the Albert money app, you can answer a few questions about your investing goals and build a custom portfolio.
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Comes with a 30-day free trial
You can take Albert for a test drive for free for 30 days. If you don’t like it, you can cancel before your first billing cycle with no charges.
Cons
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Mobile app only
The only way to use Albert is through the mobile app. You can’t access your account online through a web browser.
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Subscription fee
Downloading the Albert app is free, but you’ll pay $9.99 per month to use basic features and $14.99 per month for Genius features.
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Other fees apply
Albert charges $3.50 for non-network ATMs and $4.99 to move money from an Albert Cash account to an external bank account within 10 minutes rather than waiting the standard three to six business days.
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Cash advances are small at first
Albert gives cash advances up to $250, but it says the average cash advance is $95, and not all customers will qualify for one.
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Confusing website
We found that Albert’s website contradicts itself and doesn’t clearly state what’s included with each subscription tier. This can be frustrating when deciding which plan to purchase.
Albert customer reviews
Real-life customers have mixed opinions about the Albert app. But overall, it has positive ratings online:
| Source | Customer rating | Number of reviews |
| Trustpilot | 4.5/5 | 3.7K |
| Apple App Store | 4.6/5 | 186.5K |
| Google Play Store | 4.3/5 | 98.6K |
| Better Business Bureau | 3.65/5 | 1K |
Many users appreciate the Albert app’s budgeting tools, savings features, and instant cash advances. They praise its user-friendly interface and helpful customer service. Some customers report that Albert has helped them reach savings goals and avoid overdraft fees.
However, some users find the cash advance amounts smaller than expected, which is typical among cash advance apps. Others voice concerns about the subscription fees not being worth the price. Also, some customers report having a difficult time closing their accounts.
How to use the Albert app
It takes less than 15 minutes to start using the Albert app. Here’s how:
- Download the Albert App from the App Store or Google Play.
- Open the app and tap “Get started.”
- Tell Albert your top goals—opening a bank account, creating a budget, tracking spending, canceling subscriptions, saving money, or getting instant overdrafts.
- Enter your name, email address, and password, and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Connect your bank accounts so Albert can find your subscriptions and help you track your spending.
Depending on your goals, you can take several actions in the Albert app. For instance, you could set up your monthly budget, open a Cash account and request an instant cash advance, cancel old subscriptions, create goals, and start investing.
FAQ
Is the Albert App trustworthy?
Albert is considered a trustworthy app. It has positive user reviews and offers several security features, including encryption and two-factor authentication, to protect your financial information. However, as with any financial app, it’s important to read the terms and conditions and stay informed about its privacy policies.
Does the Albert App let you borrow money?
Yes, Albert offers a feature called Albert Instacash that allows users to access up to $250 in cash advances without interest. This service is available to users who have linked their bank account to Albert and meet certain criteria. Be sure to review the terms and fees associated with this feature.
Albert will give you up to $250 as a cash advance if you overdraft your Cash account, with a few caveats: You need a Genius subscription and Smart Money transfers enabled. (Smart Money is an in-app feature that analyzes your Cash account to find extra money you could move to savings.)
Does the Albert App charge a monthly fee?
Yes, the Albert app has two subscription tiers. The Albert subscription is $9.99 monthly and includes budgeting and tracking spending. The Genius subscription is $14.99 per month and includes a checking account with cash advances and a rewards debit card, a savings account with automatic savings tools, an investment account, identity protection, credit score monitoring, and access to real financial “geniuses” who can answer your money questions.
Does Albert work with Chime?
Yes, Albert works with Chime. You can link your Chime account to Albert to take advantage of its budgeting tools, financial insights, and cash advance features.
Does Albert work with Cash App?
Yes, Albert works with Cash App. You can link your Cash App account to Albert to manage your finances, track spending, and use features like cash advances.
Does Albert work with Zelle?
Albert does not directly integrate with Zelle. However, you can use Albert with Zelle by linking your Zelle-compatible bank account to Albert for financial tracking and cash advance features.
Does Albert work with PayPal?
Albert does not directly integrate with PayPal. You can still use Albert for financial management and PayPal for transactions and transfers.
Does Albert work with Varo?
Yes, Albert works with Varo. You can link your Varo account to Albert to use its budgeting tools, financial insights, and cash advance features.
Does Albert work with Venmo?
Yes, Albert works with Venmo. You can link your Venmo account to Albert to manage your finances, track spending, and use features such as cash advances.
How we rated Albert
Since 2023, LendEDU has evaluated personal finance apps to help readers find the best cash advance solutions. Our latest analysis reviewed 180 data points from 9 apps and financial institutions, with 20 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.
These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.
| Product | Our rating |
| Albert app | 4.2/5 |
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