Loans Like ACE Cash Express: 7 Cheaper and Storefront Alternatives (2026)

Last updated 09/27/2026 by

Andrew Latham

Summary:

ACE Cash Express payday loans cost about 662% APR in Texas. If you need a similar loan, Possible and OppLoans cost less and spread payments out, and Advance America is the closest storefront match. Below we compare 7 loans and places like ACE Cash Express on cost, loan amounts, store networks and funding speed.

The best loans like ACE Cash Express in 2026 are Possible (best for a cheaper small loan that builds credit), OppLoans (best for a larger installment loan at a lower APR) and Advance America (best if you want a storefront like ACE). People usually look for alternatives to ACE Cash Express because of cost. A 14-day ACE payday loan in Texas carries a $25 fee per $100 borrowed. ACE also lends online in only a handful of states. If you belong to a credit union, a payday alternative loan is cheaper than anything on this list.

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ACE Cash Express at a glance

What it is	A storefront and online lender owned by Populus Financial Group. It offers payday, installment and title loans, check cashing and prepaid cards
Stores	700+ locations
Payday loans	Amounts vary by state: $100 to $2,000 online in Texas, $100 to $255 in California. Terms run 9 to 35 days, usually due on your next payday
Cost example	Texas: $25 per $100 borrowed as a credit services fee, plus 10% lender interest. A $500, 14-day loan costs $126.90, or about 662% APR
Installment loans	$100 to $3,500 in Texas, $100 to $2,500 in Missouri; online in Delaware, Florida, Missouri and Texas
Online payday states	California, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas
Credit check	Doesn’t affect your FICO score, but ACE may check a non-traditional credit bureau
Funding speed	30 minutes to 4 hours to a debit card, next business day by direct deposit, or same day in a store

Is ACE Cash Express legit?

Yes. ACE is a state-licensed lender with 700+ stores, and it publishes state fee schedules on its website. It also has a regulatory record. In July 2014 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered ACE to pay $5 million in consumer refunds and a $5 million penalty. The CFPB found that ACE used illegal debt collection tactics, including harassment and false threats of lawsuits or criminal prosecution, to push overdue borrowers into new loans. In July 2022 the CFPB sued ACE’s parent, Populus Financial Group, alleging it hid free repayment plans from struggling borrowers; the CFPB voluntarily dismissed that case with prejudice in April 2025, with no money paid. In Texas, ACE acts as a credit services organization: an unaffiliated third party makes the loan, and ACE charges the fee. Read the fee schedule for your state before you sign.

Cheapest option first: credit union payday alternative loans

If you belong to a federal credit union, ask about a payday alternative loan (PAL). The NCUA caps the rate at 1,000 basis points above its general ceiling, which works out to 28% APR while that ceiling is 18% (extended through September 10, 2027). Application fees are capped at $20. PALs I run from $200 to $1,000 over 1 to 6 months, and you need to have been a member for at least a month. PALs II go up to $2,000 over 1 to 12 months, and you can get one as soon as you join. Not every credit union offers PALs, so call yours before you apply elsewhere.

7 best loans like ACE Cash Express in 2026

1. Possible – Best for a cheaper small loan that builds credit

How it works: Possible lends up to $500 through its app. You repay in four bi-weekly payments over about eight weeks, instead of in one lump sum on payday. Possible’s sample schedules show APRs of about 140% to 178%, depending on the state. That’s roughly a quarter of ACE’s Texas payday APR. There’s no FICO check (Possible looks at your bank activity), there are no late fees, and on-time payments are reported to the credit bureaus. It’s available in 34 states.

✅ Pros:

Much lower APR than a typical payday loan
Payments are split into four installments, and you can move a payment up to 29 days with no fee
On-time payments help build credit history

❌ Cons:

Lower maximum than ACE
App only, with no stores

2. OppLoans – Best for a larger installment loan at a lower APR

How it works: OppLoans offers installment loans of $500 to $5,000, with APRs up to 195%. That’s high, but well below ACE’s payday APR, and you repay over months rather than on your next payday. There are no origination or prepayment fees. OppLoans runs a soft inquiry through Experian and a check through Clarity Services, so applying doesn’t affect your FICO score. Funding can arrive the same business day if you’re approved before noon Central time.

✅ Pros:

Bigger loans than ACE’s payday product
No origination or prepayment fees
Same-day funding is possible

❌ Cons:

Still expensive compared with a credit union or bank loan
Online only. Loans are made through bank partners, and availability varies by state
In 2021, OppFi settled a Washington, D.C. attorney general lawsuit over rates above the city’s cap. It paid $1.5 million in refunds and waived about $640,000 in interest

3. Advance America – Best storefront alternative to ACE

How it works: Advance America is the closest match to ACE. It has 700+ stores plus online applications, and it offers cash advances, lines of credit and installment loans up to $5,000. Payday amounts depend on your state (Advance America cites a $500 payday limit in its own comparison with ACE). Online approvals before 10:30 a.m. ET on a weekday are typically funded by 5 p.m. ET the same day, and store loans can be funded on the spot. Advance America says you don’t need good credit.

✅ Pros:

Large store network, similar in size to ACE’s
Installment loans go higher than ACE’s
Same-day funding online or in store

❌ Cons:

Payday and installment costs are in the same high range as ACE’s
Products and limits vary a lot by state

4. Check Into Cash – Best for walk-in service with more loan types

How it works: Check Into Cash runs 200+ stores in 15 states. It offers payday loans of $50 to $1,800, depending on your state, plus installment loans, title loans and a flex line of credit. Payday loans are usually due on your next payday, two to four weeks out. Approval can take a few minutes in a store, and you can leave with cash. Check Into Cash is part of the same CCF family of brands as Speedy Cash, and it sends online applicants to Speedy Cash where it has no store nearby.

✅ Pros:

Cash in hand the same day at a store
Payday, installment, title and line-of-credit options under one roof

❌ Cons:

Fewer states than ACE or Advance America
Approval includes a credit check

5. Speedy Cash – Best for higher payday limits in Texas

How it works: Speedy Cash offers payday loans online and in stores in 14 states, and its limits run higher than ACE’s in some of them: $50 to $3,000 in Texas, $50 to $1,500 in Nevada and $50 to $255 in California. It also offers installment loans, lines of credit and title loans. Instant funding to a debit card is available in some states, as is same-day cash in a store. You can apply with bad credit, but Speedy Cash does review your credit score. Speedy Cash was part of CURO Group until 2022, when it was sold to Community Choice Financial (CCF).

✅ Pros:

Higher payday maximum than ACE in Texas
Online and storefront options in more states than ACE’s online payday product

❌ Cons:

Payday-level costs; check your state’s rates page before borrowing
Instant funding isn’t available in every state

6. CashNetUSA – Best for online installment loans and credit lines

How it works: CashNetUSA no longer offers payday loans. Instead it offers installment loans of $300 to $2,500 in states such as Texas and Mississippi, repaid over 3 to 24 months, plus lines of credit up to $2,000. Apply before 1:30 p.m. CT on a weekday and you can usually get the money the same business day. There’s no prepayment penalty. CashNetUSA says it looks beyond your FICO score, but it doesn’t offer no-credit-check loans.

✅ Pros:

Fully online, with same-day deposits
Longer repayment than a payday loan

❌ Cons:

No stores
Its parent, Enova, has two CFPB orders: a $3.2 million penalty in 2019 and a $15 million penalty in November 2023 for debiting accounts without authorization. The 2023 order was terminated in September 2025

7. EarnIn – Best for a no-interest advance on your paycheck

How it works: If you’re employed with direct deposit, a cash advance app can replace a payday loan. EarnIn lets you draw on wages you’ve already earned: up to $150 a day and $1,000 per pay period. There’s no interest, no credit check and a $0 monthly fee; tips are optional. Standard transfers are free and take 1–2 business days. Instant transfers cost $3.99 - $8.99. The amount you draw is repaid from your next paycheck.

✅ Pros:

No interest and no mandatory fees
No credit check

❌ Cons:

Needs a regular paycheck and direct deposit, so it doesn’t suit everyone who uses ACE
Colorado’s attorney general sued EarnIn in August 2026 under state lending laws

ACE Cash Express alternatives compared

Lender	Loan type	Loan amounts	Cost	Stores	Best for
ACE Cash Express (for reference)	Payday, installment, title	Payday $100–$2,000 (TX)	About 662% APR on a 14-day TX payday loan	700+	—
Possible	Small installment	Up to $500	About 140%–178% APR	None (app)	Cheaper small loan, builds credit
OppLoans	Installment	$500–$5,000	Up to 195% APR	None (online)	Larger loan, lower APR
Advance America	Payday, installment, credit line	Installment up to $5,000	Varies by state	700+	Storefront like ACE
Check Into Cash	Payday, installment, title, credit line	Payday $50–$1,800	Varies by state	200+	Walk-in, more loan types
Speedy Cash	Payday, installment, title, credit line	Payday up to $3,000 (TX)	Varies by state	Yes	Higher Texas limits
CashNetUSA	Installment, credit line	$300–$2,500	Varies by state	None (online)	Online installment
EarnIn	Paycheck advance	Up to $1,000 per pay period	No interest; instant transfers $3.99 - $8.99	None (app)	No-interest advance

Places like ACE Cash Express near you

If you want to walk into a store the way you would at ACE, your main options are Advance America (700+ stores), Check Into Cash (200+ stores in 15 states) and Speedy Cash. Regional chains include Check ‘n Go (stores in 10 states, online in 14), LendNation (300+ locations in 13 states), Check City (stores in Nevada and Utah) and, in Florida only, Money Mart (50+ branches). Which ones you can use depends on your state, because payday lending is banned or tightly capped in many states. Storefronts can often hand you cash the same day. Online lenders like Possible, OppLoans and CashNetUSA deposit to your bank, sometimes the same day.

Payday loans like ACE Cash Express, or something cheaper?

The storefront chains above charge payday-level fees similar to ACE’s. For a fast, small loan with no FICO check that costs less, choose one that spreads repayment out: Possible (four payments), OppLoans or CashNetUSA (installments over months), a credit union PAL (capped at 28% APR) or, with a steady paycheck, EarnIn (no interest).

How to choose an alternative to ACE Cash Express

Compare the dollar cost, not just the APR. Ask what you’ll repay in total. On ACE’s Texas schedule, $500 for 14 days costs $126.90.
Match the repayment to your budget. A single payment due on payday is where most people get stuck. Installment loans cost more in total, but each payment is smaller.
Check your state. Loan amounts, fees and even product availability change at the state line.
Ask about payment plans. In Texas, ACE offers one payment plan every 12 months if you ask the day before the loan is due.

FAQs

What is similar to ACE Cash Express?

The storefront chains most similar to ACE are Advance America, Check Into Cash and Speedy Cash. All three offer payday or installment loans in stores and online. If you want something similar but cheaper, look at Possible, OppLoans, a credit union payday alternative loan or a paycheck advance app like EarnIn.

What is the most ACE Cash Express will loan you?

It depends on the state and product. ACE’s online payday loans go up to $2,000 in Texas but only $255 in California, and its installment loans go up to $3,500 in Texas. Your approved amount also depends on your income.

Does ACE Cash Express do a credit check?

ACE says applying won’t affect your FICO score. It may pull information from a non-traditional consumer reporting agency, and that inquiry can show up with that agency.

Who owns ACE Cash Express?

ACE Cash Express is owned by Populus Financial Group, Inc. ACE lists Populus as its parent on its website.

Where can I borrow money instantly?

Storefront lenders like ACE, Advance America and Check Into Cash can hand you cash the same day if you’re approved in the store. Online, ACE, Speedy Cash and Possible can send money to a debit card within minutes to hours. OppLoans and CashNetUSA offer same-day bank deposits if you’re approved before their cutoff times. Faster money usually costs more, so compare the fee first.
SuperMoney may be compensated by some of the providers listed. This doesn’t change how we evaluate them. Terms are as of September 2026 and can change; check the provider’s site before you apply.

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Key Takeaways

ACE’s Texas payday loans cost about 662% APR ($126.90 on $500 for 14 days).
Possible (about 140%–178% APR, up to $500) and OppLoans (up to 195% APR, up to $5,000) cost less than a payday loan and spread repayment out.
Advance America, Check Into Cash and Speedy Cash are the closest storefront matches, but their costs are similar to ACE’s.
A credit union payday alternative loan (capped at 28% APR) or a no-interest paycheck advance is cheaper than all of them, if you qualify.

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Andrew Latham

Andrew is the Content Director for SuperMoney, a Certified Financial Planner®, and a Certified Personal Finance Counselor. He loves to geek out on financial data and translate it into actionable insights everyone can understand. His work is often cited by major publications and institutions, such as Forbes, U.S. News, Fox Business, SFGate, Realtor, Deloitte, and Business Insider.

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