July 17, 2026
SoLo Funds vs. Tilt: Subscription Cash Advance or Peer-to-Peer Marketplace?
Quick Take
- Tilt is the rebranded Empower app. It is a subscription cash advance tool with a flat monthly fee and an instant cash advance feature that uses bank data to set the limit.
- SoLo Funds is a peer-to-peer marketplace. Members can request from $20 to $625, set a repayment date up to 35 days out, and pay no mandatory interest.
- Tilt sets the cash advance limit. SoLo lets members request a specific dollar amount and a specific repayment date that community lenders can accept or pass on.
Good to Know
- Tips on SoLo Funds are voluntary and set by the member requesting funds. No mandatory interest charges apply.
- Funding on SoLo is not guaranteed and is subject to lender acceptance.
- SoLo does not report to the major credit bureaus. Third-party collectors may have different reporting practices.
Tilt was Empower until August 2025. Same app, same monthly subscription, new brand. The product is a cash advance tool that uses bank data and machine learning to decide how much a member qualifies for. SoLo Funds is a different model. Members post a real loan request, real community lenders pick which to fund, and the cost picture does not involve a subscription. The choice between the two often comes down to how often a member needs cash and how much control they want over the loan terms.
How Tilt Works for Borrowers
Members who use Tilt pay a flat monthly subscription fee. The app links a primary checking account, reads transaction history, and assigns a cash advance limit that can grow over time. The advance is delivered to a bank account, often with an express transfer fee for instant delivery. Standard delivery typically lands in one to three business days. Repayment is taken automatically from the member’s account on the next payday or scheduled deduction date. The subscription continues every month regardless of whether an advance is taken.
How SoLo Works for Borrowers
Members who borrow on SoLo do not pay a subscription. They build a SoLo Score from banking activity, then post a request for $20 to $625 with a single repayment date up to 35 days out. An optional tip can be added by the member requesting funds. Real community lenders pick which requests to fund. Funding is not guaranteed and is subject to lender acceptance.
Side-by-Side: Borrower Comparison
| Feature | SoLo Funds | Tilt (formerly Empower) |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Source | Community lenders (peer-to-peer) | Tilt’s own balance sheet |
| Max Amount | $625 | Set by Tilt’s underwriting; check current Terms |
| Subscription Fee | None required | Flat monthly subscription |
| Cost Model | Different business models. Members set their own terms. | Monthly subscription plus optional express transfer fee |
| Approval | Decided by a community lender | Set by Tilt’s machine-learning model |
| Repayment | Single payment on a member-chosen date, up to 35 days | Automatic on next payday or set deduction date |
| Credit Check | No traditional credit check | No traditional credit check |
| Credit Reporting | Does not report to the major credit bureaus | Does not report to the major credit bureaus |
| Funding Speed | Same day when funded by a lender; not guaranteed | Same day with express fee; 1 to 3 days standard |
| Can You Also Lend? | Yes, community members can lend | No lending marketplace |
The Subscription Math Members Forget
The most visible Tilt cost is the express fee at delivery. The less visible cost is the monthly subscription. Members who only need an advance a few times a year still pay every month. Over twelve months, that subscription can outweigh the express fees on every advance taken. Members who borrow rarely tend to do better on a marketplace where the cost is tied to the loan, not the calendar.
SoLo puts the cost on the optional tip and any optional donation rather than on a recurring subscription. Members who only borrow occasionally pay nothing in months they do not borrow. Members who borrow often can size the optional tip directly against the subscription plus express fees they would otherwise be paying.
Where Tilt Wins
Tilt wins for members with a steady payroll direct deposit, a clean banking record, and a need for predictable small advances every month. The machine-learning model lifts the limit as repayment history grows, and the subscription model is easy to budget for.
Where SoLo Wins
SoLo wins when the cash need is bigger than the Tilt limit, when direct deposits are irregular or absent, or when the member wants to avoid a recurring subscription fee. Members can request a specific dollar amount up to $625 and pick a repayment date that lines up with actual cash flow.
Pro Tip: Add up twelve months of Tilt’s subscription and compare it to the optional tips on the SoLo loans a member would actually need in a year. For members who borrow occasionally, the marketplace model usually comes out ahead.
Related Questions:
- How much can I borrow on SoLo Funds?
- How does the SoLo Score work?
- Do I have to pay a subscription on SoLo?
- How long does it take to get funded?
- What happens if I can’t repay on time?
Bottom Line
Tilt is a subscription cash advance app with a flat monthly fee and an instant advance feature. SoLo Funds is a peer-to-peer marketplace for $20 to $625, with no mandatory interest and a member-chosen repayment date up to 35 days. Funding on SoLo is not guaranteed. For members who borrow rarely, SoLo’s pay-per-loan model often costs less than a year of subscription fees.
Skip the monthly subscription. SoLo Funds connects members with real community lenders for $20 to $625, with no mandatory interest and a repayment date you choose.
Download SoLo Funds in the App Store
Download SoLo Funds in the Google Play Store