Several cash advance apps like EarnIn can be better at providing you early access to your paycheck. You still avoid high-interest payday loans and can enjoy several banking perks that make it easier to pay bills and save money.
| Best for | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|
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Instant cash advances | Learn more |
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Earning checking rewards | Learn more |
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High first-time cash advance limits | Learn more |
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Cash advance and line of credit funding | Learn more |
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Building credit | Learn more |
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High-interest banking accounts | Learn more |
1. Chime
Best For: Instant cash advances
- Cash Advance Limit: $500
- Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or $2 (instant)
- Monthly Cost: $0
Chime is an online financial technology company offering a free checking account and a savings account. Enjoy cash advances of up to $500 with its MyPay feature. This limit is lower than EarnIn’s $750 maximum.
Instant deposits only cost $2 per transaction, which can be lower than EarnIn. Free standard transfers process within 24 hours.
You can also enjoy several fee-free banking features, including:
- Overdraft protection up to $200*
- 50,000+ fee-free ATMs
- Automatic savings in a high-yield savings account
- Get paid up to 2 days early with Direct Deposit^
- Build credit with a secured Visa credit card
The banking app lets you send money to friends for free, even if they don’t use Chime. Additionally, you have 24/7 live support access.
Unfortunately, Chime’s MyPay cash advances are inaccessible in CO, CT, GA, HI, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OR, SC, SD, VT, WA, WI, or WY.
Read our Chime checking review for more.
Pros
- No monthly fee
- Checking and savings accounts
- Over 50,000 fee-free ATMs
Cons
- $2 instant withdrawal limit
- Maximum $500 advance limit
- Not available nationwide
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Please see back of your Card for its issuing bank.
^Early access to direct deposit funds depends on payer.
˜Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven location, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
*Eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply.
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2. Current
Best For: Earning checking rewards
- Cash Advance Limit: $500
- Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or varies (instant)
- Monthly Cost: $0 (tipping is optional)
Current Bank provides cash advances up to $500 without any monthly service fees, although you can leave an optional tip. Standard transfers take up to three days, which is on the slower side. Instant transfers are available and the fee depends on the advance amount.
This is a great banking app when you want a rewards checking account with budgeting tools for the whole family. For instance, you can earn rewards points on debit purchases at over 14,000 merchants redeemable for cash back. The app also removes gas station holds and has over 40,000 in-network ATMs.
Its teen banking access is notable too with customizable parental controls. Assigning chores, blocking merchants, and transferring money instantly is also possible.
Other banking perks include:
- Fee-free overdraft protection up to $200
- Receive direct deposits up to two days early
- Unlimited budgets by spending category
- Savings Pods earn up to 4% annual savings boost
- Build credit with a secured credit card
Read our Current Bank review for more.
Pros
- Earn debit card purchase rewards
- Teen banking accounts
- No monthly service fees
Cons
- Variable instant advance fee
- Free advances take up to 3 days
3. Varo
Best For: High first-time cash advance limits
- Cash Advance Limit: $500
- Advance Fee: $1.60 to $40
- Monthly Cost: $0
The Varo Money platform offers free online banking and up to $250 in first-time cash advances, which is substantially higher than the $25 to $100 limit for most. You can eventually qualify for up to $500 advances, which is the industry norm, but it remains lower than EarnIn for well-qualified earners.
Unfortunately, Varo cash advances incur a fee between $1.60 and $40. This service is pricey. Thankfully, the funds are immediately available. You also have as long as 30 days to repay the balance which can be longer than other cash advance apps.
Other reasons to consider this service include:
- Earn up to 6% back on debit card or secured card purchases
- 40,000+ fee-free ATMs
- Receive direct deposits up to two days early
- High-interest savings account
- Free secured credit card to improve your credit score
- Free credit score tracking
Read our Varo Money review for more.
Pros
- $250 first-time advance limit
- Flexible repayment options
- Debit and savings rewards
Cons
- Expensive fees for big advance amounts
- No 24/7 customer support
4. Empower
Best For: Cash advance and line of credit funding
- Cash Advance Limit: $300
- Advance Fee: $0 standard or $1 to 3% (instant delivery)
- Monthly Cost: $8 (after a 14-day free trial)
Empower offers a $300 maximum cash advance and an instant delivery fee applies to deposit the funds in a linked banking account. Thankfully, you can effortlessly waive this fee and receive your advance within minutes to your Empower debit card. Free standard transfers typically settle within 24 hours.
You may also be interested in the Empower Thrive line of credit, which initially ranges from $200 to $400 and gradually increases up to $1,000. Your flexible repayments help build a credit history to increase your credit score.
Since you encounter an $8 monthly subscription fee after the 14-day free trial, you will also want to take advantage of these other neobank money management features:
- Personalizable budget categories with weekly and monthly caps
- Credit monitoring
- Automatic Savings (FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through nbkc Bank, Member FDIC)
Pros
- Offers cash advances and lines of credit
- Fee-free instant advances to debit cards
- Multiple redemption methods
Cons
- $8 monthly subscription fee
- Select instant advances incur transaction fees
- Low $300 maximum cash advance
5. Brigit
Best For: Building credit
- Cash Advance Limit: $250
- Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or varies by plan (Express Delivery)
- Monthly Cost: $0, $9.99, or $14.99
Consider using Brigit if you want tools to help build credit, avoid bank fees, and get cash advances up to $250. Free Instant Cash standard transfers take two or three business days. Express Delivery advances arriving within 20 minutes are available with paid memberships, although you must upgrade to the top-tier Premium plan ($14.99/month) for complimentary free express delivery.
The free membership plan pairs as a budgeting app providing financial insights to improve how you earn and save money. Expedited cash advances are unavailable and you must wait for the standard 2–3-day delivery speed instead.
There are two paid plans with different personal finance features:
- Plus ($9.99/month): Credit score monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft protection, Instant Cash and Earn & Save money-making offers or shopping discounts.
- Premium ($14.99/month): Free Express Delivery for cash advances, credit builder loans, and Plus member benefits.
The credit builder feature lets you set aside as little as $1 per month into a 12-month credit builder loan that can boost your score by reporting on-time payments to each credit bureau.
Check out our Brigit review to learn more.
Pros
- Free Express Delivery for Premium members
- Several credit improvement products
- Free standard advances
Cons
- Express Delivery advances require a paid membership
- Slow standard delivery speeds
- $250 maximum advance
6. Dave
Best For: High-interest banking accounts
- Cash Advance Limit: $500
- Advance Fee: $0 (standard) or up to 5% (Express Delivery)
- Monthly Cost: $1
The Dave Banking app charges a $1 monthly fee for several perks, including up to $500 in paycheck advances. Standard deliveries are free but take up to three business days to arrive in your external bank account.
Express cash advances arrive within seconds to an FDIC-insured Dave Spending account with a 3% fee or to linked debit cards within an hour for a 5% fee.
You can also maximize your membership with the following perks:
- Interest-earning spending account (FDIC-insured up to $250,000)
- 38,000+ free ATMs
- Receive direct deposits up to 2 days early
- Automatic budgeting with high-yield savings goals
- Find side hustles
Pros
- Earns a competitive interest rate
- Free standard cash advances
- Recommends side hustle ideas
Cons
- $1 monthly service fee
- Up to $5 express cash advance fee
Check out these other apps like Dave with multiple money tools.
How EarnIn Works
Comparing these features to the best Earnin alternatives helps you find the best mixture of tools to improve your finances:
- Cash Out: Receive up to $750 of your paycheck each pay period before payday, including up to $100 daily.
- Balance Shield: Get alerts when you have a low bank account balance. You can use the Cash Out feature to fund your bank account.
- Tip Yourself: Automate savings of each paycheck into a free FDIC-insured account for your future goals.
- Earnin Express: Your paycheck can be deposited up to two days earlier than your current checking account.
- Credit Monitoring: View your VantageScore 3.0 by Experian and credit report at no extra cost.
This platform is currently fee-free and doesn’t charge interest for any service. You can leave optional tips to help pay their operating expenses. Instant “Lightning Speed” deposits charge a small fee between $0.99 and $5.99.
Your initial cash advance limit is $100. However, this threshold can increase once you establish a consistent income history and complete a minimum number of monthly activities (i.e., debit card transactions, minimum deposit thresholds, etc.). Other platforms have similar policies that incrementally increase your advance limit.
✨ Related: Best Credit Score Apps for Monitoring Your Credit
How Do Cash Advance Apps Work?
Cash advance apps like EarnIn verify your paycheck history to determine a reasonable advance limit you can quickly repay without late fees or interest. They don’t impact your credit history and won’t check your credit score to make a funding decision.
Below is a step-by-step glimpse at how to avoid high-interest payday loans:
- Connect direct deposit: First, you connect your banking account to the app which calculates your income history and initial advance limit. Your typical paycheck must usually be at least $300 to $1,000 to qualify.
- Make an initial cash advance: Most paycheck advance apps cap your first-time withdrawal between $20 and $100. Active users can qualify for a maximum limit between $500 and $750 after establishing a positive payment history.
- Select a repayment plan: You agree to a repayment plan before agreeing to the request and the app automatically deducts the advance amount from your next direct deposit.
- Choose standard or expedited funding: Standard deliveries are usually fee-free but require one and three days to receive your advance. Expedited funding typically involves a small fee to receive your money within minutes.
- Repay the advance: The app automatically deducts the money from your upcoming paycheck, so you won’t pay late fees or interest. Multiple on-time repayments coupled with steady income allow you to qualify for higher advance limits on future requests.
Depending on the app, you pay a monthly membership fee or can leave an optional tip if it’s a free service.
Is There an App Similar to EarnIn?
Several excellent EarnIn alternatives exist, with paycheck advances as a core feature plus budgeting tools and fee-free banking accounts as common secondary perks. Chime is one of the most well-rounded alternatives as it has fast and affordable advances, interest-earning banking accounts, and no monthly fees.
Choosing the best EarnIn alternative is easier by utilizing these comparison factors:
- Advance limits and fees: What’s the maximum cash advance possible and how expensive are standard and expedited funding? Also, how many minutes, hours, or days does it take for your money to arrive?
- Monthly fees: Is there a monthly membership fee to join the app? Is the free version sufficient for your financial needs?
- Banking features: Most apps partner with banks to provide FDIC-insured checking accounts. You may also be able to open one of the best high-yield savings accounts to earn more interest. The in-app debit card can also help you receive your advances sooner or with reduced fees in addition to making purchases or earning cash back.
- Budget tools: The spending insights and savings planners are similar to free budgeting apps, which allow you to track your expenses and upcoming bills.
- Credit monitoring: You may be able to see your credit score for free or apply for a free secured credit card to expand your credit history with on-time payments.
Summary
There are many apps like Earnin that offer a variety of banking services. These services can make getting paid early, maximizing your purchases, and earning a high interest rate on your savings much easier. When comparing services, compare the borrowing and monthly service fees as you decide which platform best fits your money needs.
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About Josh Patoka
After graduating in $50k with student loans in May 2008 from Virginia Military Institute with a B.A. International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Spanish (he studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain for 3 months), Josh decided to sell his soul for seven years by working in the transportation industry to get out of debt ASAP and focus on doing something else with a better work-life balance.
He is a father of three and has been writing about (almost) everything personal finance since 2015. You can also find him at his own blog Money Buffalo where he shares his personal experience of becoming debt-free (twice) and taking a 50%+ pay cut when he changed careers.
Today, Josh relishes the flexibility of being self-employed and debt-free and encourages others to pursue their dreams. Josh enjoys spending his free time reading books and spending time with his wife and three children.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank or financial institution. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
