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Apps like EarnIn

Here’s why other cash advance apps, like One@Work or Chime, might suit you better than EarnIn.

EarnIn is a financial app that offers a quick way to get an advance on your next paycheck without completing an application or paying fixed fees. You can connect your bank accounts to the app and get access to up to $750 of what you’re expected to earn each pay period.

While its basic service can be cheaper than a payday loan, EarnIn may not be for everyone. Our top picks for apps like EarnIn work similarly, but may offer stronger perks, faster turnaround time, or higher borrowing amounts.

LenderLoan amountFeesSpeed
CleoUp to $250$5.993 to 4 days or instant for a fee.
Chime SpotMeUp to $200FreeInstant
Albert$25 to $250$14.99Instant
Brigit$50 to $250$9.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.
Cash App$20 to $200N/ASame day
B9$30 to $500$9.99 or $19.99Instant
ONE@WorkUp to 50% of earned wagesNo membership fee.Same day if employer has configured this benefit. If not, small fee applies
MoneyLionUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney accountFree (or $1 to $5 for RoarMoney account)Up to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99
PossibleUp to $500FreeAs fast as 1 business day
VolaUp to $300$1.99As soon as same day or instant with Vola card

Our 10 top picks for apps like EarnIn

  • If you want budgeting features: Cleo
  • If you want to avoid overdrafts: Chime SpotMe
  • If you want to build a portfolio: Albert
  • If you want for flexible repayments: Brigit
  • If you don’t have direct deposits: Cash App
  • If you want a cashback Visa card: B9
  • If you are an hourly workers: ONE@Work
  • If you want to keep track of your finances: MoneyLion
  • If you want to boost your credit: Possible
  • If you want to track your spending: Vola

Alternative for avoiding overdrafts

Alternative for budgeting features

Cleo

4.1 / 5 ★★★★★

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While EarnIn excels at getting more of your earned paycheck faster, Cleo excels at helping you budget, spend, and save better – and offers cash advances from $20 to $250. With Cleo, you can track your spending, view upcoming bills, and get low-balance alerts. With its paid version, you can request cash advances in the app, get overdraft protection and earn cashback to your Cleo wallet.

Unlike EarnIn, Cleo has an AI assistant that can answer questions in natural language, like “How much did I spend on Uber this month?” It can also break down your finances into graphs so you can see where your money is going. While you can potentially pull more money with EarnIn, Cleo doesn't require you to verify your income or upload timesheets to get cash, like EarnIn does.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • No employment verification required
  • 0% interest charged on cash advances
  • Support available with free version
Cons
  • Cash advance amounts limits start low
  • Cleo Plus paid plan costs $5.99 a month
  • Mixed customer reviews
Loan amountUp to $250
Loan TermNext deposit
Turnaround time3 to 4 days or instant for a fee.

Chime SpotMe®

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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Chime doesn't offer loans, but if your main concern is having to pay overdraft fees each month, this online bank may have a solution for you. Chime's SpotMe has a no-fee overdraft feature that provides up to $200 to cover overdrafts to your Chime Checking account. To qualify, you need to make a monthly direct deposit of $200 or more into your Chime checking account and activate your Chime debit card.

SpotMe only covers overdrafts caused by ATM or debit card transactions and starts with just $20 of protection. You can raise this limit with regular deposits and a solid account history by qualifying for promotional bonuses offered by Chime or by using SpotMe Boost, a program that allows existing members to boost each other's SpotMe feature.

  • Available in all states
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. Direct deposit: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date. SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.
Pros
  • No fees or tipping obligation
  • Low direct deposit requirement
Cons
  • Overdraft limits start at $20 and max out at $200
  • Must use with Chime Checking account and debit card
  • Overdraft only covers debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals
Loan amountUp to $200
Loan TermNext deposit
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for building a portfolio

Albert

4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

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Albert is a banking app that offers overdraft coverage from $25 to $250 with its Albert Instant feature. What makes Albert different is its Genius feature. Genius is a technology-driven, human-backed financial service that can build a custom investment portfolio based on your goals, but it costs $12.49 a month when billed yearly, or $14.99 a month when billed monthly.

Unlike other cash apps, Albert automatically enrolls all new borrowers in a free 30-day trial of Genius in order to use the app to get free advances. To prevent getting charged on the next renewal, you'll need to cancel Genius within the 30-day trial period. And like most other cash apps, instant transfers attract a fee.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Offers investment help
  • No credit check required
  • Offers expert investment help
Cons
  • Genius subscription required
  • No customer service phone number
  • A pattern of customer complaints
  • Instant transfer fees not listed
Loan amount$25 to $250
Loan TermWithin 6 days of overdraft, with possible 7-day extension
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for flexible repayments

Brigit

4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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Brigit is a no-frills app that offers $50 to $250 cash advances per pay cycle. Unlike EarnIn, the service costs $9.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee per month. And if you're short on cash and need extra time to pay, Brigit lets you extend your due date. You can ask for one extension for every two consecutive advances you pay back on time. By doing this, you can store up to three extensions for use at a later date.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Helps avoid overdrafts
  • No-interest cash advance
  • Credit builder program included in monthly fee
  • Offers up to $1 million in identity theft protection
Cons
  • $9.99 to $14.99 monthly membership fee monthly subscription fee
  • No additional financial tools
Loan amount$50 to $250
Loan TermUntil your next payday, but can extend
Turnaround time2 to 3 business days or instant with a Premium subscription or for a fee.

Alternative for people without direct deposit

Cash App

Cash App Borrow is a feature inside of Cash App that allows eligible users to borrow up to $200 for any need. But it's still a pilot program, and it's apparently only available to select users with a history of adding cash to the app and possibly sending payments.

While it's unclear how CashApp Borrow works, how much you can borrow is likely determined by how much money you deposit and keep in your CashApp account, borrow and repay. Unlike other cash apps, your ability to borrow doesn't necessarily depend on having direct deposits. This makes it ideal for people who get paid in cash — or otherwise don't receive income via direct deposit.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Direct deposit payments may not be required
  • No credit check involved
Cons
  • Only available to certain users
  • Limited to $200 per advance
  • Does not disclose eligibility requirements
Loan amount$20 to $200
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeSame day

Alternative if you want a cashback Visa card

B9 pay advance app

B9 is one of the few cash advance apps that offers an FDIC-insured cashback Visa card. Additionally, B9 doesn't charge fees or require tips when you request an advance.

But you'll have to join either their B9 Advance plan at $9.99 a month or B9 Premium plan at $19.99 a month to access cash advance benefits. B9 isn't the cheapest option out there, but it may be worth it if you need larger advances sooner.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Approval in minutes
  • No credit checks
  • Instant transfers between B9 members
Cons
  • $9.99 or $19.99 monthly membership fee
  • Not all borrowers will qualify for full advance
  • Membership required
Loan amount$30 to $500
Loan TermNot Stated
Turnaround timeInstant

Alternative for hourly workers

ONE@Work

4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

One@Work (formerly Even) is a budgeting app that offers up to 50% advances on wages you've already earned through its Instapay feature. The service is free for employees if employers have configured these benefits in the Instapay app. A small fee will apply if not. On top of this, One@Work helps you stick to a budget by alerting you about upcoming bills and how much you need for them. Your employer determines how often you can take an Instapay and how much of your net earnings you can access.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Instant funding available through a connected bank or Walmart
  • Helps you stay on top of bills
Cons
  • Advance terms are determined by the employer
  • A small fee may apply depending on your employer
Loan amountUp to 50% of earned wages
Loan TermVaries
Turnaround timeSame day if employer has configured this benefit. If not, small fee applies

Alternative if you want to keep track of your finances

MoneyLion Instacash advances

4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

MoneyLion is an all-around personal finance app that also offers cash advances up to $500 with their Instacash service. It goes beyond EarnIn, offering a no-fee checking account, no-interest cash advances, credit monitoring, and loan limit increases of up to $1,000 if you add Roar Money as direct deposit.

MoneyLion offers a trial option with a predetermined cash amount if you don't qualify for the full Instash service. Customer reviews of the app also tend to run negative, with hundreds of complaints filed on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.

  • Available in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Pros
  • Unlock Instacash for free
  • No interest
  • Easily track financial health
Cons
  • Up to 5 business days for standard delivery
  • Poor customer reviews and complaints
Loan amountUp to $500 or $1,000 with RoarMoney account
Loan TermDue by your next pay date
Turnaround timeUp to 5 days or instant for a fee of $0.49 to $8.99

Alternative if you want to boost your credit

Possible Finance Mobile Installment Loans

Possible Finance offers short-term installment loans for bad credit borrowers. While there's no credit check, you can expect to pay up to $15 to $20 per $100 borrowed in fees when you take out an advance, depending on your state. But unlike EarnIn and other cash advance apps, it reports your payments to two of the three major credit bureaus to help you build your credit score. It also has same-day funding available if you have a Visa debit card. But it's more expensive to use than cash advance apps, so you should compare other credit-building programs and decide if the credit-boosting feature is worth the cost.

  • Available in: Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington
Pros
  • Borrow up to $500
  • Helps build credit
Cons
  • High fees
  • Only available in select statest
Loan amount$50 - $500
APR150% to 460%
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan Term2 to 8 weeks
Turnaround timeAs fast as 1 business day

Alternative if you want to track your spending

Vola Finance

Vola is a cash advance app offering up to $300 in advances. It also offers spending analytics and smart graphs to help you manage your personal finances. Unlike EarnIn, Vola charges a subscription but requires no additional fees for any of its services.

You can also earn access to more benefits when you increase your Vola Score by remaining in good financial standing.

  • Available in all states
Pros
  • Data insights to help with budgeting
  • No hidden fees
  • Eligible payments can build your credit score
Cons
  • Transfers can take up to 5 business days
  • Subscription required for cash advance benefits
  • Some benefits are only available with a high Vola Score
Loan amountUp to $300
Interest rate typeFixed
Loan TermUntil your next payday or date you select
Turnaround timeAs soon as same day or instant with Vola card

Methodology: How we chose these apps

Our team weighs each app against eight main factors: fees, membership plans, turnaround time, terms, financing options, how soon you can borrow, maximum borrowing amounts and overall perks. We also considered whether the app was available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Customer reviews on sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot were factored in as well.

How EarnIn compares

As a cash advance app, EarnIn is a top runner. It has no membership fees or tip requirements, offers same-day funding and you can borrow up to $750 per pay period with its Cash Out feature. However, how much you can borrow is based on how much you make.

EarnIn isn’t for everyone, though. To request cash advances, you must verify your work email or hours worked by submitting timesheets and allow location tracking to verify you were at your job’s location. For some, this verification is too intrusive.

Pros

  • No membership fees
  • No tip requirements
  • No credit check
  • Borrow up to $750 per pay period

Cons

  • Must have consistent pay schedule
  • Mixed customer reviews
  • Class-action lawsuit in 2021
  • May need to submit timesheets and working schedule

Bottom line

Cash advance apps may be a more affordable alternative to high-interest payday loans. Compare cash advance apps to find one that works with your payment schedule to avoid taking on more costly debt.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Anna Serio, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
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Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

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8 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    CodredoAugust 4, 2019

    I have some money that I don’t want to spend in next couple of months;I needed someone who is in need of a loan to take this money and who is willing to pay back in 5months time

      AvatarFinder
      fayemanuelAugust 5, 2019Finder

      Hi Codredo,

      Thanks for contacting Finder.

      It might interest you to invest in peer-to-peer lending. This type of lending involves borrowing money from individual investors. Here are the requirements for some prominent P2P lenders:

      – SocietyOne: Need to be a sophisticated investor
      – RateSetter: Individuals over the age of 18 can lend from just $10
      – MoneyPlace: Currently need to be a wholesale or institutional investor, but retail investors are coming soon
      – Harmoney: Currently only sophisticated investors can apply, opening to retail investors soon
      – Marketlend: Open to retail investors

      Hope this helps.

      Kind Regards,
      Faye

    Default Gravatar
    MiriamJuly 25, 2019

    Payday advance when receiving disability

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangcoJuly 26, 2019

      Hi Miriam,

      Thanks for getting in touch! At this time the payday apps are unable to pay out earnings from Social Security, Disability, or other government benefits.
      You may check this page out again from time to time to see any updates.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    VanJuly 7, 2019

    I have been turned down for every loan I apply for.

      AvatarFinder
      JhezJuly 8, 2019Finder

      Hi Van,

      Thank you for your comment.

      I am sorry to hear about your applications being turned down. If this happens, it’s often because the lender found something that didn’t meet their criteria when they did a full search of your information. You may be able to find out what it is by asking the lender.

      Additionally, please take a look at our page on how to improve your chances of approval. Hope this helps.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

    Default Gravatar
    RAJMay 14, 2019

    Where and how can I acquire $700-$1,400 in the next 48 hours for May’s and June’s rent?

      AvatarFinder
      MaiMay 15, 2019Finder

      Hi Raj,

      Thank you for reaching out.

      For fast approval loans, you can refer to our article Compare personal loans with fast approval. These lenders can get you funds the same day you apply. You can filter your search by choosing your credit score and your state and click “Show Me My Personalized Options” and compare from there. You can click Go To Site or Enquire Now button to be redirected to the lender’s page where you can apply.

      Hope this helps! 😊

      Kind Regards,
      Mai

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