Jessie Moore has been writing professionally for nearly two decades; for the past seven years, she's focused on writing, ghostwriting, and editing in the finance space. She is a Today Show and Publisher's Weekly-featured author who has written or ghostwritten 10+ books on a wide variety of topics, ranging from day trading to unicorns to plant care.
Stuff happens. Sometimes, you need a few extra bucks — for whatever reason.
Cash advance apps like EarnIn are tailor-made for these life moments. They offer access to funds fast when you find yourself in need.
But many of them — EarnIn included — have some specific limitations, and making sure you’re properly set up can be tricky. Need help making sense of it?
In this article, we’ll dive into EarnIn and apps similar to EarnIn so you can decide which one is the best fit for you.
Apps Like EarnIn: The Bottom Line
Apps like EarnIn come in two main varieties:
- Some apps like EarnIn lend you a certain amount of money based on your salary
- Other apps like EarnIn simply give you your salary before the bank does.
Even so, there’s a lot of variety in the functionality, features, and drawbacks apps similar to Earnin come with. Let’s take a look at 10 apps like EarnIn — including how and when to use them.
At-a-Glance: Apps like Earnin
Note: Terms and conditions apply with all of these apps like EarnIn. See below for more details on each.
App | Loan amount |
|---|---|
Chime SpotMe | Up to $200 |
Up to $250 | |
Up to $250 | |
Up to $500 | |
Up to $500 | |
Up to $250 | |
Up to 50% of your salary | |
Up to $250 | |
Early access to your paycheck | |
Up to 50% of your salary |
What is the EarnIn App?
EarnIn is based on the simple idea that you should be able to get the money you worked for as soon as you’ve done the work. Essentially, it allows you to take a quick loan before you get your actual paycheck.
Why not just use a credit card? Well. credit cards can get really expensive really quickly — interest rates above 20% are totally normal these days.
EarnIn, on the other hand, comes with no monthly fees, no interest rate, and no credit checks.
What’s the catch?
Well, EarnIn is only for employed people; you’ll have to give your bank details and your work schedule — either a PDF record or a time-keeping app — to the platform.
Additionally, the amount of money you can borrow is determined by your hourly rate and, no matter your rate, you can borrow only up to $750 per pay period, and only up to $100 each day.
The loans generally take a day or two to process, but you can pay extra to get the dough instantaneously.
When to Use Apps Like EarnIn
Cash advance apps like EarnIn are generally best for when you are in a one-off pinch. They are a great way to get a bit of extra money to cover that unexpected plumbing disaster, car breakdown, medical bill, or something similar.
11 Apps Similar to EarnIn
Interested in EarnIn, but not sure if it’s the right fit for you? Here are some alternatives to EarnIn to consider:
1. Chime SpotMe
- Loan amount: Up to $200
- Processing time: Instant
Chime is an online-only neobank. This means it also enables you to open an account that is (despite it not being a traditional bank) FDIC-insured.
Chime also doesn’t charge overdraft or monthly fees and gives you the option of accessing your paycheck two days early.
What we like:
Whenever you go into overdraft with your debit card, Chime’s SpotMe will immediately cover the extra expense and then deduct it from your next paycheck.
SpotMe can give you a safety net of up to $200 but most accounts start with the limit of $20.
What we don’t like:
A drawback of SpotMe is that you need a Chime debit card for it to work. It also requires you to have a direct deposit account connected to Chime that has received a payment of at least $200 at least 34 days before you can use the SpotMe function.
Additionally, it doesn’t provide much flexibility when it comes to repaying as the due date is your next payday.
Disclaimer: 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.
2. Varo
- Loan amount: Up to $250
- Processing time: Instant
Along with its cash advance feature, Varo is also an online banking platform. One of the great things about Varo is that it does not charge overdraft or monthly maintenance fees while giving you much of the functionality of a regular bank account.
Varo also offers 3% APY with the possibility of upgrading it to 5% for 30 days whenever you receive a direct deposit of $1,000+.
What we like:
Varo is an app that gives you instant access to up to $250 if you are in a bind. Its fee structure is also designed in a way that entices you not to spend more than you really need to.
In a nutshell, if you borrow up to $20, you don’t owe Varo a cent. If you borrow $250, the app will take $15 extra for the service.
Additionally, Varo gives you the flexibility you need when it comes to repaying what you borrowed — as long as you do it within 15-30 days.
What we don’t like:
Generally, Varo has a fairly large barrier to entry as you’ll also need at least a $1,000 qualifying direct deposit in your Varo bank account.
Since Varo is an online banking platform, you’ll also need to open an account with them to access the cash advance feature.
3. Empower
- Loan amount: Up to $250
- Processing time: 1 business day regularly, up to 1 hour for a fee of $1-8.
As a fintech company, Empower also offers a debit card with no overdraft fees. A major benefit is that it gives you access to instant cash advances without charging you extra.
What we like:
While Empower Cash Advance isn’t instantaneous, I find that 1 business day is really fast enough to cover most emergencies.
I also like the fact that it doesn’t charge interest or late fees, and there is no credit check. You can also try it out for free with a 14-day trial period.
What we don’t like:
On the flip side, Empower’s speed comes at a cost. The app requires an $8-a-month subscription after the trial period is over.
Empower also lets you get the money within an hour, but you’ll have to pay extra for the convenience.
Additionally, Empower requires you to repay the money as soon as your next payday comes.
4. Dave
- Loan amount: Up to $500
- Processing time: 2-3 business days, or up to an hour if you pay $1.99-13.99.
Dave is a mobile banking app that offers cash advances.
Its checking account isn’t exactly uncommon and it isn’t anything to write home about. It has some unique uses, however, as using it to get instantaneous cash advances is significantly cheaper.
The same goes for its Goals Account as it is just a pretty regular savings account.
But some of the other services are worth noting, like Dave’s Side Hustle feature. It is geared toward helping you find and apply for jobs within the app.
It boasts a decent selection of job listings from a number of categories including gig, part-time, flexible hours, work from home, temporary work, gig work, and seasonal work.
Dave also offers paid surveys. While you can expect to make cents with this feature initially, the amount you can get actually grows as you fill out more surveys. Ultimately, you can expect about $5 apiece.
What we like:
Two things set Dave apart in terms of cash advances — its comparatively large loan amount and the fact that you don’t need to be receiving regular paychecks to qualify.
This can make Dave a great lifeline if you are in a really tight spot at any given time but, as you can imagine, it is best used for one-off emergencies.
Another good thing about Dave is that it tries to be accessible to everyone (in the US) without forsaking due diligence. The app will require at least 60 days worth of your bank history and you will need to pass identity and fraud checks and have a social security number.
Dave’s monthly subscription fee comes in at just $1 per month — a lot less than with many other apps similar to Earnin.
What we don’t like:
Before you can access the cash advances, you’ll need to open both a Dave and an ExtraCash checking account. You’ll also need to have monthly deposits amounting to at least $1,000.
Additionally, while Dave does offer near-instant cash advances, you’ll have to pay extra for them.
Finally, the app will automatically withdraw money you owe from your account on your next payday. On the plus side, it will never send you into overdraft, and you can request an extension of up to 30 days.
5. MoneyLion
- Loan amount: Up to $500
- Processing time: Up to 5 business days; within minutes for an extra fee between $0.49 and $8.99.
MoneyLion is another cash advance app that offers a rather hefty loan of $500 without charging a monthly subscription.
Additionally, if you take advantage of some of its other features — and there are many other features MoneyLion offers — specifically its RoarMoney account, you can get cash advances of up to $1,000.
What we like:
There’s more to the app than cash advances up to $1,000 (which is already pretty good).
Apart from the RoarMoney account and the cash advances, MoneyLion also offers some nifty features for managing your investments.
These come in two main varieties:
- Managed Investing is meant as a “leave it to the app” beginner-friendly way of investing money that charges no fees and requires no minimums.
- Crypto Auto Invest is a similar feature but aimed at getting you a crypto portfolio.
What we don’t like:
In return, MoneyLion asks for a lot of information. You’ll need to connect your bank account and have a history of recurring income deposits. You’ll also need your account to have been active for at least two months and you’ll need a positive balance.
Furthermore, MoneyLion’s regular cash advance delivery is very slow and if you want your money instantaneously, you’ll have to pay a premium.
6. Brigit
- Loan amount: Up to $250
- Processing time: Up to 3 business days regularly, up to 20 minutes for a fee between $0.99 and $3.99.
Brigit is another cash advance app like EarnIn that can offer you loans of up to $250. You should note, however, that the limits tend to start lower and increase as you repay more of them.
What we like:
You can access Brigit’s Instant Cash without paying fees and the app doesn’t require credit checks. I particularly like the fact that the repayment date is flexible.
What we don’t like:
A big drawback of Brigit is that its subscription comes in at $9.99 per month. This is rather steep, especially compared to EarnIn’s $0 per month.
Additionally, the fact you have to pay extra for the instant transfer is also unwelcome, but with the regular processing being fairly quick, it stings significantly less than with many other EarnIn alternatives.
Other features:
Earn and Save is a Brigit feature geared toward helping its users find a job and it also boasts a free budgeting tool.
7. Even
- Loan amount: Up to half of your paycheck
- Processing time: 1 business day.
Even is a cash advance app that offers some of the largest advances out there — up to 50% of your paycheck.
What we like:
Even cash advances take a single day to process.
On top of all that, it can technically offer some of the largest cash advances out there as the upper limit is up to 50% of your paycheck.
What we don’t like:
Even is set apart from many other apps like Earning by the fact that its biggest drawback is that your employer has to enroll before you can access its cash advances.
Even is also not very upfront about associated costs. For some people, it might appear completely free as their employer might take on the cost, but others will find themselves paying $8 per month for the membership.
Fortunately, there are thousands of businesses across the US that offer Even with Walmart probably being the biggest of them.
Other features:
Even also has a nice selection of other features including a way to set up a rainy day fund, as well as tools geared toward helping you budget better.
8. Albert
- Loan amount: Up to $250
- Processing time: Up to 3 days.
Albert is an app with a very extensive offering of features including cash advances of up to $250. These start smaller and grow toward the maximum as you repay previous loans.
What we like:
Albert gives you some flexibility with the borrowing as you can take everything in one go, or split it into three loans.
Additionally, Albert will give you access to your salary two days before your paycheck actually arrives.
The former does come with a processing time of up to 3 days, while the latter is instant.
What we don’t like:
Some of Albert’s best features are kept behind a $15-a-month paywall. Additionally, the app’s cash advances aren’t that easy to access.
You’ll need an account with a positive balance that has been active for no less than two months and at least two months of regular income from the same employer.
Other features:
Albert can help you budget and make a savings account, as well as guide you through the basics of investing.
The most interesting part of the offer, if you decide to pay the $15 each month, is access to a financial advisor.
9. Axos
- Loan amount: N/A: Axos offers early access to your paycheck
- Processing time: Instant once your employer makes the deposit.
Unlike many other apps similar to Earnin that give you a loan, Axos actually gives you your paycheck early.
Generally, several days pass between the time your employer deposits your paycheck and the time the money actually shows up in your account.
Axos simply gives you the value of your paycheck as soon as your employer makes the deposit and just takes the actual paycheck once it is processed.
What we like:
The fact that you can get your paycheck early can help fill in gaps if you need cash faster.
Along with giving you access to your salary early, Axos is also an online bank with nearly 10k ATMs across the US, no overdraft fees, and a decent 3.3% APY on its checking account that only requires $50 to open.
What we don’t like:
The way Axos is set up means that you’ll only ever get the money a few days earlier than you would usually. This means that the app can’t really help you if you have an emergency earlier in your salary cycle.
Additionally, you’ll have to pay $50 to set up an account with Axos and you need a direct deposit account to access the service.
10. PayActiv
- Loan amount: Up to 50% of your salary.
- Processing time: Up to 3 business days, and instant if you pay $1.99-2.99.
PayActiv follows a similar philosophy as EarnIn — access your salary as you earn it — but operates similarly to Even.
In a nutshell, it requires your employer to sign up for the service. PayActiv then tracks your hours worked and gives you early access to your pay.
What we like:
You can get up to 50% of your salary in advance with PayActiv.
PayActiv also offers some budgeting tools, and you can use the app to pay your bills. The app also features Financial Counseling, which gives you access to a certified credit counselor.
What we don’t like:
While you normally have to wait up to 3 business days for PayActiv to process your advance, you can pay extra to get the money immediately.
Final Word: Apps Like EarnIn
While there are many apps similar to EarnIn, none of them is a true jack of all trades. Additionally, many of them can prove a bit inconvenient depending on what you actually need as the setup can be either tricky or require a fair bit of planning in advance.
Among these, Even is probably my pick out of the ones I discussed as it offers some great terms, and processes the money fairly quickly. The main issue is that it also has to be your employer’s pick as well.
Dave is another decent pick, mostly for its flexibility and the amount of money you can borrow if you don’t have fixed employment.
But overall, EarnIn remains a competitive and compelling option, provided your workplace is stable.
FAQs:
What app lends $200?
A number of apps will lend you $200 or more. If you don’t mind the $8 monthly subscription, Empower is probably the best app to get a $200 loan within a single business day. If you prefer a lower sub of only $1, Dave might be the better choice — but be ready to either wait up to 3 days or pay extra to get the money instantly though.
What app will spot me $100 dollars instantly?
While many cash advance apps will give you $100 nearly instantly if you pay a small fee, Chime is probably the best option if you don’t mind opening an account with the company. Chume will give you up to $100 instantly whenever you are short on cash with no strings attached.
What is a good app to borrow money instantly?
If you don’t mind opening an account with Chime, it is the best app to borrow money instantly. You can get up to $200 if you find yourself short without a delay, and without paying extra. Other apps like Dave also offer instant loans if you don’t mind paying a small fee for the convenience.
How to get $250 instantly?
There are a few ways to get $250 instantly. For instance, if you open an account with top-rated neobank Varo and meet the requirements, you can get instant access to up to $250. You should note, however, that the more you borrow, the higher the fee will be. Loans up to $20 are fee-free, but $250 will set you back $15.
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