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Founded in 2013 under the name Activehours, EarnIn is a mobile app that offers consumers cash advances based on the money they’ve earned. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and its products are backed by Evolve Bank & Trust.
Up to $750 per pay period
None
Next paycheck
EarnIn offers users cash advances of up to $750 per pay period, which is high compared to the industry average of $250. Because of this, EarnIn is the better option for those who may need to borrow a little extra from their paychecks to cover midsize expenses, like a minor car repair or emergency home fix.
On the downside, the company imposes a daily withdrawal limit of $100. However, you can gain access to a highly daily borrowing limit by signing up for its card.
To sign up for EarnIn you must meet the following requirements.
You’ll need access to a digital timesheet or pay stub to serve as proof of income.
When it comes to eligibility requirements, Brigit is more stringent than EarnIn. It requires a checking account that’s been active for at least 60 days and that has received a minimum of three recurring deposits.
EarnIn is also more cost-effective, as it doesn’t require a monthly subscription to access its cash out feature — something Brigit does require. However, Brigit’s basic subscription offers more tools for credit building, making it a better choice for those who are also working on their credit.
Price-point wise, there’s not much difference between EarnIn and Dave. The latter requires a $1 monthly subscription fee, while the former is completely free. Both services charge an express funding fee, based on the amount. But with EarnIn the first express funding fee is waived.
That said, with Dave you can withdraw up to $500 per pay period and in a single withdrawal, whereas EarnIn has a daily limit of $100. So if you need more than that on the spot Dave would be the better option.
Users can contact EarnIn’s customer support team by logging into the app and selecting the chat feature. Live agents are available 24/7 through this option. You can also contact the company by email at care@earnin.com or by calling 888-551-1784.
To request a cash advance with EarnIn simply follow the outlined steps.
Among its perks, EarnIn waves its first Lighting Speed transfer fee for its members — something unique in the cash advance app space. As part of your account, you also get free access to credit monitoring, plus the company’s Boost program. With Boost, users can temporarily increase their pay period limit by $50 by simply by requesting authorization from another member.
Lastly, users get access to the Balance Shield feature. This alerts them if their account balance falls below $400, and automatically transfers $100 if their account balance falls below the $100-mark.
EarnIn stands out from the competition by not charging a monthly subscription or late fee. That said, if you’d like to expedite your withdrawal, you will have to pay a fee. This optional fee costs between $1.99 and $4.99, depending on the cash advance amount. By choosing this option, you can have your money in minutes, instead of having to wait up to three business days.
Besides the rush fee, users can leave an optional tip for withdrawing money. Both the Lightning Speed fee and tip will be deducted from your next paycheck, along with your cash advance balance.
| Overall Score | 4.9 | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 5.0 | EarnIn offers generous cash advance amounts per pay period and relatively fast funding. Customers also don’t need to satisfy high salary requirements to be eligible for its advances. |
| Affordability | 4.8 | EarnIn doesn’t require a monthly subscription or charges any fees, other than express funding fees. |
| Customer Experience | 5.0 | Customers can contact EarnIn’s support staff multiple ways. Its mobile app is highly rated by both iOS and Android users and it has very few complaints with the CFPB. |
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