EarnIn Cash Advance App Review (February 2025) (original) (raw)

While we only recommend cash advance apps in case of emergency, as they are very expensive, some are better — and cheaper — than others. EarnIn’s cash advance app is best known for being fee-free for standard services and for its exceptional funding speeds. Instead of fees, EarnIn solicits optional tips with each transfer, ranging between 50 cents and $14. Cash advance apps claim the optional tips give users flexibility to pay what they can afford, rather than charging a mandatory fee. Even if you never provide a tip, EarnIn claims you’ll never be denied a service and your pay period maximum will not be affected.

EarnIn also doesn’t do hard or soft credit checks, which protects your credit score. Other benefits include a 25referralbonusandtheoptiontomoveyourrepaymentduedateonceevery60days.WhileEarnInstandsoutasacashadvanceapp,therearestillsomecaveatstoconsider,suchaslimitedcustomerserviceoptionsand25 referral bonus and the option to move your repayment due date once every 60 days. While EarnIn stands out as a cash advance app, there are still some caveats to consider, such as limited customer service options and 25referralbonusandtheoptiontomoveyourrepaymentduedateonceevery60days.WhileEarnInstandsoutasacashadvanceapp,therearestillsomecaveatstoconsider,suchaslimitedcustomerserviceoptionsand100 daily-advance restrictions.

Key Takeaways:

• Instead of fees with standard transactions, EarnIn allows an optional tip, which ranges between 50 cents to $14.
• If you need funds faster, EarnIn can deposit funds within 30 minutes with its Lightning Speed transfer, which costs between 2.99and2.99 and 2.99and5.99.
• EarnIn’s cash advance features are quicker, more flexible and affordable compared to other providers, but its customer service accessibility is lacking. If you don’t have an EarnIn account, your only option for contacting customer support is through email.

Our EarnIn Rating

We at the MarketWatch Guides team rate EarnIn 4.3 out of 5 stars overall, due to its affordability from fee-free standard services, speedy funding and strong reputation. We like that Earnin offers a higher advance amount, 750,comparedtoothercompanies,whichtendonlytooffer750, compared to other companies, which tend only to offer 750,comparedtoothercompanies,whichtendonlytooffer250 to $500.

Here’s how the company scores in each of our review categories:

Pros and Cons

EarnIn’s main pros are its accessibility and affordability. One major con is its limited customer service options. EarnIn promotes its 24/7 live chat feature, but it’s only available through the app for people who already made an account and linked their bank. You can’t speak with a customer service representative through EarnIn’s website at all.

If you don’t have an EarnIn account, your only option for contacting customer support is to send an email to care@earnin.com.

There was also a cybersecurity breach in May 2024, which compromised the systems of EarnIn’s banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust. Evolve Bank & Trust has taken action by resetting passwords globally, reconstructing critical Identity Access Management components, further hardening firewall and dynamic security appliances and deploying endpoint detection response and other security tools. EarnIn reported no passwords or card numbers were leaked, but this is still something to be mindful of.

Pros

Budget-friendly: EarnIn doesn’t charge mandatory fees, interest or monthly membership subscriptions. There is an optional tipping option ranging between 50 cents and $14.

Fast: Funding can go through as soon as 1 to 2 business days, or 30 minutes with a Lighting Speed transfer.

Flexible repayment: You’re given a one-time courtesy to reschedule your repayment every 60 days.

Protected credit: There’s no hard or soft credit check.

Referral incentive: Earnin offers a 25rewardeverytimesomeoneyourefersignsupusingyourreferrallink.Yourreferralalsogetsa25 reward every time someone you refer signs up using your referral link. Your referral also gets a 25rewardeverytimesomeoneyourefersignsupusingyourreferrallink.Yourreferralalsogetsa5 reward.

Cons

Restricted daily advance: You can only receive up to 150perdayeventhoughtheentirepaycheckperiodlimitis150 per day even though the entire paycheck period limit is 150perdayeventhoughtheentirepaycheckperiodlimitis750.

Limited customer service: Can only use the chat feature through the app if you already have an account.

Cybersecurity breach: EarnIn’s banking partner had a cybersecurity breach in May 2024.

Overdraft risk: EarnIn may overdraft your account if you don’t plan accordingly, which can result in overdraft fees from your bank.

EarnIn: Who It’s Best For

EarnIn is best for employed individuals over 18 looking for quick access to cash for necessities. According to its website, 75% of EarnIn’s customers used their advances to cover food and grocery costs, 50% used them for gas and 41% for avoiding overdrafts.

If the following scenarios apply to you, EarnIn may be able to reduce your financial stress:

• You’re able to receive your cash advance within one to two business days to avoid any fees
• You want to regularly use a cash advance app that doesn’t have a monthly subscription cost
• You’re interested in regularly receiving cash advances of up to $750 per pay period

Remember, you need to be employed and receive a steady paycheck to use EarnIn. If you try to sign up for EarnIn without a job, you’ll be prompted to look elsewhere.

EarnIn App Details

Advance Amounts

You can cash out an advance maximum of 100perdayor100 per day or 100perdayor750 per pay period. These are called your Daily Max and Pay Period Max, respectively. These advance amounts can increase or decrease, based on factors such as your bank balance, spending behavior, repayment history and earned income amount.

EarnIn allows you to temporarily boost your Pay Period Max if another EarnIn member (called a Grantor in this instance) approves it. A friend who uses EarnIn could be a Grantor for you.

To submit a boost request, EarnIn will give you a unique link to send to the Grantor. If the Grantor approves the request, your Max Boost will be available in your EarnIn profile. This temporary boost will expire at the end of the pay period.

Fees and Penalties

EarnIn doesn’t charge penalties or mandatory fees for standard financial services. There is a fee for Lightning Speed funding, which ranges between 2.99and2.99 and 2.99and5.99. The fee varies depending on the amount and account type. For your first Lightning Speed transfer, EarnIn will waive the fee.

You could also face an overdraft fee if your checking account isn’t properly funded. This would be charged by your bank, not EarnIn. You can opt in for a free service from EarnIn, called Balance Shield, which allows you to set an alert if your bank account balance falls below a certain balance.

Funding Timeline

EarnIn’s standard funding timeline is one to two business days, free of charge. If you want quicker funding, EarnIn offers Lightning Speed transfers, which take up to 30 minutes. Lightning Speed transfers cost between 2.99and2.99 and 2.99and5.99.

Repayment

Your repayment will automatically be taken out of your checking account on your next payday. However, you can reschedule your repayment day once every 60 days. You need to request the change at least two business days in advance of the repayment date.

Eligibility

You must meet several requirements to be eligible for an EarnIn cash advance.

• You must live in the United States
• Be over 18
• Have a valid phone number and email
• Have a checking account from a U.S. bank
• Receive payments (at least $320 every pay period) from a verified employer

EarnIn may also request an image of your paystub to verify and debit your account. Gather several paystubs in advance to avoid eligibility delays.

Unfortunately, EarnIn is not compatible with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disability pay, unemployment wages or veterans benefits.

How EarnIn Cash Advances Work

Here are the six steps to get an EarnIn cash advance.

1. Download the app. EarnIn’s cash advance app is available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
2. Once downloaded, the app will prompt you to link your bank account and confirm your workplace.
3. See the amount you’re approved for. This is known as the “Daily Max,” which is the maximum dollar amount you are allowed to get within one day, as well as a “Pay Period Max,” which is the maximum dollar amount you are allowed to get before your next scheduled deposit.
4. Omit or pay an optional tip and choose whether you want the free one- to two-day funding time, or the 30-minute Lightning Speed funding option, which charges a fee. If this is your first cash advance through EarnIn, the Lightning Speed funding fee will be waived.
5. Wait for your advance, which will be automatically deposited in the checking account you linked in the app.
6. Repay your advance. EarnIn will automatically take your repayment out of your linked checking account on your next direct deposit date. You can opt to move your repayment date once every 60 days.

EarnIn Customer Experience

We rated EarnIn a 4.4 out of 5 in customer experience for its generally positive customer reviews and 24/7 chat. The main factors that disrupt a smooth customer service experience are no phone access and a recent cybersecurity breach.

Customer Service

EarnIn has positive customer service ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. The issue lies in customer service accessibility for nonmembers. EarnIn’s 24/7 live chat feature is only available through the app for people who already made an account and linked their bank. There’s no phone number available, you can only reach customer service through email at care@earnin.com. When we reached out via email, we received a response within the same day.

Reputation

EarnIn’s high reputation rating was due to an A rating from the BBB and a decent Trustpilot score of 3.9 out of 5 stars. A high BBB rating indicates the likelihood of the company or lender to resolve and address customer complaints. Several Trustpilot reviews note issues being resolved quickly and knowledgeable customer service representatives.

The cybersecurity breach should also be factored in to EarnIn’s reputation. Since the breach, EarnIn’s banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust, has taken action to reassure customers their information will be more protected going forward.

EarnIn App Ratings

EarnIn received 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store and 4.6 out of 5 stars in Google Play. Several users like the 24/7 chat feature and note the reliability of the app.

EarnIn vs. Other Cash Advance Apps

EarnIn offers higher loan amounts, quicker funding and fewer fees than other cash advance apps. Not charging a monthly subscription is a huge bonus. However, the $100 daily limit could be an issue for some. Make sure to carefully compare popular cash advance apps before making a financial decision.

*Varies depending if you have a MoneyLion checking account, and the amount being transferred

FAQ: EarnIn Cash Advance App

The EarnIn app uses security measures that comply with industry standards. These measures include safeguards such as firewalls and data encryption. However, there was a cybersecurity breach in May 2024, which compromised the systems of EarnIn’s banking partner, Evolve Bank & Trust. Since then, more safety measures have been taken.

No. EarnIn doesn’t do a soft or hard credit check, meaning it doesn’t affect your credit score.

Yes — you can extend your payment due date with EarnIn once every 60 days.

Methodology

Our team researched 17 of the country’s most popular cash advance apps, collecting information on each provider’s affordability, features, customer experience and reputation. We then scored each lender based on the data points that matter most to potential customers. Read our full methodology [link to full methodology].

• Affordability (32.5% of total score):The best scores go to cash advance apps with high borrowing limits, no tipping option, low or no monthly subscription costs and low fees for receiving money within the shortest time frame the company offers.
• Features (25% of total score): The companies rated highest in this category offer quick funding, repayment flexibility, budgeting tools and credit monitoring.
• Customer experience (22.5% of total score): Top scores in this category go to lenders with high app ratings and 24/7 customer service availability by chat or phone.
• Reputation (20% of total score): Providers that excel in this category were founded more than 10 years ago, are accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have high customer review ratings.

*Data accurate at time of publication

**EarnIn is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Terms and restrictions apply. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Visit Earnin.com for full details.

Sources:

Evolve Bank & Trust, Cybersecurity Incident.

EarnIn, Evolve Bank & Trust Cybersecurity Breach.

EarnIn, Make Any Day Payday.