EarnIn App Review: A Legit Way for Fast Cash Advance
- Max. Amount
- $750
- Turnaround time
- 1 to 2 business days or within 30 minutes for a fee
Our verdict
Access your wages before your next payday with zero fees or interest — but instant transfers cost a few dollars.
EarnIn is a financial app with a feature called “Cash Out” that allows qualified users to access up to $750 of their earned wages before payday. Cash Outs have two delivery speeds: Free standard transfers that take one to two business days, or transfers that take only a few minutes for a small fee. You can only withdraw up to the amount you’ve earned, and if you want to access more than $150 per day, you’ll need to get an EarnIn card.
Best for: Employees who earn at least $320 per pay period and want a no-fee, 0% interest way to access money before payday.
Pros
-
No monthly subscription required
-
Advances up to $750
-
Only charges for fast transfers
Cons
-
Requires direct deposit
-
Must have work email or fixed job location
-
Requires earnings of at least $320 per pay period
Is EarnIn legit?
Yes, EarnIn is a legit company — not a scam. It’s been around since 2012 (originally called Activehours) and is based in Palo Alto, California. EarnIn works with Evolve Bank & Trust, a member of the FDIC, to handle its banking services.
EarnIn is also accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating, and it holds strong customer reviews.
EarnIn uses firewalls, data encryption and strict physical access controls to help keep your personal data safe. It follows federal and state regulations on data protection and makes it clear that it doesn’t sell your personal information to third parties.
What makes EarnIn shine?
EarnIn shines for its high limits compared to competing cash advance apps. With EarnIn, you can borrow up to $750 per pay period — higher than Brigit’s limit of $250 or Dave’s maximum of $500.
There are also no mandatory monthly fees to use EarnIn, which could save you $9.99 a month or more. All this makes it a completely free and cost-effective way to cash out your wages before payday, as long as you’re willing to wait one to two business days for regular transfers.
It also charges much lower instant transfer fees than many other apps. For example, instant transfers over $100 cost just $5.99, which is lower than the $8.99 to $15 maximum fees that other apps may charge.
And while the app has a tipping feature, you’re not required to leave one. Not leaving a tip won’t impact how much you can borrow, and if you accidentally leave a tip, you have up to 30 days to request a refund.
Where EarnIn falls short
EarnIn has to verify your wages to determine your eligibility to borrow. This verification may include uploading your timesheets, allowing GPS access while at your job or providing your work email. While this could feel a bit intrusive, its no-cost paycheck advances, no monthly fees and no tipping requirement may outweigh this requirement.
And while EarnIn allows eligible users to borrow up to $750 per pay period, there is a $150 per day transfer limit to external bank accounts. If you want to borrow more than $150 at a time and save on instant transfer fees, you’ll need to get an EarnIn card — which requires you to earn at least $500 every two weeks.
And some users complain that their maximum borrowing amounts are too low to help bridge the financial gap they’re facing.
EarnIn details
| Max amount | $750 total per pay period $150 limit per day |
| Loan term | Until your next payday |
| Turnaround time | 1–2 business days for free Within hours for a fee |
| Costs | No subscription fees No interest charged Tips are optional No fee for standard transfer $2.99 to $5.99 for instant transfer |
| Requirements | Live in the US (or US territory) Be 18+ years old Be employed Have a US bank account Receive regular direct deposit payments Earn at least $320 each pay period Have a cell phone number with a US carrier May need to upload timesheets, enable GPS while at work or provide work email address |
EarnIn contact info
| Phone number | 888-551-1784 |
| Chat | 24/7 chat support available in the app |
| care@earnin.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @earnin |
| @EarninOfficial |
Other features
EarnIn is known primarily for its Cash Out feature, but it offers several other tools users find helpful.
- Balance Shield. Get a heads-up when your bank balance is running low — or set it to automatically send up to $100 to your account to help avoid overdraft fees.
- Tip Yourself. A simple savings tool that lets you move small amounts into a digital tip jar whenever you want to set money aside.
- Credit Monitoring. Keep an eye on your credit score and credit report for free, right from the app.
- Early Pay. If you set up direct deposit with an EarnIn Card, you could get your paycheck up to two days early.
EarnIn reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 4.12 out of 5 stars, based on 528 customer reviews |
| BBB customer complaints | 392 customer complaints |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.5 out of 5 stars, based on 536 customer reviews |
| App Store Score | 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 305,800 customer reviews |
| Google Play Score | 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 262,000 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 15 May 2025 |
The EarnIn app consistently earns high ratings on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot, Google Play and the App Store.
Customers are pleased with its customer service team and call out reps by name. Others comment on how helpful it is to have access to cash when they’re short on funds. Happy users also mention the lack of subscription fees as a plus, as well as the app’s Balance Shield feature, which can prevent overdrafts with notifications and instant transfers to your bank account.
However, several hundred complaints have been registered on the BBB website for various issues, including problems with Cash Out limits being reduced and repayments being taken out of bank accounts before the user’s paycheck has arrived.
To its credit, EarnIn’s customer service team takes time to read the complaints and respond to each user, offering to rectify the issues.
What do people on Reddit say?
Other conversations are about the cycle of debt that people can get into with EarnIn and how hard it is to get ahead when you have to keep repaying cash advances. Another Redditor complained about a low borrowing limit and threatened to quit the app because it didn’t increase. There’s also a complaint about EarnIn taking money out of a paycheck even though the person didn’t owe anything and hadn’t used the app in months.
Compare EarnIn to other apps
Sort the various options below by maximum amount, costs or rating to find the one that best meets your needs.
Compare other products
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseWhat is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 3+ types of short-term loans across 65+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best short-term loans for all credit types, you can see how each short-term loan stacks up against other short-term loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
Frequently asked questions
How does EarnIn work?
Start by installing the EarnIn app, creating an account, verifying your employer and linking your bank account. Then you can request a withdrawal up to your maximum limit. The amount you borrow is automatically deducted from your bank account on your next payday.
How much does it cost to use EarnIn?
EarnIn is free to use. It doesn’t charge monthly subscription fees, and tipping is optional. However, instant transfers, aka “Lightning Speed” transfers, require a fee between $2.99 and $5.99.
Do Social Security benefits work with EarnIn?
No, EarnIn does not count Social Security benefits as income. However, other cash advance apps, like MoneyLion, may accept Social Security benefits and other sources of income, including child support and alimony payments.
Can I get EarnIn transfers on weekends and holidays?
Yes, EarnIn’s website states that Lightning Speed transfers work on weekends and holidays. However, it also states some transfers may be delayed, so it’s not an ironclad guarantee.
Does the EarnIn app get good reviews?
Yes, the EarnIn app consistently receives good reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau, earning more than 4 stars on both sites. Reviews are also favorable in the Google Play and App stores with average ratings of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
How do you trick the EarnIn app?
There’s no real way to “trick” EarnIn, and trying to game the system could get your account suspended. Some people ask because EarnIn doesn’t legally require repayment, but not repaying the balance due means you won’t be able to use the app until it’s paid back.
If you’re looking to “trick” EarnIn into a higher limit, the best way to increase your maximum amount is to use EarnIn consistently and repay advances on time. You can also try Max Boost, a feature where community members help to temporarily raise your limit by $50.
Your reviews
Christi Finder
Contributor
Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.
You are about to post a question on finder.com:
- Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
- finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
- We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
- Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Charisse Finder
August 28, 2019
Hi Mack,
Thanks for reaching out to Finder.
Earnin is only available in the US so unfortunately, you cannot use it if you are in another country.
In order to use Earnin, you will have to connect your bank account and add your employment info. If your bank account is not on their list of supported banks, you will also not be able to use their service.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
Show more Show less
Kaii
August 27, 2019
I have been stuck on verifying for about a week now. How long does it take?
Joshua Finder
August 27, 2019
Hi Kaii,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
I’m sorry to hear about the issue you are having. It normally takes a few days for Earnin to verify your account. However, if after three business days you haven’t heard from Earnin or your account has not been verified, it is recommended that you get in touch with them. They will then investigate the issue and would work to help you out.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Show more Show less
Lisa perry
August 06, 2019
How do I get work time sheet?
fayemanuel Finder
August 07, 2019
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for contacting Finder.
You may seek help from your employer on how to access your work time sheet if you are being paid hourly. If you work for a on-demand ride/task company, you can upload a photo of your trips summary.
Kind Regards,
Faye
Stephanie
July 23, 2019
I am trying to download the app but I can’t find it in my Google Play Store. Is it still available?
Jhez Finder
July 23, 2019
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for your comment.
Yes, the Earnin app is still available in Google Play Store and App Store. Just search, Earnin – Get Paid Today, that’s the name of the app.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Lisa
June 22, 2019
So I got the response about my account and I decided to sign up for Earnin everything was fine until I got to my financial institution verification, it would not take my login info, I even went into it just to be sure but it kept telling me it was incorrect?
Bella Finder
June 22, 2019
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your inquiry.
As I checked, Earning account set up may take 72hours for verification. If it takes longer, you may contact support using their help button in the app. They can help you figure out what’s going on.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella
Show more Show less
Mack
August 28, 2019
Can I use this in other countries?