What if you had access to a portion of your paycheck before payday? That could help you stay on top of your bills. But the traditional ways of accessing your paycheck early come with a high cost that can make it difficult to get ahead.
Fortunately, Earnin offers you the opportunity to get early access to a portion of your salary without a high-interest personal loan attached.
Related: Check out our guide to the best cash advance apps.
What is Earnin?
The new fintech is disrupting the industry by helping underserved Americans access the tools they need to get ahead financially.
With Earnin you have access to a part of your salary in advance. Depending on your salary, you can get an advance of up to $100. You pay Earnin back as soon as you receive your salary. The ability to get a modest advance can help you avoid bank charges that can really squeeze your budget over time.
And the best part is that Earnin makes these tools available for free. While there is an optional tipping feature, if you can’t afford it, you don’t have to tip.
Want to know more about Earnin? Check out our full review.
Other apps like Earnin
If you’re looking for a way to access a portion of your paycheck, Earnin isn’t the only option. Here are some other options to consider.
Albert
Albert is an all-in-one personal finance assistant that can help you with banking, savings and investing. In addition, Albert can provide cash advances based on your salary.
If you have a W-2 job, Albert can provide advances up to $250. But you may not need the advance, as Albert can help you access your direct deposit up to two days early.
Want to know more about Albert? Read more in our full review.
Brigit
Brigit is another personal finance app that offers cash advances. Through the Plus plan, you can access cash advances up to $250. However, you must pay a $9.99 monthly membership fee to unlock this privilege.
In addition to cash advances, Brigit offers overdraft protection, credit report monitoring, up to $1 million in identity theft protection, and credit-building loans.
Ready to learn more about Brigit? Here’s our full review.
chimes
Chime is a fintech offering banking services through its partner, The Bankcorp Bank of Stride Bank NA
What sets Chime apart from the mass of banks that want to hold your money is that it prides itself on a minimal fee structure. You will not encounter any maintenance fees, overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees, or return check fees. But you have to pay $2.50 for out-of-network withdrawals.
Chime does not offer a cash advance option. But this lack of fees could be just the banking experience you’ve been looking for. In addition, Chime can help you access your paycheck up to two days early.
You can learn more about what Chime has to offer in this review.
Dave
Dave is a banking app with a $1 monthly membership fee.
As a member, you may be eligible for interest-free cash advances up to $250. While you have to pay a $4.99 express fee if you want the money within 8 hours, it’s still a very inexpensive way to access the money you need.
In addition to the cash advance option, Dave offers a checking account that automatically builds credit by reporting on-time rent payments.
Here you will find more information about Dave.
authorize
Empower is a personal finance app designed to help you take control of your money.
After you link a checking account, you may be able to tap into cash advances between $25 and $250. You don’t have to pay any fees or interest charges to work with Empower.
In addition, Empower offers an AutoSave feature and a debit card that gives up to 10% cash back on some purchases.
Want to know more about Empower? Check out our full review.
MoneyLeo
MoneyLion is built to provide the right financial tools to the customers who need them most. This means that there are minimal costs associated with these handy financial tools.
One of those handy tools is MoneyLion’s Instacash Advances. While your limit starts at just $25, it can go up to $250 based on your salary. The advance is free unless you choose to pay $3.99 for immediate delivery.
When you work with MoneyLion, you can take advantage of the automatic investment options and credit building loans. Here’s a closer look at all the features MoneyLion has to offer.
Varo
Varo Bank NA, member FDIC, offers modern banking solutions. The online-only bank offers both a bank and a savings account with no monthly fees. If you run into cash, you may be immediately eligible for a cash advance of up to $100.
The disadvantage of the cash advance is that there are costs involved. You pay $5 for a $100 advance, $4 for a $75 advance, and $3 for a $50 advance. But you don’t have to pay a fee for a $20 cash advance.
Varo also offers relatively high APYs that make opening an account even more attractive. Learn more about Varo in our full review.
vola
Vola is a financial platform that offers cash advances up to $300. Plus, overdraft protection helps protect your budget from unwanted bank charges.
You have to pay a monthly fee of $2.99 to $28.99 to use Vola. But using a Vola debit card will keep your monthly fee low.
Bottom Line
As you can see, there are plenty of apps like Earnin available. Whether you want to get paid early, receive an interest-free advance, or otherwise maximize your salary, there’s an app for you. With the right option, you can improve your financial picture over time.
Which Of These Earnin Alternatives Are You Going To Use?
This post 8 Earnin Alternatives With Cash Advance Options
was original published at “https://thecollegeinvestor.com/39518/earnin-alternatives/”
