In a world where 80% of American workers live paycheck to paycheck, saving money can seem like a distant dream, even for six-figure earners. When bills come due before payday, anxiety sets in. Enter Earnin and similar apps, offering a financial lifeline.
While not entirely free, the small fees are preferable to going without essentials. However, Earnin is just one of many early payment apps, and better options exist.
This Beem guide will introduce you to 20 alternatives, empowering you to navigate cash flow challenges. Let’s embark on a journey to financial stability, finding the ideal solution for your needs.
| Beem | Possible Finance | Dave |
| Vola | Brigit | SoFi |
| DailyPay | Cleo | Albert |
| MoneyLion | Varo | Current |
| Branch | Rainy Day Lending | Yotta |
| FlexWage | Chime | Zirtue |
| PayActiv | Empower |
20 Apps Like Earnin – Best Alternatives
There are plenty of alternatives to Earnin in the market regarding financial aid. As many as 20 solid options await you, including Beem, Vola, DailyPay, MoneyLion, and many more. Every app offers unique features and benefits to help you bridge the financial gap between paychecks.
Take a moment to explore this list; you will find the right solutions that will meet your financial needs and goals.
| # | Apps Like Earnin | Features | Fees | Cash Advance / Loan Limit | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beem | Access to earned wages without interest; small transaction fee | Small transaction fee | $5 to $1000 | Dependent on employer participation |
| 2 | Vola | Cash advances up to $300; Vola Score benefits | Monthly fee starting at $4.99 | Up to $300 | Requires $150 average balance |
| 3 | DailyPay | Integrates with company payroll; early access to earned wages | $1.99 fee per transaction | Access to earned wages | Partnerships with employers |
| 4 | MoneyLion | Loans up to $1,000; aids credit improvement | $19.99 monthly membership | Up to $1,000 | Requires membership |
| 5 | Branch | Loans up to 48 weeks; operates in specific countries | No late or rollover fees; monthly interest rates | Varies | India, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria |
| 6 | FlexWage | Access to one-time compensations; prepaid debit card | N/A | Access to earned wages | Depends on employer partnership |
| 7 | PayActiv | Access to earned wages; financial services like bill payments | Up to $5 fee without direct deposit | Up to $1,000 | Limited to participating employers |
| 8 | Possible Finance | Short-term loans with credit reporting | APRs 150%-200% | Up to $500 | N/A |
| 9 | Brigit | Cash advances up to $250; financial insights | $9.99 monthly for Plus plan | Up to $250 | Basic plan available with limited features |
| 10 | Cleo | Cash advances with humor and financial management | $5.99/month for Plus; $14.99/month for Builder | $20 to $100 | iPhone users only |
| 11 | Varo | Digital banking with cash advances | Fees vary by advance amount | Up to $100 | Requires $1,000 in direct deposits |
| 12 | Rainy Day Lending | Connects borrowers with lenders for loans up to $50,000 | Variable | Up to $50,000 | Nationwide, variable interest rates |
| 13 | Chime | Early paycheck access; no-fee checking and savings accounts | No monthly fees or overdraft charges | N/A | N/A |
| 14 | Empower | Cash advances up to $250; credit improvement tools | $8 monthly after 14-day trial | Up to $250 | Requires subscription |
| 15 | Dave | Cash advances up to $100; budgeting tools | $1 monthly | Up to $100 | iPhone users; reports rent payments |
| 16 | SoFi | Personal loans up to $100,000; financial planning services | No fees, but credit check required | Up to $100,000 | Requires credit check |
| 17 | Albert | Financial wellness; savings and budgeting | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 18 | Current | Banking for teens and young adults; financial literacy | N/A | N/A | Teens and young adults |
| 19 | Yotta | Savings with a lottery element | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 20 | Zirtue | Lend and borrow money with friends and family | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1. Beem
Beem, the best alternative app to instant cash advance, is a financial wellness platform designed to help users access their earned wages before their regular payday. It allows employees to access some of their earned but unpaid wages, reducing financial stress.
Beem doesn’t charge interest or fees but a small transaction fee when users access their earned wages early. While it offers financial flexibility, it may only be available to some employees, depending on their employers’ participation.
Play store ratings:
3.9star
14.9K reviews
1M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.3 • 21.3K Ratings
2. Vola
Vola provides cash advances up to $300 with a quick processing time. It doesn’t mandate regular direct deposits but requires an average balance of $150. However, a monthly enrollment fee, starting at $4.99, is necessary, though specific fee details must be more transparent. Vola Score, ranging from 0 to 100, offers benefits based on your score.
Also Read: Best Klover Alternatives
Play store ratings:
4.1star
3.59K reviews
100K+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.5 • 19.2K Ratings
3. Daily Pay
DailyPay streamlines the payday process by partnering with companies and integrating with their payroll systems, granting employees early access to their earned wages.
Users accumulate an “Available Balance” daily and can request it at any time, albeit for a $1.99 fee, making it cost-effective for occasional users. DailyPay doesn’t charge interest since it simply provides what users have earned.
Play store ratings:
4.6star
126K reviews
1M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 230.8K Ratings
4. MoneyLion
MoneyLion offers loans up to $1,000 with flexible one-year terms, even for applicants with poor credit. Repayments are reported to credit bureaus, aiding credit score improvement. However, it requires a $19.99 monthly membership fee, which is included in the APR, offering potential savings.
Play store ratings:
4.5star
1.14L reviews
50L+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.7 • 121.8K Ratings
5. Branch
The Branch is a financial platform offering loans with a unique focus on users in India, Mexico, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. It provides loans of up to 48 weeks with monthly interest rates but no late or rollover fees. However, it’s unavailable in the US or Europe, limiting its accessibility. While Branch simplifies loan applications via smartphones, it may not be the most cost-effective option compared to other alternatives.
Play store ratings:
4.5star
14.7L reviews
1Cr+Downloads
6. FlexWage
FlexWage offers a unique array of services centered around partnerships with employers. Notably, it provides access to one-time compensations like tips and bonuses through its Flex Pay service. Additionally, users can benefit from the FlexWage Pay Card, a prepaid debit card that grants immediate access to earnings.
Play store ratings:
4.2star
140 reviews
10K+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 797 Ratings
Also Read: Alternative to cash app
7. PayActiv
PayActiv provides access to earned wages, offering up to $1,000 with direct deposit. It also offers financial services like prescription discounts, bill payments, and savings contributions. Limited to users whose employers offer it, with a possible $5 fee without direct deposit. Highly rated for employee benefits.
Play store ratings:
4.3star
26.4K reviews
500K+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 46.7K Ratings
8. Possible Finance
Possible Finance is a financial platform offering short-term loans of up to $500 with repayment terms of up to 8 weeks. Unlike traditional payday loans, Possible Finance reports to major credit bureaus, allowing users to enhance their credit scores. The platform’s APRs range from 150% to 200%, while high, are typically lower than conventional payday loan rates or overdraft fees.
Play store ratings:
4.0star
50.8K reviews
1M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 103.9K Ratings
9. Brigit
Brigit is a financial app offering instant cash advances for bad credit of up to $250, relieving short-term financial challenges. Users can access instant transfers, automatic overdraft protection, early and late paybacks, and insights into their earnings through the paid Plus plan priced at $9.99 monthly. While the basic plan offers up to $250 with no monthly fees, its features are more limited.
Play store ratings:
4.7star
181K reviews
5M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 285.6K Ratings
10. Cleo
Apps like Cleo is a witty financial companion who employs humor to manage spending and savings. It offers cash advances from $20 to $100 with flexible repayment and no interest. Access requires a subscription to Cleo Plus at $5.99/month or Cleo Builder at $14.99/month, with cashback rewards in the premium plan. Exclusive to iPhone users.
Play store ratings:
4.2star
64.1T reviews
10+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.7 • 2.6K Ratings
11. Varo
Varo, a digital bank similar to Chime, offers services like debit cards, high-yield savings accounts, extensive ATMs, and cash advances. Varo Advance allows access to up to $100, with fees varying based on the advance amount. Qualification requires an active Varo debit card and at least $1,000 in recent direct deposits. It offers a 15 to 30-day repayment window.
Play store ratings:
4.7star
2.22L reviews
50L+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.9 • 202.7K Ratings
12. Rainy Day Lending
Rainy Day Lending connects borrowers with lenders nationwide, offering access to loans up to $50,000 with variable terms. Acting as a middleman, it matches borrowers with lenders, making interest rates uncertain. Borrowing is possible regardless of credit score, but those with poor credit may face higher interest rates. While it offers term flexibility, the process may take longer than using dedicated loan apps like Vola.
13. Chime
Chime is a popular mobile banking app known for its early access to paychecks. With Chime, users can receive their pay up to two days earlier than traditional banks. It offers a range of features, including a no-fee checking account, a savings account, and a Visa debit card.
While Chime is fee-friendly with no monthly fees or overdraft charges, its ATM network is limited, and it doesn’t provide cash advances, which some similar apps offer.
Play store ratings:
4.6star
6.18L reviews
1Cr+Download
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 776.2K Ratings
14. Empower
Empower aids users in credit improvement and offers cash advances up to $250 without credit checks or late fees. It features an instant payment system with no interest charges on timely repayments.
Empower also provides a debit card account with various benefits but requires an $8 monthly subscription after a 14-day free trial to access its tools.
Play store ratings:
4.7star
155K reviews
1M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 168.7K Ratings
15. Dave
Dave is a financial app providing cash advances up to $100, aiding users in avoiding overdraft fees. It follows a no-interest model and offers budgeting tools.
Dave’s monthly subscription fee is $1, and it reports rent payments to credit bureaus for credit score improvement. It’s exclusive to iPhone users with a $100 maximum cash advance limit.
Play store ratings:
5.0star
516K reviews
10M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 678.5K Ratings
16. SoFi
SoFi is a versatile financial platform offering personal loans up to $100,000 with competitive rates and no fees. It features a user-friendly app, career counseling, and financial planning services. However, a credit check is required for loans, limiting accessibility. Investment services come with risks, requiring users to exercise caution.
Play store ratings:
4.0star
34K reviews
1M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 343.3K Ratings
17. Albert
Albert is a financial app that helps users save money by assessing their spending habits and finding opportunities to cut costs. It also offers automatic savings and budgeting features, making it easier to achieve financial goals. While it’s not a direct payday advance app, it promotes financial wellness and smarter money management.
Play store ratings:
4.1star
91.3K reviews
5M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.6 • 172.5K Ratings
Also Read: Solo Funds Alternatives
18. Current
The Current app is a mobile banking platform for teens and young adults. It offers a range of features, including a debit card, a savings account, and the ability to send and receive money.
Current promotes financial literacy and independence for its users, making it a valuable tool for young individuals to manage their finances.
Play store ratings:
4.6star
154K reviews
5M+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.8 • 150.8K Ratings
19. Yotta
Yotta is a unique savings app that combines saving money with the excitement of a lottery. Users deposit money into a savings account, and each deposit earns them tickets for a weekly lottery with cash prizes. It’s a fun way to encourage saving while allowing users to win big.
Play store ratings:
1.7star
6.6K reviews
500K+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.6 • 13.4K Ratings
20. Zirtue
Zirtue is a financial app that helps users lend and borrow money from friends and family while keeping track of repayment. It has facilitated over $4 million in loans since its launch, with an average size of $820. Users appreciate the app’s simplicity and the ability to maintain financial relationships with loved ones.
Play store ratings:
3.1star
510 reviews
100K+Downloads
Apple store ratings:
4.3 • 805 Ratings
Pros and cons of using Earnin apps?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No mandatory fees | Requires access to your bank account |
| Low optional fees | May require location access or work email verification |
| Potentially large advances | May cause bank overdraft fees if insufficient funds exist on due date |
Conclusion
In a world where financial stability often feels out of reach, the search for alternatives to Earnin has illuminated a path to financial empowerment.
With 20 diverse options at your fingertips, including Beem, Vola, DailyPay, and MoneyLion, there’s no shortage of tools to help you navigate the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck.
Whether accessing earned wages early, managing expenses, or improving credit, these alternatives offer a lifeline toward greater financial resilience and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I qualify for early wage access?
To qualify for early wage access, most apps require regular activity in your account and a minimum average balance, typically around $150.
Q. Are there any interest charges or hidden fees?
Many apps do not charge interest, but some may have transaction fees or monthly subscription costs.
Q. Can I improve my credit score with these apps?
Some apps, like Dave, offer credit-building features by reporting rent payments to major credit bureaus, helping you enhance your credit score over time.
