CASH ADVANCE MATH / EARNIN CASH ADVANCE

How does EarnIn work? Follow the fees and the limits.

Cash Out has a daily limit as well as a pay-period limit. Compare delivery costs, check the income requirements and read the dated legal record.

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What EarnIn actually costs

EarnIn Cash Out has $0 membership and no mandatory advance fee in the general model. Standard delivery is free ($0), usually 1-2 business days. Optional tips default to $0 here.

Limits: up to $150 per day and $1,000 per pay period. New members may start lower. New York's daily maximum is $100. EarnIn is not available in Connecticut.

Lightning Speed fees to an external bank

General Lightning Speed fee table
Transfer amountGeneral fee
$75 or less$3.99
$75.01 to $150$5.99
Greater than $150$8.99, published tier only

The published fee table includes a tier above $150. That does not override the general daily limit: this comparison does not calculate a single $200 or $250 EarnIn advance.

State exceptions and other EarnIn routes

Indiana and Florida: 5% of the transfer, with a $3.99 minimum.

New York: $3.99 up to $100; the published table lists $5.99 above $100, but the daily maximum is $100.

Colorado and Wisconsin: no tips; fixed fees of $4.99 for $10 to $75, $6.99 for $76 to $150, and $9.99 for $150.01 to $200. The general comparison does not substitute these state fees or assume a higher daily limit.

EarnIn Card: $2.99 cash transfers with qualifying direct deposit, or $5.99 without. The separate Cash Out Link overdraft product adds a $1.99 service fee per transfer. Neither route is used in these examples.

EarnIn fee schedule

The cost of $50, $100, $200 and $250

Every example uses 14 days, another bank, $0 tip, one advance per month and no qualifying Varo deposits. Required membership is allocated to this one advance. Total payback includes that membership even when it is billed separately.

Instant examples use an external account. MoneyLion standard delivery still requires MoneyLion Spend. The provider sets the actual repayment date. The 14-day period is a comparison assumption. These are general fee illustrations, with state exceptions and personal limits still to check.

Unpublished charges stay unknown. An amount above the modeled limit stays unavailable; it is not treated as a free advance. Equivalent APR annualizes the cost for comparison and is not the provider's advertised or legal APR.

Eight examples: one advance, 14 days and $0 tip
Amount receivedStandard deliveryInstant delivery
$50
Total cost
$0.00
Total payback
$50.00

Equivalent APR: 0.0%

No delivery fee if you can wait 1-2 business days.

General fee table, up to $150 per day. Fees, tips and limits differ in some states. Approval and your limit are not assured.

Compare this scenario

Total cost
$3.99
Total payback
$53.99

Equivalent APR: 208.1%

Lightning delivery fee; no monthly membership.

General fee table, up to $150 per day. Fees, tips and limits differ in some states. Approval and your limit are not assured.

Compare this scenario

$100
Total cost
$0.00
Total payback
$100.00

Equivalent APR: 0.0%

No delivery fee if you can wait 1-2 business days.

General fee table, up to $150 per day. Fees, tips and limits differ in some states. Approval and your limit are not assured.

Compare this scenario

Total cost
$5.99
Total payback
$105.99

Equivalent APR: 156.2%

Lightning delivery fee; no monthly membership.

General fee table, up to $150 per day. Fees, tips and limits differ in some states. Approval and your limit are not assured.

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$200

Not ranked. Up to $150 per day in the general program. This amount needs transfers on different days, so it is not ranked as one advance. New York has a lower daily cap.

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Not ranked. Up to $150 per day in the general program. This amount needs transfers on different days, so it is not ranked as one advance. New York has a lower daily cap.

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$250

Not ranked. Up to $150 per day in the general program. This amount needs transfers on different days, so it is not ranked as one advance. New York has a lower daily cap.

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Not ranked. Up to $150 per day in the general program. This amount needs transfers on different days, so it is not ranked as one advance. New York has a lower daily cap.

Compare this scenario

How EarnIn works

  1. Download the EarnIn app, link a US checking account (not prepaid or savings) and verify your income: EarnIn needs a consistent direct-deposit pay schedule (weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly) and usually at least 2 verified qualifying direct deposits, plus a work email, work location (GPS) or timesheet signal. Social Security, SSI and VA income also work; unemployment does not.
  2. EarnIn sets a personal Max: up to $150 per day ($100 in New York) and $50 to $1,000 per pay period, based on bank balance, paycheck history, on-time repayment and use of other advance apps. New members start lower.
  3. Request a Cash Out: free standard delivery in 1 to 2 business days, or Lightning Speed in minutes for a fee ($3.99 to $8.99 in most states). Tips are optional and do not affect your Max; Colorado and Wisconsin have fixed fees and no tips.
  4. On payday (the day your direct deposit posts) EarnIn automatically debits the amount plus any tip and fee from your linked account. You can reschedule a debit once every 60 days by contacting support at least one business day ahead, or pay early in the app.
  5. If the debit fails your account goes on hold and Cash Out is blocked until you repay; EarnIn reschedules the debit for a later payday. By contract there is no obligation to repay, no debt collection, no sale of the debt and no credit reporting for Cash Out.

Who can use it?

18+, primary residence in the US (including territories), a US checking account at a supported bank (no prepaid or savings accounts), a US mobile number, and a consistent direct-deposit pay schedule; EarnIn must verify at least 2 qualifying direct deposits. Employed users provide a work email or work location; Social Security (incl. SSDI), SSI and VA compensation or pension deposited to the linked checking account are accepted, unemployment is not. No credit check. Not offered in Connecticut.

Where it is available

Not available in Connecticut (since 2023-12-31, after the Connecticut Department of Banking treated EWA as lending). Colorado and Wisconsin: no tips, fixed fees. Indiana, Florida and New York have different Lightning fees; New York Daily Max $100. EarnIn says 'Cash Out is not available in all states' but names only Connecticut. Licensing: EarnIn lists NMLS numbers and says most licenses can be verified at nmlsconsumeraccess.org; California customers are directed to the DFPI for complaints.

Repayment and failed payments

When and how repayment happens

Automatic ACH debit from the linked bank account on the day your paycheck posts (which can be before the employer's official payday if your bank posts early), for the transferred amount plus optional tip and Lightning fee. Debits can be rescheduled to the next pay period (once every 60 days, request by 8 a.m. PT one business day before) or paid early via 'Pay now' (Early Pay and EarnIn Card users).

What happens if a payment fails?

Account goes on hold: Cash Out, Cash Out Link and Live Pay are unavailable until the outstanding amount is repaid; EarnIn reschedules debits for a future payday and may send them earlier if it sees enough balance. Cash Out User Agreement (effective 2026-01-30): no obligation to repay, 'no legal or contractual claim or remedy', no debt collection, no placement or sale of the debt to third parties and no reporting to consumer reporting agencies. Your own bank's overdraft/NSF fees can still apply.

Who operates it, and which bank is involved?

Operator

Activehours, Inc., d/b/a EarnIn (Mountain View, California; NMLS #2535570). Affiliate EarnIn US1 LLC (NMLS #2567882). Cash Out is provided directly by Activehours, Inc.

Advance provider and bank partner

Cash Out itself has no bank partner (funded by Activehours, Inc.). EarnIn Card and the Early Pay deposit account are issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC. The separate 'Cash Out Link' product is an overdraft line on a Lead Bank (Member FDIC) account with a $1.99 service fee per request.

Compare alternatives using the same inputs

Both comparisons use $100, 14 days, another bank, $0 tip, one advance per month and no qualifying Varo deposits. Each group keeps its stated delivery speed. Bank support and approval must be checked with each provider.

MoneyLion standard delivery requires MoneyLion Spend, and Current standard delivery requires a Current Account. Those routes are not free transfers to the selected bank. Separate account discounts and membership-waiver routes are excluded from this shortlist.

Any cheaper options for $100 with standard delivery?

No other priced primary app route has a lower modeled total for these inputs. Unknown prices cannot establish that this is the cheapest possible offer.

Compare all $100 standard options

Any cheaper options for $100 with instant delivery?

No other priced primary app route has a lower modeled total for these inputs. Unknown prices cannot establish that this is the cheapest possible offer.

Compare all $100 instant options

Apps like EarnIn: all 11 alternatives in the $100 standard example.

For another amount, use the scenario links in the cost table or the full calculator. If you need longer to repay, compare credit union Payday Alternative Loans.

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