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When you are living paycheck to paycheck, even when you stick to a budget, things pop up. You might have a medical emergency, a birthday celebration, or unexpected expenses that randomly occur, leaving you in a tight spot as you try to figure out how to make your paycheck last. Sometimes you might need a little extra cash to get you through the week.
Listed below, we’ve found apps that let you get your paycheck early.
Each app will work slightly differently. Some don’t charge a fee at all, whereas others will charge a fee of a couple of dollars or a percentage per transaction. Before signing up for an app, make sure to check to see how you get the money, the fees associated with it, and how quickly you get the money.
Keep in mind that some of these apps won’t be available to everyone. Some require enrollment by the employer. Many will not be available to freelancers but only hourly employees. Read through the terms and conditions thoroughly.
Here are some of the most popular apps that will loan you money until payday.
1. Earnin
Earnin is an app that lets you access your money earlier than your normal pay cycle. Each time you need extra cash, you can control how much you want to withdraw. There are no fees, interest, or hidden costs associated with the Earnin app.
You are allowed to cash out at least $100 per day, and you simply have to tip what you think is fair. Earnin is mostly community-supported and survives based on the tips that you choose to give when withdrawing your wages. People can also choose to “pay it forward” and cover someone else’s tips. You can opt to keep that act of kindness going or not. You can tip up to $14 per transaction. Tipping is optional, but you must regularly tip to access some of the app’s special features like overdraft protection.
Once your paycheck is paid via direct deposit, Earnin automatically deducts the amount you cashed out earlier in the pay cycle. Anyone who has over 50% of their direct deposit sent to a checking account, has a regular pay schedule, and a fixed work location or online timekeeping system can use Earnin. You are not allowed to use Earnin to send money to prepaid and savings accounts or payout earnings from SSI, unemployment, or disability pay.
You’ve done the work, so why not get paid? Earnin’s app lets you make any day payday. Access up to $100 a day from the money you’ve already made.
Apply Now
2. DailyPay
DailyPay is an app that lets you access your paycheck the same day you work. According to the DailyPay website, companies have seen a 41% decrease in the turnover of DailyPay users. DailyPay users are also more likely to come to work because they can see an instant return on the hours they work.
DailyPay allows you to transfer the amount you earned that day instantly, even on weekends and holidays. This isn’t a loan, and you can pay a flat transfer fee, which starts at $1.25. When you get paid, any transfers you’ve made are automatically deducted, so you don’t have to worry about having to remember to pay another bill.
Some of the partners are Vera Bradley, Westgate Resorts, The Maids, DialAmerica, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and more. To sign up, your employer must be a partner. You can approach your HR and see if they will offer DailyPay.
3. FlexWage
FlexWage is another app that allows on-demand access to a portion of your wages. When you request your money, the funds will be deposited into a Flexwage Visa Payment Card instantly. The fees will vary based on the employer, but according to FlexWage’s website, they will always be less than overdraft fees or short-term borrowing interest rates. You’ll be able to withdraw only a percentage of your wages, and once you have reached that threshold, you won’t be able to withdraw anymore.
FlexWage partners with US Bank, Wendy’s, KFC, McDonald’s, Denny’s, Hillandale Family of Communities, Burger King, Malone Workforce Solutions, and many more.
4. PayActiv
PayActiv is another popular platform in this industry. To be eligible to use this app, your employer must partner with PayActiv.
To access these services, you will have to pay a membership fee. There is no interest or additional expenses you have to pay in order to pay bills, use the budgeting and savings tool, or transfer funds.
Some of PayActiv’s partners include Walmart, Uber, and Visa.
5. Branch
Branch is available to anyone who is paid via direct deposit into a checking account. Through this app, you can withdraw up to $500 per pay period. The catch is if you want your money instantly, you must pay a $3.99 fee, but there is no fee for the standard three-day withdrawals.
When you sign up, you must upload images of your work schedule. Your employer can also partner with Branch, and then the platform will automatically monitor your shifts.
6. Dave
You can connect any bank account to start your very own Dave account. Membership at Dave costs $1 a month, but you can earn free months by shopping at partner stores.
Through the app, you can advance up to $100 without having to pay interest on your wages. The advancement might take up to three days to reach your account, or you can choose to pay a small fee to get the money within eight hours. You can also choose to add a tip when you pull out the advance.
When you join the Dave app, you also take advantage of other features like automatic budgeting, credit building, no overdraft fees, no interest, access to ATMs free of charge, and the ability to send free checks to pay for rent or other bills.
7. MoneyLion
MoneyLion lets you borrow between $80 to $250, interest-free on your unpaid wages. This service is only available to people who have a direct deposit that averages around $400. To qualify, you’ll have to be able to consistently maintain a positive balance the day of and the day after your payday.
When you join MoneyLion, you’ll have to pay a fee of $9.99 a month. That membership fee includes access to services like overdraft protection, help to repay loans, and no late fees.
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Gigs That Pay You Same Day
Let’s speak honestly for just a minute. These companies aren’t loaning you money on your paycheck out of the kindness of their hearts. They are running a business. Businesses need to make money to survive. If you are already living paycheck to paycheck, dipping into your earnings to pay fees isn’t an ideal situation.
If you are in a tight spot, another option could be to work for companies that let you cash out the same day you put in your hours. These can be a good fit for some people because you can work only when you need to and don’t need to pay any additional fees or get a smaller paycheck because you are getting advances throughout the week. Here are some options that let you withdraw your wages the same day you worked.
1. Uber
Uber, the ridesharing app, has always been a popular way for people to earn extra money. Thanks to Uber Instant Pay, you can get paid up to five times a day. There are no minimums on how much money you can withdraw at one time. If you do just one ride and take out that five dollars, Uber lets you do it up to five times a day. Of course, remember that there will be processing fees each time you have to make a withdrawal. Therefore, it might be to your benefit to transfer one large sum once, rather than requesting lots of small withdrawals.
Get in the driver’s seat and get paid! Uber has the largest network of active riders … and that means more ways for you to make money.
Apply Now
2. Lyft
Another rideshare app, Lyft, also offers a way to get paid almost instantly for your work. They’ve introduced Instant Pay, that you can use once you’ve earned at least $50. Most of the deposits will hit your account instantly, but others might take a business day. There is a small fee of $.50 associated with each transfer.
Earn money driving your own car or an affordable rental. Set your own hours and get 24/7 support.
Apply Now
3. DoorDash
The food delivery service DoorDash allows their dashers to cash out their earnings every day for a small fee of $1.99. Once you’ve dashed at least two weeks and completed at least 25 deliveries, you can qualify for this service. To access Fast Pay, you must have a debit card, not a prepaid card, and there is a seven-day processing period before you can make your first instant transfer. Learn more about DoorDash here.
Earn extra money for your short-term goals or long-term dreams with DoorDash.
Apply Now
More of these on-demand gig companies are offering same-day pay all of the time. Keep an eye on your favorites. Check out my list of ways to get paid to drive, shop and deliver.
Final Thoughts
Utilizing these apps can be helpful, but remember that payday apps are still loans at the end of the day, and you should learn to live without these apps. While they are often a better option than payday loans, which can sometimes have 30% interest rates, it still adds extra costs that you’ll have to pay later.
If you repeat the cycle every two weeks of accessing your paycheck early, it could mean you are losing money in fees and membership dues, and you might find it hard to break your seemingly never-ending cycle of debt. If every time you access your paycheck early, you have to spend an extra $20 in interest and fees, it could mean you are losing hundreds of dollars each year.
These apps can be helpful in a pinch, so it might be a good idea to use them as an occasional helping hand. Instead of getting an advance on your salary, consider using companies like Lyft or Uber, which allow you to access your paycheck the same day you worked.