EarnIn review: is the EarnIn cash advance app legit?
EarnIn is a legitimate cash advance app, and Activehours, Inc. operates under the name EarnIn is the company behind it.
- Biggest advance
- $1,000
- Fee per month
- None
- Fast transfer cost
- $5.99 on $100
- Complaints to the CFPB
- 290counts every Activehours product
EarnIn on file
- Owner
- Activehours, Inc. operates under the name EarnIn
- Product
- You can get Cash Out earned wage advances up to $200 daily and $1,000 per pay period, with repayment from your next paycheck
- Subscription
- None, optional
- Fee for a fast transfer
- For Cash Out, Lightning Speed fees are $3.99 up to $75, $5.99 from $75.01 to $150, and $8.99 above $150
- Tips
- Optional tip requested
- Time without a fee
- Pay nothing for a 1-3 working-day wait; EarnIn FAQ notes 1-2 working days are usual.
- Credit checks
- Your credit score stays unchanged by Cash Out, and no credit check occurs
- Time to get the money
- Pay for Lightning Speed and the money moves in minutes; standard delivery is free within 1-3 working days.
Taken from what EarnIn publishes, CFPB complaint counts and public enforcement files. All sources are listed at the foot of the page
EarnIn fees and costs
Convert EarnIn's fees to a yearly rate using the calculator on our cash advance apps page.
Good to know about EarnIn
- EarnIn offers up to $1,000 per pay period, which exceeds most apps, and Cash Out has no subscription
- Optional tips are requested, and the Colorado AG says the app design steered users toward tipping.
- Fees for Instant Lightning Speed are flat by amount, such as $5.99 on a $100 Cash Out.
- In New York ($100) and Maryland ($150), the daily limits are lower
- Attorneys general in the District of Columbia (2024) and Colorado (2026) have sued, alleging its advances are illegal high-cost loans
States where EarnIn works
The EarnIn pages we read give no list of states. Ask which license covers your state and check it on NMLS Consumer Access before you share bank details.
EarnIn complaints and lawsuits
The CFPB database lists 290 complaints naming Activehours, a count for the whole company rather than EarnIn alone. Most common issues: your bank account had money taken on the wrong day or in the wrong amount; stopping withdrawals from your bank account is not possible for you.; you cannot reach the lender or the servicer. Check the CFPB count
- 2024 · District of Columbia Attorney GeneralA DC OAG lawsuit against EarnIn says the Cash Out advances it offers are unlicensed loans, with fees that are not clearly disclosed and rates averaging above 300%. Source
- 2026 · Colorado Attorney GeneralApp designs that pushed users to tip and an average APR near 388% were cited by Colorado AG when suing EarnIn for illegal high-cost lending. Source
Short on cash before payday?
Talk to a specialist about lower-cost ways to cover the gap in your state. Talk to someone about cheaper options: 855.947.5189
This line reaches a debt and loan options specialist. We are not EarnIn and cannot reach your EarnIn account.
EarnIn alternatives: apps like EarnIn
| App | Fee a month | Biggest advance | Fast transfer on $100 | CFPB complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EarnIn (this record) | None | $1,000 | $5.99 | 290counts all of Activehours |
 MoneyLion | None | $1,000 | $7.50 | 4,093 |
 Albert | None | $1,000 | – | 788 |
 Klover | $4.99 | $750 | $9.49 | 49 |
 Chime SpotMe | None | $750 | $3 | 29,493 |
– means the company does not publish it. Complaint counts are totals, not rates: a bigger company draws more. Open any name for its full record.
Questions about EarnIn
Is EarnIn legit?
Run by Activehours, Inc., EarnIn is a real cash advance app offering up to $1,000 and charging no monthly fee. We located 2 government or court actions on record, while the CFPB complaint database shows 290 complaints filed against Activehours.
Who owns EarnIn?
Activehours, Inc. trades as EarnIn.
Does EarnIn check your credit?
EarnIn states: no credit check; Cash Out will not change your credit score.
How fast does EarnIn send the money?
According to EarnIn, Lightning Speed is paid and takes minutes; standard transfers are free over 1-3 working days.
Has EarnIn been sued or fined?
In 2024, the District of Columbia Attorney General acted: DC OAG sued EarnIn. It alleged Cash Out advances were unlicensed loans, with fees poorly disclosed and average rates above 300%. In 2026, the Colorado Attorney General acted: Colorado AG sued EarnIn. It alleged illegal high-cost lending, app designs pushing users to tip, and average APR near 388%.
Where the EarnIn facts come from
- Activehours, Inc. operates under the trade name EarnIn.; Fee and tip rate details come from the Colorado AG lawsuit (August 27, 2026).; Colorado AG claimed the app design pushed users to leave tipscoag.gov
- Maximum amount per pay period; Cost and time for a standard transfer; EarnIn requests tips that are optionalearnin.com
- Daily limit in New York and Maryland; Daily limit in states outside those two; Starting amounts are lower for new members.help.earnin.com
- Lightning Speed fee on a Cash Out between $75.01 and $150; Lightning Speed fee on amounts of $75 or less; Date of the fee tableearnin.com
- Cash Out has no impact on your credit scorehelp.earnin.com
- Total CFPB complaints filed under the company name for this brandconsumerfinance.gov
- DC Attorney General lawsuit (November 19, 2024); The DC AG alleged an average rate.oag.dc.gov