Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Dave vs EarnIn
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Dave |  EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $25 to $500 | $0 to $1,000Higher |
| Arrangement fee | Overdraft fee equal to the greater of $5 or 5% per ExtraCash overdraft; optional 1.5% fee for external debit card transfers | 0 USD (standard speed transfer fee $0; optional Lightning Speed from $3.99 per transfer) |
| Funding time | Typically authorized within 5 minutes | 1-3 business days at no cost, or minutes with optional Lightning Speed |
| Eligibility | US members with a Social Security Number and a linked bank account; must open an ExtraCash overdraft deposit account and a Dave Checking account; not all members qualify | At least 18 years old, primary residence in the United States (including U.S. territories), own a U.S. checking bank account and a valid U.S. cell phone number, consistent direct deposit pay schedule and at least $320 earned per pay period |
| Origination fee (%) | 5% | 0%Lower |
| Free early repayment | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Poor | Not confirmed |
Same on both: APR (0%), Credit check (None), Lender type (Direct lender), Loan types (Cash advance).
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Key differences
- EarnIn scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Origination fee (%) is lower at EarnIn: 0% vs 5%.
- Loan amount is higher at EarnIn: $0 to $1,000 vs $25 to $500.
- Support channels: only Dave offers Phone, Email.
Our verdict on each
Dave
Dave suits US members who need a small advance with no credit check. ExtraCash overdrafts run $25 to $500 at an APR of 0%, typically authorised Typically authorized within 5 minutes. Each overdraft carries a fee set at the greater of a flat charge or 5% of the amount.
EarnIn
EarnIn suits US earners who want a small cash advance drawn against their pay without a credit check. Its APR of 0% sits at the top of the field, and the standard transfer carries no fee, so a short advance costs close to nothing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Dave | EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1APR of 0% keeps interest at nothing, but each overdraft costs the greater of a flat charge or 5% of the amount. | 9.7HigherAPR of 0%, an arrangement fee that is free on a standard transfer, and 0% origination, with speed delivery charged separately. |
| Offer | 9.0Higher | 8.2 |
| Trust | 9.2 | 9.2 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Dave | EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| United States |
Available in 1 country for both.
Sources behind this comparison
Dave
- dave.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
EarnIn
- earnin.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.earnin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Dave | EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| Cash advance apps | 13 of 53 | 10 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Dave | EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Same day funding | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Dave Operating LLC | Activehours, Inc. (d/b/a EarnIn) |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Help centre, Chat, Phone, EmailCovers more | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Dave | EarnIn | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%lowest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 8.99% |
| Loan amount | $25 to $500lowest quarter | $0 to $1,000lowest quarter | $35,000 |
| Origination fee (%) | 5%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 0.25% |
Median across 834 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Dave
Pros
- No credit check: the listed credit check is none, so a poor credit file is not the obstacle.
- An APR of 0%, so the cost is carried by the overdraft fee rather than interest.
- Same-day funding: same day funding, with authorisation typically Typically authorized within 5 minutes.
Cons
- Overdraft fee on every advance: the greater of a flat charge or 5% of each overdraft, plus an optional percentage fee on external debit card transfers.
- Approval is not automatic: eligibility needs a US Social Security Number, a linked bank account, an open ExtraCash overdraft account and a Dave Checking account.
- Advances stop at $25 to $500, well under the €346.97 typically borrowed in the bad-credit category.
EarnIn
Pros
- APR of 0% against a field median of 12%, and a rank of 1
- Credit check is none, so your score is not used to decide
- Advances run to $0 to $1,000, which covers rent, repairs or a car bill
Cons
- The account cap of $0 to $1,000 is small against a field median of €876.96
- The faster delivery is a paid upgrade on top of the free standard transfer
- Eligibility is tied to a consistent direct deposit pay schedule and a set amount earned per pay period
Who each suits
Dave
Who it suits
- US members with poor credit who want an advance with no credit check.
- Members ready to bank through Dave, since the advance requires both an ExtraCash overdraft account and a Dave Checking account.
- Anyone covering a short gap, given the $25 to $500 limit.
Who should look elsewhere
- Creduma ES, for anyone borrowing a larger sum, since its amounts start at from €12,000.
- Cashspace, for members who prefer a stated APR of PHP 12 to PHP 36 over a fee-based overdraft.
- Sofkredit, for members who want a stated rate of 10.74% to 18.06% and a term loan rather than a cash advance.
EarnIn
Who it suits
- US workers paid by direct deposit who need a small advance before their next payday
- People with thin credit files who want a decision without a credit check
- Borrowers who can clear the advance on their next paycheque
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone needing a larger sum, since the account stops at $0 to $1,000
- Brigit, if you want a similar app with a lower cap, at $25 to $500
- Exim Bank Djibouti, whose school loan runs to up to DJF 300,000 but serves a different market
Country by country
| Country | Dave | EarnIn |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Dave
How much does an ExtraCash advance cost?+
The advance itself carries an APR of 0%, so the charge is the overdraft fee rather than interest. That fee is set at the greater of a flat amount or 5% of each overdraft, and an optional percentage fee also applies when the money is transferred to an external debit card.
How quickly does the money arrive?+
Authorisation is typically quick: Typically authorized within 5 minutes, and same day funding is listed among the product's features. The advance reaches the linked bank account and behaves like an overdraft, so the balance sits on the account until it is repaid rather than arriving with a separate bill.
EarnIn
What does an advance from EarnIn cost?+
The APR is 0%, and the arrangement fee is free on a standard speed transfer. The origination fee is 0%. In practice an advance cleared on the ordinary schedule costs very little, and the only charge appears if you pay for the optional faster delivery.
How much can I borrow with EarnIn?+
The account runs to $0 to $1,000, so the cap is modest. That is a good fit for rent, a car repair or a bill between paycheques, and it is well below the €876.96 field median, so it is not a route to consolidating larger debts.