Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
EarnIn vs MoneyLion
Where EarnIn and MoneyLion differ
| Compare |  EarnIn |  MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $0 to $1,000Higher | up to $500 |
| Arrangement fee | 0 USD (standard speed transfer fee $0; optional Lightning Speed from $3.99 per transfer) | $0 (no origination or monthly fee on Instacash; optional tip $0 and up and optional Turbo delivery fee $0.49-$8.99) |
| Funding time | 1-3 business days at no cost, or minutes with optional Lightning Speed | Within minutes with optional Turbo delivery fee, or 1-5 business days at no cost |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Marketplace |
| Eligibility | 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 | Legal resident of the United States, at least 18 years old (age of majority in state of residence); service availability varies by state |
| Loan types | Cash advance | Personal, Debt consolidation, Cash advanceCovers more |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Poor |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Same on both: APR (0%), Credit check (None), Origination fee (%) (0%).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- EarnIn scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Loan amount is higher at EarnIn: $0 to $1,000 vs up to $500.
- Support channels: only EarnIn offers Chat.
- Support channels: only MoneyLion offers Phone, Email, Community.
- Loan types: only MoneyLion offers Personal, Debt consolidation.
Our verdict on each
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.
MoneyLion
MoneyLion suits US adults who need a cash advance without a credit check or a fee, and its 0% APR is the same whoever applies. The marketplace side widens the choice of loan, but lender set pricing and a up to $500 cap on the cash advance keep it out of reach for anything larger.
Score breakdown
| Area | EarnIn | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7APR of 0%, an arrangement fee that is free on a standard transfer, and 0% origination, with speed delivery charged separately. | 9.7Instacash is listed at an APR of 0%, and the cash advance carries an origination charge of 0% and no monthly fee. |
| Offer | 8.2 | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.1 |
Ranges side by side
| Fact | EarnIn | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | $0 to $1,000 | up to $500 |
Also worth a look
BriteCap Financial has loan amount at $5,000 to $1,000,000, against $0 to $1,000 for EarnIn and up to $500 for MoneyLion.
BriteCap Financial reviewHow they place
| Ranking | EarnIn | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Cash advance apps | 10 of 53 | 15 of 53 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EarnIn | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Same day funding | Same day funding |
| Legal entity | Activehours, Inc. (d/b/a EarnIn) | MoneyLion Technologies Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Email, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EarnIn | MoneyLion | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 0%lowest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 8.99% |
| Loan amount | $0 to $1,000lowest quarter | up to $500lowest quarter | $35,000 |
| Origination fee (%) | 0%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.25% |
Median across 834 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
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
MoneyLion
Pros
- The cash advance carries a credit check of none, so a poor credit file does not stop a draw.
- Money can land within minutes on the paid delivery route, and same day funding is among the features the brand is listed under.
- personal, debt consolidation and cash advance run through the same marketplace, which widens choice beyond a single funder.
Cons
- The 0% headline describes the cash advance only. Pricing on a personal loan or a consolidation loan comes from the partner lender inside the marketplace, so the figure does not carry over.
- A single draw is capped at up to $500, which leaves a home improvement project dependent on the marketplace side.
- The optional Turbo delivery fee sits on top of the 0% APR for anyone who wants the money within minutes.
Who each suits
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
MoneyLion
Who it suits
- US adults who need a cash advance quickly and cannot pass a credit check.
- Borrowers with poor credit who want short term cash at an APR of 0%.
- People comfortable with a marketplace, where the funder behind the loan is set by the match rather than by the app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after a large home improvement loan. Monzo Flex quotes 10% to 23% on a personal loan, a different product from a up to $500 cash advance.
- Borrowers who want one lender and one published price. Monzo Flex shows 10% to 23% up front, while MoneyLion's personal loan pricing follows the marketplace.
- Borrowers in another market. Cashspace quotes PHP 12 to PHP 36 and Cashspace ES lends €100 to €5,000, and MoneyLion's service is limited to the United States.
Current offers
MoneyLion
Current offer
Bonus
Shake 'N' Bank Cash Back Promotion: Cash back from $0.01, cap $500 per transaction, up to 5 shakes per month
MoneyLion member in good standing; qualified purchases of $10 or more in a single transaction with the MoneyLion Debit Mastercard or Spend Virtual Card; unlimited shakes with an active WOW membership
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | EarnIn | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
MoneyLion
What does a MoneyLion cash advance cost?+
The Instacash cash advance is listed at an APR of 0%, with an origination charge of 0% and no monthly fee. Two extras sit on top if you want them, an optional tip, which you can leave at free, and the optional Turbo delivery fee that comes with money within minutes. Nothing else is charged for the account.
Is there a credit check on the Instacash cash advance?+
The cash advance carries a credit check of none, so there is no file to pass before the money is released, which is the point for anyone whose credit is thin. The personal and debt consolidation side works differently, running through a marketplace where the partner lender sets its own requirements and MoneyLion is placed at poor.