Home › Save › Paycheck advance fees as an APR
Direct answer: Divide the fee by the advance, then multiply by 365 and divide by the days until payday. A $3.99 instant fee on $100 repaid in 10 days equals a 145.6% APR. The CFPB found the typical employer-linked advance works out to 109.5%. Waiting for free standard delivery costs $0.
By the numbers: CFPB 2024 data spotlight: average paycheck-advance fee $3.18 on a $106 advance for 10 days = 109.5% APR; about 90% of workers paid at least one fee. Source: CFPB
“Based on the average data inputs in our sample, an illustrative annual percentage rate (APR) for a typical employer-partnered earned wage product transaction equates to 109.5%.” — CFPB data spotlight, July 2024
Updated 2026-10-18
Divide the fee by the amount you got, multiply by 365, then divide by the number of days until you pay it back. Example: $3.99 ÷ $100 × 365 ÷ 10 days = 145.6%. Shorter time or a smaller advance makes the APR higher.
In dollars it's small, but the money is only borrowed for days. $2 on $100 for 10 days equals a 73.0% APR; $3.99 equals 145.6%. A credit union payday alternative loan can charge at most 28% APR plus a $20 application fee.
They count toward what you actually pay. If an app's monthly plan is required to get the advance, or you tip every time, add it to the fee in the calculator. Brigit's $8.99 plan on one $100 advance for 10 days alone equals 328.1%.
Not always, legally. The CFPB said on Dec. 23, 2025 that 'Covered EWA' is not credit under federal Truth in Lending rules, and it withdrew its 2024 proposal that would have treated these fees as finance charges. States have their own rules. Credit Karma says its advance is not a loan; Chime calls MyPay a line of credit; Dave calls ExtraCash an overdraft.
Usually yes: most let you wait for standard delivery for $0 (Credit Karma 1-2 business days, Chime up to 24 hours, EarnIn 1-3 business days, MoneyLion 1-5 business days to its own account). Dave's 5% overdraft fee ($5 minimum) and Brigit's plan apply either way.
Federal credit unions can offer payday alternative loans (PALs): $200-$1,000 (PALs I) or up to $2,000 (PALs II), 1-12 months, at most 28% APR and an application fee of no more than $20, under NCUA rules.
Fees read from Credit Karma, EarnIn, Dave, Brigit, MoneyLion and Chime's own pages; CFPB, NCUA and DFPI sources checked Oct. 18, 2026.
As of Oct. 18, 2026 · fees from each company's own page · CFPB, NCUA and DFPI sources
An instant-transfer fee looks small, but because you pay it back in days, the APR is high. A $3.99 fee on $100 paid back in 10 days equals 145.6%. A $2 fee equals 73.0%. Waiting for free standard delivery costs $0 on most of these apps.
The math:
Sources: CFPB 2024 data spotlight · 12 CFR 701.21 (PALs) · Each app's fees
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Type the advance, the fee (add any required tip or monthly fee too) and the days until it's paid back.
This is simple APR (no compounding), the same method the CFPB used in its 2024 spotlight. It is a way to compare costs, not a legal APR disclosure.
Listed A to Z, not ranked. Every fee is from the company's own page, read Oct. 18, 2026. The APR column uses the same example for all: a $100 advance paid back in 10 days. Your real cost depends on your amount, your state and how soon your payday is. Eligibility rules (direct deposit, account type) differ; check each app.
| App | Required cost | Fast delivery fee | APR, required costs only | APR with fast delivery | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigit Instant Cash cash advance | Plus plan $8.99 a month (Premium $15.99) to get Instant Cash; Brigit says you can email to ask about an advance without a plan | Express Delivery (about 20 minutes): "a small fee"; the amount isn't on this page and is shown in the app before you confirm. Free on Premium. | 328.1% | more than 328.1% (Express fee not published) If the $8.99 plan pays for just one $100 advance that month | source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
| Chime MyPay line of credit (Chime's own word); 0% APR on its disclosure | $0 | Instant Advance Fee: 3% of the advance, minimum $2.00, maximum $5.00 (free if you wait up to 24 hours) | 0.0% | 109.5% 3% of $100 = $3.00 | source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
| Credit Karma Paycheck Advance "not a loan" (Credit Karma's words); provided by MVB Bank; $20-$500; no interest; needs a Credit Karma Checking account open 30+ days and a $200+ qualified direct deposit in the prior 35 days | $0 | Instant Access: $2 (up to an hour); standard 1-2 business days free | 0.0% | 73.0% | source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
| Dave ExtraCash overdraft (Dave's word); offered by Evolve Bank & Trust | Overdraft fee 5% of each overdraft, $5 minimum; plus a Dave membership of up to $5 a month | Express to an external debit card: 1.5% of the amount; to Dave Checking or by ACH: free | 182.5% | 237.2% 5% of $100 = $5 (the minimum) + 1.5% = $1.50; the membership is not counted here | source source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
| EarnIn Cash Out earned wage access; tips optional | $0 (tips are optional) | Lightning Speed: $3.99 (about 30 minutes); differs in some states, e.g. New York $3.99 up to $100 / $5.99 over; Indiana and Florida 5%, $3.99 minimum; Colorado and Wisconsin $4.99-$9.99 | 0.0% | 145.6% | source source source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
| MoneyLion Instacash cash advance; 0% APR; tips optional | $0 to a MoneyLion Spend account (1-5 business days); an outside bank account gets Turbo delivery only | Turbo: 7.5% of the advance (capped at $14.99) to MoneyLion Spend; 9% to an outside account | 0.0% | 328.5% 9% of $100 = $9 to an outside bank account (7.5% = $7.50 to MoneyLion Spend: 273.8%) | source (read Oct. 18, 2026) |
Source: CFPB: Data Spotlight: Developments in the Paycheck Advance Market (July 2024).
Facts, not advice. We don't offer, rank or recommend any of these apps, and no company paid to be listed. Fees change; the app shows the final fee before you confirm. Only apps whose fees we could read on their own website are listed.
Divide the fee by the amount you got, multiply by 365, then divide by the number of days until you pay it back. Example: $3.99 ÷ $100 × 365 ÷ 10 days = 145.6%. Shorter time or a smaller advance makes the APR higher.
In dollars it's small, but the money is only borrowed for days. $2 on $100 for 10 days equals a 73.0% APR; $3.99 equals 145.6%. A credit union payday alternative loan can charge at most 28% APR plus a $20 application fee.
They count toward what you actually pay. If an app's monthly plan is required to get the advance, or you tip every time, add it to the fee in the calculator. Brigit's $8.99 plan on one $100 advance for 10 days alone equals 328.1%.
Not always, legally. The CFPB said on Dec. 23, 2025 that 'Covered EWA' is not credit under federal Truth in Lending rules, and it withdrew its 2024 proposal that would have treated these fees as finance charges. States have their own rules. Credit Karma says its advance is not a loan; Chime calls MyPay a line of credit; Dave calls ExtraCash an overdraft.
Usually yes: most let you wait for standard delivery for $0 (Credit Karma 1-2 business days, Chime up to 24 hours, EarnIn 1-3 business days, MoneyLion 1-5 business days to its own account). Dave's 5% overdraft fee ($5 minimum) and Brigit's plan apply either way.
Federal credit unions can offer payday alternative loans (PALs): $200-$1,000 (PALs I) or up to $2,000 (PALs II), 1-12 months, at most 28% APR and an application fee of no more than $20, under NCUA rules.
Estimates, not financial advice. Taxes, insurance, PMI and fees vary by lender, county and city; confirm with your lender, dealer and state agency before acting.
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