How earned wage access works
You draw pay you've already earned, then it's debited on payday.
- An app or your employer fronts you cash for hours you've worked.
- A standard transfer takes 1 to 3 days and is usually no-fee.
- An instant transfer arrives in minutes and costs a fee.
- The catch: pulling payday forward leaves next payday short.
It comes in two forms
Earned wage access lets you get paid for hours you've already worked, before payday. There are two kinds. They front the cash in different ways.
Employer-integrated. Your employer partners with a provider. You draw against pay you've already earned this period. Your hours are known, so the amount is exact.
Direct-to-consumer apps. You link your bank. The app estimates your earnings. It fronts you cash, then debits it on payday, plus any fee.
Either way, the speed sets the cost. A standard transfer takes 1 to 3 days and is usually no-fee. An instant transfer lands in minutes and charges a fee.
The shape of the numbers
Illustrative example. Actual rates and terms vary. See the real APR →
The danger isn't one fee. It's using next week's pay to cover this week.
So next week is short. You advance again. The gap follows you forward and never closes. That's the line between a bridge and a treadmill.