Earned wage access vs cash advance comes down to repayment. Employer EWA comes out of your next paycheck with a $0 option, cash advance apps debit your bank, and credit card advances charge interest from day one.

You can get earned wage access without employer help through EarnIn, Klover, MoneyLion, and Chime MyPay. Standard transfers cost $0, a $100 instant advance costs $3 to $9.49, and employer programs still cost less.

How does Payactiv work? Your employer links Payactiv to payroll, you access up to 50% of earned wages, often capped at $500 a pay period, and Payactiv deducts that amount from your next paycheck.

Payactiv fees run $0 by ACH or to its Visa card with $200 of direct deposit, and $2.49 to $3.49 per instant transfer otherwise. Here’s every fee, the card charges, the APR math, and how to pay $0.

Payactiv vs Paychex isn’t a contest, since Paychex Flex Perks Pay on Demand runs through Payactiv. Paychex’s terms add a few rules, Paycor Wallet runs on Payactiv too, and neither company publishes a Paychex fee table.

Payactiv vs Wisely compares wage access with a pay card. Payactiv lets you reach earned wages for $0 to $3.49. Wisely is ADP’s pay card, and Wisely users at DailyPay Preferred employers get one free instant transfer a week.