Updated 2026-02-20 ยท 5 min read
๐ณ $120/Year to Borrow Your Own Money
Brigit Plus costs $9.99/month ($120/year) for cash advances up to $250. No tips like Dave, but the membership itself IS the fee. If you borrow $250 monthly and pay $9.99/month for the privilege, that's an effective 48% APR. And Brigit's "automatic advance" feature means it sends you money (and charges the fee) even when you don't ask โ because their algorithm decided you "might" overdraft.
Monthly cost to borrow $250:
Brigit: $9.99 membership = $9.99/month
Dave: $5 membership + ~$15 tip = $20/month
Earnin: $0 membership + ~$10 tip = $10/month
Albert: $14.99 membership = $14.99/month
Your bank (overdraft): usually $0 now = $0/month
Emergency fund: $0 forever = $0/month
The cheapest cash advance app is still more expensive than not needing one.
๐ก The Cash Advance App Industry Secret
These apps make money by keeping you in the advance cycle. Their business model depends on you never building an emergency fund. They don't offer financial education, savings tools, or paths out of the cycle โ because that would lose them a customer. You building a $500 buffer is their worst nightmare.
๐ Find Subscriptions Draining Your Paycheck
If you need cash advances, hidden subscriptions might be the reason. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every recurring charge. Canceling $50/month in forgotten subscriptions might eliminate the need for advances.
Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions
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Scan My Statement โ FreeNo account ยท No bank login ยท 960+ people have used JustCancel