Brigit Cash Advance Review
Brigit launched in 2019 with a mission to help Americans build a brighter financial future. Its budgeting tools help customers plan their finances and, Brigit says, predict when they’re about to overdraft. Many banks charge high overdraft fees, which can derail the budget of one of the millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Brigit’s […]
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Our take on Brigit cash advance
- Cash advances between $50 and $250
- No interest, but instantly delivery requires a monthly fee of $9.99 – $14.99
- Includes budgeting tools to monitor monthly spending and subscriptions
Brigit launched in 2019 with a mission to help Americans build a brighter financial future. Its budgeting tools help customers plan their finances and, Brigit says, predict when they’re about to overdraft. Many banks charge high overdraft fees, which can derail the budget of one of the millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Brigit’s cash advances can help bridge the gaps in monthly finances.
Brigit offers budgeting tools, credit monitoring, cash advances, and credit builder loans. With Brigit, you can request a cash advance between $50 and $250. Brigit will also send an automatic cash advance if it thinks a customer is in danger of an overdraft. The best fit for Brigit’s services is someone who wants to avoid overdrafts and more expensive alternatives, such as payday loans.
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How Brigit’s cash advance app works
| Term | Details |
| Advance amounts | $50 – $250 |
| Interest rate | None |
| Fees | $0 – $14.99 per month |
| Repayment time | Varies (usually your next payday) |
| Funding time with a fee | 20 minutes |
| Funding time without a fee | 2 – 3 business days |
Two paid plans are available: Plus ($9.99 per month) and Premium ($14.99 per month). A free plan is also available, but the Instant Cash feature requires a paid plan.
Premium subscribers get free access to the Express Delivery feature for Instant Cash, which delivers your cash in two to 20 minutes. Plus customers pay a fee of $0.99 to $3.99 per transaction for Express Delivery.
You can get a cash advance for free within two to three business days. You’ll never pay late fees, and Brigit doesn’t charge tips. Brigit doesn’t require customers to use the cash for a specific purpose. It mentions using cash to cover an unexpected bill or to have cash in hand when necessary.
Is Brigit worth it?
Brigit’s paid plans also give you access to credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Its maximum cash advance is on the low end, but Brigit is a solid alternative to more expensive alternatives, such as payday loans. These loans can have substantial fees and lead to a debt cycle. Brigit makes it easier to pay your debt off without financial consequences.
Brigit can be worth it if you need a cash advance, especially if you can wait a few days. This lets you avoid the fees, making it an affordable way to access money.
Who’s eligible for a Brigit cash advance?
You must meet the basic eligibility requirements to be eligible for a Brigit cash advance. These include having a bank account with a balance above $0 and at least three recurring deposits from the same source. In addition, the bank account must have been active for at least 60 days. A paid membership is not required for a Brigit cash advance, but you must enroll in at least the Plus plan if you want the Instant Cash feature.
Brigit doesn’t use credit scores in its approval decisions but uses its own scoring model, called Brigit Score. These scores can range from 0 to 100. You need a score between 40 and 100 to qualify. The Brigit app will tell you your score.
Brigit requires a minimum average balance at the end of each payday. This helps ensure you can pay on time. The company doesn’t charge late fees, but it does due diligence to ensure customers will repay what they borrowed.
Brigit’s other personal finance tools
Brigit’s flagship feature is cash advances, but it offers several other products. The company’s overarching goal is to help you get your finances on track. To help you do this, it offers products to help you build credit and budget, plus earn and save money.
Credit builder
Brigit’s cash advances don’t require a credit check and may be easier to qualify for than a loan, but they may not help you build your credit. This is where the Credit Builder account can help. It extends a 24-month installment loan separate from the Instant Cash Advance service.
Like a typical installment loan, you make monthly payments on the account, but you don’t get immediate access to the money. Instead, the payment is split in two. You choose how much to contribute to the loan payment (between $1 and $25), and the rest goes to a savings account.
Because you make monthly loan payments, the account can help you build your credit history. Payment history is one of the most important credit score factors, so this can reflect well on your credit report. At the same time, you can build your savings.
Finance helper
If you struggle to stay on top of your finances, Finance Helper might be what you need. This product contains a set of tools that can provide financial insights and help you keep better track of your finances.
Here are three tools it provides:
- Spending insights: Provides important information about your spending, including how much you earn versus how much you spend. It can also show seasonal spending and income trends, plus help you compare your spending from one month to the next.
- Bill forecasts: It’s easy to forget about a pesky bill, but this feature will remind you which bills are due and when. It lets you see upcoming bills in one place and subscription charges you might be able to cut. This can help you better plan your budget for the month.
- Budget categories: Chances are you spend more in some areas than others. Brigit’s budgeting tools let you see how much you spend by category. For instance, you can see how much you spend on food or services. In response, you can look for areas where you might be able to spend less.
Earn and save
Sometimes, finding ways to make your paycheck go far enough can be tough. The Earn & Save feature can help with this problem, showing you ways to make more money and spend less. It does this by presenting you with side gigs and exclusive offers, each with their own tab in the app.
Potential earning opportunities include side gigs in your area as well as surveys and tasks you can complete for some quick cash. Offers include cashback, savings tips, and personalized offers that can help you save.
How does Brigit compare to other cash advance apps?
Here’s how Brigit stacks up to several competitors:
| App | Loan amts. | Fastest funding + fee |
| Brigit | $50 – $250 | Instant $9.99 per mo. |
| Empower | $10 – $250 | Instant $1–$7 per transfer |
| EarnIn | Up to $100 per day Up to $750 per pay period | Within minutes $0–$4.99 per transfer |
| MoneyLion | Up to $500 | Within minutes $0.49–$8.99 per transfer |
| Dave | Up to $500 | 1 hour $3–$25 per transfer |
Brigit’s loan amounts are lower than many competitors. Every company listed charges a fee for instant transfers.
What sets Brigit apart is that it allows Premium customers to get a cash advance with expedited delivery for no additional fee. You must pay off the advance before you can get another one. Still, this could make Brigit cheaper than the alternatives if you need frequent cash advances.
Should you use Brigit’s cash advance app?
Whether you should use Brigit depends on the situation and whether it’s a fit for your needs. Consider the pros and cons.
Pros
-
Fast funding available
Requires Plus or Premium; Plus users pay an additional fee
-
No credit check
Accessible to those with poor or limited credit
-
Avoid overdraft fees
Automatic advances trigger when Brigit thinks you’ll overdraft
-
Budgeting tools
Available to all customers
Cons
-
Subscription required for certain features
Including Instant Cash
-
Maximum advance is $250
Lower than many competitors
-
Must pay off outstanding advance before requesting a new one
This can make paid memberships seem less effective than an app that charges per transfer
The best use for Brigit is to bridge gaps in your budget and avoid overdraft fees. It’s not intended as a long-term borrowing solution, and the $250 limit means it won’t work for larger expenses.
If you have regular shortfalls in your budget, it is best to focus on increasing your income or cutting back on expenses. This is likely a better solution than relying on Brigit or similar services to make it to your next paycheck, especially since fees are often involved.
How to get a Brigit cash advance
Getting a cash advance through Brigit is straightforward and may only take a few minutes.
Here’s how it works:
- Select a plan: To get started, sign up and select a free or paid plan.
- Link a bank account: You must link a bank account to Brigit to borrow money.
- Request a cash advance: If approved, you can request a cash advance of $50 to $250, depending on your limit.
- Choose your repayment date: You can also choose your repayment date, which is typically your next payday. If you can’t repay the loan on time, Brigit will let you select a new due date with no late fees. However, it notes that you must repay your advance before you can request another one.
Is Brigit reputable?
| Source | Customer rating (out of 5) | Number of reviews |
| Trustpilot | 4.3 | 116 |
| Google Play | 4.7 | 174,000 |
| Apple App Store | 4.8 | 277,000 |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) | 1.21 | 78 |
Most of Brigit’s consumer ratings are impressive, especially in the app stores, where hundreds of thousands of people have reviewed it.
But its Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating is poor. The business is not BBB-accredited, and BBB lists the following warning:
“On 11/02/2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is taking action against personal finance app provider Brigit, alleging that its promises of “instant” cash advances of up to $250 for people living paycheck-to-paycheck were deceptive and that the company locked consumers into a $9.99 monthly membership they couldn’t cancel.
“Brigit, also known as Bridge It, Inc., has agreed to settle FTC charges, resulting in a proposed court order that would require the company to pay $18 million in consumer refunds, stop its deceptive marketing promises, and end tactics that prevented customers from canceling.”
Brigit cash advance FAQ
Will Brigit’s advance cause an overdraft fee?
When Brigit approves a cash advance request, it does a thorough check on your upcoming income to verify that repayment will occur without causing an overdraft. So under normal circumstances, using Brigit for cash advances shouldn’t lead to overdraft fees.
How do you contact Brigit’s customer service?
Brigit offers customer support through a chatbot on its website and in-app messaging.
Is the Brigit app legitimate?
Yes, the Brigit app is a legitimate platform. It provides cash advances for its members and has earned high user ratings on various app stores. The app employs rigorous security measures to protect users’ personal and financial information.
Does Brigit give you money instantly?
Depending on your bank and whether you have a paid membership, Brigit can offer instant transfers. It’s best to check with Brigit and your bank to determine the expected timeline for your cash advance.
What happens if you don’t pay Brigit back?
Brigit strives to avoid overdraft fees for its members. It analyzes your income and spending habits to set a safe repayment due date. However, if you fail to repay the advance, it might limit or revoke your access to future services until the debt is settled.
Why won’t Brigit let you advance?
Brigit might not permit an advance for several reasons. You might not meet the qualifying criteria, which include a stable income of at least $1,500 per month, consistent usage of your checking account, and a low risk of overdrafting. Also, if you already have a cash advance through Brigit, you can’t take another until you repay the first.
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