The short answer
Choose EarnIn if you want to keep your current bank and only need an advance now and then: there is no subscription and standard transfers are free. Choose Bnine if you are happy to make B9 your main account, want no daily cash-out cap, file taxes with an ITIN, or deposit $5,000 or more a month, which makes B9's membership free.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bnine (B9) | EarnIn | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum advance | $250 Basic, $1,000 Premium per pay period | $150 per day, up to $1,000 per pay period |
| Daily cap | No daily cash-out limit | $150 per day |
| Typical start | $10 to $50 for new users | Varies; EarnIn says new users average about $85 per day |
| Membership | $9.99 Basic; Premium $19.99, or $6.99/mo billed yearly; $0 with $5,000+ monthly deposits | None |
| Instant transfer | Optional fee; transfers to cards, banks, Cash App and Venmo | Lightning Speed from $3.99; standard 1 to 2 business days free |
| Tips | No | Optional |
| Where your paycheck goes | Direct deposit to a B9 account | Stays at your current bank |
| Income needed | $100+ payroll or benefits deposits in 14 days | Regular pay schedule and $320+ per pay period |
| Government benefits | Count toward eligibility, including SSI | Check EarnIn's current rules |
| ID accepted | SSN or ITIN | Check EarnIn's current rules |
| Credit check / interest | None / none | None / none |
From each company's published terms at our last check. Limits vary by user.
Cost in practice
Say you draw $200 twice a month.
- EarnIn, standard delivery, no tip: $0. With Lightning Speed each time, at least $7.98 a month before tips.
- Bnine Basic: $9.99 a month, plus any optional instant transfer fees you choose.
- Bnine Premium, billed yearly: $6.99 a month ($83.88 up front), with a $1,000 ceiling.
- Bnine with $5,000+ monthly deposits: $0 membership.
For occasional users, EarnIn usually costs less. For frequent users who want speed, the gap narrows, and above $5,000 a month in deposits Bnine can be cheaper. Try your own numbers in the Bnine cost calculator.
The biggest difference: your paycheck
EarnIn reads your existing bank account and works alongside it. Bnine requires your payroll or benefits to be deposited into a B9 account, and any deposit there repays your advance first. That makes B9 a bigger commitment, but it also brings banking features: the B9 Visa debit card with up to 5% cashback in categories you pick, and early direct deposit up to two days before payday.
Who should pick which
- Pick EarnIn if you want no subscription, keep your current bank, and are paid by an employer with at least $320 per pay period.
- Pick Bnine if you have an ITIN instead of an SSN, rely on gig income or SSI, want no daily cap, or will deposit $5,000 or more a month.
- Consider neither if you need a larger sum or more time to repay; a regulated installment loan may fit better. See our loan comparison.
Read the full Bnine review or compare more Bnine alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bnine better than EarnIn?
It depends on how you use it. EarnIn has no subscription and suits occasional users. Bnine suits people who make B9 their main account, have an ITIN, or deposit $5,000+ a month.
Do Bnine and EarnIn both go up to $1,000?
Yes. Both advertise up to $1,000 per pay period, but EarnIn also caps you at $150 per day, and both start most new users lower.
Can I use Bnine and EarnIn at the same time?
Nothing in either app's published terms we reviewed forbids it, but stacking advances makes your next paycheck much smaller. Be careful.