Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Loans Rain Instant Pay Review: How It Works, Pros and Cons, and More Updated Sep 25, 2024 8-min read Written by Deb Hipp Written by Deb Hipp Expertise: Mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, debt Deb Hipp is a freelance writer with more than a decade of financial writing experience about mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance, and debt. Learn more about Deb Hipp Get Cash Cash Advance Instant ACH cash transfer No interest charges Trackable real-time wages and advances Transfers available daily Access to financial wellness tips Employer must be a Rain partner Must sign up for an account to search for your employer Instant transfer fee Only 50% of earned wages available Account access can take up to 45 days to set up Funding amountsUp to 50% of earned wages per pay periodSpeed of advanceInstantly for a fee or 1–3 daysInstant funding feeUndisclosed, but ATM-like; customers report $1.99 – $3.99Other feesNone, 1 – 3-day funding is free When your earnings don’t stretch to payday, the Rain Instant Pay app is a good option for closing the gap until your next paycheck. The Rain app allows you to receive a portion of the money you’ve already earned at your job instantly or within one to three days. Rain app isn’t a loan, and you won’t pay any interest on the cash advance you receive. Your employer simply deducts the amount received from your next paycheck. In our Rain app review, you’ll learn everything you need to know to decide whether this instant pay app is for you. Table of Contents Skip to Section How Rain Instant Pay worksReviews and ratingsPros and consFAQ How a Rain Instant Pay cash advance works Many of us have run a few bucks short when it’s time to fill the gas tank, buy groceries, or pay rent before payday. With the Rain app, you can access up to 50% of your earnings for the current pay period instantly or within a few days. Once you open an account on the Rain app, simply link Rain to your preferred bank account for ACH transfers. The Rain app lets you see your earnings in real-time, request an advance, and track requests and payouts. You can even request an advance on your earnings daily if you wish. Once your request is approved, Rain transfers the amount to your linked bank account or debit card instantly for a small fee, like those charged by ATMs. If you don’t want to pay the fee, choose the free option for a transfer in 1–3 days. Rain transfers aren’t a loan to repay, and no interest is charged. When your next payday rolls around, your employer deducts the amount of any transfers from your paycheck. Read More Cash Advance vs. Payday Loan How much does a Rain Instant Pay cash advance cost? When you request a Rain Instant Pay transfer to your bank account or debit card, you can receive cash instantly for a fee. Rain doesn’t disclose the fee amount on its website, but it compares it to a typical ATM fee. Select the free one-to-three-day transfer option if you want to skip the fee. A Rain payout is a transfer to your linked bank account or debit card, not a loan. So, you won’t have to repay Rain or pay interest on the amount. Here’s an example of how an instant Rain transfer would work in the case of a $4.00 instant transfer fee. Instant transfer1–3 day transferTransfer optionInstant transfer1–3 day transferFee$4.00No feeAmount received$96.00$100.00Deduction from next paycheck$100.00$100.00 Rain Instant Pay app reviews and ratings PlatformRatingNumber of reviewsApple app store4.8/519,100Google Play store4.7/517,800Trustpilot3.8/5199Better Business BureauD+0 reviews; 3 complaintsCollected Septemer 17, 2024 Overall, Rain receives mostly positive customer reviews. However, it is not accredited with the BBB and earns a D+ rating based on one negative complaint displayed and two others that are unavailable. Customers on other review platforms give Rain mostly positive reviews, citing instant payment, ease of money transfers and convenience. Negative reviews report being unable to use the app frequently due to technical issues. These include not being able to log in every time, earnings and transfers not being displayed consistently, delays in transfers, and receiving unwanted text notifications. The most consistent negative reviews center around the company’s customer service. Many reviewers cite long wait times for a response to a customer support email. Others are dissatisfied with the automated chat responses they receive when seeking customer support. Another complaint is the instant transfer fee, which, based on some reviews, is reportedly $1.99 to $3.99. Who is eligible for a Rain Instant Pay cash advance? To be eligible for a Rain Instant Pay cash advance, download the Rain app and sign up for an account. Then, perform a search for your employer. If your employer shows up in the search results, you’re eligible to use Rain for cash advances on money you’ve already earned. You won’t need to pass a credit check or show proof of income the way you would when applying for a loan. But you will need a bank account to link to so Rain can transfer your requested amounts into that account or debit card. Pros and cons of a Rain Instant Pay cash advance Pros Get cash instantly Rain transfers cash to your bank account or debit card instantly with the instant transfer option. Track wages, transfers and payouts Track real-time earnings, transfer requests, and payouts all in one place. Cash advances available daily As long as you have earnings available, you can request cash advances daily or whenever you need money before payday. Pay no interest A Rain transfer is a cash advance on your earnings, not a loan, so you don’t repay Rain or owe any interest. Benefit from financial wellness tips You’ll have access to financial wellness tips on the app to help you stay on top of your budget and finances. Convenience Getting cash instantly avoids taking out costly payday loans or charging expenses to a credit card while waiting for your next paycheck. Cons Employer must be a Rain partner You’re not eligible to set up bank transfers unless your employer has signed up with Rain to allow cash advances. Must set up an account first You can’t search the app for your employer or explore the app’s features without setting up an account. Instant transfer fee When you request cash instantly, Rain charges a small ATM-like fee. Can only access a portion of earnings Rain allows you to request a cash transfer on only 50% of your earnings. Account access may be delayed It can take up to 45 days for Rain to verify the information on your account and set it up for cash advances. How does Rain Instant Pay compare to other cash advance apps? AppMax. amount per pay periodInstant funding feeRain Instant Pay50% of earned wagesUndisclosed, but reportedly $1.99 – $3.99 Earnin$750$1.99 – $4.99Empower$300$1 – $8BrigitUp to $250$0.99Current$500UndisclosedMoneyLion$500$1.99 – $8.99Dave$500$1.99 – $13.99 When it comes to cash advance apps, Rain has a lower instant transfer fee than some of the similar apps in the table above. However, EarnIn, Current, MoneyLion, and Dave may allow a higher cash advance than Rain, which allows you to access only half of your earned wages. Dave, Brigit, and Empower cash advance apps all charge a monthly subscription fee, while Rain has no such fee. Depending on how much you regularly earn, the apps above with higher caps on cash advance amounts may be a better option than Rain. If your employer isn’t a Rain partner, signing up and linking your bank account for cash advances with the above apps may be a good option. Read More The 6 Best Cash Advance Apps for Borrowing Money Instantly How to get a Rain Instant Pay advance To get a Rain Instant Pay advance, follow these steps: Download the Rain app: Go to the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android) and download the Rain app. Verify employer partnership: Open the app and search for your employer by name to check if they are a Rain partner. If your employer is listed, enter your work email to verify your employment. Sign up and link employment: Complete the sign-up process by following the app’s prompts after employment verification. View earnings in real-time: Once signed in, use the Rain app to track your earnings in real-time and see how much you’ve earned during the pay period. Request a cash advance: Use the app to request a Rain Instant Pay advance, which can be up to 50% of your earned pay during the current pay period. The app also shows if you’ve already received any advances during the period. Choose transfer method: After your request is approved, select between the free 1-3 day transfer or the instant transfer option for a small fee (similar to an ATM fee). Repayment through paycheck: The advanced amount will be deducted from your next paycheck automatically. FAQ Does Rain Instant Pay let you borrow money? Yes, Rain Instant Pay provides access to your earned wages before your payday, allowing you to borrow money you’ve already earned. This service is designed to help you avoid the need for high-interest loans or payday advances. How long does it take Rain Instant Pay to deposit money? Rain Instant Pay can deposit funds typically within minutes after your request, but processing times can vary depending on your bank. The app aims to offer quick access to your earned wages whenever you need them. How much does Rain Instant Pay give you? The amount you can access through Rain Instant Pay depends on the wages you’ve earned but not yet received. The app allows you to withdraw a portion of these wages, giving you early access to your own money rather than a loan. Do you need to pay back Rain Instant Pay? Because Rain Instant Pay provides access to wages you’ve already earned, no repayment is required in the traditional sense. The amount advanced to you is deducted from your next paycheck, making it a convenient way to access funds without incurring debt. Does Rain Instant Pay report to the credit bureaus? No, Rain Instant Pay does not report to credit bureaus. Because it is not a loan, using the app does not affect your credit score, and no credit check is involved in accessing your wages early.