Is Brigit Legit? Subscription Costs, Pros, and Cons

You are scrolling through app store results looking for help with a cash gap before payday. Brigit keeps appearing in the top results, promising cash advances up to $250, overdraft protection, and budgeting tools. Is Brigit Legit? The reviews are mixed. Some people love it. Others complain about fees and lower-than-expected advance amounts. The big question is whether the monthly subscription fee is worth it, especially given free alternatives.

This review breaks down what Brigit is, how it works, what the subscription really costs, and whether it is legitimate. Then it covers the pros and cons, who should use it, how it compares to free alternatives, and where Beem fits as a different approach.

What is Brigit, and How Does It Work

Brigit is a financial app that offers cash advances, overdraft protection, and budgeting tools. The core service is a cash advance feature that lets you borrow money before payday. Brigit advertises cash advances up to $250, but the amount you actually qualify for depends on your Brigit Score, which is calculated based on your bank account activity, spending habits, deposit consistency, and repayment history.

Most new users do not start at the full $250. Many people start closer to $25-$100 and can work up to higher amounts over time by using the service consistently and repaying on schedule. To qualify for any advance, you need an active checking account that has been open for at least 60 days, a balance above zero, regular activity, and at least three recurring direct deposits from the same employer or income source.

Brigit operates on a subscription model. There is a free plan that includes basic budgeting tools and account monitoring, but to access cash advances, you need to subscribe to either the Plus plan or the Premium plan. The Plus plan costs $8.99 per month and includes cash advances, credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and budgeting tools. The Premium plan costs $14.99 per month and adds credit-building features plus free express delivery on advances.

When you request a cash advance, Brigit offers two delivery speeds. Instant Cash delivery is free and typically arrives within one to three business days. Express Delivery delivers the money to you within 20 minutes, but it comes with a small fee unless you are on the Premium plan. Repayment happens automatically when your next paycheck is deposited. Brigit debits your account for the full advance amount, so your take-home pay is reduced by the amount you borrowed.

Is Brigit Legit

Brigit is a legitimate financial technology company founded in 2017 and based in New York. It has millions of users and has raised over $90 million in funding from reputable investors. The app has a 4.7-star rating in the Apple App Store and high ratings on Google Play. Brigit uses bank-level 256-bit encryption to protect user data and connects to bank accounts through Plaid, a trusted intermediary used by thousands of financial apps, including Venmo and Coinbase.

Brigit is not a licensed lender, and it is not a bank. It is a fintech company that partners with FDIC-insured banks to provide services. That distinction matters for regulatory purposes, but it does not mean Brigit is a scam or unsafe. Many legitimate fintech companies operate this way.

One thing worth noting is that Brigit is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Some people see that as a red flag, but many legitimate fintech companies, including Cash App, Venmo, and Chime, are also not BBB-accredited. The lack of BBB accreditation does not automatically mean a company is illegitimate.

However, Brigit did settle with the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 over claims that it misled customers about advance amounts and made it difficult to cancel subscriptions. The FTC alleged that most users did not receive anywhere near the advertised $250 limit and that the company engaged in deceptive marketing. Brigit settled without admitting wrongdoing and agreed to change its practices. That settlement is worth considering when evaluating the company, but it does not mean Brigit is a scam today.

Brigit Subscription Costs Breakdown

Brigit offers three plans. The Free plan costs nothing and includes budgeting tools, account monitoring, and access to Earn & Save features that help you find ways to increase income and reduce expenses. The Free plan does not include cash advances.

The Plus plan costs $8.99 per month. It includes cash advances up to $250, depending on eligibility, credit monitoring, score simulators, identity theft protection with up to $1 million in reimbursement, and all the tools from the Free plan. Instant Cash delivery is free, but Express Delivery within 20 minutes costs a small fee that you will see before finalizing the advance.

The Premium plan costs $14.99 per month. It includes everything in the Plus plan, Plus Credit Builder, which helps you build credit while saving money, and free Express Delivery on all cash advances.

One important detail about billing is that Brigit charges at the end of the billing period, not the beginning. Your subscription fee is billed monthly, typically matching your last paycheck of the month. That means you pay for the previous 30 days of service rather than paying upfront for the next 30 days.

If you subscribe to the Plus plan for a full year, the total annual cost is $107.88. For the Premium plan, the total annual cost is $179.88. Those costs can add up quickly, especially if you don’t use the cash advance feature regularly or rarely qualify for the full $250.

Key Features Beyond Cash Advances

Brigit offers several features beyond the basic cash advance service. Overdraft prediction and alerts analyze your bank account activity and warn you when your balance is likely to drop below a certain threshold. The app can also automatically provide a cash advance to prevent overdrafts if you have enabled that setting.

Credit monitoring is included in the Plus and Premium plans. You get access to your credit score, credit report updates, and score simulators that show how different financial actions might impact your score. This is useful for people who want to track credit health without paying for a separate credit monitoring service.

The Premium plan includes Credit Builder, which is a feature that helps you build credit while saving money. It works like a secured line of credit that reports to credit bureaus, helping people with limited or poor credit histories establish positive payment patterns.

Brigit also offers budgeting tools and financial insights that categorize spending, track income, and offer suggestions to improve financial health. The app includes a financial health score that gives you a snapshot of your overall financial situation. Identity theft protection is another Premium feature that includes lost wallet assistance, restoration services, and up to $1 million in identity theft reimbursement.

Pros of Using Brigit

• No interest charges on cash advances, unlike payday loans or credit cards
• Predictable monthly subscription cost with no surprises
• No credit check required, making it accessible for those with poor or limited credit.
• Instant transfers are available for emergency situations.
• Overdraft prevention can save $30+ in bank fees per incident.
• Includes credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and budgeting tools.
• The Credit Builder feature helps improve credit while saving money.
• Completely transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
• An all-in-one financial wellness approach beyond just cash advances.

Cons and Limitations

• Monthly subscription fee charges regardless of usage frequency.
• Costs over $100 annually, even for infrequent users, when free alternatives exist.
• The maximum advance limit is $250, with many users qualifying for much less initially.
• Requires regular direct deposits, which can be difficult for gig workers or those with irregular income.
• Cannot easily pause or skip subscription months; keeps charging.
• Limited customer service availability compared to traditional banks.
• App-based support can be slow during busy periods.
• It may not work with smaller credit unions or regional banks.
• Strict income verification and account activity requirements.
• Access can be denied or limited with a thin or inconsistent account history.
• Less cost-effective than pay-per-use alternatives for occasional needs.

Who Should Use Brigit?

Brigit works best for people with regular paychecks and consistent direct deposits who need occasional help with cash flow gaps and overdraft prevention. If you frequently overdraft and the bank charges you $30 or more per incident, Brigit’s $8.99 monthly fee can pay for itself by preventing just one overdraft.

It is also a good fit for people who want an all-in-one financial app that includes budgeting tools, credit monitoring, and identity theft protection. If you were already planning to pay for credit monitoring separately, Brigit bundles that service with cash advances and other tools.

Brigit is not ideal for people with irregular income, gig workers without steady direct deposits, or anyone who needs larger cash advance amounts. It is also not a good fit if you only need an advance once or twice a year, because the subscription cost will far exceed the value you get.

If you are already living paycheck to paycheck and barely scraping by, Brigit can help in the short term, but it will not solve deeper financial problems. In some cases, it can make things worse by creating a cycle where you keep borrowing and repaying, never building a buffer.

Also Read: How to Safely Use Instant Cash Without Falling for Predatory Look-Alikes

Brigit vs Free Alternatives

Brigit competes with several cash advance apps that use different pricing models. Earnin operates on a tip-based system with no mandatory fees, offering up to $150 daily and $1,000 per pay period, though users often feel pressure to tip. Dave charges just $1 per month and offers advances up to $500, along with budgeting tools and side-gig opportunities. Traditional bank overdraft protection through lines of credit or savings transfers may be cheaper for occasional overdrafts.

Credit union payday alternative loans offer lower interest rates and longer repayment terms for larger, less frequent needs. The cost-benefit analysis ultimately depends on usage frequency and whether you value Brigit’s extra features—if you use advances multiple times monthly and regularly utilize credit monitoring and budgeting tools, the $8.99 fee is justified, but infrequent users benefit more from free or pay-per-use alternatives.

Alternatives to Brigit

• Beem: Usage-based pricing with Everdraft™ up to $1,000 and subscription monitoring tools
• EarnIn: Tip-based system with no mandatory fees, up to $150 daily and $1,000 per pay period
• Dave: $1 monthly membership, advances up to $500 with budgeting tools and gig work opportunities
• MoneyLion: Subscription-based with cash advances, credit building, and investing features
• Chime SpotMe: Free overdraft protection up to $200 for qualifying accounts with direct deposit

Potential Risks and Concerns

Subscription Dependency

• Monthly payment creates pressure to use the service just to justify the cost.
• Can lead to unnecessary borrowing when not truly needed.
• Psychological trap of “getting your money’s worth.”

Repayment Cycle Trap

• Automatic debits reduce take-home pay on payday.
• A smaller paycheck forces repeated borrowing if funds are already tight.
• Creates a difficult-to-break cycle similar to other advanced apps.

Privacy and Data Sharing

• Requires linking a bank account through third-party apps like Plaid.
• Shares financial data despite bank-level encryption standards.
• Trade-off between convenience and data privacy.

Access Restrictions on Missed Repayments

• Cannot repay on time results in restricted access to future advances.
• No additional fees or interest charges, unlike payday loans.
• Loses service access exactly when needed most.

Long-Term Financial Habit Impact

• Reliance prevents building an emergency fund or a financial buffer.
• Continuous borrowing from future paychecks instead of saving.
• Pattern delays overall financial progress and stability.
• Normalizes paycheck-to-paycheck living rather than improving the situation.

What Beem Is and Where It Fits

Beem is a U.S. money app built for people who want less financial stress and more control. You can learn more at https://trybeem.com. In a conversation about Brigit, Beem fits as an alternative for people who want more than a subscription-based cash advance service. Brigit focuses on advances, overdraft prevention, and some budgeting tools. Beem takes a broader approach to money management by addressing the root causes of cash flow stress rather than just the symptoms.

Beem offers Everdraft™, which provides cash advances up to $1,000 with more flexibility and coverage than Brigit. Everdraft™ is designed to help with bill payments, not just card purchases and ATM withdrawals. That matters because many people need help with rent, utilities, and insurance payments that hit through ACH, not with grocery store purchases.

Beem also includes a Subscription Monitor that hunts down zombie charges. Those are the forgotten memberships, unused streaming services, and old trial subscriptions that keep draining your account month after month. Brigit does not help you find those leaks, Beem does. Finding and canceling just two or three zombie subscriptions can free up $30 or more per month, which often eliminates the need for frequent cash advances.

Beem uses transparent pricing instead of a subscription model. You know what you are paying upfront, and you are not locked into a monthly fee whether you use the service or not. For people who only need occasional help, that structure is more cost-effective.

Also Read: 15 Best Cash Advance Apps in 2026

Why Choose Beem Over Brigit

Brigit is a nice app to have, no doubt about it. Beem has some serious features that are hard to overlook, so here are the areas where Beem outperforms Brigit.

Cost Structure

• Brigit charges a monthly subscription regardless of usage.
• Beem uses transparent pricing based on actual usage.
• Beem is more affordable for occasional users

Advance Limits and Coverage

• Brigit caps at $250, with many users qualifying for less.
• Beem offers Everdraft™ up to $1,000 with more predictable access.
• Beem covers ACH bill payments for rent and utilities.
• Better suited for large bill payments before payday.

Leak Detection

• Brigit provides advances without identifying spending issues.
• Beem includes Subscription Monitor to find hidden recurring charges.
• A proactive approach prevents future advanced needs.
• Helps free up wasted money.

Money Management Scope

• Brigit is a cash advance app with basic budgeting tools.
• Beem is a comprehensive money app with DealsGPT and PriceGPT.
• Includes budgeting support and smarter spending features.
• More guardrails for better financial decisions.

Flexibility and Control

• Brigit locks users into a monthly subscription with automatic debits.
• Beem offers more control over timing and usage.
• Greater flexibility for unpredictable situations.

Long-Term Financial Impact

• Brigit can create a borrowing pattern every pay period.
• Beem is designed to break the cycle.
• Focuses on stopping leaks and preventing financial drift.
• Helps build stability to eliminate advanced dependency.

Final Verdict

Brigit is a legitimate financial app that offers cash advances, overdraft protection, and budgeting tools. It is not a scam, and it uses industry-standard security measures to protect user data. The subscription cost is predictable, there is no interest on advances, and the included features, like credit monitoring and identity theft protection, add value for some users.

However, the monthly subscription fee can be expensive if you do not use the service regularly or if you only qualify for low advance amounts. Many users report receiving far less than the $250 limit advertised, which was part of the FTC settlement. Free alternatives exist that may offer better value for occasional use.

If your main goal is just getting a cash advance, consider free alternatives. If your goal is comprehensive money management that includes leak detection, smarter spending, and long-term habit building, consider Beem.

FAQs About Is Brigit Legit