Earned Wage Access apps, such as EarnIn and Dave, provide short-term loans to workers in between paychecks. While proponents argue that these apps help people avoid payday loans and overdraft fees, critics contend that they are essentially payday loans in a new tech wrapper and can lead to a cycle of debt. The industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with transaction volume tripling between 2018 and 2020. Some states have moved to regulate Earned Wage Access apps, while the industry is pushing for federal legislation that would exempt them from certain regulations. The debate over these apps is likely to continue as more and more people turn to them for financial assistance.