Brigit: Cash Advance & Credit v1158.0 forces premium subscription for advances in June 2026

The update, released on June 6, 2026, appears to have removed any exceptions that previously allowed users to access cash advances without a subscriptionGlossarySubscriptionA recurring in-app purchase that charges the user on a fixed cadence (weekly, monthly, annual) until^[2] they cancel.. Access to the app's core feature is now strictly gated behind a "Plus" ($8.99/mo) or "Premium" ($14.99/mo) membership. These fees are charged regardless of whether a user takes an advance.

While official release notes for v1158.0 were not published, user reports confirm the change, transforming what many saw as a flexible service into a rigid, fee-based system.

The reaction from users was immediate. Post-update reviews focus on the newly enforced subscription. As one 1-star reviewer on version 1158.0 wrote, "Not recognizable — I had to sign up for premium just to get $50. So I cancelled and went back to the free version and it is still going to charge me $14.99... but no increase in advance amount."

This sentiment reflects a user base caught off guard by the change, which effectively breaks the app's primary function for non-paying users. The app received over 50 new reviews since the update, with the majority being negative.

The mandatory fee amplifies a long-standing complaint: low and stagnant advance amounts. While Brigit advertises advances up to $250, reports indicate the typical amount is closer to $50-$100, with an average of just $73. A user on v1158.0 noted, "I use a few different apps. Brigit has the lowest amount that I can pull out... Been at $65 for a year. Not worth taking."

This frustration is a persistent theme. Users on Reddit communities for cash advance apps frequently report being stuck at low limits for years, despite consistent repayment history.

The update's enforcement of a clear paywallGlossaryPaywallThe in-app screen that asks the user to subscribe or buy — the single most revenue-sensitive surface in a subscription app. is likely a direct consequence of a November 2023 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Brigit's parent company, Bridge It Inc., agreed to an $18 million settlement over allegations of deceptive marketing and trapping users in subscriptions ^[3]that were difficult to cancel.

The FTC alleged the company promised "instant" advances up to $250 that only about 1% of customers received. This update, while alienating users, appears to be an attempt to comply with the FTC's order by making its subscription model explicit and unavoidable.

Brigit now faces a difficult challenge: balancing regulatory compliance with user retentionGlossaryRetention (D1 / D7 / D30)The percentage of users from a cohort who return to the app N days after install. D1 = day-1 retention, D7 = 7-day, D30 = 30-day. The single most important non-reven.... The clumsy implementation of a strict paywall has damaged trust with its user base, which includes nearly 235,000 monthly iOS users in the US, many of whom are financially sensitive.

This move suggests a pivot to a more transparent, if less popular, revenue modelGlossaryRevenue EstimationThird-party modelled estimates of an app's total revenue (paid downloads + IAP + subscriptions) based on rank signals, panel data, and price tiers. to avoid further regulatory action. However, the resulting user churnGlossaryChurnThe rate at which users stop using an app (general churn) or cancel a subscription (subscription churn) over a time window — retention's mathematical complement. may create an opening for competitors like EarnIn or Dave to attract disenfranchised Brigit customers. The friction between the app's business model and user expectations is likely to continue.