# Payactiv vs Grid Money

The clearest difference is monetization model: Payactiv at free against Grid Money's subscription. Grid Money's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (52% vs 36%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Payactiv against 4.6 for Grid Money. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84K and 30K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of Payactiv's written reviews are positive against 52% of Grid Money's.

Payactiv ships an update every 2 months, Grid Money weekly. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Payactiv | Grid Money |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (84K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775/reviews)** | [4.6 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-money/id1473180914/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **84K** | 30K |
| Positive reviews | 36.0% of reviews | **52.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #120 | **#116** |
| Size | 47 MB | 274 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PayActiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/792617778) | [Hatfield, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1387973302) |

## What reviewers say

### Payactiv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access your earned wages before payday, pay bills on time, and manage unexpected expenses with user-friendly digital tools. This app helps you achieve financial stability and reach your financial wellness goals without predatory loans or interest.

**Highlights:** Early access to wages, Government payment early access, Spending and saving tools, Low balance alerts, Payactiv Visa Card, Integrated bill pay, Touchless payments

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick access to money
- 👍 Convenient feature
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful in emergencies
- 👍 Wonderful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Hours/funds not updating properly
- 🔒 Security and login issues
- 💩 Poor customer service
- 💰 High fees

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading or logging in
- Funds disappearing or not updating
- Issues linking bank accounts and cards

**Requested features**

- Same-day access to funds
- Reduce withdrawal fees
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Better customer support


### Grid Money

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-money/id1473180914)

**Currently charting:** #116 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access cash advances between paychecks without interest or credit checks. Boost your take-home pay and receive your tax refund early. Build your credit score with a simple monthly fee.

**Highlights:** Cash advances up to $200, Boost your paycheck, Early tax refund access, No interest or credit checks, Build credit score, Transparent pricing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Instant cash advances
- 💳 Helpful credit-building tools
- 👍 User-friendly app
- 🤝 Reliable customer service
- 💰 Flexible repayment options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues with account connectivity
- 🕰️ Slow response from customer support
- 💰 Subscription fees and hidden costs
- 🔒 Concerns about account security
- 📆 Delays in receiving cash advances

**Reported bugs**

- Recurring subscription charges even after cancellation
- Inability to access funds due to 'network issues'
- Inconsistent advance amounts and payout timelines
- Difficulty in closing accounts and removing bank information

**Requested features**

- Expand support for non-W2 workers
- Improve direct deposit and early paycheck access
- Provide more transparency on credit-building features
- Enhance communication and update users on service disruptions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Payactiv free?

Payactiv is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Grid Money free?

Grid Money is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Payactiv or Grid Money?

Payactiv is rated higher. Payactiv averages 4.7 out of 5 from 84K ratings, while Grid Money averages 4.6 from 30K ratings.

### Do Payactiv or Grid Money have ads?

Neither Payactiv nor Grid Money shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Payactiv or Grid Money?

Payactiv ships an update every 2 months, and Grid Money weekly. Most recently, Payactiv was updated on October 21, 2026 and Grid Money on October 21, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Payactiv or Grid Money?

Payactiv currently peaks at #120 in the App Store charts, and Grid Money at #116. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*