Source: Laura Hautala, CNET

Ryan isn't the only hourly worker using an employer-provided app to tap wages between paychecks. Largely unregulated, these earned-wage access apps have grown in popularity over the last decade as more employers offered them to workers as a benefit. The EWA apps are third-party services that connect to corporate payroll departments, allowing workers to access a portion of their earned-but-not-yet-paid wages. Major companies, including Walmart, McDonald's and the parent of Outback Steakhouse, offer them as benefits.

Some apps, like Even, charge a subscription fee each month. Others, like the FlexWage app, charge a fee for each transaction.

Read Full Article: Cheaper than payday loans, but earned wage access fees can add up