Empower reviews: complaints & concerns
Empower has a strong lifetime average rating of 4.7 across the App Store and Google Play, with over 690,000 reviews combined. However, recent user ratings have dropped to an average of 3.4 as of August 2026. This shift suggests some users have encountered issues or concerns worth exploring.
What do Empower users complain about?
Empower users have shared a lot of frustrations, especially after recent updates and changes:
- Login problems: Many report being locked out, unable to log in, or stuck in endless verification loops, often after forced app updates.
- App crashes and glitches: Frequent crashes, freezing, and slow performance make the app unreliable for daily use.
- Poor customer support: Users say support is unresponsive, mostly automated, and unable to resolve issues, leaving many without help.
- Account and data issues: Problems include lost or inaccurate data, inability to delete accounts, and difficulty managing linked bank accounts.
- Feature removals and changes: Longtime users miss features from the old Personal Capital app, such as consolidated views and easier navigation.
- Repayment and advance limits: Complaints about inconsistent or reduced cash advance amounts, delayed repayment processing, and confusing payback schedules.
Overall, the app’s technical problems and lack of effective support are the main sources of dissatisfaction among users.
On this page
Table of contents
Scam reports
Empower has several reports from users claiming unauthorized charges and difficulty canceling subscriptions. Some say the app took money without their approval, even after they closed accounts or canceled services. Others mention poor customer support and trouble accessing promised advances.
A few users describe the app as a scam, citing issues like being charged fees without receiving loans or having accounts locked with no resolution. There are also complaints about inconsistent offers and penalties for early repayment, which add to the frustration.
Overall, many feel misled or financially harmed, warning others to be cautious due to unexpected fees, unauthorized withdrawals, and unresponsive support.
Overdraft reports
Several users report that Empower often withdraws repayments early, sometimes days before their actual payday, which leads to overdrafts and NSF fees. Some mention the app automatically adjusts repayment dates without warning, causing unexpected charges and financial strain.
Others highlight issues with the app pulling funds directly from bank accounts without alternative payment options, making it hard to manage timing and avoid overdrafts. A few users also say the app continued taking money even after account closure or without their authorization, causing frustration and disputes.
What users say on other topics
Complaints about Empower
Empower has faced official complaints, including 532 reported to the Better Business Bureau over the past three years, with 131 of those closed in the last year. Additionally, a U.S. District Court complaint filed in August 2025 accused Empower Advisory Group LLC of steering users into high-fee, underperforming investments, misusing participant data, misrepresenting their advice as objective, and failing to disclose fees that could total 1.35% of account balances.