Cash Advance Apps

Empower reviews: complaints & concerns

Last Updated: Aug 06, 2026

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.

App reviews talking about Complaint:
"...unable to login using touchid or faceid…rendering the app worthless..."
"...new update broke my ability to login completely..."
"...app is terrible for accessing my account. I’m considering closing my account because of the number of attempts and time it takes to gain access..."

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.

App reviews talking about Scam:
"...they took back the money i borrowed way before the pay date then frozen my account..."
"...they take money out of your account without authorization..."
"...this app is a scam. You have to pay for a subscription but it tells you when you have to pay it back..."

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.

App reviews talking about Reported Overdraft:
"...charged my account 3 days early now my balance is in the negative..."
"...they love to send your account into overdraft-if you choose this app PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR ACCOUNT..."
"...it started to take its repayment before my check hit my account causing an overdraft fee..."

What users say on other topics

Positive
1%
Negative
99%
Many users complain about the difficulties in canceling their subscriptions with Empower, often citing unauthorized charges even after attempting to close their accounts. The process to cancel seems cumbersome, with reports of prolonged waiting periods, sometimes extending beyond 45 days, and unresponsive customer service. Users express frustration over recurring charges despite having canceled their subscriptions, with some resorting to legal action or contacting their banks to stop payments. The sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users feeling trapped by a service they no longer wish to use.
App reviews talking about Subscription Cancellation:
"...it has been over 2 months and my account is still not canceled despite continuously following up..."
"...I canceled my subscription/account. I have proof of an email they sent back saying everything was deleted..."
"...I deactivated this and my account was still charged. I never used it..."

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.

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