PayActiv
- Model
- Employer-sponsored
- Employee fee
- Variable fee (quote)
- Interest
- None
- Max advance
- Up to 50% of earned wages
- Repayment term
- Next pay run
- Cost of advance
- —
PayActiv
Global employer-sponsored EWA provider, free for employers, with a variable employee fee.
- Model
- Employer-sponsored
- Max advance
- Up to 50% of earned wages
- Interest
- None
- App (iOS)
- 4.6 / 5
Best for
Best for large employers wanting a zero-cost EWA benefit
Pricing breakdown
Every fee we track, grouped by where it applies.
In-person payments
EFTPOS terminal and tap-to-pay transactions.
- Setup fee
- Free for employer
Online payments
Online checkout and keyed-in card transactions.
- Setup fee
- Free for employer
Contract terms
- Contract length
- Contact provider
Last verified 21 May 2026.
Strengths and trade-offs
Pros
- Free for employers to offer
- Established global EWA provider
- Integrates with major payroll platforms
- Up to 50% of earned wages
Cons
- Requires employer sign-up
- Variable employee fee, pricing on request
- US-based, less Australian-specific
About PayActiv
PayActiv is a global earned wage access provider (founded in the United States in 2012) that operates in Australia on an employer-sponsored model. Employees can access up to 50% of earned wages early, paying a variable transaction fee, and the service is free for employers to offer. PayActiv integrates with major payroll platforms and positions itself as a financial wellbeing benefit. Australian pricing is provided on request.
PayActiv was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Jose, USA.
How PayActiv compares
Side-by-side with the closest alternatives by estimated cost.
Based on a $500 advance repaid in 7 days.
CommBank AdvancePay
$5 est.
- Model
- Consumer-direct (bank product)
- Employee fee
- $5 per $500 (about 1%)
- Interest
- None (14.90% p.a. only if overdue)
- Max advance
- Assessed individually
- Repayment term
- By next pay
- Cost of advance
- $5
Employment Hero EWA
$8 est.
- Model
- Employer-sponsored
- Employee fee
- 1.3% (Swag Wallet) or 1.5% (bank account)
- Interest
- None
- Max advance
- Up to 50% of earned wages
- Repayment term
- Next pay run
- Cost of advance
- $8
Beforepay
$25 est.
- Model
- Consumer-direct
- Employee fee
- 5% flat
- Interest
- None
- Max advance
- Up to $2,000
- Repayment term
- Up to 62 days (4 instalments)
- Cost of advance
- $25
Common questions about PayActiv
The same questions Australian merchants ask before signing up.
PayActiv does not publish a standard rate in Australia. Pricing is quoted based on your business size, industry, and card mix. Request a quote on their site, or use our free fee calculator to compare against providers that do publish rates.
PayActiv contract terms in Australia: Contact provider. Check the fine print for any early termination fees before signing.
PayActiv settlement times are not publicly listed.
PayActiv AMEX pricing in Australia is not publicly listed. Ask their sales team whether AMEX acceptance and rates are included.
PayActiv does not advertise least-cost routing for Australian merchants. If you take a lot of contactless debit, compare against providers that do support it on our comparison page.
PayActiv is best suited to best for large employers wanting a zero-cost ewa benefit. To see how it stacks up for your specific volume and card mix, try our free fee calculator.
We may earn a commission when you click through to PayActiv and sign up, where a commercial arrangement is in place. This never affects ranking, the data we publish, or the comparisons we make on this page. Read our terms for the full picture.
We may earn a commission when you click through to a provider. This never affects ranking or data shown. Read our terms.
Compare PayActiv
Compare PayActiv against every other Australian provider on price, contract terms, and features.