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Propel - America’s #1 EBT app

Propel - America’s #1 EBT app

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EBT cardholders and low-income individuals
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Propel is America's #1 free EBT app, used by 5+ million people. It lets SNAP/CalFresh, WIC, TANF, and Summer EBT cardholders check their balance in seconds, see two years of transactions, get next-deposit-date predictions, and lock their card (plus block out-of-state and online purchases) if it's lost or stolen. It also surfaces deals — free Lifeline phones, discounted internet, grocery savings — and a job board. Free, no fees or subscription; Propel never asks for your SSN, bank info, or state login. Available in 49 states, D.C., and U.S. territories (balance checking is not yet available in Iowa). Verified 2026-05-30.
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Free app to check EBT balance, track transactions, and access curated offers for low-income households
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Propel - La aplicación #1 de EBT en Estados Unidos - Aplicación gratuita para verificar el saldo de EBT, rastrear transacciones y acceder a ofertas seleccionadas para hogares de bajos ingresos.
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Last verified 2026-05-17
Propel is a free phone app that lets you check your EBT balance, see your transactions, get paid earlier alerts, and lock your card if it's lost or stolen. Over 5 million people use it. It works in every U.S. state except Iowa and Montana, plus D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. [Source: propel.app (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Get the app

The app is free. There is no fee, no subscription, and no ads inside your benefits screen. Propel makes money from advertisers who want to reach EBT cardholders with deals.

Who can use it

Anyone with an EBT card from a supported state. That includes:
  • SNAP (food stamps / CalFresh in California)
  • WIC
  • TANF cash benefits
  • Summer EBT for kids
You also do not need an EBT card to download the app and browse deals or the job board, but balance tracking needs an EBT card.

What it does

Check your balance instantly. Open the app and see your SNAP and cash balance without calling 1-877-328-9677 or logging in to ebt.ca.gov.
See every purchase. Two years of transaction history with store names, dates, and amounts. Catch mistakes or theft fast.
Know when money lands. Propel predicts your next deposit date so you can plan groceries. In California, CalFresh loads on the 1st–10th of each month based on the last digit of your case number.
Lock your card. If your card is lost or stolen, lock it in the app instantly. You can also block out-of-state purchases and online purchases to stop skimmers. (Some security features depend on your state's system.) [Source: propel.app/snap/propel-ebt-security-features (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Find deals. Free phones (Lifeline), discounted internet (ACP successor offers), and grocery savings at Walmart, Amazon, Instacart, and farmers markets.
Find work. A job board with local gigs and full-time openings.

How to set it up

  1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
  1. Open it and tap Sign Up.
  1. Enter your EBT card number (the 16-digit number on the front).
  1. Set a 4-digit PIN for the app — this is a Propel PIN, not your EBT PIN. Pick something different from your EBT PIN.
  1. The app will connect to California's EBT system and pull your balance. This takes a few seconds.
That's it. You do not give Propel your Social Security number, your bank info, or your state benefits login.

Common pitfalls

  • "Card not recognized" right after issue. New EBT cards can take 24–48 hours to show up in Propel's system. Wait a day and try again.
  • Balance looks wrong. Propel pulls fresh data when you open the app. Pull down to refresh. If still wrong, log in to ebt.ca.gov to confirm — Propel mirrors the state, so if the state is wrong, Propel will be too.
  • Don't share your Propel PIN or EBT PIN with anyone. Propel will never call or text asking for it. Scammers do.
  • Card locking varies by state. California supports card locking in the app. If the button is missing, your state has not added it yet.

Where to get help

  • Inside the app: tap your profile → Help.
  • Lost or stolen card (California): call 1-877-328-9677 (24/7) to freeze your card and request a replacement. You can also freeze it in the BenefitsCal app or at ebt.ca.gov.
  • CalFresh questions in Nevada County: Nevada County Health & Human Services, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City, 530-265-1340.

Sources

  • propel.app — official site, features and coverage
  • App Store last update: 2026-05-13
Freshness update (2026-05-30): Propel is still active (5+ million users, app last updated mid-May 2026). One correction: Propel's site now lists balance checking in 49 states, D.C., and U.S. territories, with only Iowa not yet available — Montana is now supported (it was previously excluded). Everything else above (free app, card locking, deposit predictions, deals) is current.