6 Best Credit Builder Apps Like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus

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So you have a bad credit score, no big deal, right? Think again! Bad credit makes you a “risky” borrower which can lead to higher interest rates (if you’re approved for financing at all) and limited options. Moneylion’s Credit Builder Plus loans can help you boost your credit score with helpful cash available upfront. But with rates higher than many competitors and a loan that maxes out at $1,000, you might find more flexible options elsewhere. To make your search easy, we’ve rounded up the top credit builder apps like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus.

MoneyLion app displayed on a phone screen

MoneyLion’s Credit Builder Plus loans provide up to $1,000 with a portion of the funds available right away so you can cover any urgent expenses. There’s no hard credit check to apply and any available funds can be yours within a few days.

You will also need a Credit Builder Plus membership to take out this loan ($19.99/month) but this also unlocks cash advances up to $300 at 0% APR – very handy when you’re low on funds!

With 3.3 million customers, MoneyLion is a safe and popular credit builder option and with half of Credit Builder Plus customers seeing their score increase by 42+ points after just two months, it’s got a track record to make you feel confident. 2

However, with rates that can be as high as 29.99% APR 3 as well as a $19.99/month membership fee, you may qualify for much lower rates and smaller monthly payments on credit builder loans offered by other lenders. Add in the compulsory monthly membership and you might want to compare options that provide fewer fees.

Build Your Credit for Just $5/Month with Kikoff

Kikoff Credit can help you build your credit with no credit check and no costly long term commitment.

On average, Kikoff customers with credit scores under 600 increase their credit scores by 58 points, with consistent on-time payments during the account lifetime. Many Kikoff customers have been able to qualify for better car loans, mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, and more.4

Kickoff has helped over 1 million people build credit and costs just $5/month!

So, are there credit builder apps like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus?

We’ve answered that question by comparing the best options available. By taking into account a wide range of repayment options, low APRs and complementary products, you’re sure to find the credit building product that’s right for you.

Get funds while you save and build credit >>> Check out MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus

How do credit builder loans work?

Credit builder loans report your on-time payments to major credit bureaus, which can help boost your credit score. (Of course, if you miss payments or make late payments, your credit score can get worse!)

This type of loan has one significant difference to a traditional loan in that you won’t get your money in full until you’ve paid off the loan – though some provide a portion of your funds upfront (like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus). Once your loan is paid in full, you receive the money in your savings account (minus interest and fees).

Credit builder loans come in handy when:

  • You don’t have a strong credit score
  • You haven’t yet established a credit history
  • You’re clearing a financial milestone (e.g. buying a house or new car)

As long as you budget well and make payments on time, these loans can be a simple, hassle-free and proven way to build positive credit history.

How does a MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus loan work?

MoneyLion will review your finances and a linked checking account to determine how much you’re approved for (up to $1,000) and how much of your loan is available upfront (5.99% to 29.99% APRs). You can see what you qualify for in just a few minutes, with no impact to your credit score. MoneyLion will provide you with some money upfront, with the rest placed in a savings account that is ‘locked’ until your loan is repaid in full.

You’ll also be eligible for MoneyLion’s Instacash, for cash advances up to $300 with no interest. Whether you need to top up your gas tank, pay for groceries, or treat yourself to a night out (you deserve it), a little extra cash can go a long way.  You can access these 0% APR cash advances as often as every pay period, making this a valuable feature that you won’t find on other credit builder loans.

Get funds while you save and build credit >>> Check out MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus

Credit Builder Plus loans can help you overcome bad credit and provide fast cash, but with a maximum loan of $1,000 there are larger credit builder loans available – often with much lower rates.. MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus rates range from 5.99% to 29.99% APR. Credit builder loans from Self are in the 15% APR range and Credit Strong charges just 7.75% APR on its $2,500 plan, so there may be better options out there. In addition, the $19.99 monthly membership fee (which is in addition to your loan payments) is a steep add-on expense that you won’t have to pay with other lenders.

Before you decide, check out the best credit building apps like MoneyLion to ensure you’re not paying a higher interest rate and fees than you need to or missing out on access to extra funds. 

Credit builder loan alternatives to MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus

We dive deep into MoneyLion’s products and features in our full MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus review, but there are plenty of options to improve your credit score and get ahead. The wrong credit builder can be expensive if you don’t understand the fees, APR and payment schedules, so read on for the best credit-building apps like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus.

Chime Credit Builder Secured Credit Card – No credit check + up to $200 in fee-free overdrafts

Chime’s Credit Builder card helps boost your score with a spending limit that makes it impossible to spend more money than you have.

Offering a secured credit card with no interest and no annual fees, you decide how much to load up on your card by transferring funds from your linked Chime checking account. You can’t go over this limit, so you’ve got a debt-proof credit card that can be used everywhere Visa is accepted with payments reported to the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and Transunion. 

More importantly, does Chime’s Credit Builder Card actually work? 

With customers seeing an average credit score increase of 30 points, the answer is yes. 5

You will need a Chime checking account to be eligible, but with no minimum deposit, and no monthly or annual fees, this is a low-cost and no-risk option. Once your Chime checking account is set up, you’ll also have access to the Chime SpotMe feature via your Chime Visa® Debit Card. With SpotMe, you can access up to $200 in fee-free overdrafts at the ATM or when swiping your debit card. 

You can add the Credit Builder Card to your Chime account with just a few taps in the Chime app (there’s no fee). Your card will arrive in about a week so you’re not just fixing up your credit, you’ve got access to handy overdrafts without the sky-high fees..

No interest credit card and up to $200 with no overdraft fees >>> Check out Chime

Credit Strong – Boost your credit score for as little as $15/month

Credit Strong website on computer screen

Credit Strong offers a range of credit builder loans that help you build your credit and savings. With over one million customers, Credit Strong is a popular choice because you can start building credit with comparatively low monthly payments.

Like the other options in this guide, your loan payment amounts depend on which option you choose. With seven loan options to choose from, Credit Strong’s Build 1000 plan is among the most popular with payments as low as $15 a month, flexible payment terms up to 120 months, and no cancellation fees – though there is a one-time $15 administration fee.

Here’s what the Build 1000 plan would look like for you…

You would make 120 monthly payments of $15 (plus a one-time $15 administrative fee), which totals $1,815. You will receive back $1,000 at the end of the plan, so the total finance charge is $815.  

Unlike MoneyLion’s Credit Builder Plus, you won’t get any money upfront. 100% of your loan is placed in a savings account. This is only unlocked when you’ve repaid in full (including interest and fees). But with rates on the Build 1000 plan an attractive 13.5% APR (less than half the the maximum 29.99% APR that MoneyLion charges – plus no monthly membership fee), using the Credit Strong app to build credit and some savings fits with practically any budget.

On average, Credit Strong customers see their credit scores increase by more than 25 points within 3 months of opening their account. Plus, Credit Strong customers who make 12 on-time monthly payments often see their score increase by nearly 70 points!

Build your credit score for just $15/month >>> Get started with Credit Strong

Kikoff Credit Account – Build your credit for as little as $5/month

Kikoff offers a Credit Account as an alternative to credit builder loans that costs just $5/month.

Instead of locking your loan in a savings account until you’ve repaid in full, Kikoff opens a $750 revolving line of credit in your name without charging any interest or fees on the credit line. Costing just $60 upfront for a yearly plan, you’ll pay back just $5 each month with Kikoff reporting your account to Equifax and Experian.

There is a catch, though. Kikoff Credit doesn’t provide you with a credit card or access to cash. You can only use your line of credit to make purchases in Kikoff’s online store. This sells eBooks on the topics of finance and personal wellness. But you’re not obligated to buy anything – so you can boost your credit score for just five dollars a month! 

Kikoff doesn’t perform a hard credit. But you’ll only need to be a U.S citizen with a Social Security number to apply. Kikoff isn’t available if you live in Indiana or Delaware.

Although you can’t spend your line of credit anywhere but Kikoff’s online store, your Kikoff Credit Account helps address the major factors behind your credit score. These include payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), account age (15%) and credit mix (10%).

So, does the Kikoff app actually help with your score?

Kikoff customers with a credit score below 600 see their credit scores increase by 27 points after just one month. And over time that increase more than doubles to 58 points for customers who continue to make on-time payments to Kikoff and other lenders.6

Build your credit for just $5/month >>> Check out Kikoff Credit

Self – Helping over 1 million people build credit and savings

Self lender credit score graph on phone screen

When you open a Self Credit Builder Loan7 with Self, you commit to making a regular monthly payment for 12 or 24 months.8 At the end of your plan,these funds are yours (less fees and interest) so you’re building up some savings alongside improving your payment history.9 

Unlike a traditional personal loan, which will provide you with your loan proceeds before you start making payments, with a credit builder loan through Self your payments are locked in a savings account and are returned to you upon completion of your plan, minus interest and fees. 

Along the way, Self reports your monthly payments to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Transunion) each month. Your credit score is based on several factors and the largest component is your payment history. So, making on-time payments on your Self Credit Builder Loan could help bump up your score, sometimes. Self makes it easy to set up automated monthly payments, so you never need to worry about missing a due date. 

Adding a Self Financial Credit Builder Loan to your credit profile may also bump your score by adding an installment loan to the types of credit products that you have. Credit bureaus view having multiple types of credit and loans favorably, though this is a smaller factor in your credit score than payment history.

Self makes it easy to track your credit score, so you can see your progress. Plus, there’s no ‘hard pull’ when you apply, so you can see if you are approved without your score receiving a ding. You can also qualify for a Self Visa® credit card in as little as three months10, with a credit line that could be secured to up to $3,000!

Build your credit and your savings >>> Check out Self

Grow Credit – Use a no-interest Mastercard to build your credit

Grow Credit user reviews their credit score on a phone

Grow Credit can help you build your credit score with a no-interest virtual credit card that comes with strict spending rules. Instead of using your card anywhere that Mastercard is accepted, you’ll only be able to use a $17 monthly limit on streaming and subscription services. 

Grow Credit “lends” you the money to pay these streaming and subscription bills. Then deducts the amount from your bank account. This helps you report positive credit payments on services you’re already using and payments you’re already making that wouldn’t usually show up on your credit report! 

Grow Credit’s website lists hundreds of partnered services including:

Streaming Video: Hulu, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max

Music and Audio: Spotify, Pandora, Audible, iHeartRadio

Food Delivery: Postmates, Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash

Some customers qualify for Grow Credit’s free product, Build Free. Otherwise, you’ll need to opt for Build Secured which requires a $17 deposit (which you get back after 12 months of payment) and a $1.99 monthly fee.

With no interest, no annual fees, and no late fees, apps like Grow Credit can boost your credit since you’re paying for services you already use (and already pay for!)

Does Grow Credit work?  

A platform study conducted in March 2021 found the average user experiences a FICO score increase of 51 points after 12 months. Though like all credit builder products, other factors may have impacted the score as well).

Start building credit for free >>> Check out Grow Credit

SeedFi Borrow & Grow – Get up to $4,000 cash now plus savings for later 

seedfi loans can increase your credit score

SeedFi’s Borrow & Grow plan1 lets you build savings while you pay off your loan. This is great if you’ve got a shaky credit history or are a first-time borrower. 

Available in 36 states (so you’ll need to make sure you’re eligible) SeedFi provides a portion of your money upfront. The rest is reserved until the loan, plus interest and fees, is paid in full. As a first-time borrower, you’re eligible for loans from $1,500 to $8,000 with $300 to $4,000 available immediately. Repayment periods range from 10 to 48 months, and APRs range from 11.59% to 29.99%

Loans like SeedFi report payment to all three of the major credit bureaus. This can boost your score as long as you make your payments on time. SeedFi has rates that are competitive with many other popular lenders. But you will need $10,000 in annual take-home income. And with most borrowers having payment plans that range from $50 to $100 per week, you’ll need to make sure you meet your payments to avoid your credit score getting worse.

Get up $4,000 and build positive credit history >>> Check out SeedFi’s Borrow & Grow Plan


​​How we picked these apps

To come up with this list of credit builder apps, we picked the top credit building apps like MoneyLion Credit Builder Plus. Then we hit the ‘downloaded’ button and started comparing features and reading T’s & C’s. We considered features including total funds, availability of funds, APRs and loan repayment schedules. We also looked for additional features that might help people looking to rebuild or establish their credit. These include soft or hard credit checks, borrowing limits and additional financial features. We may receive a referral fee if you purchase or use some of the products described in this article.

WAIT! Why borrow quick cash when you can earn it?!

Cash advance apps can be a great tool for getting a little extra cash when you need it, but you’ll need to repay it – plus fees – wihtin a week or two. Did you know there’s an easy way to earn extra cash that’s yours to keep?

KashKick is a wildly popular service that lets you earn money for playing games, completing surveys, signing up for trial offers and more. (You’ll even earn cash for just completing your profile!) You can earn cash today and withdraw your earnings through PayPal once you’ve reached $10. You can earn over $100/month with KashKick – and you don’t need to spend a dime or take out your credit card to do it.

There are dozens of high-paying offers available on KashKick, and if you’re into playing new games on your phone, you can earn some serious cash for doing what you love. Though offers change regularly, there are currently1 more than three dozen offers available where you can earn cash – sometimes over $100 – just by downloading and playing popular games like Coin Master, Monoply Go, Bingo Blitz, and more. These games are all free to download, and no in-app purchases are required to earn with KashKick.

Get paid to play on your phone >>> Check out KashKick

Alexander Porter
  1. As of February 13, 2024. Offers may change and may not be available to all users. Eligibity requirements apply. See KashKick's Terms of Service for full details.
  2. Credit score improvement is not guaranteed. A soft credit pull will be conducted that has no impact to your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus. Data was sourced from credit score data from over 74,000 Credit Builder Plus members with an active loan between August 7, 2019, and February 18, 2021. Credit score improvement is not guaranteed. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus. MoneyLion is not a Credit Services Organization. Credit Builder Plus is an optional service offered by MoneyLion.
  3. Credit Builder Plus membership ($19.99/mo) unlocks eligibility for Credit Builder Plus loans and other exclusive services. A soft credit pull will be conducted which has no impact to your credit score. Credit Builder Plus loans have an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from 5.99% APR to 29.99% APR, are made by either exempt or state-licensed subsidiaries of MoneyLion Inc., and require a loan payment in addition to the membership payment. The Credit Builder Plus loan may, at lender’s discretion, require a portion of the loan proceeds to be deposited into a reserve account maintained by ML Wealth LLC and held by Drivewealth LLC, member SIPC and FINRA. The funds in this account will be placed into money market and/or cash sweep vehicles, and may generate interest at prevailing market rates. You will not be able to access the portion of your loan proceeds held in the credit reserve account until you have paid off your loan. If you default on your loan, your credit reserve account may be liquidated by the lender to partially or fully satisfy your outstanding indebtedness. May not be available in all states.
  4. Credit Score Increase: Based on Kikoff customers that used the Credit Account product and made consistent on-time payments during account lifetime. This data is based on observed VantageScore 3.0 credit score changes. Payment behavior can have an impact on your credit score, and individual results may vary. Data current as of March 2022.
  5. Based on a representative study conducted by Experian®, members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder between June 2020 and October 2020 observed an average FICO® Score 8 increase of 30 points after approximately 8 months. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score.
  6. Based on Kikoff customers that used the Credit Account product and made consistent on-time payments during account lifetime. This data is based on observed VantageScore 3.0 credit score changes. Payment behavior can have an impact on your credit score, and individual results may vary. Data current as of March 2022.
  7. All Credit Builder Accounts made by Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or SouthState Bank, N.A. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Subject to ID Verification. Individual borrowers must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old. Valid bank account and Social Security Number are required. All loans are subject to consumer report review and approval. All Certificates of Deposit (CD) are deposited in Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC or SouthState Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
  8. Sample products: A loan with a $25 month payment, 24 month term with a $9 admin fee at a 15.92% Annual Percentage Rate with a cost to build of $89; A loan with a $35 month payment, 24 month term with a $9 admin fee at a 15.97% Annual Percentage Rate with a cost to build of $125; A loan with a $48 month payment, 12 month term with a $9 admin fee at a 15.65% Annual Percentage Rate with a cost to builde of $46; A loan with a $150 month payment, 12 month term with a $9 admin fee at a 15.91% Annual Percentage Rate with a cost to build of $146. Please refer to www.self.inc/pricing for the most recent pricing options.

  9. Results are not guaranteed. Other factors, including activity with your other creditors, may impact results. Failure to make monthly minimum payments by the payment due date each month may result in delinquent payment reporting to credit bureaus which may negatively impact your credit score. This product will not remove negative credit history from your credit report.
  10. The Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or SouthState Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Card eligibility requirements include having an active Credit Builder Account in good standing, making 3 on time payments and having $100 or more in savings progress. All requirements are subject to change.

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