If you’ve heard of Self, you’re likely aware of its reputation for credit-building tools like credit-builder loans, rent reporting, and secured credit options.
But if Self isn’t right for you, we’ve rounded up other credit-building apps. Many offer similar products like credit-building loans and rent reporting, but a few have entirely different tactics.
Self offers various credit-building options, but so does Kikoff. It provides credit-builder loans, a revolving line of credit, dispute tools, and rent reporting services. It's a great pick if you need multiple ways to build credit all on one app. However, some features are state-restricted, monthly fees may apply, and only the Kikoff Secured Credit Card reports to all three major bureaus.
Fee
From $20 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$50
Self offers various credit-building options, but so does Kikoff. It provides credit-builder loans, a revolving line of credit, dispute tools, and rent reporting services. It's a great pick if you need multiple ways to build credit all on one app. However, some features are state-restricted, monthly fees may apply, and only the Kikoff Secured Credit Card reports to all three major bureaus.
The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is an accessible option for building credit with no interest or monthly fees, and it doesn't perform a hard credit check when you apply. This secured card helps you responsibly manage credit without interest charges. However, to get the Credit Builder card, you must have a Chime Checking account.
Fee
$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is an accessible option for building credit with no interest or monthly fees, and it doesn't perform a hard credit check when you apply. This secured card helps you responsibly manage credit without interest charges. However, to get the Credit Builder card, you must have a Chime Checking account.
Pros
No hard credit check
0% APR
No annual or monthly fees
Cons
Requires a Chime Checking Account
Limited to users who receive direct deposits
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
N/A
Fee
$0 per month
ATM transaction fee
$0
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Overdraft fee
$0
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. The secured Chime Credit Builder Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. Credit builder: To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account. Security deposit: Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month. Building credit: On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations. No interest: *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View the Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
If you want to boost your credit score with subscriptions you already pay for, this app is worth considering. Grow Credit helps you build credit by paying subscription services like Netflix or Spotify through its app. It offers three plans, each allowing a different number of subscriptions. The base plan, called Build, is free for the first 12 months and lets you report up to $17 in monthly subscriptions. Grow Credit also reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Fee
From $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
If you want to boost your credit score with subscriptions you already pay for, this app is worth considering. Grow Credit helps you build credit by paying subscription services like Netflix or Spotify through its app. It offers three plans, each allowing a different number of subscriptions. The base plan, called Build, is free for the first 12 months and lets you report up to $17 in monthly subscriptions. Grow Credit also reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Credit Strong offers almost too many credit-builder loans to count, letting you choose from a variety of flexible terms and a payment period that works for you. However, Credit Strong charges APR and administrative fees, with the exact cost depending on the loan you choose. But you receive your funds at the term's end, minus fees and interest.
Fee
From $28 per month
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Credit Strong offers almost too many credit-builder loans to count, letting you choose from a variety of flexible terms and a payment period that works for you. However, Credit Strong charges APR and administrative fees, with the exact cost depending on the loan you choose. But you receive your funds at the term's end, minus fees and interest.
Cleo offers a mix of budgeting and credit-building tools, making it an ideal pick for those new to credit who want financial guidance in a single app. Cleo includes the Credit Builder Card, a secured card with no interest charges that reports payments to all three major credit bureaus. Beyond credit-building, it provides insights into spending and savings, cashback rewards, budgeting tools, and an AI that roasts or praises your financial habits. But its Credit Builder subscription costs $14.99 per month.
Fee
$14.99. per month
Minimum deposit to open
$1
Cleo offers a mix of budgeting and credit-building tools, making it an ideal pick for those new to credit who want financial guidance in a single app. Cleo includes the Credit Builder Card, a secured card with no interest charges that reports payments to all three major credit bureaus. Beyond credit-building, it provides insights into spending and savings, cashback rewards, budgeting tools, and an AI that roasts or praises your financial habits. But its Credit Builder subscription costs $14.99 per month.
Self is a credit-building app that helps users improve their credit score through accessible credit-builder loans, rent and utility reporting, and more. Its credit-building loans require monthly payments into a locked savings account, with funds returned at the term’s end minus fees. Self reports your credit-building loan payments to all three credit bureaus.
It also offers free rent reporting, and for a premium, Self adds utility and phone bill reporting, credit monitoring, and a Lookback option to report up to two years of past payments. It also provides secured card options, but that may require a hard credit check. For some products, you’ll have to watch for monthly or annual fees, administrative fees, and credit score requirements.
Pros
Free rent reporting
Credit-building loans
Secured credit card options
Most products report to all three bureaus
Credit monitoring services
Cons
Utility reporting only for one bureau and a fee
Some services have one-time or monthly fees
Bottom line
Choosing the right app for building credit ultimately depends on your specific financial goals. While Self is a popular choice, our top alternatives may better fit your needs, whether you’re looking for no hard credit checks, budgeting assistance, or subscription-based credit-building.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio
Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 431 Finder guides across topics including:
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