Are you trying to improve your credit score but feeling overwhelmed by all the uncertainties?
Don’t worry! You’re not alone, as there are 45.4 million Americans who are credit invisible or have no credit.
Being in the Credit field for a long time, I’ve always helped my clients formulate a 3-12 month strategy to boost their credit scores.
The good news is that this process is easier now than ever!
With so many credit-building apps available today, you can simultaneously build your credit using multiple trades to accelerate your credit growth, which took way more effort to accomplish in the past.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of the best credit-building apps from our extensive research, ranking them based on their effectiveness and user experience to help you fast-track your credit-building journey.
What Are The Best Credit Building Apps?
Let’s start with a quick comparison of all the credit-building apps based on reporting type, reporting credit bureaus, and pricing.
| App Name | Reporting Type | Credit Bureau | Pricing |
| Self | Traditional loan | All 3 bureaus | $9 admin fee & 15.97% APR |
| StellarFi | Bill payment | All 3 bureaus | $4.99/month+ |
| Boom Pay | Rent payment | All 3 bureaus | $2/month |
| Kikoff | Line of credit | Equifax & Experian | $5/month |
| Grow Credit | Bill payment | All 3 bureaus | $2.99/month+ |
| Credit Builder Card | Open credit | All 3 bureaus | Free |
| MoneyLion | Traditional loan | All 3 bureaus | $19.99/month |
| Credit Strong | Traditional loan | All 3 bureaus | $15 admin fee & 15.61% APR |
| Brigit | Traditional loan | All 3 bureaus | $9.99/month |
| Extra | Open credit | Equifax & Experian | $20/month+ |
| LevelCredit | Rent & bill payment | Rent: All 3 bureaus Bills: TransUnion | $6.95/month |
1. Self
Best Credit Builder Loan App
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Self makes it to the top of our ranking as one of the best credit builder apps on the market based on features, credit reporting, and no credit pull requirement.
This service starts building your credit immediately with a credit builder loan with no credit pull.
Our money was set aside in a Certificate of Deposit account, accumulating interest while we repaid monthly.
At the end of the term, we received our total payments plus interest and a 24-month loan tradeline reported to all three major credit bureaus monthly.
We also received personalized advice while also having access to monitor our credit reports.
Our only concern was the 14.14% interest rate, so the total price for a $600 loan over 24 months was $89, minus additional interest earned.
Overall, Self Inc provided us with a loan tradeline for 24 months, which was enough to qualify for most creditors’ minimum credit requirement, and the best part was we were saving our money.
Do I Recommend Self?
Yes! Self is perfect for those who want to build credit with no credit check. You can also earn interest, access your credit report and get financial advice.
2. StellarFi
Best Bill Payment Credit Building App
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Next on the list, we ranked StellarFi number two based on innovation and user-friendly features.
This service builds your credit by taking your regular bills (Netflix, Utilities, etc.) and reporting them as a credit tradeline.
We linked our bank account to StellarFi’s dashboard and chose the bills we wanted to pay.
On the bill payment due date, StellarFi checks to ensure our bank account balance is sufficient and debits the amount from our bank account to pay the bill simultaneously.
Bills are then reported to all three of our credit reports monthly.
We were on their Prime plan, which provided 1-on-1 consulting.
Also, all plans include free credit reports, credit advice, bill payment monitoring services, and identity protection.
Overall, StellarFi takes our regular bill payments and helps us build a good credit score by reporting them to our credit bureau as a tradeline.
Do I Recommend StellarFi?
Yes! Self is perfect for those who want to build credit using regular bills while getting access to free credit scores and credit advice at a low price. You can also earn bill payment rewards on their Prime or higher plans.
3. Boom Pay
Best Rent Payment Credit Building App
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Boom Pay takes the third spot in our ranking based on the speed of credit reporting, innovations, and flexibility in rental payments.
This service builds your credit by reporting your rent payments as a tradeline on your credit report.
We quickly (within 24 hours) verified our identity, added our rent details, and connected our bank account where we would pay our rent.
On our rent payment date, money was sent to our landlord from our bank account via Boom without involving our landlord.
The best part was our rent payments were reported to all three major credit bureaus within 10 days!
We also had the option to report up to 24 months from our previous rental payments to improve our credit score significantly.
Overall, Boom Pay is another excellent App that helped us build good credit scoring using rental payments while avoiding any interactions with our landlord.
Do I Recommend Boom Pay?
Yes! Boom Pay is amazing for anyone paying rent and wanting to build their credit at a low price. You can also report previous rental payments to avoid FOMO.
4. Kikoff
Best Credit Building App Using Line of Credit
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
We rank Kikoff in the fourth spot on our list for simplicity and being a low-fee product.
Kikoff offers three products, and our focus is on their credit account (primary offering) that builds your credit using a Line of Credit.
After signing up, we instantly got approved for a $750 Line of Credit without a credit check.
We then had the option to shop at Kikoff store, where we could purchase credit services or credit educational books for a low price (min $10) using our new Line of Credit.
After making a purchase, we paid our line of credit, and this tradeline was reported to our Equifax and Experian credit report within 30 days.
Just like that, we were building credit, and the best part is that there were no hidden fees, annual fees, or even late fees.
Overall, Kikoff is another great App that offers a Line of Credit to help you build a good credit history, and you can purchase educational credit books or services for a low price that will help you develop your credit even more.
Do I Recommend Kikoff?
Yes! Kikoff is great as you get an instant approval for a Line of Credit to help you build your credit. They have no hidden fees or late fees, and for only $5 a month, we recommend you try it!
5. Grow Credit
Best Subscription Bill Payment Credit Building App
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Next, we have Grow ranking in the fifth spot based on its long list of subscription partners and affordability.
This credit-building app reports your existing subscriptions as a tradeline on your credit report to help you build your credit payment history.
Once we signed up, we were able to select from a list of over 100 subscriptions:
- UberEats
- Netflix
- Spotify
- Disney+
- PlayStation+
- YouTube
- Office 365
These were the popular subscriptions that we all use, and other types include:
- Television
- Business
- Transportation
- Insurance
- Entertainment
- Telecommunication
After choosing Netflix, we were given a Grow Credit MasterCard to automatically pay for our subscription by connecting the funds to our bank account.
We selected the Build Secured plan, which gave us a $17 monthly spending limit and was enough for Netflix.
30 days later, we saw our subscription payments as a tradeline on all three reporting bureaus.
Overall, Grow Credit is a simple and effective credit-builder app with a long list of subscription partners.
Do I Recommend Grow Credit?
I recommend Grow Credit to build your credit because of its simplicity, especially for subscriptions you already pay for.
6. Credit Builder Card
Best Credit Buiding App Using Secured Credit Card
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Here we have the Credit Builder Card at number six in our ranking thanks to its no-fee product and simple approach to building credit.
This service builds your credit using a secured credit card and reports it to your credit bureau as a revolving trade.
After signing up, we deposited the minimum amount of $200 using our debit card, and we received our secured credit card in the mail a week and a half later (2 weeks max as per their site).
Once we started using the card, the tradeline was reported to the bureau within 7 days!
Remember that this is a secured credit card, so our credit limit is based on how much we deposit onto the card, and to avoid any interest charges, always give a buffer room on your deposits when making purchases.
Overall, the Credit Build Card is one of my favorite approaches to building good credit for free, and by keeping your credit utilization ratio low, you’ll be back in the credit game in no time!
Do I Recommend Credit Builder Card?
The Credit Build Card is a must-have for anyone that wants to rebuild their credit for free! It’s an easy way to add a tradeline to your credit report in a short time.
7. MoneyLion
Best Credit Builder Loan App for Withdrawals
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
At number 7, MoneyLion is a Credit Builder Loan that helps you build your credit and save money.
This service builds your credit by approving up to $1,000 with no credit check.
Our money was saved in a Credit Reserve Account, earning interest while we paid the loan back over 12 monthly payments.
Out of all the credit builder loans that we tested, MoneyLion had two unique features:
- We had the option to withdraw money that was already paid during our term, so our money was not fully locked
- Access up to $300 cash advance per pay period at 0% APR
Our money was released at the end of the 12-month term, and we now have a clean credit tradeline with positive payment history.
Overall, MoneyLion is a unique credit builder loan with access to withdraw your money before the term ends.
Do I Recommend MoneyLion?
MoneyLion is solid for anyone who wants to build credit, save money, and have access to their credit builder account all at the same time.
8. Credit Strong
Best Credit Builder Loan App for Flexibility
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Next on the list, we have Credit Strong in our ranking based on the flexibility of time needed to build your credit.
This is another credit builder loan service that approves anyone without a credit check, and Austin Capital Bank backs it!
We were given three options: 24, 36, or 48-month terms.
We went with the 24 months plan, and at the end of the term, we successfully built 24 months of credit history.
During our term, all payments made were locked into a savings account that earned interest.
Our only concern was the 15.61% APR, which is offset by the interest earned from the savings account.
Overall, Credit Strong provides a flexible credit builder loan backed by a reputable financial institution to help you improve your credit score.
Do I Recommend Credit Strong?
Credit Strong is another solid option for building credit while earning interest. Anyone can be approved regardless of their credit history.
9. Brigit
Best Credit Builder Loan App for Minimum Payment
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Brigit is another good app that ranks in our list based on the minimum commitment required to build your credit.
This credit builder app offers a credit builder loan backed by Coastal Community Bank.
We signed up for the standard loan on the 24-month plan, and the money was transferred into a deposit account immediately after.
Our monthly repayment was set at $25, and the best part was that we could make as little as $1 on monthly repayment, and the remaining could be deducted from our deposit account.
There was also flexibility to withdraw the portion of payments that we made at any time.
At the end of the term, we received our total payments minus any amount we withdrew.
Brigit also offers identity thief protection, financial advice, and finance helper opportunity to earn extra cash.
Overall, Brigit brings a unique credit builder loan with minimum commitment and complete flexibility on your payments to help you improve your credit history.
Do I Recommend Brigit?
100%. Brigit is a great app that builds your credit with a minimum commitment to your money. You can also earn money by being a Finance Helper with Brigit.
10. Extra
Best Credit Building App Using Debit Card
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Extra is one of our list’s most unique credit-building apps, thanks to its ability to help you never miss another payment again.
This service helps you build credit by using a debit card.
We signed up for the Extra debit card and connected our checking account.
The balance in our checking account is used for our Extra debit card limit.
When we made a purchase, Extra would pay for our purchase and deduct the same amount from our checking account a day later.
At the end of the 30-day, total monthly debit purchases are only reported to Equifax and Experian credit bureaus.
Overall, Extra is a great app that transforms a debit card into a credit-building tool.
Do I Recommend Extra?
Extra is another solid option to help you build your credit for using your debit card. You will always have a positive credit history and never miss another payment.
11. LevelCredit
Best Essential Bill Payment Credit Building App
Pros
Cons
Pricing
Our Take
Wrapping up our list, we have LevelCredit (by Self – see above #1) based on its simple and practical approach to bill payment.
This service builds your credit by taking phone, rental, and utility (gas, electric, water) bills only and reports it as a credit line.
We linked our bank account to Level, and it automatically detected our rent, utility, and phone bills based on our payment history.
Once we confirmed the bills, our monthly payments were reported to the major credit reporting bureaus within 30 days.
We also opted-in to add 2 years past payment history plan to increase the age of credit lines.
Overall, LevelCredit takes your essential bill payments, detects them automatically, and reports them to the credit bureau as tradelines.
Do I Recommend LevelCredit?
LevelCredit is simple, affordable, and yet effective credit-building app that uses your essential bills to help build your credit history. You can also use their lookback option to report up to 2 years of payment history for a significant credit score increase.
What Is A Credit Building App?
Credit-building apps are companies that aim to help you build or rebuild your credit history with financial/credit advice, innovative product, and 1-on-1 consulting services.
There are 7 types of credit-building apps that we covered in this post:
- Credit Builder Loans
- Bill Payment
- Rent Payment
- Subscription Payment
- Secured Credit Card
- Line of Credit
- Debit Card
How can Credit Building Apps Benefit You?
Credit-building apps help turbo-boost your credit-building journey.
From our best credit-building apps listed above, some benefits are:
- Report new tradelines as fast as 7 days
- Report up to 2 years of previous payment history
- Build credit without previous credit
- No credit pull
- Works with bruised credit
Think of it as if you did not take advantage of credit-building apps, then you would have to take the traditional route of applying for new credit with a hard pull, the risk of rejection, and the time it takes to establish a credit history.
Buyers Guide: How We Conducted Our Research
When doing our research to find the best product, we determined using these factors:
- Pricing: How much did each product cost
- Features: What were the best features of each product?
- Functionality: How each product works
Conclusion/Wrapping Up
We provided a comprehensive list here with the goal of helping you choose the best credit-building apps that work well for you.
Between the different innovations of credit builder loans, bill payments, debit cards, secured credit cards, and lines of credit, it’s important to remember that we must practice discipline to rebuild and maintain our credit scores.
From my experience, once you choose a path and stick to it, it will become second nature to keep a strong credit history, and in return, you’ll be rewarded with the best rates for loans, mortgages, and leases to save you thousands of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Build My Credit ASAP?
From my experience, credit-building apps make the process a lot faster and easier.
We always ask whether you prefer to spend $0 and build credit over 24 months, or do you prefer to spend $100 and build multiple credit lines over 6 months?
How Do I Build My Credit ASAP?
Most options on our best credit-building apps list can help you quickly build your credit score.
We recommend trying the credit-build apps that work for you, and if there are certain features you don’t like about them, you can pivot and try another app.
Ultimately, the sooner you put it into action, the sooner you can start improving your credit score.
What Are Some Credit Monitoring Apps?
We recommend Credit Karma for TransUnion and Up Credit for Equifax.
Why Does Credit History Matter?
Credit history plays an important role when creditors make approval decisions on your credit card, loan, and mortgage applications.
A strong credit history shows consistent positive payment history is a great way to get approved for the lowest rates saving you thousands of dollars.
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