Cleo App Review
- No credit check
- Helpful money management tools
- Interest-free cash advances
- Cash advances require paid memberships
- Small cash advance amounts
- Funding takes time
| Funding | Up to $250 |
|---|---|
| Speed of advance | 3 – 4 days or same day for a fee |
| Fees | Monthly subscription for $5.99 or $14.99 per month and same-day advance from $3.99 – $9.99 |
Cleo is a money management app that uses AI to make money management more fun. It’s free and easy to use, but you must pay a monthly membership to access the cash advance feature.
The app is a solid choice if you want to create better money habits or need quick access to small amounts of cash at a low price. Here’s a complete Cleo app review.
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What is Cleo?
Cleo is a budgeting app that helps users break free from bad money habits. With a humorous AI assistant, the app aims to make money accessible and fun.
The money management tools for tracking, setting goals, and saving are free, but other features require a monthly subscription. Cleo offers the following financial products.
- Cash advances: Cleo advertises free cash advantages for $20 to $250, but you must pay for a membership to get a cash advance. Pricing is transparent—$5.99 or $14.99 depending on your membership level.
- Credit Builder card: Users can also apply for the Credit Builder Card without a credit check. You must have a Builder membership to qualify for the card, which costs $14.99 monthly.
- High-yield savings account: Cleo has a free high-yield savings account that currently offers 4.11% APY.
| Term | Details |
| Cash advance amounts | $20 – $250 |
| Interest rate | No interest |
| Fees | Monthly subscription for $5.99 or $14.99 per month and same-day advance from $3.99 – $9.99 |
| Repayment time | 3 – 14 days after you borrow the money |
| Funding time with a fee | Same day for a $3.99 – $9.99 fee |
| Funding time without a fee | 3 – 4 days |
Cleo AI review
Cleo uses an AI assistant that monitors your spending, answers questions, and provides free feedback on your money habits. One of the most popular features is “Roast Mode” and “Hype Mode.” Using AI, Cleo reviews your purchases and gives funny feedback.
It’s a fun feature, but the real perk of Cleo’s AI is that it provides valuable insight into your spending. You might not realize that you’ve eaten out five times in one week until a roast from Cleo points it out lightheartedly. It’s beneficial if you’re new to budgeting or just getting started. But it can still be enjoyable and insightful for seasoned money managers.
Users enjoy the AI experience. Customer reviews regularly mention how it helps them make long-term financial changes.
Cleo budget app review
Cleo includes free money management tools for budgeting. Once you connect your bank accounts to Cleo, you can see all your money in one place.
Using the app requires some work upfront. You must set your income, add your bills, and create your spending limit. After that, you’ll get access to an AI budget planner, monthly bill tracker, overdraft alerts, and payment reminders.
The Cleo budget app is more in-depth and intelligent than other free budgeting tools.
Customer reviews for the Cleo budget app are generally positive. Users appreciate that it’s easy to use, insightful, and fun.
Cleo credit builder card review
Cleo users can also apply for the Credit Builder Card. Before applying, you must pay for the Builder membership, which costs $14.99 monthly. It’s a secured credit card, so your deposit amount determines your limit. The membership also comes with personalized guidance for increasing your credit score.
Credit card users appreciate the credit builder tools and the ability to set their card limit.
The card is a solid choice for users who want to build or improve their credit without undergoing a credit check. But the monthly fee adds up. Unless you plan to use the cash advance feature and credit builder tools regularly, you’re probably better off with a secured credit card that’s free.
Who’s eligible for Cleo?
To sign up for the Cleo app, you must be a legal resident of the United States and at least 18 years old. Users must connect at least one bank account to use the budgeting tools, so you also need an existing account.
Here are the eligibility requirements for Cleo’s other financial products.
| Minimum age | Credit check? | Other requirements | |
| Cash advance | 18 years old | No | Plus or Builder membership |
| Credit builder card | 18 years old | No | Builder membership for $14.99 per month |
| High-yield savings account | 18 years old | No | None |
How does Cleo work compared to other cash advance apps?
Cleo stands out from other cash advance apps because of its unique business model. Instead of charging a flat fee for the advance, Cleo charges a monthly membership fee—$5.99 or $14.99 per month. Advances are also interest-free, which is difficult to find since other companies charge over 300% APR.
Cleo also stands out as an all-in-one money management platform. The app offers holistic money management to help users break the cycle of borrowing money each pay period. With Cleo’s AI assistance, users can track spending, get advice, and budget better.
The tradeoff with using Cleo is that the cash advance amounts are lower than those of other apps and might not be enough to pay for what you need. You can borrow up to $100 with a Cleo Plus membership and up to $250 with a Cleo Builder membership. Other apps have limits of $500 or higher.
| Apps like Cleo | Max. funding | Ratings* |
| EarnIn | $750 | 4.7/5 |
| Empower | $300 | 4.7/5 |
| Brigit | $250 | 4.7/5 |
| Current | $500 | 4.6/5 |
| MoneyLion | $500 | 4.5/5 |
Cleo review: Pros and cons
Cleo is a solid budgeting app with a cash advance option for paid members. Here’s how to determine if it’s the right choice for you.
Pros
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No credit check
Cleo doesn’t require a credit check for cash advances or the Credit Builder Card. It’s a helpful feature if you’re trying to build credit or improve your score.
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Helpful money management tools
Cleo’s AI budget planner, monthly bill tracker, overdraft alerts, and payment reminders help the app stand out. The money management tools are free once you download the app.
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Interest-free cash advances
Cleo doesn’t charge interest fees for cash advances. The app uses your income to calculate how much you can borrow before your next paycheck, a helpful perk since other cash advance apps charge up to 300% APR.
Cons
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Cash advances require paid memberships
Cleo’s business model hinges on paid memberships. You must pay to become a member if you want a cash advance. The Plus membership costs $5.99 monthly and allows you to get cash advances for up to $100. The Builder membership costs $14.99 monthly and will enable you to get cash advances for up to $250.
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Small cash advance amounts
The maximum cash advance amount with Cleo is $250. Other cash advance apps allow you to borrow significantly more—usually around $500. Cleo might not offer enough, depending on why you need the money.
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Funding takes time
Cleo’s fees for same-day advances range from $3.99 to $9.99, depending on the amount you borrow. Most cash advance apps charge instant transfer fees, but Cleo’s costs are higher than average.
How to get a Cleo cash advance
- Download the app: The first step is to download the app and create an account. It’s a simple sign-up process and only takes a few minutes to set up.
- Connect your bank account: Once you have the app, you must connect your primary bank account. Cleo uses AI to scan your account and determine how much you can borrow.
- Check your eligibility: Type “cash advance” into the chat to view how much you can borrow with a cash advance. Confirm your details, like name and address, to continue.
- Pay for membership: If you want to move forward with the advance, you must pay for a membership—$5.99 to borrow up to $100 or $14.99 to borrow up to $250.
- Receive the money: You can receive the money in three to four days for free or pay an extra fee for an instant transfer.
Is Cleo legit?
Cleo is a legitimate budgeting app that offers cash advances, a credit builder card, and a high-yield savings account.
Cleo offers additional security features to keep your financial information safe, including Bank-Level 256-bit Encryption, no third-party tracking, and a read-only mode to ensure that the app can only view your accounts.
Cleo has over a million downloads in Google Play and earns 4.4 out of 5 stars. Customers love the app’s AI assistant, budgeting tools, and transparency.
Most negative reviews are about technology issues with the app’s functionality. Users complain about glitches and being locked out of their accounts
| Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
| Google Play | 4.4 out of 5 | 69,600 |
| TrustPilot | 3.7 out of 5 | 3,172 |
| Better Business Bureau | 1 out of 5 | 10 |
FAQ
Does Cleo work with Chime?
Yes, Cleo can work with Chime. You can connect your Chime account to Cleo to track your spending, set budgets, and manage your finances. However, users sometimes report issues connecting Chime, so if you encounter problems, contacting Cleo’s support might help.
Does Cleo work with Cash App?
No, Cleo typically does not directly integrate with Cash App. Since Cash App functions more like a peer-to-peer payment service than a traditional bank, it doesn’t offer the necessary account access for Cleo to track transactions and balances.
Does Cleo work with PayPal?
No, Cleo does not work with PayPal. Like with Cash App, PayPal does not provide the kind of access Cleo requires to monitor transactions and balances.
How we rated Cleo
Since 2023, LendEDU has evaluated personal finance apps to help readers find the best cash advance solutions. Our latest analysis reviewed 180 data points from 9 apps and financial institutions, with 20 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives.
These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once.
| Product | LendEDU Rating |
| Cleo | 4.1/5 |
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