Although your credit score is a mere three digits, it’s an extremely powerful number. Just a few points can change the interest rate you’re offered on a mortgage or car loan, and that adds up over the life of the loan. The CFPB explains how lenders use your score when they price a loan.
Even if you aren’t in the market for a big purchase right now, your credit score can also impact your ability to qualify for a credit card, rent an apartment or even afford car insurance.
If it’s been a while since you’ve checked in on your credit score, don’t fret. Credit building apps have made the whole process cheaper, faster and a lot less intimidating than it used to be.
Below, we’re comparing 11 credit building apps on what actually matters: What they cost, which credit bureaus they report to and whether you need a credit check to start.
Want a credit score primer before diving in? Learn why good credit is so important.
Key Takeaways:
- Credit building apps help you establish or strengthen your credit by reporting on-time payments to major credit bureaus.
- Different apps use different methods—like credit-builder loans, secured cards or bill reporting—so choosing the right one depends on your goals and budget.
- Most people see the biggest improvements after several months of consistent, on-time payments.
- Most of these apps cost between $5 and $20 a month, and a few are free, so cost shouldn’t be the thing that stops you.
How Credit Building Apps Work
Credit building apps are designed to help you establish or improve your credit score. Each app has its own approach, but most of them work in one of the following ways:
Credit-Builder Loans
Some apps let you take out small loans that you repay in fixed monthly installments. These on-time payments are then reported to the major credit bureaus, which helps demonstrate responsible borrowing and on-time payment history.
Unlike traditional loans, you don’t usually get the money upfront when you take out a credit-builder loan. Instead, it’s held in a secured account until you finish paying.
Secured or Credit-Reporting Cards
Another way to build credit is to get a secured card or virtual credit line. You can deposit money into the account, then the app lets you spend up to that limit. On-time payments are then reported to credit bureaus, which helps build your credit safely and without the risk of accumulating debt.
Bill and Subscription Reporting
Some apps allow you to report recurring bills—like utilities, rent or even subscriptions—to the credit bureaus. This simple action can boost your score even if you don’t have traditional credit accounts yet.
Financial Tracking With Credit Impact
Certain apps combine credit-building tools with personal finance features. These will help you monitor your spending, remind you of payments and offer small credit-builder loans over time. The idea is that by maintaining these habits, you can improve your credit over time.
The Best Apps to Build Credit
Not all credit building apps are created equal. Some are ideal for beginners, while others are best for boosting your existing score.
Below, we’ve rounded up 11 credit building apps and broken down what each one costs, how it reports and who it’s built for.
| App | Type | Reports to all 3 bureaus | Cost | Credit check |
| Self | Credit builder loan + secured card | Yes | Starts at $25/month | No |
| Chime | Secured credit card | Yes | Free | No |
| Kikoff | Credit line | Yes | Starts at $5/month | No |
| Kovo | Installment plan | Yes, plus Innovis | $10/month | No |
| Grow Credit | Subscription reporting | Yes | Starts at $3.99/month | Soft |
| Experian Boost | Bill reporting | Experian only | Free | No |
| Perpay | Reported spending limit | Yes | $5/month for Perpay+ | No hard check |
| Credit Sesame | Score tracking and credit building | n/a | Free tier available | No |
| Brigit | Credit builder loan | Yes | $15.99/month for Premium | No |
| Magnum | Credit builder account | Yes | Starts at $16/month | No |
| Firstcard | Secured credit builder card | Verify | Starts at $4.99/month | No |
1. Build Credit and Savings at the Same Time With Self
Cost: Plans at $25/month for 24 months
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None
Best for: Building savings and credit in one move
Self is a financial company dedicated to helping you build credit. It offers tons of ways to do this, but the coolest one is its Credit Builder account.
Self offers four 24-month plans to help you build credit through a credit builder loan: $25, $35, $48 or $150 per month. Here’s how they work:
- You save a designated amount into your Self account each month. (Self holds the loan money in a certificate of deposit.)
- Self reports your deposits as payments toward a loan, helping you build a positive payment history on your credit report.
- At the end of your term you get your savings back, minus interest and fees. Self plans carry an APR in the mid-teens plus an administrative fee, so check the current numbers on your specific plan before you commit.
If you need the money before your term ends, you can apply for the Self Visa credit card, which is secured by the balance in your account.
2. Bank Online and Build Credit With Chime
Cost: Free
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None
Best for: Banking and credit building in one app
Chime lets you manage your money on the go through a popular online banking app with credit building features including the Chime Card.
You’ll earn cash back and build credit with the Chime Card. Get 5% cash back, and pay no annual fees or interest. With on-time payments, members can increase their score up to 70 points.
Because there’s no minimum deposit and no interest on the card, Chime offers a low-risk way to get a credit card on your report.
3. Get a Safe Line of Credit From Kikoff
Cost: Starts at $5/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None
Best for: A low-cost way to open a tradeline
Kikoff offers three monthly plans, from $5 to $35. When you sign up, you get a tradeline that’s used to finance the cost of your plan. You then make your monthly payment using a linked debit card.
Each month, Kikoff reports your balance and repayments to all three major credit bureaus, which can help you build payment history, lower your credit utilization and grow your average account age.
For example, the basic plan costs $5 a month with a $750 reported Kikoff tradeline, a weekly credit report, rent reporting and other tools.
If you want to spend your credit outside Kikoff, you can apply for a secured card that works a lot like a debit card, with your limit set by your deposit.
4. Build Credit for $10 a Month With Kovo
Cost: $10/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Innovis
Credit check: None
Best for: Broad bureau coverage at a low fixed cost
Kovo keeps things about as simple as credit building gets. You pay $10 a month for 24 months, and Kovo reports those payments to four credit bureaus instead of the usual three.
There’s no interest, no credit check and no setup fee. Over time you can unlock extra credit-building products and identity protection tools through the app.
The fourth bureau is a nice bonus, though it’s worth knowing most lenders only pull from the big three. What matters more is that a $10 monthly payment is easy to keep up, and consistency is what actually moves your score.
5. Turn Your Subscriptions Into Credit With Grow Credit
Cost: Starts at $3.99/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: Soft
Best for: Building credit through your monthly subscriptions
Grow Credit works off payments you’re already making. Think Netflix, Spotify or YouTube Premium.
Once you’re approved, you get a virtual Mastercard that only works on eligible subscriptions. Grow Credit covers the charge, you pay it back and those payments get reported to all three major bureaus.
Grow Credit offers several credit building plans and will determine which memberships you’re eligible for based on your recent banking activity.
6. Get Credit for Bills You Already Pay With Experian Boost
Cost: Free
Reports to: Experian only
Credit check: None
Best for: A fast, free bump with zero commitment
Experian Boost is completely free. You link your bank account, and Experian scans it for on-time payments that normally wouldn’t show up on your credit report: phone bills, utilities, streaming services and, in some cases, rent.
Eligible payments can land on your Experian report almost immediately, which is unusually fast for anything credit-related.
The catch is right there in the name. Boost only affects your Experian score, so your Equifax and TransUnion reports won’t budge. Still, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes, so there’s not much reason to skip it.
7. Shop and Boost Your Score With Perpay
Cost: $5/month for Perpay+
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: No hard check
Best for: Anyone with steady direct deposit and no credit file
Do you want to build credit and expand your buying power without the hassle of a risky credit card? Perpay allows you to buy what you want and spread your spending across several paychecks.
Through Perpay+, you’ll start with a spending limit of up to $1,000 to shop major brands in its marketplace for electronics, home goods, apparel and more. Get the things you want, and pay for them automatically in installments from your future paychecks.
Perpay+ costs $5/month. Once you enroll and connect your payroll direct deposit, Perpay reports your spending limit to all three major credit bureaus. Reporting starts within 30-60 days.
According to Perpay, enrolled members who start at a 550 score or below see an average increase of 30 or more points during their first year of reporting. Results vary, and nobody can promise you a specific number.
Because your limit is based on income rather than credit history, Perpay is one of the few options open to people with no credit file at all.
8. Track and Improve Your Score With Credit Sesame
Cost: Free plan available
Reports to: n/a
Credit check: None
Best for: Seeing what’s helping or hurting your score
If you already have some credit and want to improve it without opening a new credit card or line of credit, then it’s time to look into Credit Sesame.
With Credit Sesame, you can get daily credit score refreshes, credit report summary, same-day monitoring alerts, a personalized action plan and more. Credit Sesame will also match you to financial products that fit your goals, from auto loans to insurance.
If you have some credit and just want visibility into what’s moving your score, Credit Sesame’s daily refreshes and action plan are the draw.
9. Build Credit While You Save With Brigit
Cost: Starts at $15.99/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None
Best for: Building credit and savings without new debt
Brigit is a personal finance app that helps you earn and save, get instant cash advances and build credit.
While many ways to build credit require you to take on extra debt, the Brigit Credit Builder feature actually lets you build a positive credit history while building your savings.
Here’s how it works: You decide how much money you want to save each month starting with as little as $1. Brigit reports these payments to the three major credit bureaus. The on-time payments help build positive payment history and your credit.
Brigit’s credit builder loan is available with the Premium plan, which costs $14.99 per month. With that, you also get credit score monitoring, access to instant cash advances and identity theft prevention.
10. Maximize Your Credit Profile With Magnum
Cost: Starts at $16/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None
Best for: Adding a large tradeline to an existing file
Magnum, a CreditStrong product, helps you maximize your credit profile by adding a large amount of credit to your credit report. This could be the right fit for you if you’re looking to unlock higher spending limits on your credit card, access larger personal loans or maximize your credit score.
According to Magnum, customers who make consistent on-time payments have seen their credit score increase an average of 88 points.
Free monthly score updates come with the account, so you can watch whether the added credit line is doing what you hoped.
11. Build Credit Faster and Safer With Firstcard
Cost: Starts at $4.99/month
Reports to: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit check: None, you’re pre-approved
Best for: Anyone without a Social Security number
The Firstcard Secured Credit Builder Card allows you to build credit faster and safer since what you deposit is what you can spend. You’ll build credit as you use the card and make on-time payments.
Even better: You’re pre-approved, so no credit checks are necessary. International students, immigrants and others without Social Security numbers are also welcome to apply.
Firstcard users see their scores increase 52+ points on average within 3 months.
As for the interest you pay? There’s 0% APR. But what’s cool is that with Firstcard Premium, you can earn up to 4% interest on your balance (APY).
Firstcard doesn’t require a Social Security number, making it an option for international students and new arrivals.
How to Choose the Best App to Build Credit for You
With so many options, it’s important to remember the best credit building apps are the ones that fit your financial habits, goals and comfort level.
As you weigh your options, here are a few considerations.
Fees
Some credit-builder loans charge interest (APR) while others come with monthly subscription fees or required upfront deposits. This is totally normal, but it’s important to choose what’s best for your budget. To first map out a plan, visit our guide on how to budget to pay off debt.
Credit Bureaus
There are three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Look for a credit building app that reports to all three, so your score can improve across the board.
Timeline
Credit building isn’t instant. With some solutions, you might see an increase in just a couple of months. Others might require more patience. Choose a program that fits your goals.
Experience
Different apps cater to different financial situations. For example, if you don’t have any credit at all, you’ll likely want to look for an option that doesn’t require a credit check like Firstcard.
If you have bad credit, look into a tool that provides a tailored action plan like Credit Sesame, or perhaps take out a credit-builder loan for a structured, low-risk path forward.
Approach
Some apps and features require you to be more hands-on while others are more automated. Take the approach you’ll realistically stick to.
Additional Features
Many apps also offer tools to help you budget, keep an eye out for scammers or even get cash back when shopping, so keep an eye out for what will most benefit you!
How Long It Takes to Build Credit
Building credit doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a gradual process that helps you build essential financial skills. The good news is most apps set realistic expectations from the start. Generally, you can expect…
- In 1-3 months, you’ll often see small improvements, especially if you’re adding positive payment history to your report with a credit-builder card or loan.
- After 6 months, you might notice more meaningful progress with consistent on-time payments.
- 6-12 months typically mark the largest gains for users. Credit scores reward positive patterns, so the longer you demonstrate on-time payments and low balances, the more your score benefits.
In other words, if you take the right steps, you can see progress early on. As you continue to work toward improving your score, it will only continue to grow!
Alternatives to Credit Building Apps
Credit building apps aren’t the only route. A few options worth weighing:
Secured Credit Cards
You put down a refundable deposit, use the card like normal and the issuer reports your payments. Once your score recovers, a rewards card becomes an option, and it’s worth understanding how credit card rewards work before you apply for one.
Credit Builder Loans From a Credit Union
Local credit unions often run the same product an app does, sometimes at a lower rate and with no subscription fee attached.
Becoming an Authorized User
If someone close to you has a long, clean card history, getting added as an authorized user can put that history on your report without you spending anything.
How to Get the Most From a Credit Building App
These apps only work if you use them consistently. A few things that make a real difference:
- Pay on time, every time. One late payment can undo months of progress.
- Keep balances low. If your app gives you a credit line, try to stay under 30% of the limit.
- Don’t close the account early. Length of history counts, so let it run.
- Stack methods where it makes sense. A bill-reporting tool plus a credit builder loan covers more score factors than either alone.
Final Thoughts
Building credit can feel like a daunting task, but today’s best apps to build credit make the process simpler, more transparent and more accessible, whether you’re starting from scratch or rebuilding after setbacks.
Building credit takes patience, and it’s easier when there’s a little extra coming in. KashKick is one of the best side hustle apps for that: You earn real cash for playing games, taking surveys and shopping online. To learn more, read our review before you get started: Is KashKick legit?
You can sign up for KashKick for free. Once you hit $10, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo in 1-3 business days.
FAQs: Credit Building Apps
Do credit building apps actually work?
Yes, plenty of credit building apps work! Depending on the app, many people see score increases within just a few months, especially if they’re starting with little or no credit.
Are credit building apps safe?
Most credit building apps are safe, using bank-level encryption and partnering with legitimate, regulated financial institutions. Like everything, it’s always important to be on the lookout for scams, so make sure you choose well-reviewed apps and avoid giving sensitive information to any apps that seem unfamiliar or poorly rated. Get more tips and tricks on how to avoid financial scams.
What is the fastest app to build credit?
The fastest apps to build credit are the ones that report payments you’re already making, like bills or rent. Credit builder loans and credit lines also tend to show early movement within 1-3 months, as long as you pay on time.
What apps build credit without a credit check?
Several of the top credit building apps will help you build credit without a credit check, which makes them ideal for beginners or those rebuilding their credit. These include Self, Kikoff, Firstcard, Kovo, Grow Credit and more.
Which app is best to increase your credit score?
The app that’s best to increase your credit score depends on where you’re starting. If you have no credit file at all, a no-credit-check option like Kikoff or Self gets you a tradeline fast. If you already have a file and just want a lift, a bill-reporting tool like Experian Boost uses payments you’re already making.
How do I raise my credit score 40 points fast?
To raise your credit score 40 points fast, focus on the two factors that move quickest: On-time payment history and credit utilization. Paying a card down below 30% of its limit can show up within 1 billing cycle, and adding a reported tradeline can start contributing within 30-60 days. Bigger jumps generally take 6 months or more of consistent payments.
