10 Best Credit Builder Apps in 2025

iOS App Store | Google Play

Self is one of the best credit builder apps for a reason. It works by letting you “repay” a small installment loan to yourself. You make fixed monthly payments starting at $25, and Self reports each one to all three major credit bureaus. Once you finish your plan, you unlock your savings, minus interest and fees. You can also qualify for a secured credit card through the app, and Self now offers rent reporting, too.

• No credit check required
• Reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
• Plans start at $25/month with savings back at the end
• Optional secured credit card and rent reporting

We liked that Self makes credit building feel low-pressure. Everything is laid out clearly, from how much you’ll pay each month to what you’ll get back. It’s a great fit if you want to start small and don’t want to rely on credit cards. Bonus: You’ll end up with a little savings cushion.

iOS App Store | Google Play

The Chime Credit Builder Visa is a secured credit card that helps you build credit without interest, annual fees, or a credit check. There’s no minimum deposit required—just move money into your Credit Builder account and use the card like you would any debit card. Chime reports your payment activity to all three major credit bureaus.

• No annual fees, interest, or credit check
• No minimum security deposit
• Reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion

We love how easy Chime makes it to get started. If you already use Chime for banking, adding the Credit Builder card takes just a few taps. You’re in control of your spending limit, and there are no hidden fees or complicated rules. It’s one of the lowest-stress ways to start building credit, especially if you’ve had trouble qualifying for other cards.

iOS App Store | Google Play

MoneyLion is more than one of the best credit builder apps—it’s a full-fledged mobile bank. Its Credit Builder Plus program gives you access to a small installment loan while reporting payments to all three credit bureaus. It also includes credit monitoring, cash advances, and a RoarMoney banking account.

• Credit builder loan with upfront cash access
• Reports to TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian
• Cash advances, banking, and rewards all in one app

iOS App Store | Google Play

Kovo helps you build credit by reporting $10 monthly payments to all four major credit bureaus without charging interest or requiring a credit check. Over time, you can unlock access to additional credit-building products and identity protection tools, all while building positive payment history.

• No interest, fees, or credit checks
• Reports to TransUnion, Equifax, Experian, and Innovis
• Optional credit boosts and up to $1,225 in cash rewards

We like that Kovo reports payments to more bureaus than most competitors. The app includes tools to track your progress and offers clear tips to keep moving forward.

iOS App Store | Google Play

Kikoff offers one of the lowest-barrier ways to build credit in 2025. For as little as $5 per month, you can open a $750 tradeline with no credit check or interest. Kikoff reports your on-time payments to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to help you establish a payment history and improve your score.

• Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
• Tradelines starting at $750 (up to $3,500 on higher tiers)
• Rent reporting and secured card options available on premium plans

Kikoff feels almost too simple, which is kind of the point. There’s no card to use. Instead, you pay a monthly fee to keep the account active, which is reported as a positive tradeline. It’s a great entry point for anyone starting from scratch or rebuilding credit on a budget.

iOS App Store | Google Play

Grow Credit lets you build credit just by paying for services you already use—like Netflix, Spotify, or Amazon Prime. Once approved, you’ll get a virtual Mastercard that can only be used for eligible subscriptions. Grow reports your on-time payments to all three major credit bureaus.

• Free plan covers up to $17/month in subscriptions
• Reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
• Paid memberships available for higher monthly spending limits

GrowCredit is one of the best credit builder apps for anyone with recurring subscriptions. It’s one of the only apps that turns everyday spending into a credit-building opportunity, without adding more debt. Setup takes under five minutes, and we appreciate that even the free plan packs value.

iOS App Store | Google Play

Experian offers a free way to check your Experian credit report and FICO Score, along with an optional tool called Experian Boost. Boost lets you get credit for on-time payments like phone bills, utilities, streaming services, and even rent. As a result, you could potentially increase your score without taking on new debt.

We liked how easy it was to create an account and instantly see our Experian FICO Score. You can also cancel old subscriptions in the app, set up a budget, and use Boost to potentially raise your score. Just note: if you want to see your Equifax or TransUnion scores, or use the FICO Score Simulator, you’ll need to pay for a premium plan. Experian Boost is free, though.

iOS App Store | Google Play

Credit Karma isn’t a credit builder app in the traditional sense—it doesn’t offer a loan or credit line. But it does help you monitor your score and find credit-building products you might qualify for. It’s best for folks who want to understand what’s helping (or hurting) their credit in real time.

• Free credit scores from TransUnion and Equifax
• Personalized credit card and loan recommendations
• Credit score simulators and report insights

We’ve used Credit Karma for years to stay on top of score changes. The score tracking and report breakdowns are incredibly useful, and the app surfaces relevant products (though sometimes a bit aggressively). Still, it’s one of the best credit builder apps out there for a reason.

iOS App Store | Google Play

Credit Sesame offers a virtual debit account called Sesame Cash, which now includes a credit builder feature that helps you build credit with your everyday purchases. There’s no credit check, no security deposit, and no interest—you just use your Sesame Cash Mastercard for gas, groceries, or bills, and Credit Sesame reports your on-time activity.

We like that Credit Sesame works just like a regular debit card but helps build credit in the background. The app also includes a helpful dashboard showing your credit score, Sesame Grade, and tips to improve it. Just note: Some features may come with monthly fees unless you meet usage requirements.

We were impressed with how seamlessly Extra connects to your bank and how fast it started tracking purchases. (You connect your account using Plaid.) The card feels like using a debit card, but with the added benefit of reporting activity like a credit card. One downside? It doesn’t report to TransUnion, and plans cost $20 to $25 per month (unless you get an annual plan). But it’s still one of the best credit builder apps if you want to avoid a credit check.