Credit Genie App Review

Get Cash

Cash Advance

• No interest
• No hard credit check
• Won’t take much action against you if you don’t repay

• High fees
• Low cash advance amounts
• Limited customer support options
• Can’t be used with joint bank accounts
• Concerning reviews from customers
• Subscription required to determine eligibility

Amounts	$0 – $100
Speed of advance	30 minutes – 3 days
Fees	Up to $12.99 for instant advance + subscription fee of up to $6.98 per month
Repayment time	Your next payday

Credit Genie is a cash advance app that can lend you extra money if you’re struggling until your next payday. 

It sounds like a godsend, but we’ve researched how the company works and customer experiences from Credit Genie reviews to help you better understand whether it’s worth it. We don’t recommend Credit Genie, and we’ll show you why—along with better options when you need help.

How a Credit Genie cash advance works

Credit Genie is an app that allows you to apply for cash advances based on your banking history. You’ll need to link your bank account and agree to the monthly or biweekly subscription fees when you sign up. After that, you can apply for cash advances when you need them. 

With Credit Genie, your cash advance amount can constantly change. Credit Genie reviews your bank account history every time you request an advance, and sometimes you may not be approved at all—or, as some customers report, you might be approved for as little as $10.

If approved for a cash advance, to accept it, you’ll need to choose between the slower (but free) transfer option or a faster (but expensive) transfer option. 

Credit Genie will calculate when it thinks your next payday is, and it automatically schedules this as your due date. On that day, it withdraws the funds, plus any fees or tips.

How much does a Credit Genie cash advance cost?

Credit Genie charges a subscription fee to keep your bank account linked up, regardless of whether you’re actively applying for or paying back a cash advance at any time. 

Monthly subscription fee

You’ll pay a monthly subscription fee of $4.99 just for the option to apply for a cash advance loan. You can opt for a biweekly fee of $3.49 instead—which is more expensive than the monthly fee if you stay subscribed for more than a couple of weeks. The app also asks whether you want to leave a tip when you apply. 

Express or instant transfer fees

If you’re approved for a cash advance—and many people report they aren’t, even though they’re paying the fee—it’s free to get it in your bank account if you’re willing to wait three business days. 

However, you might be cash-strapped if you’re applying for a cash advance. Credit Genie offers two options for faster transfers: an “express transfer” on the same day or the next business day (for a $5.99 fee) or an “instant transfer” to your bank debit card within 30 minutes (for a $12.99 fee). 

Credit Genie app reviews and ratings

Platform	Rating	Number of reviews
Google Play	4.5/5	23.3K
Apple store	4.7/5	33.9K
Trustpilot	2.4/5	129
Better Business Bureau	1/5	5

Credit Genie earns many good overall ratings in app stores. But when you start digging down into the written Credit Genie reviews, it starts to look a little more concerning based on the problems that customers report having.

Many customers report issues with the app that prevent them from subscribing or—more concerning—unsubscribing. Several customers agreed to a subscription only to find out they weren’t eligible for a cash advance. Even more people had problems reaching customer service, with no phone line to call and slow email responses. 

Who is eligible for a Credit Genie cash advance?

Credit Genie’s eligibility requirements are fairly lax compared to something like personal loans, but there are some sticking points that will keep many people from being able to use its cash advances:

• 18 years or older
• U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Bank account in your name only (i.e., no joint accounts)
• Bank account must have been open for at least three months
• $600 or more in total direct deposits within the past three months
• Must live in a state other than Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, or Nevada
• Four or more direct deposits within the past three months (at least one within the last 17 days)

Pros and cons of a Credit Genie cash advance

Pros

• No interest

  Like most cash advance apps, Credit Genie charges fees, not interest.

• No hard credit check

  Credit Genie might do a soft credit check, which won’t affect your score, but it doesn’t do a hard credit pull.

• Won’t cause overdrafts

  Credit Genie checks your bank account balance before it takes your payment. If you don’t have enough, it will postpone payment, split it up into smaller payments, and eventually write it off. It won’t report you to the credit bureaus or put it into debt collection.

Cons

• Expensive fee structure

  For a two-week loan, you’ll essentially be paying an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from 130% to—brace yourself—4,687%, depending on your advance amount and whether you pay the instant transfer fees. That’s considered a predatory rate.

• Low cash advance amount

  If you’re approved (and not everyone is), the maximum cash advance is $100, which isn’t enough to help many people.

• Not available in some states

  Residents of Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, and Nevada aren’t able to use Credit Genie.

• Tough to reach customer service

  There are no phone numbers you can call, only an email address, a website contact form, or a snail mail address. Credit Genie reviews from customers say they often don’t hear back from these methods at all.

• Can’t use with a joint bank account

  You can only get a cash advance if you’re the sole person listed on the account, which automatically excludes nearly half of couples in the U.S. with a joint bank account, not a solo one.

• Poorly designed, glitchy, and hides fees

  Its website is basic and provides little information about its cash advance, including its faster transfer fees. (They’re $5.99 and $12.99, by the way, according to Credit Genie reviews.) Some customers report the app is glitchy and won’t even let them unsubscribe from being charged.

• Requires a subscription just to see whether you’re eligible

  A monthly subscription costs $4.99, and a biweekly subscription—oddly enough—costs $3.49. Multiple customers report having paid this fee only to be denied a cash advance, with an invitation to apply later (while still paying the fee, of course).

How does Credit Genie compare to other cash advance apps? 

These are several of our favorite cash advance apps based on our rigorous rating system:

Credit Genie’s maximum cash advance of $100—and that’s only if you qualify—is pitiful compared to its top-rated competitors. The average Dave user, for example, gets approved for a $170 cash advance and can borrow up to $500, while EarnIn allows some people to borrow up to $100 per day with a maximum advance amount of $750 per pay period. 

One of the most frustrating aspects of Credit Genie is the need to commit to paying a hefty monthly or biweekly fee to get started, only to find out that you may not even qualify. EarnIn and MoneyLion don’t charge ongoing fees; you’ll only pay when you request a cash advance and only if you want it fast.

When using cash advance apps, you want to be sure you’re working with a reputable company to ensure transparency. EarnIn, in particular, has a much better reputation than Credit Genie reviews on the review websites we consulted for Credit Genie: the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot. 

FAQ

Does Credit Genie let you borrow money?

Yes, Credit Genie offers cash advances to help users cover unexpected expenses between paychecks. The amounts available typically depend on your income and other factors, and the advance is deducted from your next paycheck.

How long does it take Credit Genie to deposit money?

Credit Genie can deposit money almost instantly if you opt for express funding, but standard funding may take up to three business days, depending on your bank.

How much does Credit Genie give you?

Credit Genie offers up to $100 for cash advances—significantly less than the best cash advance apps.

Do you have to pay back Credit Genie?

Yes, you must repay the cash advance when your next paycheck arrives. Credit Genie will automatically deduct the repayment amount from your bank account on the agreed-upon date.

Does Credit Genie report to the credit bureaus?

No, Credit Genie does not report to the credit bureaus, so using its services will not affect your credit score. However, this also means that timely repayments won’t help you build credit.