CreditStrong Review 2025: Do Its Revolving and Installment Plans Actually Help Build Credit?

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Quick take: CreditStrong is a solid option for building credit with no credit check and flexible plan choices. It’s best for people who are serious about improving their credit and can afford to commit for at least a few months.

Credit Builder Loans

• Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
• No hard credit check
• Multiple plans (installment and revolving)
• Cancel anytime

• No cash access during loan

Rates (APR)	5.85% – 15.51%
Monthly fee	$9.99 (Revolv™ plan) – $110 (MAGNUM™ plan)
Terms	1 – 10 years

CreditStrong® offers credit builder loans designed to help you improve your credit score while building savings—but the results aren’t instant, and the costs can add up. In this review, we’ll break down how CreditStrong works, what makes each plan different (Revolv™, Instal™, and MAGNUM™), and whether it’s worth it compared to top alternatives like Self and Chime.

Table of Contents

1. How CreditStrong works
2. Plans
   1. Revolv™
   2. Instal™
   3. MAGNUM™
3. Does it really build credit?
4. Costs
5. Is CreditStrong legit and safe?
6. Pros and cons
7. Alternatives
   1. vs. Chime
   2. vs. Self
   3. vs. MoneyLion
8. FAQ

How CreditStrong works

CreditStrong combines a locked savings account with a credit builder loan. Here’s how it works:

• You choose a plan and get approved, no credit check required.
• CreditStrong opens a savings account in your name and locks it.
• You make fixed monthly payments (including interest and fees).
• Those payments are reported to all three credit bureaus.
• At the end of the term, or if you cancel early, you unlock the savings.

CreditStrong plans explained

CreditStrong offers three types of plans: Revolv™, Instal™, and MAGNUM™. Each is designed for a different type of credit-building goal.

Revolv™ (formerly CS Revolv)

• Builds revolving credit, not an installment loan
• Monthly fee: $9.99
• No savings component or lump-sum payout
• Helps diversify credit mix and utilization

Revolv™ works like a secured credit line without a card. It’s most useful if you only have installment credit (like auto or student loans).

Instal™

• Traditional credit builder loan
• Terms range from 12 – 120 months
• Principal: $1,000 – $2,500
• Monthly cost: Typically $15 – $49

You’ll get the savings back at the end of the term, minus interest and any applicable fees. Instal™ is the most flexible plan and works well for general credit building.

MAGNUM™

• For long-term, high-limit goals
• Principal: Up to $10,000
• Term: 10 years
• Monthly cost: $55 – $110

MAGNUM™ is intended for users who want to add a large installment tradeline to their credit report, often for future business or mortgage financing. It’s not the best choice if you’re just starting out.

Does CreditStrong really build credit?

Yes, but it takes consistency and time. CreditStrong reports your payment history to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) each month. Here’s what to expect:

• Score changes in 2 – 3 months: Some users report increases within a few payment cycles.
• More impact with longer history: Keeping the account open longer improves account age and score potential.
• Avoid missed payments: A late or missed payment can hurt your score instead of helping it.
• Canceling early may reduce benefits: It stops further positive reporting and may shorten account history.

How much does CreditStrong cost?

Costs vary by plan. Here’s what to expect:

Plan	Monthly cost	Principal	Term length	Refund at end?
Revolv™	$9.99	N/A	Ongoing	No savings
Instal™	$15 – $49	$1,000 – $2,500	1 – 10 years	Yes, minus interest
MAGNUM™	$55 – $110	$5,000 – $10,000	10 years	Yes, minus interest

Fees and terms

• Rate: 5.85% – 15.51% APR
• Early closure: No penalty, but you may receive less than you paid in
• Subscription fees: Part of your monthly payment goes toward fees and interest, not savings

You’re paying for credit reporting and score-building, not just the return of savings.

Is CreditStrong legit and safe?

Yes, CreditStrong is a legitimate service offered by Austin Capital Bank, an FDIC-insured institution. It uses bank-level encryption and has transparent terms.

• No hard credit check to apply
• All accounts are held in your name
• You can cancel from your dashboard anytime
• The app is secure and well-reviewed (available on iOS and Android)

Pros and cons

Pros

• Reports to all three bureaus

• No credit check to apply

• Multiple plan types

• Easy cancellation

Cons

• Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number required

• No cash access until the end

• Results take a few months

• Can be expensive long-term

• Cancelling early may reduce credit score benefit

CreditStrong alternatives

Here’s a quick look at how CreditStrong stacks up against three competitors:

Credit building app	Best for	No credit check	Reports to all 3 bureaus	Has savings feature	Secured card	Rent reporting	Credit monitoring	Subscription & utility credit	Debit-based card
CreditStrong	Collection of products	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖	➖	➖	➖
Chime	Building credit with a secured card	✅	✅	➖	✅	➖	➖	➖	✅
Self	Benefits beyond building credit	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖	➖
MoneyLion	Bundling credit building with banking	✅	✅	✅	➖	➖	✅	➖	➖

CreditStrong vs. Chime

• Chime® offers a secured credit card (the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card) that builds credit without charging interest or fees.
• CreditStrong offers credit builder loans that report as installment accounts, not credit cards.

Verdict:

• Choose Chime if you want a low-cost secured credit card and already bank with Chime.
• Choose CreditStrong if you want to build installment credit or have no credit history at all.

CreditStrong vs. Self

• Self offers smaller plans and a physical debit card tied to your savings.
• CreditStrong has more plan variety, including high-limit MAGNUM™ and the revolving-credit Revolv™.

Verdict:

• Choose Self for flexibility and lower monthly costs.
• Choose CreditStrong if you want a long-term tradeline or to improve both installment and revolving credit.

CreditStrong vs. MoneyLion

• MoneyLion combines credit builder loans with digital banking features like cash advances and investment tools.
• CreditStrong is laser-focused on credit building, with more flexible plan options and higher potential credit lines (via MAGNUM™).

Verdict:

• Choose MoneyLion if you want all-in-one banking and credit building.
• Choose CreditStrong if you want a more customizable loan plan focused on credit improvement.

FAQ

Does CreditStrong hurt your credit?

Not if you make on-time payments. Missed payments or early cancellations may hurt your score.

Can I cancel CreditStrong early?

Yes. You’ll receive your savings minus interest and fees, and no additional payments will be required.

Is CreditStrong a real loan?

Yes. You’re taking out an installment loan that is held in a locked savings account until it’s paid off.

How long should I keep my CreditStrong account?

At least six months is ideal for meaningful credit score improvement. Longer is better if you can afford it.

How we rated CreditStrong

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best credit builder loans. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared CreditStrong to several credit builder loans, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below.