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Credit Builders

Credit-building products are designed to help you establish or rebuild credit history through on-time payments reported to the credit bureaus. Compare accounts by type, monthly cost, credit check, bureau reporting, and key features — then choose any two to compare side by side.

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Our top picks

Picked for fees, features and who each one fits best, not for what we earn. Prices can change, so confirm them with the provider before you sign up.

Best on a tight budget

Kikoff logo

Kikoff

3.9· 2,342 Trustpilot reviews

Plans start at $5 a month, and it reports to all three credit bureaus.

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Note that Kikoff's service and features are separate from those offered by our organization. Kikoff's fees and terms are separate from those associated with our organization's services. Individual results may vary. Subject to approval. Terms & conditions may apply. Plans start at $5/mo for 12 mos. Autopay requires opt-in. Features & bureau reporting may vary depending on plan purchased. Subject to approval. Kikoff tradeline intended for financing the purchase of Kikoff products & services (like your monthly Kikoff plan).

Read our review

Best to save while you build

Self logo

Self

4.1· 2,144 Trustpilot reviews

Your monthly payments build savings you get back at the end of the plan, minus interest and fees. A common plan is about $25 a month.

Most bureaus reported

Kovo logo

Kovo

4.9· 16,077 Trustpilot reviews

Reports to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion plus Innovis, from about $10 a month.

No monthly fee

Chime Card logo

Chime Card

3.5· 13,847 Trustpilot reviews

The Chime card has no routine card fee, but you need a Chime Checking account and must fund the card before you use it.

Pay rent? Self and Kikoff can also report your rent payments, so you may not need a separate rent-reporting service.

Important: Product terms, pricing, eligibility, and features may change. Always verify details with the provider before applying.
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8 products

Self logo

Self

Credit-builder installment loan / savings-building account

4.1· 2,144 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$25/month
All 3 bureaus
Installment LoanSavings ComponentAll 3 bureausNo hard credit check
Reports toExperian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit checkNo hard credit check
Deposit / fundingNo traditional upfront deposit (loan proceeds held as collateral in a CD)
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Users select a plan and make monthly installment payments. Payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus. Loan funds are held in a bank certificate of deposit and the remaining funds are returned after completion, minus applicable interest and fees.

Reports to all three bureaus
Builds savings while building credit
No hard credit check
Funds locked until loan term completes
Interest and fees apply

Best for: People who want to build payment history and savings simultaneously

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Kikoff logo

Kikoff

Credit-building account / tradeline

3.9· 2,342 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$5/month
All 3 bureaus
Credit Building AccountAll 3 bureausNo credit checkRent ReportingBill Reporting
Reports toExperian, Equifax, TransUnion
Credit checkNo credit check
Deposit / fundingNo traditional security deposit
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Kikoff reports a credit-building tradeline to all three bureaus. Basic includes a $750 reported tradeline, weekly credit report, and rent reporting to Equifax and TransUnion. Higher tiers add larger tradelines, 3-bureau reports and scores, bill reporting, and identity protection.

Low $5/month entry
Reports to all three bureaus
Includes rent reporting
Tradeline amount varies by tier
Higher tiers needed for bill reporting

Best for: People who want a low-cost tradeline reporting to all three bureaus

Get Started Now

Note that Kikoff's service and features are separate from those offered by our organization. Kikoff's fees and terms are separate from those associated with our organization's services. Individual results may vary. Subject to approval. Terms & conditions may apply. Plans start at $5/mo for 12 mos. Autopay requires opt-in. Features & bureau reporting may vary depending on plan purchased. Subject to approval. Kikoff tradeline intended for financing the purchase of Kikoff products & services (like your monthly Kikoff plan).

Read Review

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Kovo logo

Kovo

Installment Credit Builder + optional Revolving Credit Builder

4.9· 16,077 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$10/month
4 bureaus
Installment Credit Builder4 bureausNo hard credit checkCredit MonitoringIdentity Protection
Reports toExperian, Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis
Credit checkNo hard credit check
Deposit / fundingNo
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Kovo's Installment Credit Builder reports monthly payments to four bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, Innovis) over a 24-month term. Includes credit monitoring, identity protection, and cash rewards on eligible offers. An optional revolving credit-builder product is available for eligible members.

Reports to four bureaus (incl. Innovis)
No hard credit check
No interest
24-month installment term
Revolving product only for eligible members

Best for: People who want reporting to four bureaus, including Innovis

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Perpay logo

Perpay

Marketplace + optional Perpay+ reporting + separate unsecured Mastercard

4.7· 4,204 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$0 Marketplace membership; Perpay+ $5/mo
All 3 bureaus
Optional Perpay+ ReportingPayroll RequiredSeparate Unsecured Card
Reports toExperian, Equifax, TransUnion (qualifying Perpay+ or separately approved Mastercard; not Marketplace alone)
Credit checkScreening/underwriting varies by product; no blanket approval guarantee
Deposit / fundingQualifying payroll allocation; card opening fee is not a refundable secured-card deposit
Direct depositQualifying payroll or eligible benefits required for participating services

How it works: Shop via payroll-funded Marketplace, optionally enroll separately in $5/month Perpay+ reporting, or apply separately for the fee-bearing unsecured Mastercard.

Up to $1,000 reported spending limit
Reports to all three bureaus
Monthly credit score tracking
Requires payroll direct deposit
Marketplace purchases only

Best for: Eligible payroll-funded users seeking $5/month reporting without a merchandise purchase, or comparing separate Marketplace/card options

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Chime Card logo

Chime Card

Current secured Visa credit card

3.5· 13,847 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$0 routine monthly/annual card fee
All 3 bureaus
Current Secured Visa Card3-bureau furnishingChime Checking required
Reports toExperian, Equifax, TransUnion (basic Chime Card monthly activity)
Credit checkNo hard inquiry advertised for basic card; identity/account verification applies
Deposit / fundingFund Chime Checking; no fixed minimum, spending limited to funded available balance
Direct depositNot required for basic card; eligible deposits qualify for Plus/Prime status

How it works: Spend existing Chime available funds using the secured Visa; pay each monthly card statement in full (Safer Credit Building may automate); card payment history reports to three bureaus.

No annual fee or interest
No minimum security deposit
No credit check to apply
Requires a Chime Checking Account
Utilization is not reported

Best for: People willing to use Chime Checking, fund their own purchases, and pay the card statement in full

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Extra logo

Extra

Paid debit-style Mastercard with credit-reporting arrangement

4.0· 844 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$20/month OR $149 prepaid annually
2 bureaus
Debit-style MastercardPaid membershipExperian and Equifax onlyBank repayment
Reports toExperian and Equifax only — NOT TransUnion
Credit checkNo minimum credit score advertised; identity and banking verification still required
Deposit / fundingNo advertised fixed security deposit; funded bank repayments and monthly membership required
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Eligible debit-style Mastercard purchases use assigned Spend Power and are reimbursed from your linked checking account under your actual agreement; Extra furnishes qualifying activity to Experian and Equifax.

Existing compatible checking account can fund familiar merchant purchases
Reports eligible activity to Experian and Equifax
No traditional secured-card cash deposit
Monthly memberships start at $20; prepaid annual fees are substantial
Does not furnish to TransUnion

Best for: Customers with steady checking funds who want funded merchant spending and accept paid two-bureau reporting

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Ava logo

Ava

Paid credit-building membership: restricted card, optional installment loan and bills

4.7· 2,891 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$10 monthly OR $60 prepaid annually ($5/mo equivalent)
All 3 bureaus
Restricted cardSavings-backed loan separate3-bureau card/loanTransUnion-only rent and bills
Reports toCard and qualifying loan: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion. Rent, utilities and phone: TransUnion only
Credit checkNo universal minimum score advertised; identity, bank and separate credit-product approval required
Deposit / fundingNo fixed upfront card deposit advertised; card purchase/full-payment and loan obligations apply
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Eligible members may use a restricted-merchant Mastercard charge card with separate personalized Spend Limit, apply for a bank-held savings loan, and add qualifying rent/utility/phone furnishing to TransUnion only.

Single paid membership can provide multiple credit-building options
Eligible card and separately approved loan reporting to all three bureaus
Eligible rent/utility/phone payment furnishing to TransUnion
$60 annual price is prepaid, not $5 monthly billing
Credit card works only at approved merchants and within a small personalized Spend Limit

Best for: Users who can responsibly fund restricted approved-merchant purchases and separately value optional rent/bill reporting

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

Brigit Credit Builder logo

Brigit Credit Builder

24-month savings-backed installment builder with paid Premium membership

4.5· 6,086 Trustpilot reviews
Price:$15.99/month Premium for new Credit Builder
All 3 bureaus
Three-bureau installment builderPremium requiredSavings separateInstant Cash not credit reporting
Reports toCredit Builder installment loan to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion; Instant Cash not furnished
Credit checkNo hard credit inquiry advertised for Credit Builder; identity and bank checks still apply
Deposit / fundingNo required initial collateral deposit; monthly savings contributions are separate
Direct depositNot required

How it works: Eligible Premium subscribers use a 24-month installment Credit Builder with bank-held loan proceeds, separate savings contributions and monthly reporting to three bureaus. Free and Plus are NOT new builder enrollment plans.

Credit Builder loan reports to all three major bureaus
Builder savings contributions can be accessed under its rules
Premium combines builder with budgeting, monitoring and eligible advance delivery
New builder access requires $15.99/month Premium for potentially 24 months
Loan proceeds are held rather than spendable cash

Best for: Able to afford $15.99/month membership plus savings contribution and seeking installment payment history

Advertiser Disclosure: We may earn compensation when you use certain links.

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