Customer experiences
Trustpilot company reviews — independent customer feedback
4.1 / 5
From 2,144 reviews · Checked October 10, 2026
This is a dated company-level snapshot, not a live score or rating of a particular plan. Counts and scores change; follow the link for current figures.
Read customer reviews on TrustpilotWhat some customers appreciate
Customers often mention easy-to-manage payments and personally reported credit progress.
Common concerns
Other customers describe delays getting funds, payment or login problems, and difficulty reaching support.
Read original customer experiences
- Positive: A reviewer appreciated the app's convenience and described personal progress. Original review
- Mixed: A reviewer was confused about paying card purchases separately from a card deposit. Original review
- Critical: A reviewer described a longer-than-expected payout wait and disappointing results. Original review
These are individual accounts, not independently verified outcomes or representative statistics. Credit changes depend on the full credit profile; no results are guaranteed. Trustpilot does not sponsor or endorse this All In One Credit comparison.
Quick Facts
- Account type
- Held-proceeds installment credit-builder loan
- Starting price
- $25/month; 24-month term (observed public offer)
- Monthly cost
- $25, $35, $48 or $150 / month, depending on plan
- Reports to
- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion (CBA)
- What comes back
- Held loan principal less interest/fees and other applicable obligations
- Credit check
- No hard inquiry advertised for core CBA
- Rent reporting
- Free qualifying rent to three bureaus; optional bills to TransUnion
- Secured Self Visa
- Separate card and eligibility; deposit and purchase balances differ
- Self Plus
- Separate unsecured card; eligibility and hard inquiry on acceptance
- Upfront money
- No spendable loan proceeds
- Term
- 24 months on observed CBA offers; check current loan contract
Plans & pricing
Compare this provider's plans side by side. Verified 2026-10-10 (October 7–8 observed plans; confirm loan contract); confirm current terms with the provider before enrolling.
Reports to bureaus
CBA installment loan: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
Qualifying rent separately reports to all three; paid utility/phone reporting is TransUnion-only. Payment furnishing does not guarantee a particular scoring result.
Reports & scores from bureaus
Account-related monitoring varies; different from payment furnishing
Core loan payment reporting is not the same as providing three-bureau full credit reports.
Credit Builder — $25/month
$25/mo
24 payments: $600 total
Upfront: No loan cash disbursed upfront
Held principal $511; scheduled finance cost $89
- Held-proceeds installment loan
- Monthly CBA activity to three bureaus
- Loan proceeds released after repayment, subject to loan terms
- 24-month cash commitment
- Returned principal less than total paid
- Administrative and debit fees may vary by agreement
Best fit: Lower monthly commitment for installment history without needing cash now.
Credit Builder — $35/month
$35/mo
24 payments: $840 total
Upfront: No loan cash disbursed upfront
Held principal $717; scheduled finance cost $123
- Held-proceeds installment loan
- Payment reporting to all three major bureaus
- Larger accumulated principal than $25 plan
- Same three furnishing bureaus, not more reporting
- Payment amount and finance costs higher
Best fit: Stable budget that can leave more funds locked for the term.
Credit Builder — $48/month
$48/mo
24 payments: $1,152 total
Upfront: No loan cash disbursed upfront
Held principal $985; scheduled finance cost $167
- Held-proceeds installment loan
- Payment reporting to all three major bureaus
- More held principal at term than lower levels
- Higher monthly obligation
- No evidence of bigger credit-score effect just from paying more
Best fit: Comfortable two-year payment budget and a goal of larger held principal.
Credit Builder — $150/month
$150/mo
24 payments: $3,600 total
Upfront: No loan cash disbursed upfront
Held principal $3,069; scheduled finance cost $531
- Held-proceeds installment loan
- Payment reporting to all three major bureaus
- Largest observed principal example
- Substantially higher commitment and finance cost
- No more bureaus or guaranteed scoring benefit
Best fit: Only people whose finances comfortably support the higher 24-month commitment.
You'll choose your exact plan on the provider's site.
Figures are October 7–8 observed public samples, NOT individualized loan quotes. Pricing feed showed $0 admin fees while app disclosures say $1–$5 may apply. Optional debit payment charges, secured Self Visa/Self Plus and rent/bill reporting have separate terms.
Eligibility
- Age 18+, valid U.S. identity/SSN and address
- No hard inquiry advertised on core CBA
- A bank/payment account is required
- Cash proceeds held until settlement; payout varies
Key costs and differences before you enroll
Evidence-based plan details, checked October 10, 2026. Provider agreements and individual eligibility control.
Know the cash flow
The full 24-month payment schedule is not a savings payout. Part pays finance cost, and the held principal is unavailable upfront.
Three separate products
CBA, secured Self Visa and Self Plus are different accounts. A card deposit does not cover future card purchases.
Rent can be free
Qualified free rent may reach three bureaus. The separately priced rent/bills plan adds eligible TU utility/phone reporting.
Who It May Be Best For
Someone with a stable budget who wants installment payment history and can leave loan proceeds unavailable for the full term. Compare free qualifying rent reporting before paying for credit building when your main goal is rental history.
Who May Want Another Option
People needing accessible cash now, avoiding a two-year obligation, or struggling to make current payments should not choose a held-proceeds CBA expecting an instant loan or certain score gains. A separately approved secured card serves a different need.
How It Works
Self's partner lender places the proceeds of an installment loan in a certificate of deposit, not in your spending account. Your 24 scheduled payments include principal and finance cost; successful payments are reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. After repayment, held principal may be returned minus interest, fees and applicable obligations. Self also separately offers a secured Self Visa, conditional Self Plus unsecured card, and optional rent/bill reporting; none automatically comes with every CBA.
Pricing and Fees
Observed October 7–8 public 24-month CBA schedules: $25/month = $600 paid, approximately $511 held principal and $89 finance cost; $35 = $840 paid, ~$717 principal and $123 cost; $48 = $1,152 paid, ~$985 principal and $167 cost; $150 = $3,600 paid, ~$3,069 principal and $531 cost. These are observed sample figures, not personalized offers. The public pricing feed showed $0 admin fee while app disclosures say $1–$5 may apply; debit convenience fees can also apply. Review your own loan agreement. Secured Self Visa and Self Plus are separate card offers with APRs/annual fees, not extra CBA tiers.
Credit Bureau Reporting
CBA installment activity is reported to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion after successful payments; no bureau-specific first appearance date is guaranteed. Qualifying free rent reporting also reaches all three major bureaus. Optional $6.95/month rent-and-bills service reports eligible utility and phone payments to TransUnion; a $49.95 Lookback add-on may provide up to 24 qualifying past months. A payment furnishing event and a refreshed credit score are not the same event.
Eligibility
Core CBA generally requires age 18+, valid U.S. identity/SSN, address and payment capability, with no hard inquiry advertised. A separately approved secured Self Visa can require a deposit of at least $100; funding via saved CBA proceeds may require three on-time payments and other checks. Self Plus has separate eligibility and can involve a hard inquiry upon acceptance.
Important Limitations
You cannot withdraw held CBA funds before payout. Scheduled finance cost means the principal returned is less than total payments even if payments are all on time. Early closure, payment failure, convenience fees and card charges may affect costs or reporting. The Self Visa security deposit does not pay card purchases; Self Plus is not automatically approved or a substitute for the CBA. No score increase, credit approval or guaranteed payout date is promised.
Alternatives
For a restricted revolving tradeline, compare Kikoff Basic's separate financing and reporting model; for a financed purchase with no returned principal, Kovo differs substantially from Self's held-loan structure. Someone seeking spendable credit can compare properly qualified secured cards instead. For eligible rent, check Self's own free rent reporting before paying a competitor.
Final Summary
Self offers several distinct choices: a held-proceeds installment CBA, separate secured/unsecured cards, and free or optional paid rent and bill reporting. The CBA can fit stable budgets seeking installment payment history, but the money isn't available during the term and finance costs reduce what comes back. Compare exact contractual costs and do not assume any product raises a score.
Pros
- Installment reporting to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
- Four observed 24-month payment levels with held principal available after repayment
- No hard inquiry advertised for the core Credit Builder Account
- Separately available free qualifying rent reporting
- Optional secured card and Self Plus card for eligible applicants
Cons
- No immediate access to held loan proceeds
- Finance costs and some account/payment fees reduce economic value
- Missed payments may harm your credit
- Secured and unsecured cards have separate fees, APRs and eligibility
- Reporting and payout timing can vary; improvement is never guaranteed
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the money go in a Self Credit Builder Account?
Loan proceeds are held in a bank CD, not handed to you to spend. After the obligation is paid, the eligible held principal is released, subject to fees, interest, offsets and processing.
What are Self's observed 24-month plans?
Public examples show $25, $35, $48 and $150 monthly options over 24 months, with different principal and finance costs. Your actual contractual offer controls.
Does the Credit Builder Account report to all three bureaus?
Self says CBA installment payments are furnished to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. No exact first reporting or score-change day is guaranteed.
Can I use a Self Visa or Self Plus card automatically?
No. Those are separate accounts with separate eligibility, funding, fees and potential hard-inquiry rules.
Does Self offer rent and utility reporting?
Qualifying free rent reporting is advertised for three bureaus. An optional paid rent/bills plan adds eligible utility and phone information to TransUnion, subject to verification.
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