
Best Credit Building Apps: Why Cheers Credit Builder Belongs at the Top

Best Credit Building Apps: Why Cheers Credit Builder Belongs at the Top
Trying to boost your credit score? You're probably searching for the best credit-building apps that work. But figuring out which app to trust can feel overwhelming between flashy ads, vague promises, and complicated terms. The truth is, most people don't know where to start. Whether you're just beginning your credit journey or trying to recover from past missteps, the right app can help only if it's built to support long-term progress.
That's what sets Cheers Credit Builder apart. While other apps add credit-building as a side feature, Cheers is built just for that. No credit check, no surprise fees- just a simple plan to build credit and savings simultaneously.
What the Best Credit Building Apps Have in Common
There are plenty of options in the app store. Chime, Kikoff, Ava, and others offer tools that may help in certain situations. But when you strip away the branding, the best credit-building apps share a few essentials:
- Reported to all three credit bureaus
- Credit scores are built on data from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. If an app only reports to one or two, your credit picture stays incomplete. Cheers reports to all three.
- Don't require a hard credit pull.
- Getting started shouldn't mean sacrificing your current score. Cheers skip the hard inquiry and open credit building to everyone, including immigrants, freelancers, and those just beginning.
- Transparent about costs
- Some apps hide setup fees, monthly memberships, or strange service charges. Cheers keeps it clean with one low 1% monthly APR (or 12% annually)—no other hidden costs.
- Cheers help you save while you build
- Cheers holds your monthly payments in an FDIC-insured account. When your plan ends, that money minus interest is returned to you. So you're not just building credit; you're growing your savings, too.

Why Cheers Credit Builder Isn't Just Another App
A lot of apps say they'll help your credit. But many are encouraging you to spend: swipe a card, use a credit line, or buy something to show activity. Cheers flips that idea. With Cheers, you build credit by saving consistently, responsibly, and without the pressure to spend.
The plan is simple: choose a loan amount between $528 and $3,168 and a term between 12 and 24 months. Each month, you make a payment (plus low interest). That payment is reported to all three bureaus. Once your plan is complete, you get your money back minus the interest you paid.
That payment history is powerful. It can make up about 35% of your credit score. If you don't have an installment account on your credit report, Cheers can diversify your credit mix, further supporting your score.
How Cheers Compares to Other Popular Credit Apps
Let's look at how Cheers stacks up against a few other well-known names often included in lists of the best credit building apps:
- Chime: Offers a secured credit card but doesn't help you build savings. Requires a direct deposit setup to access its credit tool.
- Kikoff: Sets up a small credit line to show payment activity but doesn't build savings or offer an installment account.
- Ava: Reports on your subscription payments (like Netflix or Verizon), which is clever but still misses the installment credit factor that Cheers delivers.
All three can help your score differently, but if you're looking for a tool that supports your credit and savings, Cheers leads that list.
Start in Minutes-Build for the Long Term
Signing up with Cheers takes about three minutes. You verify your ID (no credit score required), choose your plan, and start building. Your first payment is processed the following business day, meaning your credit reporting begins faster than most apps. Some competitors wait weeks before your first payment is even recorded.
And because there's no credit card involved, there's no temptation to overspend. Everything is focused on discipline, progress, and unlocking your money at the end of your term.
Not Just for the Few-Cheers Welcomes Everyone
Cheers was designed for people who often get left out of traditional credit products. No credit history? No problem. Just moved to the U.S.? You're always welcome. Are you trying to rebuild after some past issues? Cheers gives you a path to do that on your terms.
The Best Credit Building Apps Don't Just Work-They Fit Your Life
Your credit journey isn't about a quick fix. It's about steady improvement, smart habits, and tools that support your goals instead of getting in your way. The best credit-building apps are the ones that stay out of your pocket and have your back. Cheers Credit Builder was designed with that in mind. It's not a side feature. It's not tied to a spending habit. It's credit building that works because it's built around you.
Cheers is not a bank—deposit accounts held by a partner bank, Member FDIC.