Cleo FAQ: Every Question, Answered

Cleo is an AI-powered money app used by 7M+ Americans, combining interest-free cash advances (up to $500), a credit-building secured Visa, budgeting, and high-yield savings in one app. Full breakdown in our Cleo App review.

You need to be 18+, a U.S. resident, with an active personal checking account and consistent income deposits. No credit score is required. See the complete requirements guide.

Cleo cash advances are available in 48 states plus Washington, DC. Specific products like the Cleo Card can vary by state — the app shows availability where you live.

There is no published hard minimum. Cleo's AI values consistency over size — regular weekly or biweekly deposits matter most. Around $750+/month in direct deposits is recommended for the higher limits.

Yes. Eligibility is based on real bank deposits, not W-2s or job titles. Gig payouts, freelance transfers, and part-time income all count if they arrive consistently.

Yes — Cleo supports most banks and fintechs available through Plaid, including Chime. Setup steps and quirks are in our Chime compatibility guide.

Advances range from $20 up to $250 on the Plus plan and up to $500 on the Builder plan, depending on your income pattern and repayment history.

First-time users typically unlock $20–$100. The starting amount reflects what Cleo's AI sees in your linked account at signup.

Three levers: link the account where your income actually lands, keep deposits consistent (direct deposit is the strongest signal), and repay every advance on time. The $500 tier requires the Builder plan.

Standard transfers are free and arrive in 3–4 business days. Express transfers are same-day — often within hours — for $3.99–$14.99. Full timelines in the deposit speed guide.

A flat $3.99–$14.99 depending on the advance amount — smaller advances sit near the bottom of the range, a full $500 at the top. There's no percentage-based markup.

Repayment is automatically withdrawn from your linked account on the scheduled date, usually aligned to your next payday. You can also repay early in the app.

Cleo charges no late fees and no interest — a missed date can't snowball your balance the way a payday loan does. The main consequence is to your future limit and eligibility, so contact support in the app to reschedule if you see trouble coming.

Three tiers: Plus at $5.99/mo, Pro at $8.99/mo, and Builder at $14.99/mo. Advances themselves are always 0% interest.

Plus covers advances up to $250 plus AI budgeting. Pro adds high-yield savings at 2.75% APY and advanced coaching. Builder adds the Credit Builder Card, raises the advance cap to $500, and unlocks early paycheck access.

No — 0% interest, always. Costs are limited to the subscription and the optional express transfer fee. Model your numbers on the repayment calculator.

No late fees, no rollover fees, no interest, no origination fees. The complete cost picture is: subscription + optional express fee. That's it.

Yes, in about a minute through the in-app chat, with no cancellation fee. Downgrading (e.g., Builder → Plus) is offered during the cancel flow. Steps in how to cancel Cleo.

It's a secured Visa issued by WebBank (Member FDIC): your deposit (from $1) sets your limit, you spend normally, autopay settles from the deposit, and every on-time payment is reported to all three bureaus. Full review here.

Just $1 — the lowest entry in the secured-card category. You can add more anytime to raise your limit.

Yes, with consistency. Payment history is ~35% of your FICO score, and the card's autopay design makes on-time payment the default. Most thin-file users see their first score within 1–2 reporting cycles.

No. There's no hard credit inquiry to apply — approval runs on your Cleo profile and linked bank data.

Only Builder ($14.99/mo). It also raises the advance cap to $500 and adds early paycheck access.

Yes. Cleo is a registered fintech serving 7M+ users, with banking via Thread Bank (Member FDIC) and cards issued by WebBank (Member FDIC) under a Visa license.

Banking services are provided through Thread Bank, Member FDIC — deposits held there carry FDIC insurance through the partner bank.

No. Account linking is handled by Plaid's encrypted service — your credentials go to Plaid, and Cleo never sees or stores your bank password.

Never a hard check. Eligibility comes from AI analysis of your linked account, so applying is invisible to the credit bureaus. See more no-credit-check apps.

Open the app → chat → type "cancel my subscription" → confirm. Takes about a minute, no fee. Full walkthrough with App Store/Google Play steps: how to cancel Cleo.

Subscriptions generally aren't prorated — you keep access until the end of the paid period rather than receiving a partial refund.

Yes, in settings — disconnect the old account and run the Plaid link with the new one. Note your eligibility re-evaluates based on the new account's income pattern.

Through the chat inside the app — it handles account actions, billing questions, and human escalation when the AI can't resolve something.