If you’re looking to build your credit or need a credit card that doesn’t require high credit scores, Cred.ai could be what you’re looking for. In this article, I’ll give you a full Cred.ai review.
How does Cred.ai work? How does Cred AI make money? Is Cred.ai legit?
I answer these questions (and more) in my review.
Let’s dive in.
| Stealth Card | Flux Capacitor | Cred.ai Guaranty | ATM Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/10 | 9/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| ✅WHAT I LIKE + | ❌WHAT I DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| The platform helps you build your credit score. | You don’t get cashback points. |
| The credit cards work just as well as any traditional card. | The system is not compatible with all banks. |
| You can easily deposit money through the mobile app. | Deposits don’t earn interest. |
| You can withdraw for free on 55,000 ATMs around the US. |
What Is Cred. ai, and How Does It Work?
Cred.ai started in 2016 and eventually got backing from investors like AOL CEO Tim Armstrong. Over the years, it has created solutions to help automate and integrate credit-building habits with a virtual card.
It’s a platform that helps you build your credit by helping you optimize your credit utilization and make automated payments to ensure you don’t pay fees or interest.
The credit system’s cutting-edge systems help you budget and pre-approve future expenditures while keeping your finances fully secure. There’s also a free metal card that you can use for purchases.
Is Cred.ai a Bank? How Does Cred. ai work?
While Cred.ai works as a banking solution, it’s not a bank. It’s a tech company. Your bank account and Credai card come via Visa from Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB (WSFS Bank).
The Cred.ai bank name is WSFS Bank.
Why do I see WSFS Unicorn on my credit report? If you have a Cred.ai account, this is the reason.
How Does Cred.ai Help You Build Your Credit?
Americans now pay more attention to credit scores to gauge their credit trustworthiness. Cred.ai can help you build that score up so that lending firms see you as more trustworthy credit-wise.
How does Cred.ai help build your credit? There are a couple of ways.
First, it helps you optimize your credit utilization, which accounts for 30% of your FICO score.
When you swipe your WSFS Unicorn card from Cred.ai, the system freezes that amount in your Credit.ai deposit account.
The system then makes Unicorn Card payments automatically in full with a grace period payment to improve your payment history records.
Cred.ai then initiates a clean-up payment on the last day of your billing cycle, reducing your reporting credit card balance and optimizing your credit level.
According to reports, Cred.ai can increase credit scores by 60 points in as little as 90 days.
Cred.ai Review: An In-Depth Look at Features
Here’s a look at some of Cred.ai’s most important features and how they stack up.
Stealthcard™
What is the Cred.ai Stealthcard™? Is it like a credit or debit card?
The Cred.ai Stealthcard™ is a virtual card number that lets you make purchases without giving merchants your card information. You can use virtual Stealth Cards via your phone and in person through your mobile wallet.
You can buy daily things like food, groceries, and more. The card also works for signing up for free trials of software and digital services.
On top of virtual cards, the system gives you the same security as traditional credit cards and comes with a solid metal credit card.
Most Stealthcards have a $1,500 limit, but you can’t use all of it since the goal is building credit, and it will try to control your utilization rate. So, this isn’t the best option for you if you need a higher credit limit.
Note: Stealthcard™ doesn’t offer any cashback rewards.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Most Stealth Cards reviews I’ve seen are positive. The Stealthcard™works like any traditional credit card as it lets you make everyday purchases but emphasizes credit building as a goal. I’ve used Stealthcard, and I can definitely say it has reliable security that protects you from risky transactions, much like a secured credit card. Overall, the Stealthcard™ is a helpful alternative to the traditional credit card. |
Flux Capacitor
Flux Capacitor is a cash advance system that lets you access the spending power of your direct deposits up to two days earlier.
It also detects and reacts to in-clearing debits even before they charge, meaning you’ll see what a utility company will charge you ahead of time.
However, remember that you can only access direct deposit funds once the payer submits the deposit file. Generally, that’s around two days before the scheduled payment date.
You have complete control over these features and can turn them off when you want to be in high-security mode.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Flux Capacitor is an innovation that provides a lot of upside for employees needing early access to their paychecks. However, I recommend only using this feature for non-negotiable payments like utilities and other necessities. |
Cred.ai Guaranty
The Cred.ai Guaranty protects you from future charges due to late fees and interest on your purchases. It will help you cut your Cred AI credit card-related costs by ensuring you don’t have to pay interest.
Most credit card companies make a lot of money off fees they charge you. Cred.ai revolutionizes the credit industry by trying to reduce those fees for you.
If automated payment management fails, Cred.ai will pay for the fee or interest charge on your behalf.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Cred.ai’s zero interest and fees guarantee works in your favor if you struggle with late fees. This guarantee is crucial in improving your credit history since on-time payments can improve your credit score. |
ATM Network
ATM withdrawals, you make area cash advances against the Unicord card. You also won’t pay any interest on those withdrawals if you stay within the boundaries of the guarantee.
Cred.ai offers free withdrawals, but only to a reported 55,000 ATMs across the United States. You can locate these ATMs in the Cred.ai mobile app.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Cred.ai’s free ATM withdrawal network is not that big, considering there are over 470,000 ATMs in the US. The ATM withdrawal is also technically a cash advance, so it’s different. However, Cred.ai’s withdrawal feature fundamentally serves the same purpose: to get cash. And the free withdrawal network is sufficient if you’re in major cities in the US. |
Deposits
With Cred.ai, you can make instant deposits. If you’re looking for a way to cash a check without ID, Cred.ai is a good alternative. It allows mobile check deposits without any fees.
If you were wondering, you must deposit money in your Cred.ai account. The smallest amount you can deposit into your account is $100.
Cred.ai is FDIC-insured, and their deposit insurance covers up to $250,000.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Cred.ai’s insurance cover is sufficient for its purpose, which is to help you establish credit. |
Cred.ai Pricing (Rates and Fees)
Cred.ai’s pricing structure is unique because it doesn’t charge subscription fees like other credit builder products.
However, there are times when you might pay fees on your Unicorn Card, particularly when you don’t enable automated payments. In this case, these are the interest rates and fees on your card:
| Purchase Interest Rate | 17.76% APR |
| Cash Advance Interest Rate | 24.99% APR |
| Late Payment | Up to $25 |
The Unicorn Card has no annual or foreign transaction fees, so how does Cred.ai make money?
It monetizes its technology services by selling them to companies like small banks and fintechs.
If you set up automatic payments in your Cred.ai deposit account, the Cred.ai guarantee will apply to you. Thus, you won’t have to worry about these fees.
The Pros and Cons of Cred.ai
Here are Cred.ai’s pros and cons:
| ✔️Pros | ✖️Cons |
|---|---|
| Potentially build up your credit score | No interest earned on deposits |
| No annual fee or foreign transaction fee | You don’t get rewards or cashback |
| Get access to paychecks early | Not available for all banks |
| High security | You need a bank account, debit card, and phone to sign up |
| Free ATM withdrawals |
Pros
Cred.ai helps you build your credit score by optimizing utility rates and automating payments.
Cards are free to maintain.
Through Flux Capacitor, you can get your paycheck up to two days earlier.
Cred.ai has impressive security features to protect your money.
You can withdraw for free from up to 55,000 ATMs around the US.
Cons
You don’t earn interest from your deposit account.
The Cred.ai Unicorn card doesn’t give rewards or cashback on purchases.
Cred.ai doesn’t link up with all banks.
You can’t set up an account without a bank account, debit card, and phone number.
Cred.ai Reviews: What Are People Saying About It?
What do people say about Cred.ai? There are many raving credit AI reviews. Here are a few examples.
“I’ve been using Cred.ai for about 2 years and have no complaints. The customer service is not the top premium service you would find at American Express, but you will get someone on the phone who can help. The app is at the top of the game.” – Kevin Dunbar
“This credit card is best if you want high-tech security features and credit-building without a hard pull on your credit report. However, it doesn’t earn rewards, and the checking account portion doesn’t earn interest. You can likely do better with other products if you qualify for them.” – Forbes
Some complaints concern Cred.ai’s bank account limitations, particularly among Fintech solutions. Check out this Cred AI review from Reddit, for instance:
I attempted to create a credit.ai account the other day and successfully linked my Chime and SoFi accounts with Plaid but got a message that those institutions were incompatible with Cred.ai. I checked on my Plaid account, which shows which accounts are linked to which, and it shows both of my Chime and SoFi accounts are linked to Cred.ai. – MentaL8888
Is Cred.ai Worth It?
Is it worth creating a Cred.ai account?
It depends, but you have nothing to lose by trying it out except time. It’s free to create a Cred.ai account, and you can cancel it anytime.
I recommend using this platform if you want to build your credit score.
If you want a credit card with cashback and lower interest rates, it’s better to get one at a traditional bank. You might want to look into a private-label credit card to maximize rewards.
If you’re not going to use the automated payment manager feature, I don’t recommend Cred.ai because the fees are quite high (17.76% APR on purchases and 24.99% APR on cash advances).
If you want to improve your credit score and still have access to a credit card for easy day-to-day transactions, Cred.ai is worth it.
Is Cred.ai Safe?
Yes. Cred.ai is safe. The security features are on par with some of the best banks. In some cases, it’s safer than traditional credit cards.
For example, you can immediately deactivate a card through your online account if it gets compromised or you notice unauthorized transactions. That will also be a fringe case as they provide a secured card always.
Cred.ai is a new banking platform, but you still have peace of mind, knowing your account is secure and that FDIC covers your deposits.
Does Cred.ai report to credit bureaus? Yes. It reports all payment activity to the three US credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).
How To Apply to Cred.ai
Here’s how to apply for a Cred.ai Card.
1- Visit the Cred.ai website or download the mobile app on the App Store or Google Play Store.
2- Click Sign Up.
3- Enter your mobile phone number and agree to the terms and conditions.
4- Wait for a verification code and approval notification from the Cred.ai team.
5- Check the Cred.ai requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, a US resident, and have a US phone number to receive messages.
How To Deposit Funds to Cred.ai
Once you have a Cred.ai account, you’ll need to deposit funds into your account.
1- Download the Credit.ai app on your mobile device (iOS or Android).
2- Open the app and click Deposit.
3- Follow the instructions and use the mobile remote image capture to take a clear picture of the check.
4- Ensure all details on the check are visible.
5- Upload the image to deposit the money into your account.
Are There Alternatives to Cred.ai?
Cred.ai isn’t the only digital card available. You can also check out other alternatives. Here are some that you might want to check.
Cred.ai vs. Chime
Chime is a neobank that offers spending accounts, savings accounts, and a credit builder card. Chime has more comprehensive banking solutions than Cred.ai, which focuses on credit building.
Cred.ai vs. Extra
Extra is another credit-building solution that lets you build credit using your existing bank account. It turns everyday debit transactions into credit-building opportunities by reporting good spending to your credit agency or credit bureaus.
Cred.ai focuses on holistic financial management, while Extra emphasizes helping users enhance their credit profiles.
Cred.ai vs. Sesame Cash
Sesame Cash by Credit Sesame merges personal finance management with credit score insights to help you understand and enhance your credit while enjoying the benefits of a digital bank account.
Both Cred.ai and Sesame Cash prioritize financial well-being. Cred.ai focuses on proactive financial management, and Sesame Cash emphasizes credit education and optimization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Cred.ai a Real Credit Card?
Cred.ai has a real metal card (like the Apple Card) that you can bring around and use, but it’s not like traditional cards by other banks. It doesn’t give you cashback points.
You can use your Cred.ai Unicorn card the same way you would use a normal card. On top of the physical card, you also have virtual debit cards.
Does Cred.ai Have a Credit Limit?
Is there a Cred AI credit limit? Yes. There are credit limits to Cred.ai accounts, with most users reporting limits between $500 and $1,500.
Even if you only have a few dollars in your account, you will still have the full credit limit. However, you won’t be able to use the whole spending limit as Cred.ai tries to optimize your utilization rate, which is around 2% to 3%.
You should have a credit limit when you pay for your card.
How long does it normally take for credit cards to process? It depends, but it shouldn’t be over a few banking days.
What Kind of Card is Cred.ai?
Cred.ai’s card is a Unicord card by WSFS Bank. It helps improve your credit score through high-tech systems such as automated payment management and utilization optimization.
You have two options when using a Cred.ai card. You can use the metal card or virtual cards for your transactions.
Is Cred.ai a Good Way to Build Credit?
It depends on several factors, such as your current credit issues and how much you use it. But if you use Cred.ai enough and enable automatic payments, you should see a bump in your credit score.
Note: Your credit score might take a while to increase. Give it time, and keep using the card for a few months.
Is It Safe To Give Cred.ai Access to My Email?
Absolutely. Cred.ai has impressive security features, ensuring any user that your information will remain safe.
The Bottom Line
That’s everything you need to know about Cred.ai. Overall, this platform is an effective cred optimizer.
The Cred.ai Unicorn credit card falls short if you’re looking for a traditional credit card. However, it also has some great features to streamline day-to-day transactions while helping you grow your credit rating.
Cred.ai might suit your needs if you’re trying to increase your FICO score.
