Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

NerdWallet vs Cleo AI

NerdWallet 4.8★ · Free to download 70
Winner NerdWallet
Cleo AI 4.7★ · Free to download 40

NerdWallet is the better choice for comprehensive financial tracking and education, despite recent feature changes, while Cleo AI struggles with core functionality and inconsistent cash advance services.

Full reviews: NerdWallet · Cleo AI

NerdWallet offers robust financial tracking, credit score monitoring, and investment guidance, though recent updates have introduced bugs and removed some beloved budgeting features. Cleo AI, while aiming to provide budgeting and cash advances, is plagued by significant signup issues, inconsistent advance amounts, and high fees.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: NerdWalletR1R2R3R7
NerdWallet NerdWallet provides tools for tracking net worth, credit scores, and investments, and offers educational content R2R3R11. However, recent updates have removed or altered key budgeting features like the 50/30/20 rule, detailed spending comparisons, and income views, frustrating many users R1R7R12R18. Some users also report limited categorization options and lack of support for certain account types like HSAs .
Cleo AI Cleo AI aims to offer budgeting, subscription management, and cash advances . However, many users report that the core functionality, especially the bank linking process via Plaid, is broken, preventing them from even signing up or using the app R64R67R73R76. The budgeting features are described as clunky, inconsistent, and difficult to customize .
Ease of Use & Reliability edge: NerdWalletR4R6R11R16
NerdWallet NerdWallet is generally considered easy to use for organizing finances R11. However, recent updates have introduced numerous bugs, crashes, and slow performance, making the app painful to use for some R4R6. Users also report issues with account connectivity and data loss R16.
Cleo AI Cleo AI's user-friendliness is severely hampered by persistent technical issues, particularly with the bank linking process, which prevents many from even starting R64R67R73R76. Users also report lag and buttons not working .
Price & Value edge: NerdWalletR3R10R15R19
NerdWallet NerdWallet is a free app, and many users appreciate the value it provides for tracking finances and gaining financial education without fees R15. However, some recent changes have led to more ads and promotional content, with some features becoming pay-walled or pushing users towards specific financial products R3R10R19.
Cleo AI Cleo AI is free to download, but its cash advance feature often comes with significant fees, such as $10.99 per withdrawal or $14.99 for expedited advances R66R69. Users also report being tricked into expensive subscriptions for features that don't work .
Cash Advance Service tieR19R34R63R66
NerdWallet NerdWallet is not primarily a cash advance app. While it might offer recommendations for loans, some users report these can be at predatory rates and lead to spam R19R34.
Cleo AI Cleo AI's cash advance feature is a major draw, with some users finding it helpful for short-term needs . However, many users experience significant inconsistencies in advance amounts, with eligible amounts dropping drastically despite good repayment history R70. There are also complaints about fees, the inability to get the full advance amount at once, and issues with money being sent to the wrong account R63R66R69.
Customer Support & Data Privacy edge: NerdWalletR19R34R48R52
NerdWallet NerdWallet users report issues with account closure processes being overly complicated and problems with password resets R52. There are also serious concerns about data privacy, with users claiming their information was sold to scammers after using the app for loan inquiries R19R34 and unauthorized account creation R48.
Cleo AI Cleo AI receives numerous complaints about its customer support, with users finding it difficult to reach a live agent, often being stuck with an unhelpful AI chatbot . Many also report a complete lack of support for critical issues like bank linking problems . There are allegations of the app being a scam and stealing information R73.
Pick NerdWallet if

You want a comprehensive, free app for tracking net worth, credit score, and investments, and are looking for financial education, even if it means dealing with occasional bugs and recent feature changes R2R11.

Pick Cleo AI if

You are desperate for small cash advances and are willing to navigate inconsistent advance amounts, high fees, and potentially significant technical issues with the app's core functionality .

Evidence note: Cleo AI's reviews are heavily skewed by critical issues with its core functionality (bank linking) and the inconsistency/fees of its cash advance service, which is its primary offering. NerdWallet's recent negative reviews often focus on changes to existing features rather than fundamental brokenness.

Frequently asked

Does NerdWallet offer budgeting tools?
NerdWallet has offered budgeting tools, including features like the 50/30/20 rule and detailed spending comparisons, but many users report that recent updates have removed or altered these features, making them less useful or completely unavailable R1R7R12R18.
Can I get cash advances with Cleo AI?
Yes, Cleo AI offers cash advances, which some users find helpful for immediate needs, but many report inconsistent advance amounts, often decreasing despite good repayment history, and significant fees for withdrawals or expedited services R63R66R69R70.
Are there issues connecting bank accounts with Cleo AI?
Yes, a significant number of Cleo AI users report critical issues with connecting their bank accounts during the signup process, with the Plaid window failing to open or the app getting stuck in a loading loop, preventing them from using the app at all R64R67R73R76.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] NerdWallet 1/5 · US Terrible update: Removed the only reason I downloaded this app. For a budgeting option. And then put in some garbage news stories and investment tab nobody asked for. Edit: nice they added it back, too bad I moved on to rocket money
  2. [R2] NerdWallet 5/5 · US Why NerdWallet is good for everyone: I started with NerdWallet about five months ago was totally ignorant on investing and actually done some advisor investing and turned out that I profited $2000 in three months and I am so glad I chose
  3. [R3] NerdWallet 3/5 · US Not consumer-focused anymore: I loved this app and the website when I found it in 2020. It shows me my net worth, my credit score, etc. In the past year or so they have made a lot of changes that all seem to be based on making them a profit rather than serving their customers. Most things I look for on the website are now only on the app. I used their shopping features to find the most beneficial
  4. [R7] NerdWallet 2/5 · US New budget layout is bad: I hate the new budget layout - so much so that I am going to look for another app or go back to manual tracking. I need to be able to zoom out across multiple months and years and see how my earning and spending trends across multiple periods with different granularity. Now I can only see spend for each month or YTD and it completely removed the income view.
  5. [R4] NerdWallet 2/5 · US Introduced way too many bugs: Every time I take an action for 5 mins in the app, I get the little frog saying that something went wrong. The bugs are increasing. It’s becoming painful to use this app.
  6. [R6] NerdWallet 3/5 · US OS 26: I have been using this app for quite a few years, but, as others have said, the recent updates/changes have a made the app a little buggy, there still aren’t any widgets, and it still isn’t formatted properly for iPadOS 26. I really hope bug fixes and proper software compatibility are coming very soon… especially since we’re literally coming upon the OS ‘27 announcements in less than tw
  7. [R11] NerdWallet 5/5 · US It organized my finances: I was looking for something that could help me organize all my finances in one place and found this through social media
  8. [R16] NerdWallet 1/5 · US Not dependable, lost data: After I didn’t use an app for a while I found that all my accounts , properties, cars and etc were erased . It is time consuming to restore all this information.
  9. [R10] NerdWallet 1/5 · US Advertising platform you connect your bank accounts to: My title says it all, it’s non stop adds. ATOMIC BANK IS AWFUL - stop trying to get me to open an account. Also, the UI on this app used to be a lot better to see more details about your finances. Now you get the most basic views, no budgeting, no nothing and it tries to sell you stuff the whole time. SKIP
  10. [R15] NerdWallet 3/5 · US Okay: It’s OK for a free app, but missing some key features no one has yet to come up with a decent replacement for Mint
  11. [R19] NerdWallet 2/5 · US Predatory, spammy financial app: I’m giving 2 stars because you can actually get a loan through this app, it just will be at an extremely predatory rate. They will also start sending you 3-5 marketing emails a day, and in my case have so far ignored my unsubscribe requests. I suspect they also sold my email address to other spammy, predatory financial services because I started receiving a bunch s
  12. [R34] NerdWallet 1/5 · US Sold my info to scammers: I have loved using NerdWallet for the last few years as their articles have been very informative and the recommendations for savings accounts and credit cards have been helpful. Unfortunately I recently used the app (and only this app) to look into a debt consolidation loan. After going through the usual recommendation process my phone has been spammed with multiple call
  13. [R63] Cleo AI 3/5 · US It’s okay: I’m not going to lie at times I do need extra but I don’t like the way Cleo does theirs. Even when giving an increase it’s something. After I payback I may not use it anymore it’s really too much of a hassle how they do their advance.
  14. [R66] Cleo AI 3/5 · US Fees on top of fees!: Fees on top of fees! Will only allow you to take a portion of your available advance amount. You get charged a $10.99 fee for each withdrawal. Once you make your first withdrawal you have to wait 24 hours on the dot to request the next one. Not convenient at all.
  15. [R48] NerdWallet 1/5 · US Deceptive Account Subscriptions: I downloaded this app, found the income classification not what I needed. I attempted to delete and they then inform me that they’ve signed me up for an atomic account which I didn’t authorize. It might have been a bug, but it stopped me from removing my nerdwallet account - if it isn’t a bug, that potentially borders something quite illegal. I’d avoid this app,
  16. [R52] NerdWallet 2/5 · US Major trouble, resetting your password: Smart money app I received an email from NerdWallet saying that my score has gone up. It went to visit the app. And I realized I had to update my password. I tried that several times. Each time I would get instructions to go to my email. But they never got there what is going on?
  17. [R12] NerdWallet 3/5 · US Bring back 50/30/20: I’ve used several competitors before but what kept me with NW was the 50/30/20 rule and their simple UI - everything I needed in one neat spot. The 50/30/20 budgeting feature single-handedly kept me as a customer. I saw GREAT improvements using this. I’ve given these new versions some time but nothing compares to the old Nerd Wallet. Very disappointed and looking for alternati
  18. [R18] NerdWallet 3/5 · US Less useful: It’s never had a lot of functionality in terms of budgeting but it’s become even less useful over time. Like they actively took out the more granular budgeting features and replaced with over broad charts not good for much. mostly good for passively tracking your accounts for issues. Looking for a new way to handle my budgeting
  19. [R69] Cleo AI 3/5 · US Fees: I wish the fees were bundled into one instead of always having to pay for each advance. Or give us a the advance all at once.
  20. [R70] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Matthew: They suck I paid my 80 advance and 80 boost back totaling 179 on time and then they cut my advance down to 20 with no boost with explanation and without anything changing feels like robbery
  21. [R64] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Pure trash: Couldn’t finishing signing up. Plaid screen wouldn’t pop up to let me connect my bank account. I got stuck on the connect your bank screen, which is frozen. App is useless I see why this app has a 4.7 rating. It’s trash
  22. [R67] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Useless: The Plaid window at signup never opens, so there’s no way for me to link my bank or finish signing up. What makes it even more frustrating is that a couple of hours later I received an email reminding me to finish linking my bank and complete my signup, as if the app actually works, lol. This app sucks. Save yourself the trouble!
  23. [R73] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Doesn’t work!: The signup process is broken. Tapping “Get started” just buffers “Loading…” and then returns to the same screen. The Plaid window never opens, which makes it seem like the app isn’t generating the required session/token to launch the bank connection screen. This looks like a server-side bug, not a user issue. I couldn’t even finish creating an account. FIX IT! Stole my information.
  24. [R76] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Non functional: It’s like they’re selectively choosing who they want to accept as a user. The startup process is bugged. As soon as I got done accepting the terms and conditions and then tried linking my bank account, the get started screen just looped. The plaid banking connection screen didn’t pop up at all. Useless and should be removed from App Store. #don’t-download

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store