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

Self vs Dave

Self 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Tie
Dave 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Self is better for long-term credit building and financial education, while Dave is a better option for short-term cash advances to cover immediate needs.

Full reviews: Self · Dave

Self focuses on helping users build credit through secured loans and credit cards, often leading to improved credit scores. Dave provides cash advances to bridge gaps between paydays, offering quick access to funds for emergencies.

Head to head

Core Purpose & Features tieR5R11R14R36
Self Self is designed to help users build or rebuild credit through a credit builder loan and a secured credit card R5R14R36. Users appreciate the structured approach to improving credit scores and financial knowledge R5R11. Some users also like the savings component linked to the credit builder loan R5.
Dave Dave primarily offers cash advances to help users cover unexpected expenses or bridge gaps until payday . It's seen as a convenient and fast way to get emergency funds . Dave also offers a banking service with features like early payday and high-interest savings .
Credit Impact edge: SelfR5R7R8R12
Self Many Self users report significant improvement in their credit scores, with some seeing increases within 90 days R5R8R32R46. However, some users complain about inflated credit scores within the app compared to actual credit bureaus R7 or slower-than-expected progress R12.
Dave Dave's primary function is not credit building, but some users mention getting credit cards to help their credit, though they don't always see improvement . The app's cash advance service itself does not directly build credit, and some users express frustration with their borrowing limits not increasing despite timely repayments .
Ease of Use & Reliability tieR5R6R15R28
Self Self is generally considered user-friendly and organized R5R28. However, some users report issues with payments taking too long to process R6, difficulty adding payment methods R15, or problems connecting bank accounts .
Dave Dave is praised for being easy to use and fast for cash advances . However, the app can be unreliable, with users experiencing lockouts , crashes , and difficulties updating pay schedules . Some users also report issues with the app's algorithm for determining advance amounts, which can fluctuate unexpectedly R61.
Fees & Value tieR3R17R18R19
Self Self users report various fees, including high interest rates on credit cards R3, late fees R17R18, and fees for faster access to funds after loan payoff . Some users feel the service is expensive or that they are being charged interest on their own money R3R19.
Dave Dave charges a monthly membership fee, which some users were unaware of . There are also fees for cash advances and for faster funding . Users sometimes feel overcharged or that the app is deceptive about 'free cash' . Some users also report issues with Dave taking money out of their account prematurely, leading to overdrafts R72R76R78.
Customer Support edge: SelfR2R4R7R27
Self Self receives mixed reviews for customer service. Some users praise the 'top-notch crew' and helpful support R2. However, many others report poor or non-existent customer service, issues with AI chat bots, and unhelpful representatives R4R7R27.
Dave Dave's customer service is frequently criticized. Users report that AI chatbots are more helpful than human support , and that the process for resolving issues is slow and unhelpful . Some users have experienced serious problems, such as incorrect bank information changes or funds being taken without consent .
Pick Self if

you are looking to build or rebuild your credit history and are willing to commit to a structured program with regular payments R5R14. You prioritize long-term financial improvement and appreciate detailed information on how to achieve it R5R11.

Pick Dave if

you need quick, short-term cash advances to cover immediate expenses or bridge gaps until your next payday . You value ease of access to funds and a straightforward repayment process .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, often highlighting issues with fees, customer service, and unexpected changes in service. For Self, some users report a disconnect between the app's reported credit score and external credit bureau scores. For Dave, a common complaint is the app's automatic repayment system causing overdrafts.

Frequently asked

Does Self actually help build credit?
Yes, many Self users report that the app has helped them improve their credit score, with some seeing significant increases within a few months by making on-time payments on their credit builder loan or secured credit card R5R8R32R46.
What are the main issues with Dave's cash advances?
The main issues with Dave's cash advances include inconsistent advance amounts R61, the app taking repayments too early and causing overdrafts R72R76R78, and a monthly membership fee that some users were unaware of .
Is customer service good for Self or Dave?
Self's customer service receives mixed reviews, with some users praising helpful staff R2 and others reporting poor experiences with unhelpful representatives and AI chatbots R4R7R27. Dave's customer support is generally criticized, with users finding AI chatbots more helpful than human support and reporting slow, unhelpful processes .

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. [R5] Self 5/5 · US A tremendous help: I definitely had credit anxiety. I didn’t have much of a credit history but Self’s organized guidance and user friendly app really helped me improve my credit score and overall knowledge about how to continue to build better credit. The savings account that helped show credit bureaus on time and early payments while saving money was exactly what I needed and has helped me save m
  2. [R11] Self 5/5 · US Intentional and useful: Detailed information about how and why it’s gonna work 🔥🔥
  3. [R14] Self 5/5 · US Great credit builder: Great app
  4. [R36] Self 5/5 · US Best for building credit: Best credit card for building credit
  5. [R7] Self 1/5 · US The worst app: The company isn’t horrible. Inflated credit scores are super unhelpful…like a 30-40 point difference on avg from what they say it is and what the credit bureau says it is. That just leads to frustration when applying for things that you “qualify” for, only to find out you’re way off. Support is almost nonexistent but that’s every company that uses these wildly annoying AI chat bots.
  6. [R8] Self 5/5 · US Kevin Monroy: Recomiendo!! Ya voy a terminar mi contrato y tengo muy buen puntaje.
  7. [R12] Self 3/5 · US My Self Review: I was under the impression that self worked in a way to improve my credit at a faster rate/pace than it’s been. Regardless, I have seen an improvement and at the moment I’m simply respecting the process.
  8. [R6] Self 3/5 · US Failure to take money when you pay: The only bad thing about this app is THEY TAKE THEY PAYMENTS out of your account literally a whole 5 days to a week after you submit the payment. Sometimes I think the money is processed and it’s not and I get a failed payment fee EVERY MONTH 🤦🏿‍♂️
  9. [R15] Self 1/5 · US Self -Credit Builder: This does not allow me to add payment .. and it is so fustrating
  10. [R28] Self 5/5 · US Service: Great features. Easy to use. Helps improve My score
  11. [R3] Self 3/5 · US Keep looking: They are great for building credit. They will harass you to get their overly high interest rate credit card. You get raped to use your own money. The cash advance is nice, however, don’t get used to being able to borrow the same amount. You can have the same pay every month, the same bills every month, and the same spending every month. They will still lower the amount that you can b
  12. [R17] Self 1/5 · US Fees: They overcharge on late fees.
  13. [R18] Self 4/5 · US Pretty cool app, credit card/ late fees should be decreased though: Can help build credit but can become expensive for someone that doesn’t have consistent income to make payments on time. If it’s tailored to people rebuilding, there’s a good chance finances aren’t consistent yet so you shouldn’t be punished so severely. and if it’s tailored for new to credit people, there are cheaper and better a
  14. [R19] Self 1/5 · US Scam: They will eventually (probably never) get sued. The credit builder charges you interest for a loan that you pay… I still have not gotten back my secured card deposit… someone reading this should class action Im super in
  15. [R2] Self 5/5 · US Top notch crew: Iv always received the best help when I have questions or there is a problem.
  16. [R4] Self 1/5 · US If I could give 0 stars, i WOULD!!!: Rashan from customer service sucks. He didn’t help at all and doesn’t understand his own company. A complete scam, never get involved with these losers.
  17. [R27] Self 2/5 · US Lost card: Been trying for months to get a new card, customer service is non existent! If you lose a card your self account is done, just give up and close it asap!
  18. [R32] Self 5/5 · US Credit booster: Improved my credit very fast cool app cool credit card
  19. [R46] Self 5/5 · US Best Way Of Building Credit: Had helped my credit score rise within 90 days. Omg I’m so grateful and thankful for this Self Credit
  20. [R61] Dave 2/5 · US Dave: It’s good but it really scams sometimes when you get 700$ one week then the following week you get 300$ it sucks
  21. [R72] Dave 3/5 · US It’s ok but..: Just beware whether you have money in your account or not they will not wait for your check at the bank. They usually take it out at 12:01 AM on the day your check is supposed to be in the bank, my account is now in the negative until my check goes in..
  22. [R76] Dave 1/5 · US Not worth it: Honestly, don’t even waste your time getting this app. It goes based off of when you’re gonna get paid next and obviously people don’t get paid at 12 o’clock in the morning and they try to pull out the money more than once throughout the day whether you get it or not, the “customer service” they have is bs you’re better going to the Bridget app never once had a problem with them tryi
  23. [R78] Dave 1/5 · US Bank accounts: Don’t like how they take the money out even if you don’t have enough in your account

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