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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Self vs Intuit Credit Karma

Self 4.9★ · Free to download 75
Winner Tie
Intuit Credit Karma 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70

Self is better for active credit building with a secured card and savings, while Intuit Credit Karma excels as a free credit monitoring and financial tracking tool.

Full reviews: Self · Intuit Credit Karma

Self is praised for its credit builder loan and secured credit card, helping users improve scores and save money, though some find its fees high and customer service lacking. Intuit Credit Karma is valued for its free credit score monitoring and financial overview, but users report issues with notification spam, data accuracy, and customer support.

Head to head

Credit Building Effectiveness edge: SelfR5R8R12R13
Self Self is highly effective for building credit, especially for those with little to no history, through its credit builder loans and secured credit cards, which report on-time payments to bureaus and help users save money R5R8R34R46. However, some users feel the improvement is slower than expected or that the program is misleading R12R13.
Intuit Credit Karma Intuit Credit Karma is seen as a good educational tool for understanding credit and tracking progress, with users appreciating its ability to monitor scores and provide guidance R78. However, many users report that Credit Karma's scores are often inaccurate or inflated compared to actual credit bureau scores, leading to frustration R7R72R78R91.
Ease of Use & Features tieR1R5R10R15
Self Self offers a user-friendly app with organized guidance R5. Key features include a credit builder loan, a secured credit card, and a savings account that reports payments R5R50. Some users, however, experience glitches accessing their credit score, difficulty adding payments, or issues connecting bank accounts R1R10R15.
Intuit Credit Karma Intuit Credit Karma is generally easy to use for tracking credit scores and financial health . It offers features like score monitoring, debt management ideas, and tax tools . However, users report issues with buggy net worth calculations, misclassified charges, and difficulties connecting or verifying accounts .
Reliability & Accuracy edge: SelfR6R7R9R16
Self Self is generally reliable for reporting payments and helping scores rise R16R46. However, some users report significant delays in payment processing, leading to failed payment fees, and issues with payouts after closing accounts R6. There are also complaints about credit scores being inflated compared to actual bureau scores R7R9.
Intuit Credit Karma Intuit Credit Karma is often criticized for inaccurate credit scores, with users stating the numbers are false or take too long to update R72R91. Notifications are sometimes misleading, claiming scores went up when they didn't or even went down R73R85. Some users also report issues with ghost accounts and incorrect financial data .
Customer Support tieR2R4R7R27
Self Self receives mixed reviews for customer support. Some users praise the 'top-notch crew' and helpful assistance R2. However, many others report poor or non-existent customer service, issues with AI chat bots, difficulty getting new cards, and unhelpful representatives R4R7R27.
Intuit Credit Karma Intuit Credit Karma's customer support is frequently criticized for being non-existent or unhelpful, with users struggling to reach real people or resolve issues like account verification, login problems, or disputes . The AI assistant is also a point of contention, with some wanting the option to disable it .
Price & Value edge: Intuit Credit KarmaR3R17R18R19
Self Self is free to download but involves fees and interest rates for its credit builder products. Users complain about 'overly high interest rates,' 'exorbitant interest,' late fees, and fees for faster payouts R3R17R18. Some feel they are 'charged interest for a loan that you pay' R19.
Intuit Credit Karma Intuit Credit Karma is free to use, and many users appreciate its value as a free tool for monitoring credit and financial health . However, the app is heavily criticized for excessive and misleading notifications and advertisements, which some find intrusive and annoying R61R73R85.
Pick Self if

you are actively looking to build or rebuild your credit history through a structured program involving a secured loan and credit card R5R34R50. You are willing to pay fees and interest for these services in exchange for reported payments to credit bureaus R3R18.

Pick Intuit Credit Karma if

you primarily need a free tool to monitor your credit scores, track your financial accounts, and get general advice on improving credit . You are comfortable with frequent notifications and advertisements, or you are adept at managing app settings to minimize them R61.

Evidence note: Recent reviews for both apps show a negative skew, with many 1-star ratings. For Self, this often relates to customer service, payment processing, and perceived high fees. For Intuit Credit Karma, it frequently involves notification spam, data inaccuracy, and login/support issues. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is relevant for Self, as its negative reviews often stem from the friction of its paid credit-building services, whereas Credit Karma's issues are largely with its free monitoring service.

Frequently asked

Does Self help build credit effectively?
Yes, Self is widely praised for helping users build and improve their credit scores, especially for those new to credit or rebuilding, by reporting on-time payments from its credit builder loans and secured credit cards to credit bureaus R5R34R46R50.
Are Credit Karma's credit scores accurate?
Many users report that Credit Karma's scores are often inaccurate or inflated, showing a 30-40 point difference on average compared to actual credit bureau scores, which can lead to frustration when applying for credit R7R72R78R91.
What are the main complaints about Self?
Main complaints about Self include high interest rates and fees, delays in payment processing, difficulties with customer service, and some users feeling that the credit score improvement is slower than expected or that the program is misleading R3R6R7R12.
Does Credit Karma send too many notifications?
Yes, a significant number of users complain about Credit Karma sending an excessive amount of notifications daily, often described as spam or misleading, which can be intrusive and annoying R61R73R85R93.

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. [R8] Self 5/5 · US Kevin Monroy: Recomiendo!! Ya voy a terminar mi contrato y tengo muy buen puntaje.
  3. [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.
  4. [R13] Self 1/5 · US Misleading: Misleading
  5. [R1] Self 1/5 · US Not happy: Can’t see my credit score which makes me want to end my contract
  6. [R10] Self 2/5 · US Credit Score?: There seems to be a glitch in the platform and I cannot access my credit score as mentioned.
  7. [R15] Self 1/5 · US Self -Credit Builder: This does not allow me to add payment .. and it is so fustrating
  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. [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.
  10. [R9] Self 3/5 · US Lower credit: Another app has me 9 points higher and more opportunities for big jumps im scores.
  11. [R16] Self 4/5 · US Good: Straight forward pay in time
  12. [R2] Self 5/5 · US Top notch crew: Iv always received the best help when I have questions or there is a problem.
  13. [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.
  14. [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!
  15. [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
  16. [R17] Self 1/5 · US Fees: They overcharge on late fees.
  17. [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
  18. [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
  19. [R34] Self 5/5 · US Great program: I just turned 18 last year and since then I have had this app and it is great for building you credit without having to get a spastic credit card from a store.
  20. [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
  21. [R50] Self 5/5 · US Best credit builder app ever: Best credit builder by far. Your points go up every month.. pro tip if you get the secured credit card like I’m using make sure you keep it at 20% usage . You can also add your savings to raise your credit limit. Kickoff just reports points you already earned.. plus you build 2yr credit credit history. Easy to make the monthly payments and you get your savings after
  22. [R72] Intuit Credit Karma 3/5 · US Credit numbers are false.: They give u 2 credit agency’s numbers that are false. Don’t believe what u see.
  23. [R78] Intuit Credit Karma 3/5 · US Good Education Tool: I’ve used CK for years it’s a good tool if you have no clue how to manage your credit. I think it’s incredibly misleading though and should have a pathway or “real score” option to check scores that actually have an impact on your life.
  24. [R91] Intuit Credit Karma 1/5 · US Not Accurate: This information is never accurate and takes far too long to update. Moreover, finance persons refuse to accept CK information as valid.
  25. [R61] Intuit Credit Karma 2/5 · US Dang!!!: I mean, why do I need 3 updates per day?!? I don’t!!! I just turned off notifications and if that doesn’t work, I’ll delete the app!!!
  26. [R73] Intuit Credit Karma 1/5 · US Notifications: I always get notifications saying “your score went up!” Or “your score rose above …” but when I open it either hasn’t changed or it went down a point. Not complaining about my score, that’s my problem but please stop with the misleading notifications 😭
  27. [R85] Intuit Credit Karma 1/5 · US Too much: Credit Karma sends too many notifications on a daily basis. More importantly they provide misleading notifications that entice you click on the app. I received a notification that said ‘Equifax is registering an actionable item on your credit report in regard to said card’. It was complete b.s.
  28. [R93] Intuit Credit Karma 3/5 · US Notifications: They're too often.

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