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

Cleo AI vs Albert

Cleo AI 4.7★ · Free to download 60
Winner Albert
Albert 4.6★ · Free to download 65

Albert has a slight edge over Cleo AI, primarily due to Cleo's significant issues with account creation and app functionality, which prevent many users from even accessing its features.

Full reviews: Cleo AI · Albert

Cleo AI and Albert both offer cash advances and budgeting tools, but recent reviews highlight critical app functionality issues for Cleo AI, particularly during signup. Albert, while also facing criticism for subscription practices and customer service, appears more consistently functional for its core features.

Head to head

App Functionality & Signup edge: AlbertR4R7R13R16
Cleo AI Many Cleo AI users report being unable to complete the signup process due to a frozen or looping 'connect your bank' screen, often related to the Plaid integration R4R7R13R16. Some also experience general app performance issues, such as lag and crashes, especially with budgeting features .
Albert Albert users also report app issues, including being unable to log in, update bank accounts, or process instant transfers, with the app sometimes falsely claiming an update is needed .
Cash Advance Features edge: AlbertR6R9R10R14
Cleo AI Cleo AI is praised for providing quick cash advances when needed R14. However, users frequently complain about inconsistent advance amounts, which can drastically decrease even with good repayment history R10. There are also complaints about fees for each advance R6R9 and the necessity of paying for expedited delivery, with the standard option seemingly removed R27.
Albert Albert is also highly valued for its instant and reliable cash advances, helping users in a pinch . Some users, however, question the fairness of advance fees, noting they can be the same for small and large advances R119.
Budgeting & Financial Management tieR5R32R36R38
Cleo AI Cleo AI is appreciated for its candid approach to budgeting and clearly displayed expenses R5R32R38. However, many users find the budgeting system clunky, difficult to categorize transactions correctly, and prone to crashing R36. Some also note limitations in connecting all bank accounts, like savings or investment accounts .
Albert Albert is generally seen as a good budgeting and banking app . However, its auto-save feature is criticized for pulling money multiple times a week and taking too long to post to savings, making it complicated to manage .
Customer Service & Support tieR1R15R30R37
Cleo AI Cleo AI users frequently report poor customer service, citing a lack of human support, reliance on unhelpful bots, and difficulty reaching live agents R1R15R30R37. Some claim support teams are unaware of their own app's features and provide canned responses R37.
Albert Albert also faces significant criticism for its customer service, with users reporting difficulty reaching live agents and being stuck with AI bots that don't resolve issues .
Subscription & Cancellation edge: Cleo AIR22R28R49R61
Cleo AI Cleo AI users complain about being tricked into expensive subscriptions for higher advances R28 and having money taken without using the app R22R49. There are also claims of being unable to get money back after paying fees R49.
Albert Albert users express extreme frustration with deceptive subscription practices, often being charged monthly fees without clear consent or knowledge R61. Canceling subscriptions is described as intentionally difficult, involving multiple hoops, dark patterns, and being blocked from canceling if an advance is pending R61R67.
Pick Cleo AI if

You prioritize a budgeting app with a clear, candid approach to managing expenses and are willing to navigate potential app bugs and inconsistent advance offers R5R38R36.

Pick Albert if

You primarily need reliable and fast cash advances and are comfortable with the potential complexities and difficulties associated with managing subscriptions and customer service .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, especially concerning customer service and subscription practices. Cleo AI's most critical recent issue appears to be app functionality during signup, preventing many from even using the service. Albert's issues are more centered around deceptive subscription charges and difficult cancellation processes.

Frequently asked

Are there fees for cash advances with Cleo AI or Albert?
Yes, Cleo AI charges fees for each withdrawal, such as a $10.99 fee per withdrawal R6, and requires a $14.99 fee for expedited advances, with the standard 3-4 day option seemingly removed R27. Albert also has fees for advances, which some users find disproportionate, being the same for small ($25) and larger ($75) amounts R119.
Is it difficult to cancel subscriptions with these apps?
Users report significant difficulty canceling subscriptions with Albert, describing it as intentionally impossible, with dark patterns, multiple steps, and being blocked from canceling if an advance is pending R61R67. Cleo AI users also report issues with money being taken for unused services or subscriptions R22R49.
Do Cleo AI and Albert offer good customer support?
Both Cleo AI and Albert receive widespread criticism for their customer support, with users frequently reporting unhelpful AI bots, difficulty reaching live agents, and a lack of resolution for their issues R1R15R30R37.

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. [R4] 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
  2. [R7] 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!
  3. [R13] 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.
  4. [R16] 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
  5. [R6] 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.
  6. [R9] 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.
  7. [R10] 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
  8. [R14] Cleo AI 5/5 · US Great app: Love the app. Low interest on loans and it helped me when I was in a bind. If you short on funds this is the app you need if you have a checking account. Loan goes through in minutes. This is a life saving app. Thank so much for being there when I need it.
  9. [R5] Cleo AI 5/5 · US Professional, Friendly, & REAL: I appreciate the candid approach to assist the budgeting & expenses in my life! It is displayed so clearly- it’s the BEST plan I’ve ever subscribed to for planning my life and finances! - Thanks Cleo❣️
  10. [R32] Cleo AI 5/5 · US Help when needed: This is a great choice to manage budget and resources.
  11. [R36] Cleo AI 3/5 · GB Good premise but it tags the spends incorrectly: I think the idea of this app is great so you can get an idea of where your spend goes but I keep on having to recategorise payments. Even bills that come out monthly that I mark as bills and set as a recurring payment get given random categories. It’s a little frustrating. If you don’t mind going through each transaction (it’s a faff) then the app i
  12. [R38] Cleo AI 5/5 · US Great App!: Great app to have. Helps from budgeting to unknown subscriptions you forgot about that you’re still paying on.
  13. [R1] Cleo AI 1/5 · US No support: No support
  14. [R15] Cleo AI 3/5 · US Compassion: I ran into a situation where I wasn’t able repay on my date which was already extended. I wasn’t able to pay do too a death in the family. I was immediately denied the extension. I have an excellent repay history and was shocked to the negative response I received. Also I requested a live agent and the system wouldn’t allow me to access the live agent. Talking to a computer that gives
  15. [R30] Cleo AI 3/5 · US AI BOT NOT AGENTS: The oil me hours and so many chats with the stupid bot before I could actually talk to a live person and get the help I needed. Cleo needs to revamp the bot cause it almost made me close my account out. Ian the agent was amazing. He is the only reason yall are getting more than 1 star from me.
  16. [R37] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Horrible Customer Service: It took 7 months to actually get a non-canned response. Their team doesn’t know it’s own app they’re supporting… I was legit redirected to their AI which was saying I had to go to them. Goofy. Their team doesn’t care about fixing their own problems. The features the market for their builder plan, like the debt tracking, the credit monitoring, the on-time credit reporti
  17. [R22] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Not worth it: Taking my money never used the app
  18. [R28] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Don’t use this app: They will trick you into more and more expensive subscriptions offering higher advances and only scam you out of money.
  19. [R49] Cleo AI 1/5 · US Quick to take your money but won’t give you any: Quick to make you pay a fee but then won’t let you get your money back it won’t let me add my debit card, just says unknown error. So I wasted money signing up for the subscription. This app preys on people who need money.
  20. [R61] Albert 1/5 · US DO NOT USE THIS APP- RUN!!!: Worst experience with any app I’ve ever used. Can’t login unless you have your card on file to cancel subscription and their fees are ridiculous. Joined in on the lawsuit and they are so sneaky with any sort of arranged payment with ridiculous fees. Have contacted someone about 10 times to cancel and nothing can be done on my end or theirs.
  21. [R27] Cleo AI 3/5 · US Fix Advance Options: It is not ok that the only option to receive an advance is by paying $14.99 to have it expedited. This did not use to be the case. The service great to use when needed, but bring back the standard option to receive the advance in 3-4 days instead of immediately.
  22. [R119] Albert 2/5 · US Albert Advances: I honestly doubt anyone reads these reviews but I am going to write one anyway. The Albert app is ok but I do have a problem with the fees on an Albert advance. You can’t make me understand how the fees on a 25 dollar advance are the same as a 75 dollar advance. In a time when class action lawsuits are popping up everywhere I would think Albert would pay better attention to their
  23. [R67] Albert 1/5 · US Impossible to cancel!!: They not only have a ton of dark patterns throughout the app but make it virtually impossible to simply unsubscribe. I had to call my bank.

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