Cleo review: is the Cleo cash advance app legit?
Cleo is a legitimate cash advance app, and The company is registered in England, and its U.S. entity is Cleo AI Inc. is the company behind it.
- Biggest advance
- $500
- Fee per month
- $5.99
- Fast transfer cost
- The fee is $4.49 to $14.99, based on the amount.
- Complaints to the CFPB
- None filed
Cleo on file
- Owner
- The company is registered in England, and its U.S. entity is Cleo AI Inc.
- Product
- Cash advances reach up to $250, or $500 for direct deposit users, within the paid Plus, Pro and Builder tiers of this AI money-coach
- Subscription
- $5.99 a month, optional
- Fee for a fast transfer
- You pay between $4.49 and $14.99 based on amount when you repay.
- Tips
- None asked
- Time without a fee
- 3-4 days (free); the terms say it generally arrives within three business days
- Time to get the money
- Transfers arrive the same day if you pay an express fee, otherwise the free standard option takes 3-4 days
Taken from what Cleo publishes, CFPB complaint counts and public enforcement files. All sources are listed at the foot of the page
Cleo fees and costs
Convert Cleo's fees to a yearly rate using the calculator on our cash advance apps page.
Good to know about Cleo
- Cash advances sit inside the $5.99 to $14.99 monthly plans of Cleo, a UK-founded AI chatbot money app.
- New customers are limited to only $20 to $100; reaching $500 takes the Builder plan plus at least $750 in direct deposits each month.
- Cleo states that laws bar it from requesting tips.
- October 2026 saw the FTC begin sending over $15.8 million in refunds, following a 2025 FTC settlement where Cleo paid $17 million.
States where Cleo works
The Cleo pages we read give no list of states. Ask which license covers your state and check it on NMLS Consumer Access before you share bank details.
Cleo complaints and lawsuits
No complaints sit in the CFPB database under Cleo's name.
- 2025 · FTCThe FTC said that Cleo AI misled users on how much advances were and how fast they came and obstructed cancellations. Cleo agreed to a $17 million payment. Source
Short on cash before payday?
Talk to a specialist about lower-cost ways to cover the gap in your state. Talk to someone about cheaper options: 855.947.5189
This line reaches a debt and loan options specialist. We are not Cleo and cannot reach your Cleo account.
Cleo alternatives: apps like Cleo
| App | Fee a month | Biggest advance | Fast transfer on $100 | CFPB complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleo (this record) | $5.99 | $500 | – | None filed |
 Dave | $5 | $500 | $1.50 | 829 |
 Brigit | $8.99 | $500 | – | 384 |
 Empower | $8 | $500 | $5 | 330 |
 Cash App Borrow | None | $500 | – | 72,532 |
– means the company does not publish it. Complaint counts are totals, not rates: a bigger company draws more. Open any name for its full record.
Questions about Cleo
Is Cleo legit?
Also registered in England, Cleo AI Inc. runs the real cash advance app Cleo. Some plans charge $5.99 a month; advances go up to $500. Although the CFPB complaint database shows no complaints under its name, we found one action against it by a government or a court.
Who owns Cleo?
Cleo AI Inc. is the U.S. entity, and the company also holds registration in England.
How fast does Cleo send the money?
According to Cleo, standard free transfers take 3-4 days, but an express fee gets money the same day.
Has Cleo been sued or fined?
In 2025, the FTC said Cleo AI gave users the wrong idea about advance size and speed, and that it blocked cancellations. Cleo settled for $17 million.
Where the Cleo facts come from
- Cleo AI Inc serves as the United States entity for Cleo.; The Cleo company is English too.; Limits apply to each single advance.web.meetcleo.com
- This covers the standard advance range and the first-time range.web.meetcleo.com
- This shows the express fee range.; This lists the standard transfer time.; Repayment windowweb.meetcleo.com
- A company search for 'Cleo' in the CFPB complaint database returned no names, and neither did searches for 'Cleo AI' or 'MeetCleo'.consumerfinance.gov
- The FTC reached a settlement in 2025.ftc.gov
- The FTC issued refunds in October 2026.ftc.gov