Savings comparison
Chime vs MoneyLion
Updated
Data as of
Chime checked MoneyLion checked
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Chime
Banking app
Visit site for Chime (opens in a new tab)
MoneyLion
Banking app
Visit site for MoneyLion (opens in a new tab)
Short answer
- Pick Chime if you want the higher top rate (up to 4.00% APY, compared with 3.88% APY).
- The biggest difference is the rate: the highest APY Chime lists is 4.00% APY, and the highest MoneyLion lists is 3.88% APY.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Chime vs MoneyLion at a glance
- Chime
- Top rate
- 1.00% to 4.00%APY
- Rating
- 4.8 of 5App Store, 1,655,300 ratings
- Platforms
- 3Web, iOS, Android
MoneyLion
- Top rate
- 3.88%APY
- Rating
- 4.8 of 5App Store, 330,603 ratings
- Platforms
- 3Web, iOS, Android
What it costs
- Chime
Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one.
Source
help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, checked . - MoneyLion
$0a month
The optional MoneyLion One membership costs $9.99 a month, or $0 a month when you direct deposit $500 or more each month.
Source
moneylion.com/one, checked .
Bars show only when every app here lists a yearly price, so these prices sit side by side without them. Prices are list prices from each app's own page, before tax and any offer.
Features
| Feature | Chime | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| Savings goals | Yes | Yes |
Chime also lists AI features.
Sources for these features
Yes means the official site lists it. No means the official site says the app doesn't have it.
- Chime: help.chime.com/what-are-chime-savings-goals-4aef8222, checked Oct 29, 2026.AI features: 'Jade Financial Partner is an AI-powered experience currently available to some members and can make mistakes.' Rolling out, not available to everyone. help.chime.com/manage-money-56350c4d/jade-financial-partner-09a6e8e3/what-is-jade-financial-partner-d9c77341, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- MoneyLion: help.moneylion.com/en_us/smart-budget-SJQEvwhHgx, checked Oct 29, 2026.
Chime and MoneyLion, side by side
| Detail | Chime | MoneyLion |
|---|---|---|
| APY or rateDiffers | ChimeChime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. The rate is variable.Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits. Sourcehelp.chime.com/what-is-annual-percentage-yield-apy-dfafd381, checked . | MoneyLionMoneyLion lists 3.88% APY on MoneyLion Save for MoneyLion One members, accurate as of 10/01/2026. The rate is variable.No minimum deposit is required to open the account, and no minimum balance is required to earn APY. The 3.88% rate is tied to MoneyLion One membership. Sourcemoneylion.com/one, checked . |
| Opening and balance minimumsDiffers | ChimeChime says its savings account has no minimum balance requirement. Sourcehelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, checked . | MoneyLionMoneyLion says no minimum deposit is required to open MoneyLion Save and no minimum balance is required to earn APY. Sourcemoneylion.com/one, checked . |
| ProtectionDiffers | ChimeChime is not a bank. Banking services come from The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance applies only when certain conditions are met. Sourcehelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, checked . | MoneyLionMoneyLion is not a bank. MoneyLion Spend and MoneyLion Save are provided by Pathward, National Association, Member FDIC, and funds are FDIC insured, subject to applicable limitations and restrictions, when received into your account. Sourcemoneylion.com, checked . |
| Platforms | ChimeChime lists Web, iOS and Android. Sourcehelp.chime.com/do-i-get-account-statements-from-chime-ec347b04, checked . | MoneyLionMoneyLion lists Web, iOS and Android. Sourcemoneylion.com, checked . |
| App store ratingDiffers | ChimeChime has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 1,655,300 ratings. SourceApp Store listing, checked . | MoneyLionMoneyLion has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 330,603 ratings. SourceApp Store listing, checked . |
Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score. A row shows only when both apps have a current official source for it. How we source and date this data. Spotted a change? Tell us if something changed.
Weighing a third option? Add up to two more apps and compare up to four side by side.
Screen by screen
Pick a task to see what each app shows for it. App Store and Google Play images are the apps' own marketing, so they can show sample data and staged layouts. Help center images come from the app's support articles. See every app's screens.
Home
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "America's #1 Choice for Banking" showing an Available balance with Savings, Cash back, MyPay and Direct Deposit tiles.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageTiles for Savings at $5,821.45, Cash back at $115.00, MyPay at $275, Direct Deposit in 3 days, FICO Score and Chime Deals.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "One Premium benefits" showing the MoneyLion One membership screen.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageThe MoneyLion One screen: Membership unlocked with a direct deposit progress bar, then benefit tiles for daily cash back, savings APY, identity protection and investing, each with Activate now.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA Membership unlocked card: deposited $524 of $500 with a progress bar and a Manage direct deposit button.App Store listing, as of
Accounts
Chime
App Store marketing imageAvailable $2,346.91 with a $200 SpotMe link below.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
No official screen found yet
Goals
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with a savings APY headline showing a Savings screen with goals like Wedding and Emergency fund.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA Goals list with My savings at $5,017.45, Wedding at $1,094 and Emergency fund at $2,099.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageA Create a goal card asking you to add a goal for the things you want to save for, with a Get started button and a jar illustration.App Store listing, as of
Reports and insights
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Increase your credit score up to 70 pts" showing a credit score gauge at 720.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA Chime notification saying Your score went up 70 points!App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA FICO credit score gauge reading 720 on a 300 to 850 arc, with "What goes into FICO Scores" below.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Stay in control of your money" showing a Credit Monitoring screen with a score of 780.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageThe Credit Monitoring screen: a gauge at 780, Excellent, up 5.2 points, a See all activity button and rows for credit utilization, age of accounts, total balances and credit checks.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA credit score gauge from 300 to 850 pointing at 780, labeled Excellent, up 5.2 points, updated May 30.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageFactors affecting your score: Payment history 15/15, Credit utilization 5%, Age and mix of accounts 20 years, Total balances $513,450 and Credit checks 1, each with a rating and impact.App Store listing, as of
Investments
Chime
No official screen found yet
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Invest money in your own way" and the line "And spare change with Round Ups", showing an Investments screen.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageThe Investments screen: $1,248.48 with a line chart, time range buttons and Withdraw and Add money buttons.App Store listing, as of
Transfer and send
Chime
App Store marketing imageMyPay with a green ring showing $275 available now and a Manage MyPay link.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Access your pay early $20 - $500 with Instacash" showing a "You got Instacash!" screen.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA "You got Instacash!" screen held in a hand, with a $500.00 card showing the destination account, repayment date and wait time, and a Done button.App Store listing, as of
Card controls
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Earn 5% cash back with Chime Card." showing a Your cards screen with an Add to Apple Wallet button.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
No official screen found yet
Settings and security
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Serious security and real-time alerts" showing a Security Center at 100% and a suspicious activity alert.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA Suspicious Activity notification asking Did you just make a purchase of $212.32? Open the app to confirm.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageSecurity Center with a 100% ring, a High security note and steps for Set up passkey and Email verification.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
No official screen found yet
Other screens
Chime
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Get up to $500 of your pay when you say" showing a MyPay screen with $275 available.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with a fee-free ATMs headline showing a map with ATM pins.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA Chime notification saying Cha-ching! You just scored 5% cash back on your purchase.App Store listing, as of
MoneyLion
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Borrow. Earn. Win.", a laurel saying MoneyLion has helped over 18M people get $18B, and a person holding a phone that shows "You got Instacash! $100".App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Earn money for playing games" and the line "Earn up to $50 per game", showing game icons and a person on a beanbag.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Personal loan offers up to $100k" showing a borrowing amount screen and a loan offer.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA "How much would you like to borrow?" screen set to $1000 with a See my offers button, purpose tiles for Emergency Bills, Debt Consolidation and Home Improvement, and a Lendio personal loan card.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image titled Disclaimer with numbered footnotes about Instacash, cash back on debit purchases and APY.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageA second App Store image titled Disclaimer with numbered footnotes about the savings rate comparison, insurance benefits, investing, Credit Builder, Round Ups and MoneyLion One membership.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageYour benefits tiles: 1% daily cash back, 3.64% APY savings, Identity protection and Invest with no fees, with Activate now buttons.App Store listing, as of
Who it's for
Pick the tab that sounds like you. Every answer comes from the app's own pages, and its source opens from the Source link.
Just me
Budgeting on your own? These are the basics people ask about first.
Is it free?
Chime: Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one.
Source
help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, checked .MoneyLion: The optional MoneyLion One membership costs $9.99 a month, or $0 a month when you direct deposit $500 or more each month.
Source
moneylion.com/one, checked .Is there support from the app's makers if I need help?
Chime: Yes. Chat and phone.
Source
In their words: “Chat with us in the Chime app” help.chime.com/do-i-get-account-statements-from-chime-ec347b04, checked .MoneyLion: Yes. In-app chat, phone (24/7) and email.
Source
In their words: “Here's how to contact MoneyLion Customer Care when you're in a pinch” help.moneylion.com/how-do-i-contact-support-SkVGjwhkR, checked .
Family
Bringing in more of the household? Here's what each app says about families and kids. See apps with custodial accounts for kids.
Does it have accounts or features for kids or teens?
Chime: No.
Source
In their words: “You must be at least 18 years old.” help.chime.com/how-do-i-open-a-chime-account-bafa327e, checked .MoneyLion: No.
Source
In their words: “Be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your state or jurisdiction of residence).” moneylion.com/legal/terms-and-conditions, checked .
Freelancer
Paid on an uneven schedule or running a side hustle? Here's what each app offers. See apps with a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k).
Can I mix business and personal expenses in this app?
Chime: No.
Source
In their words: “We don't currently support business accounts.” help.chime.com/account-security-00b00e5a/account-info-9fa82bb4/does-chime-offer-joint-accounts-or-business-accounts-1595d11d, checked .MoneyLion: No.
Source
In their words: “This license is for your personal use and not for any commercial or business purpose.” moneylion.com/legal/terms-and-conditions, checked .
Business
Running a small business? Here's what each app says about business money.
Can I mix business and personal expenses in this app?
Chime: No.
Source
In their words: “We don't currently support business accounts.” help.chime.com/account-security-00b00e5a/account-info-9fa82bb4/does-chime-offer-joint-accounts-or-business-accounts-1595d11d, checked .MoneyLion: No.
Source
In their words: “This license is for your personal use and not for any commercial or business purpose.” moneylion.com/legal/terms-and-conditions, checked .
A question shows only when every app here has a current official source that answers it. We only say no when the app's own page does.
Which fits your Money Type?
There are four Money Types: Strategist, Spender, Saver and Scrambler. Each card matches one type to what the sources say about these two apps.
StrategistNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Save the Raise.
SpenderBoth Chime and MoneyLion list goals. A goal gives a Spender a reason to pause before buying, which is the Sleep on It fix.
First fix: Sleep on It.
SaverBoth Chime and MoneyLion list an APY on deposits. That fits a Saver, whose first fix is putting saved money to work.
First fix: Put It to Work.
ScramblerMoneyLion lists bank syncing. Seeing every account in one place helps a Scrambler pay bills first.
First fix: Bills First.
Not sure which one you are? Take the free Money Types quiz. It takes about two minutes.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Another option: Fifecta
If neither Chime nor MoneyLion feels right, here is one more option to look at. Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, and it starts from your Money Type, so the plan matches how you already handle money.
What real users say
These are other people's opinions, not Priceless Tay's. We quote public reviews and posts word for word, link each one and show its date, but we haven't checked the claims in them. A post counts toward a theme when it uses one of that theme's keywords, so a mention can be praise or a complaint.
What Chime users say
Based on 500 App Store reviews, 7 Reddit posts, 1 YouTube video and 2 Hacker News posts dated May 2026 to Oct 2026, read Oct 2026. We collected the Reddit and YouTube data with Apify, a scraping service, on Oct 24, 2026.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 83 mention deposits, transfers or getting paid.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 45 mention how easy or hard the app is to use.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 40 mention customer service or support.
Positive
“It’s the best banking app out there in my opinion. You can get paid two days earlier than your paycheck...”
Critical
“Worst customer service and dispute resolution it takes over 3 months so they can tell you your dispute was denied...”
Mixed
“I've had chime for 3 years and for the most part it's been a great experience.”
Where these come from
- Chime reviews on the App Store, read Oct 24, 2026. The public feed returns the 500 most recent US reviews. We kept every one dated inside the window.
- Hacker News search for Chime, read Oct 24, 2026. Public search of comments and posts. 13 named the app; we kept 2 where the writer shares their own use of it.
- Reddit search for Chime, collected Oct 24, 2026. Collected with Apify (harshmaur/reddit-scraper) on Oct 24 2026: a keyword search for "Chime bank", posts and comments from after Oct 24 2025. It returned 61, most of them about something else. We kept 7 where the writer shares their own use of the app or a clear opinion of it. We left out moderators, bots, company accounts, referral posts and people promoting their own apps.
- YouTube search for Chime, collected Oct 24, 2026. Collected with Apify (streamers/youtube-scraper) on Oct 24 2026: a search for "Chime bank review" from the past year, up to 8 videos. It returned 8. We kept 1 and left out the app's own channel, sponsored videos, videos with affiliate or referral links and videos about a different product. We count themes from each video's title, description and captions, but we don't quote videos, because the captions we have carry no timestamps.
- u/Beautiful_Boat3144 in r/CashApp on Reddit, Oct 24, 2026.
- u/Dankdefender420 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 24, 2026.
- u/Sure-Resist-1415 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/LittleLotteRae in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/Extreme_Set485 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/Revolutionary_Ad1168 in r/Mercari on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/dnyte270 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 22, 2026.
- devchix on Hacker News, Oct 22, 2026.
- jimz on Hacker News, Jun 25, 2026.
- "Why I Will NEVER Use Chime Bank Again (Shocking Truth)" by Credit Card Blueprint on YouTube, May 17, 2026.
FAQ
How much does Chime cost?
Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one. We checked this on Oct 29, 2026.
How much does MoneyLion cost?
The optional MoneyLion One membership costs $9.99 a month, or $0 a month when you direct deposit $500 or more each month. We checked this on Oct 29, 2026.
What APY does Chime list?
Chime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. Chime says the rate is variable. Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits. We checked this on Nov 12, 2026.
What APY does MoneyLion list?
MoneyLion lists 3.88% APY on MoneyLion Save for MoneyLion One members, accurate as of 10/01/2026. MoneyLion says the rate is variable. No minimum deposit is required to open the account, and no minimum balance is required to earn APY. The 3.88% rate is tied to MoneyLion One membership. We checked this on Oct 29, 2026.
More comparisons
Similar comparisons
Keep comparing
- Read our Chime review.
- See Chime alternatives, closest category first.
- See MoneyLion alternatives, closest category first.
- Browse our guide to the best high-yield savings accounts.
- Want the bigger picture? Compare more money apps.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Want a plan built on your Money Type?
Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, so you know where each dollar goes.
Sources and confidence
- Last checked
- Sourced facts
- 14 facts, each linked and dated
Chime7 sourced facts, last checked Nov 12, 2026
- Price and feeshelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 29, 2026
- APY or ratehelp.chime.com/what-is-annual-percentage-yield-apy-dfafd381, as of Nov 12, 2026
- Minimumshelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Nov 12, 2026
- Protectionhelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Nov 12, 2026
- Platformshelp.chime.com/do-i-get-account-statements-from-chime-ec347b04, as of Nov 12, 2026
- Featureshelp.chime.com/what-are-chime-savings-goals-4aef8222, as of Oct 29, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Nov 12, 2026
MoneyLion7 sourced facts, last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Price and feesmoneylion.com/one, as of Oct 29, 2026
- APY or ratemoneylion.com/one, as of Oct 29, 2026
- Minimumsmoneylion.com/one, as of Oct 29, 2026
- Protectionmoneylion.com, as of Oct 29, 2026
- Platformsmoneylion.com, as of Oct 29, 2026
- Featureshelp.moneylion.com/en_us/smart-budget-SJQEvwhHgx, as of Oct 29, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 29, 2026
- Reference: banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Each fact links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Once a fact is older than 30 days, it comes off the page until we check it again. How we source, date and index this data.
This is education, not financial advice.
