Are you tired of feeling like a financial outcast due to your low credit score? Do you want to finally wave goodbye to the shackles of bad credit and say hello to a brighter financial future? If so, you're not alone! Millions of people around the world struggle with bad credit, but luckily, there are tools out there to help. Today, we're going to introduce you to two of the most popular credit-building tools: Cheese Credit Builder and Kikoff Credit.

But wait, don't snooze just yet! We promise this won't be a snooze-fest. We're going to dive into the details of these two very different tools, comparing their unique features. By the end of this article, you'll be equipped with all the knowledge about which tool is right for you. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn the differences between Cheese Credit Builder and Kikoff.

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What is Cheese Credit Builder

Cheese is on a mission to help people build their credit and savings with simple and automated solutions. With Cheese's credit builder loan, you can work towards building your credit while saving money.

Once you're approved, all you need to do is make monthly on-time payments, which will be reported to all three credit bureaus and added to your credit builder account.

One of the best parts? Cheese doesn't charge any upfront fees or admin fees, and signing up is completely free! The only cost you'll have to pay is the APR, which ranges from 5% to 16% depending on where you live. But don't worry, Cheese Credit Builder has very flexible loan plans to suit your needs:

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Plan 1: Pay $44.42/month for 12 months and receive $500 at the end of the loan term

Plan 2: Pay $23.54/month for 24 months and receive $500 at the end of the loan term

Plan 3: Pay $88.85/month for 12 months and receive $1,000 at the end of the loan term

Plan 4: Pay $47.07/month for 24 months and receive $1,000 at the end of the loan term

Plan 5: Pay $177.70/month for 12 months and receive $2,000 at the end of the loan term

Plan 6: Pay $94.14/ month for 24 months and receive $2,000 at the end of the loan term

(*Interest calculated based on California 12% APR. APR varies by state of residency. Actual monthly repayment may be less.)

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For example: this is what a $500/24 months plan cost:

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With such flexible plans and no upfront fees, Cheese Credit Builder is a great option for anyone looking to build their credit and savings at the same time.

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What is Kikoff

Kikoff Credit Account is a flexible $750 revolving line of credit that doesn't require a credit check. This makes it a more accessible option for individuals with low credit scores or no credit history, as there is no hard inquiry to your credit report. You only need to pay a $5 monthly membership fee and the cost of your purchases; there are no additional fees or interest charges. 

Kikoff reports your account activity to Experian and Equifax each month, including payment timeliness, credit limit, and balances owed. By consistently making payments on time and keeping balances low, you can use Kikoff to improve your credit score. 

However, it's only practical for building credit and cannot be used for financing or saving money. You can only make purchases on Kikoff's online store, which mainly offers educational e-books priced between $10 and $20. The Kikoff Credit Account functions like a credit card, with a $750 credit limit that can be reused once the balance is paid off.

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Compare Cheese Credit Builder and Kikoff

From the information of Cheese Credit Builder and Kikoff, it is obvious that while both offer solutions to help consumers build credit, there are some key differences between the two. Now let’s break down these differences so that you can see which product is a better fit for you. 

Feature

While Kikoff offers a revolving line of credit that can only be used to buy from their limited store, all of which are financial wellness e-books. Cheese Credit Builder provides a credit builder loan that helps you build credit while also saving money. With Cheese Credit Builder, you receive a lump sum of money that you repay over a set period of time. The loan payments are reported to all three credit bureaus, helping you build your credit history. 

Simply put, Kikoff is a revolving line of credit and your purchase choices are very limited,  while Cheese Credit Builder is a credit builder account that helps you save and build credit.  

Impact 

Cheese Credit Builder offers a 1-year to 2-year loan of $500 to $2,000 that aims to boost your credit score by making timely monthly payments on your behalf. This loan specifically targets your payment history, which makes up 35% of your credit score, to establish a strong history of on-time payments that can help you improve your credit score quickly. 

Another important fact is that Cheese Credit Builder can diversify your credit mix, especially if you only have revolving credit, like credit cards. Overall, Cheese Credit Builder can benefit your credit score in many ways. 

On the other hand, Kikoff provides a revolving line of credit of $750 in your name, with no set expiration date. However, this credit can only be used to purchase items from Kikoff's online store, which have a starting price of $10. It helps to keep your credit utilization low. 

Although it says that Kikoff also help build your payment history, however your purchase in Kikoff’s online store won’t be big payments. Therefore, compared to Cheese Credit Builder who have larger loan amount thus payment amount for you to choose, Kikoff doesn’t seem to contribute to your payment history as much as Cheese does. 

Reports to Credit Bureaus

Cheese Credit Builder reports your monthly payments to all three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. 

Kikoff only reports to Experian and Equifax. 

Price

Kikoff charges a $5 monthly membership fee, but doesn't charge any interest on balances or fees for sign-up or maintenance. 

Cheese Credit Builder charges interest on the loan based on your state of residency, with rates ranging from 5% to 16%. The best part is, there are no monthly membership fees for Cheese Credit Builder, and signing up incurs no upfront or administrative fees.

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Cheese vs. Kikoff: Which is Better for You? 

In conclusion, both Cheese Credit Builder and Kikoff offer credit-building solutions that cater to different needs. Cheese Credit Builder provides a personal loan that helps users build their credit score by making on-time monthly payments on their behalf and meanwhile help them save money, while Kikoff provides a revolving line of credit that can only be used to purchase items from their online store.

Ultimately, the best option depends on your unique circumstances and preferences. It is essential to weigh the features, reports to credit bureaus, and price of each solution to determine which one aligns with your credit-building goals. Regardless of the choice, it is crucial to use the credit-building solution responsibly and maintain good financial habits to achieve long-term financial health.

Are you tempted to give Cheese Credit Builder a shot? Sign up today and start building credit for a better future! 

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