Cash Advance Apps

Cleo reviews: complaints & concerns

Last Updated: Aug 03, 2025

Although Cleo has an average lifetime rating of 4.3 on the App Store and Google Play store, its recent user reviews have dipped to an average of 2.9 in June and July 2025. Some users have raised concerns about various aspects of the app. Read on to discover these complaints, common issues, and more.

What do Cleo users complain about?

Out of hundreds of user reviews published in mid-2025, here are the biggest frustrations users shared:

  • Unwanted charges and fees: Over 50 users complained about being charged subscription fees without receiving services, being charged multiple times a month, or continuing to be charged after canceling.
  • No human support: More than 40 users expressed frustration at being unable to reach a real person for help, with the AI chatbot being unhelpful and looping endlessly.
  • Low cash advance amounts: Dozens reported being offered very low advances (as little as $20-$40) despite paying high subscription fees, or being promised higher amounts only to be denied or given less.
  • Difficulty canceling subscription: Many found it nearly impossible to cancel their subscriptions, with the app making the process confusing or impossible.
  • App glitches and technical issues: Numerous users experienced the app freezing, inability to link bank accounts or cards, or incorrect information displayed.
  • Misleading advertising and scams: Several accused the app of deceptive practices like charging fees upfront without delivering services, calling it a "scam".
  • Unreliable advances and repayments: Some reported that despite repaying advances on time, their limits were reduced or they were no longer eligible, leaving them in tough spots.

Overall, unwanted charges, poor customer support, and technical glitches dominate the dissatisfaction among Cleo users.

App reviews talking about Complaint:
"...they make you pay a subscription fee and then only loan you $20..."
"...I have tried everything to unsubscribe but it won’t let me..."
"...they took my money for payment membership then when I applied for the amount I was told approve for they wouldn’t let me get..."

Scam reports

Even though Cleo is a legit company, we found 50+ reviews published recently describing the service as scammy (for context, this is out of hundreds we analyzed). About 40 explicitly call the service a “scam”, “fraud”, or “thieves” while others describe forced charges or hidden fees that make them feel similarly deceived.

Several users worry about identity theft or data misuse, and many say they never received the promised cash advances but still got charged. Some mention being unable to cancel subscriptions or reach customer service, feeling frustrated by unhelpful AI bots.

The overarching theme is that people feel tricked or financially harmed, pointing to unwanted subscriptions, surprise fees, and difficulties in canceling or resolving issues.

App reviews talking about Scam:
"...they literally make you pay a subscription fee and then only loan you $20..."
"...I was told that they would not be refunding the random charges that they’ve made to my account..."
"...I signed up and chose the option to pay 38.75 every 3 months to pay back the advance, they don’t tell you how much you qualify for until you pay them 1st..."

Overdraft reports

We found eleven overdraft-related complaints about Cleo, with users reporting unexpected charges leading to negative balances and overdraft fees.

Several users mention repayments being taken before their payday, causing their accounts to go negative; one user said Cleo took money early, leaving them without funds for necessities. Others report unauthorized fees or multiple subscriptions they didn't agree to, which triggered NSF charges—one user was charged an $8.95 fee for an advance they didn't receive, resulting in a $34 overdraft fee.

Some users are frustrated by the lack of customer support to adjust repayment dates or resolve billing issues, making their overdraft problems worse.

App reviews talking about Reported Overdraft:
"...now my account is in the negative because you built me for a monthly fee..."
"I will never use this app again they took money before my pay period and now my account is in the negative..."
"...my account was overdrawn and I will be stuck with the 2 NSF fees..."

What users say on other topics

Positive
1%
Negative
99%
Many users express significant concerns about the security and privacy of the Cleo app. They report issues with unauthorized access to their bank accounts, difficulty in deleting personal information, and a lack of transparency in how their data is handled. Several reviews mention that the app feels like a scam, with some users fearing data mining and unauthorized charges. The AI-driven customer support is criticized for being unhelpful and frustrating, often leaving users in a loop without resolving their issues. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users feeling uneasy about sharing sensitive information with the app.
App reviews talking about Security & Privacy:
"...Spy in your bank account..."
"...they won’t let you delete any card information or delete your account..."
"...they charge you for stealing your data..."

Complaints about Cleo

In March 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Cleo for misleading users about cash advance amounts and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. Cleo was ordered to pay $17 million in refunds and agreed to a ten-year consent order to prevent future deceptive practices.