StellarFi, a Grow Credit alternative

Why is credit important?

Your credit score can be the determining factor in whether you’re able to rent a home, get approved for a mortgage, or get a good interest rate on a car loan. Having good credit can save you money in the long run, through access to better interest rates and more favorable borrowing terms. Here are some scenarios in which your credit score makes a difference:

• Without a strong credit score, you’re less likely to be approved for a mortgage or may be offered more costly borrowing terms.
• Consumers with higher credit scores pay lower interest rates on loans and credit cards.
• Landlords typically check your credit to determine whether or not to rent a home or business space to you.
• People with poor or invisible credit pay higher deposits on utilities.
• Some employers even check applicants’ credit before proceeding with the hiring process.

What is StellarFi and how can it improve my credit?

StellarFi is a simple, but revolutionary, way to build credit. With StellarFi, you can build credit without the downsides of other credit building products and services. Get started with:

• No minimum score 
• No interest expenses
• No deposit 
• No surprise fees
• No new debt

How StellarFi works

StellarFi is easy to use. You just need a bank account and some monthly household bill payments — like your go-to streaming service, utility bill, and rent — to get started.

These are the steps to start building credit with StellarFi:

1. Sign up as a StellarFi member.
2. Connect your bank account.
3. Link any monthly bills you’d like to use to build your credit by replacing current payment information (like your debit card) with your StellarFi Virtual Bill Pay Card number.
4. These bills will now be paid using your StellarFi Virtual Bill Card.
5. The amount charged to your StellarFi Virtual Bill Card to pay a linked bill will be simultaneously withdrawn from your bank account.

With StellarFi, your bills are automatically paid, AND they’ll automatically help you build credit.

How StellarFi improves your credit score

StellarFi affects the credit factors that contribute most significantly to your credit score, AND builds credit with the major credit bureaus. Here’s how StellarFi works directly on your credit score:

• StellarFi shows up on your Equifax® and Experian® credit reports as a line of credit.
• StellarFi reports on-time monthly payments to the major credit bureaus, improving your payment history.
• StellarFi optimizes your credit utilization ratio by providing a payment cushion — reported as a line of credit on your credit report.
• Because a new account is created on your credit report, StellarFi can enhance your credit mix.
• As you continue to use StellarFi, the account’s age can also contribute to your score.
• StellarFi does not add hard credit inquiries to your report. These can put a dent in your credit score.

StellarFi pros and cons

StellarFi is for anyone looking to build, improve, or maintain their credit scores. Here are some of the best reasons to use StellarFi:

• StellarFi works for every stage in your credit journey. People with poor credit or no credit, those interested in taking their score from “good” to “excellent,” and anyone looking to maintain an optimal score will all benefit from using StellarFi.
• StellarFi can report a credit limit of up to $25,000.
• There’s no credit check or hard inquiry.
• You don’t need to pay a security deposit.
• You use your existing bank account and build credit with it.
• You’ll build credit history with all major credit bureaus.
• You can manage your monthly bills in one dashboard.
• Access your credit report, current credit score, and advanced credit tools such as personalized score projections.

So, what are the downsides? Here are some situations in which StellarFi may not be a good fit:

• You’re currently in the underwriting, pre-approval, or under-contract phase of buying a home and have been advised against any changes to your credit report.
• You don’t have a bank account.
• You pay all your bills by check, cash, or money order.

How does Grow Credit work?

Grow Credit works similarly to StellarFi, but is limited to subscription services (like Netflix®, Hulu®, Spotify®, etc). It is a “starter” credit card for those who want to start building their credit history or rebuild their poor credit scores. Here’s the process:

1. To apply for a Grow Credit account, you need to have at least one subscription account like Netflix or Hulu. 
2. Link your bank account with the Grow Credit account.
3. Receive a Grow Credit virtual card number.
4. Use the Grow Credit card number to pay for subscriptions.
5. Each month, Grow credit pays off your credit card through funds in your linked bank account. This considerably lowers your credit utilization. 
6. You can use Grow Credit to pay for just one subscription or the number of subscriptions your plan allows. 
7. Grow Credit creates an installment loan account on your credit report.

Grow Credit pros and cons

Here are some of the benefits of using Grow Credit:

• Grow Credit offers a free plan with a $204 loan reported and a $17/mo spending limit.
• Monthly payments are reported to all three credit bureaus to build credit history.
• You can access financial literacy education resources.
• Some subscription partners offer discounts for Grow Credit members.
• You can save money by paying their Grow Credit membership costs annually instead of monthly.
• Grow Credit can improve your credit mix if you don’t have any installment loans as part of your credit profile. 
• You don’t take on any additional debt unlike other credit cards to pay your bills since the credit card is linked to your bank account and it automatically pays off the subscription bill every month. 

Here are some of the drawbacks of using Grow Credit:

• Grow Credit is limited to subscription services such as music or television streaming services. 
• The $17/month spending limit for Grow Credit’s lowest-cost plan reduces the options for linkable subscriptions.
• The high credit limits reported to the bureaus are relatively low, with a $204 annual limit for their lowest-priced membership and a $1,800 annual limit reported for their most expensive membership.
• Grow Credit reports as an installment loan. If you have only installment accounts like student loans on your credit report, Grow Credit will not improve your credit mix.
• Users can see their current credit score but not their full credit report.
• While Grow Credit does offer a free plan, some users may not meet the underwriting requirements. These users need to make a deposit to secure the loan in advance. 

StellarFi vs. Grow Credit: What’s the best way to build credit?

Your credit history and credit needs are unique. Finding the right solution is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. That’s why it’s important to take an objective look at your options.

Because Grow Credit offers a relatively low reported limit, this service may be best for those with thin or invisible files for whom a smaller account will still be impactful. For those with many existing lines of credit or those who need more credit improvement, Grow Credit’s reporting system may not be potent enough to make a significant change. Grow Credit is also a good solution for those who need to add an installment loan to their credit mix. 

StellarFi is a good option for those who want to make a more significant, expedient impact on their credit by using substantial monthly bills. It’s also a great solution for those who would like to manage their bills and view their credit scores and reports in one dashboard. Those with mostly installment accounts on their credit report will also see an improved credit mix when they join StellarFi.

By comparing credit builders side-by-side, you’re sure to find the right tool, or combination of tools, for your goals. Best wishes to you on your credit journey!