Cushion App Review [2024] Cushion AI Reviews for Building Credit With BNPL

The average American’s credit score falls somewhere between 670 and 739. Whether you’re in that range or not, it might be time to improve your credit.

How can you improve your credit? 

One option is to use the Cushion app. It’s a platform that organizes your Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payments onto a single dashboard and then reports the payments to credit bureaus. 

And guess what effect that usually has? Yup, a higher credit score!

In this Cushion app review, I’ll tell you how the platform works and explain why it’s worth it.

What is The Cushion App?

The Cushion app is a personal finance platform that helps you accomplish two main goals:

• Organizing Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) payments on a single digital dashboard.
• Building your credit which may lead to improving your credit score by paying your bills and making BNPL payments on time.

So, this isn’t a platform for actually buying anything through BNPL. It just makes sure that the BNPL model translates to getting credit for those positive payments which can lead to an improved credit score for consumers.

And here’s the thing: Having a good credit score is an important part of financial responsibility. The higher your score, the easier it will be to secure loans, take out credit cards, and even buy a home.

And if you’re already purchasing items through BNPL, you should be able to build credit on those payments. Cushion’s role is to make sure that happens!

How Does The Cushion App Work?

The Cushion app works by using a virtual card to make BNPL payments, aiming to build your credit and improve your credit score in the process.

That’s the short answer – but don’t worry, this Cushion app review will break it down further!

So here’s the 4-step process that the Cushion app uses:

1. Cushion organizes your bills and BNPL payments. You’ll link your email and bank account to your Cushion account so the app can sort the information. 
2. You activate your virtual card. The Cushion app gives you two cards to choose from (the Cushion Builder or the Cushion Pro).
3. You put the new card on file for your payments. That means you’ll be using the Cushion card to pay your bills and make BNPL payments.
4. Cushion reports your payments to the credit bureaus. This is the step that will help you build credit and may improve your score over time!

You’ll be able to oversee all these steps right through the Cushion app. This is a big part of what makes the app so appealing. Gone are the days of flipping between apps to keep track of different payments. 

The due dates and amounts will appear right on your Cushion app dashboard. There’s also a calendar view option, which is visually appealing and makes it even easier to keep track of your expenses.

Another great perk is the “Insights” feature, where the Cushion app identifies spending trends and upcoming expenses. This is a great way to understand your patterns and build healthier habits.

Unfortunately, the Cushion app isn’t free. 

There are two payment options:

1. Cushion Builder: Pay $4.99 per month for a convenient way to manage all BNPL payments and build credit on those BNPL payments. 
2. Cushion Pro: Pay $12.99 per month to seamlessly manage all your bills and BNPL payments and build credit on all those payments. 

You can sign up for either plan on the official Cushion website. 

The Cushion app is available for iOS and Android – but the download process is a little different for each.

Here’s how to download the Cushion app on your iPhone:

1. Go to the Safari browser and open Cushion.ai.
2. Tap the “Share” icon at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap “Add to home screen.”
4. Tap “Add.”

Here’s how Android users can download the Cushion app:

1. In the Chrome browser, open Cushion.ai.
2. In the top-right corner, tap the three dots.
3. Tap “Add to Home screen.”
4. Tap “Add.”

Is The Cushion App Legit?

The Cushion app is completely legit. Cushion is a real company with headquarters in San Francisco, CA, and raised $12 million from investors. That means some smart people with deep pockets are supporting the app!

Cushion also gets great ratings from users. On the review site Trustpilot, reviewers give the app an average of 4.7 stars. That suggests the vast majority of customers are pleased with the service they’re getting. 

Is The Cushion App Safe?

The Cushion app is totally safe to use. It’s run by a legitimate company, and I’ve encountered no news reports of fraud or security issues.

Now, I can see why you might be nervous about using Cushion. You literally have to link the app to your bank account!

Fortunately, Cushion employs some serious security measures, including:

• 256-bit SSL encryption
• A promise never to sell customer data
• Partnerships with top-tier security providers 

So, the verdict of this Cushion app review is clear: The platform is safe to use!

Pros and Cons of The Cushion App

What’s great about the Cushion app, and what could be a little bit better? Here are the pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• You’ll simplify the process of making BNPL payments. All your payments will appear side-by-side on the Cushion dashboard.
• Your credit score may increase over time. Cushion reports your positive payments to the credit bureaus, and your score may go up over time as a result.
• The user interface is easy to navigate. Users are raving about the app in online reviews.

Cons

• There’s a monthly fee. The basic service, which includes managing all BNPL payments and reporting those payments to the credit bureaus, starts at $4.99 per month. 
• You have to sync to your bank account. The process is completely secure, but it could make some users a little uneasy. 
• You have to use a Cushion Card if you want to build your credit through Cushion. This requires changing your payment method for all your BNPL payments. 

Cushion App Reviews

The Cushion app has been getting a lot of attention online, and most of that attention is positive. That’s why Cushion has 4.7 stars on Trustpilot.

Lots of the online reviews focus on the app itself. It seems people really appreciate the way it functions!

In a 5-star Cushion app review, someone said the user experience is “so well designed.” They also praised the customer support. 

Another user called the Cushion app “friendly,” saying the navigation was easy.

In yet another 5-star Cushion app review, someone said the app is “so easy to use.”

I did find a 1-star Cushion app review that included a complaint about the customer service. Apparently, this user was refused a refund. 

Cushion AI Reviews

Users generally love the Cushion app – but it’s not just the app itself they appreciate. For many people, it seems Cushion’s entire business model is a major plus. 

In a 5-star Cushion review, a user said they “definitely recommend trying Cushion.” Now, that’s what I call a ringing endorsement!

Another user went even further, calling Cushion a “necessity for building credit.” They also said the small fee was definitely worth it.

In another 5-star Cushion review, someone said their credit score had gone up 20-30 points in the last month. 

Now, I did find a 1-star Cushion review with someone claiming the company sells its users’ data. But remember, Cushion says it doesn’t sell user data at all. My verdict? I think this person might be making false assumptions.

Of course, it’s still worth noting that they had a bad experience with the company – which is, of course, completely valid! Even the best companies can rub some customers the wrong way.

Cushion App Reviews Reddit

Over on Reddit, most of the Cushion app reviews are less-than-glowing. But don’t be too alarmed! These reviews are all related to a service that Cushion doesn’t even offer anymore. 

Cushion used to offer a service where it negotiated with banks to lower or eliminate fees from banks. The idea was that you’d subscribe to Cushion, and in return, Cushion would save you money on fees. In fact, Cushion helped refund nearly $15 million in fees to consumers during the pandemic.

It sounds like a good idea, but to the folks on Reddit? It seems they didn’t like it so much.

In one Cushion app review, a Redditor claimed, “They steal from you.”

And in another thread, a user called Cushion a “really bad deal” – and another user agreed.

Again, Cushion’s business model has changed completely since these complaints were made. Could these reviews still be insightful? Sure, they might tell you something about how the company operates.

But the “new look” Cushion, which focuses on managing BNPL payments and building credit, is mostly getting positive reviews. It’s just that those reviews have yet to appear on Reddit.

Cushion App Reviews BBB

Cushion gets a B grade from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), an organization that assesses how well companies treat their customers. This rating stems from the 24 complaints that the BBB had received from Cushion users in the last few years.

The BBB also states that Cushion isn’t an “accredited” business with the organization. This doesn’t mean Cushion is a bad or untrustworthy company. It just means Cushion hasn’t taken the extra steps to get accredited by the BBB.

Is The Cushion App Worth It?

The conclusion of this Cushion app review is that the platform is worth it for anyone who uses BNPL services and wants to build their credit.

Sure, the cost of $4.99 per month is annoying – but do you get your money’s worth? I think so. 

Users report that their credit score has risen 20 – 30 points while using the Cushion app. And your credit score has a huge impact on your financial future.

Do you want to buy a house? Take out a loan? Apply for credit cards? Even if you’re not doing those things today or tomorrow, you’ll probably want to do them eventually. So, you should prepare for that moment by improving your credit score today.

If you’re using BNPL services and not benefitting from building your credit and improving your score,  you’re wasting a valuable opportunity. The Cushion app will prevent that waste and help get you the credit that you deserve. 

Commonly Asked Questions About The Cushion App

What are Alternatives to The Cushion App?

Here are some Cushion app alternatives for building credit:

• StellarFi (read this full StellarFi review)
• Dovly (read this full Dovly review)
• Perpay (read full Perpay review here)
• Sezzle (read Sezzle reviews here)
• Cheese (read this full Cheese Credit Builder review)
• CreditStrong (read this full Credit Strong review)
• Kikoff (read this full Kikoff review)
• Cleo (read this full Cleo Credit Builder Card review)
• Chime (read this full Chime review)
• Nevly Money (read this Nevly Money review)
• Bright Money (read full Bright Money review here)
• Klarna (read Klarna reviews here)

For more ways to fix your credit, check out our comparison of Credit Saint vs Lexington Law, or see if working with the best tradeline companies could be the right credit repair solution for you. 

Meanwhile, learn how to budget for non recurring expenses so you can be prepared for unexpected costs going forward. 

If you’re looking for a low-tech, hands-on budgeting method, learn about cash envelope categories. And if you need to boost your savings fast, the 60/30/10 rule budget can help.

Is The Cushion App a Scam?

The Cushion app isn’t a scam. It’s run by a legitimate company based in San Francisco, California. And it has a proven track record of helping people to manage their BNPL payments and build their credit by making on-time BNPL payments.

What is The Catch With The Cushion App?

The only catch with the Cushion app is the monthly fee. The cheapest option is to pay $4.99 per month for Cushion to manage all your BNPL payments and report those BNPL payments to credit bureaus. You can also pay $12.99 per month for Cushion to manage and report your regular bills along with BNPL payments.

Build Credit With Buy Now Pay Later Payments (BNPL)?

You can build credit with BNPL payments if you use the Cushion app. The platform will give you a special card that you can use for all your BNPL payments. Then, Cushion will report your payments to credit bureaus so that you can start building your credit on those payments, which may lead to an improved credit score over time. 

Is The Cushion App Free?

Using Cushion to manage, pay, and build credit on your bills and BNPL isn’t free. There are two payment options. If you pay $12.99 per month, Cushion will help you manage and report BNPL and regular bill payments to credit bureaus. If you pay $4.99 per month, Cushion offers BNPL management and supports reporting BNPL payments. 

What is The App Like Cushion Bill Pay?

StellarFi is a platform that’s very similar to Cushion. It allows you to build your credit score by paying your bills on time. 

*Many factors are involved in your credit score making the experience and result unique for each individual. Cushion does not guarantee and cannot predict that your credit score will improve by a specific amount, percentage, or at all within a specific period of time or by using Cushion. Credit building is one of several premium features included in Cushion’s paid subscription.