Cash Advance Apps

Cleo reviews: complaints & concerns

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025

While Cleo has a strong lifetime average rating of 4.4 on the App Store and Google Play with over 200,000 reviews, recent user ratings in March 2025 have dipped to 3.1. Some users have shared concerns about certain aspects of the app. Read on to learn more about these complaints, common issues, and what users are saying.

What do Cleo users complain about?

Out of hundreds of user reviews published in early 2025, here are some of the biggest frustrations shared:

  • Charged after cancellation: Over a dozen users report being billed even after canceling their subscription or deleting their account.
  • Can't qualify for advance: At least 20 users complain they can't qualify for an advance—or receive very low amounts—even after paying fees and meeting all requirements.
  • No human support: Around 20 users are frustrated by the lack of human customer service, stuck with unhelpful bots.
  • App glitches and crashes: About 10 users experience frequent app crashes and glitches that prevent them from accessing services.
  • Misleading fees and charges: Many mention unexpected fees, being charged before knowing their eligibility, or feeling misled into paying for services they can't use.

Overall, unwanted charges and lack of support dominate the dissatisfaction.

App reviews talking about Complaint:
"...I paid them back two weeks ago and they’re still “processing” my repayment..."
"I canceled my subscription and they still charged my card..."
"...you pay an advance back and required to pay monthly service fees but not eligible for another advance..."

Scam reports

Even though Cleo is a legit company, we found over 40 reviews published recently describing the service as scammy (for context, this is out of hundreds we analyzed). About 30 explicitly call the service a “scam”, “fraud”, or “thieves,” while others mention unauthorized charges or hidden fees that made them feel deceived.

Several users report being charged subscription fees but not receiving the promised cash advances, or being told they didn't qualify after paying. A few worry about data security or unauthorized withdrawals from their bank accounts, and express frustration with unhelpful customer service.

The overarching theme is that people feel tricked or financially harmed, often pointing to unwanted subscriptions, surprise fees, and difficulty canceling or getting refunds.

App reviews talking about Scam:
"...they stole 15$ from me..."
"Scam - They’ll charge you for a subscription and never give you an advance."
"...charged me before revealing they were all just a scam."

Overdraft reports

We found three overdraft-related complaints, with users reporting that Cleo withdrew funds without permission, leading to negative balances. One user mentioned they didn't receive their expected advance but still had money taken out, causing a bounced check.

Another user said Cleo pulled a repayment before their payday, resulting in an overdrawn account. These experiences highlight issues with unexpected withdrawals and timing of repayments that didn't align with users' pay cycles.

App reviews talking about Reported Overdraft:
"...Went into my account without my knowledge and took a payment out and I bounced a check..."
"Use this app with EXTREME CAUTION!...Resulting in my account being withdrawn..."
"...They took money out my bank account with out permission and didn't give me advance"

What users say on other topics

Positive
4%
Negative
96%
Many users complain about difficulties in canceling their subscriptions with Cleo, often citing unauthorized charges even after they believe they've successfully unsubscribed. A recurring theme is the frustration over continued charges despite attempts to cancel, with some users reporting multiple charges in a single month. The process to cancel seems cumbersome, with users mentioning unresponsive customer service and a lack of direct human support. The sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with users feeling trapped by a service they no longer wish to use and having to resort to blocking payments through their banks.
App reviews talking about Subscription Cancellation:
"...I canceled my subscription and they still charged my card..."
"I unsubscribed to plus months ago and the app continues to charge me..."
"...Won't let me cancel my subscription and cleo keeps trying to take money from me illegally..."