TL;DR
It's a tie! Both score 3/5 stars.
Choose Cleo if you need Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI ch,
or Found if you need Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated.
⬇ Scroll for full 20-point audit
Best For
Cleo
vs
Found
Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI ch...
vs
Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated...
Fee Structure
Cleo
vs
Found
Free tier available; Cleo Plus $5.99/month (cash advances up...
vs
Free plan available; premium features require subscription; ...
Rating
Cleo
vs
Found
3/5 ★
vs
3/5 ★
Cleo
AI-Powered Budgeting & Cash Advance App
Best For
Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that roasts their spending, automates savings, and provides small cash advances with no credit check
Core Fee
Free tier available; Cleo Plus $5.99/month (cash advances up to $250, credit insights); Cleo Builder $14.99/month (up to $500 advance with $750/month direct deposit); express delivery fee $3.99–$14.99
Settlement
ExtraCash advances approved in minutes; standard delivery free to Cleo account; express delivery to external debit card same day with fee; paycheck access up to 10 days early
Found
Online Business Banking & Bookkeeping for Freelancers
Best For
Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools
Core Fee
Free plan available; premium features require subscription; not publicly priced
Settlement
Fast account opening; real-time transaction categorization; automated bookkeeping
What This Audit Doesn't Cover:
Real-time currency fluctuations, promotional offers, region-specific pricing, or temporary fee waivers.
Always verify current rates, fees, and features directly with Cleo and Found
before making any financial decision.
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
| Audit Criterion | Cleo | Found |
|---|---|---|
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars) |
||
| Cost Structure & Fees | ||
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international |
Free tier available; Cleo Plus $5.99/month (cash advances up to $250, credit insights); Cleo Builder $14.99/month (up to $500 advance with $750/month direct deposit); express delivery fee $3.99–$14.99 | Free plan available; premium features require subscription; not publicly priced |
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate |
Cleo charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Found charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges |
No monthly fees — Cleo does not charge recurring maintenance fees.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
No monthly fees — Found does not charge recurring maintenance fees.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs |
Cleo does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Cleo app for current card fees |
Found offers virtual cards.
Card issuance is typically included at no extra cost.
Check Found app for current card fees |
| Settlement Speed & Reliability | ||
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time |
Cleo
ExtraCash advances approved in minutes; standard delivery fr
VS
Found
Fast account opening; real-time transaction categorization;
Both platforms offer comparable settlement speeds.
|
|
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time |
Cleo supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Found supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate |
Cleo publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Cleo status page for incident history |
Found publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Found status page for incident history |
| Security & Regulatory Standing | ||
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions |
Banking via Thread Bank, Member FDIC; Cleo Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC; Plaid for bank connections (PCI DSS compliant); 256-bit encryption; March 2025 FTC settlement resolved fee disclosure claims
✓ Licensed |
Banking via partner FDIC-insured institutions; standard security; automated tax tracking
✓ Licensed |
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme |
FDIC insured — your funds are protected up to applicable limits.
Verify current coverage directly with Cleo |
FDIC insured — your funds are protected up to applicable limits.
Verify current coverage directly with Found |
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation |
Cleo supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Found offers multi-factor authentication. Enable 2FA in account security settings. Biometric and PIN options vary by device.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring |
Cleo employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
Found monitors transactions for anomalies in real time. You can freeze your card instantly from the app.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
| Features, Limits & Access | ||
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition |
Cleo
Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that roasts their spending, automates savings, and provides small cash advances with no credit check
Found
Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools
|
|
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category |
AI-Powered Budgeting & Cash Advance App | Online Business Banking & Bookkeeping for Freelancers |
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps |
Cleo withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Found applies tiered withdrawal limits based on your KYC verification level and business activity.
Log in to see your current limits |
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage |
Cleo supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Cleo official site for full currency list |
Found supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Found official site for full currency list |
| User Experience & Support | ||
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction |
Cleo app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Found is available on both iOS and Android. Rating varies by region.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA |
Cleo offers support through its help centre and official contact channels.
Check Cleo help centre for current support options |
Found offers in-app support and email. Response times may vary by account tier.
Check Found help centre for current support options |
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission |
Cleo KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Cleo app |
Found typically verifies personal accounts within minutes to 24 hours with a valid ID.
Verify current wait times in the Found app |
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation |
IT'S A TIE — both score 3/5 stars.
Choose Cleo if you need: Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that roasts their spending, automates savings, and provides small cash advances with no credit check. Choose Found if you need: Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools. ➜ Your choice depends on your specific needs |
|
Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees |
Visit Cleo ↗ | Visit Found ↗ |
Choose Cleo If:
- You need Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that roasts their spending, automates savings, and provides small cash advances with no credit check
- You prefer Free tier available; Cleo Plus $5.99/month (cash advances up to $250, credit insights); Cleo Builder $14.99/month (up to $500 advance with $750/month direct deposit); express delivery fee $3.99–$14.99
- You value ExtraCash advances approved in minutes; standard delivery free to Cleo account; express delivery to external debit card same day with fee; paycheck access up to 10 days early
Choose Found If:
- You need Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools
- You prefer Free plan available; premium features require subscription; not publicly priced
- You value Fast account opening; real-time transaction categorization; automated bookkeeping
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Cleo — Best For
Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that roasts their spending, automates savings, and provides small cash advances with no credit check
✓ Strong in its core category
Found — Best For
Freelancers and self-employed individuals wanting integrated banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools
✓ Strong in its core category
Not sure which is right for you?
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