Cleo
AI-Powered Budgeting & Cash Advance App
Best For
Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial users wanting an AI chatbot that
Core Fee
Free tier available; Cleo Plus $5.99/month (cash advances up
Settlement
ExtraCash advances approved in minutes; standard delivery fr
Public.com
Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace
Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account
Core Fee
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generat
Settlement
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account set
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
| Audit Criterion | Cleo | Public.com |
|---|---|---|
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars) |
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| 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 | $0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generated assets (AI-curated ETFs); crypto fees via third-party; Premium subscription available |
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 |
Public.com 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 |
Public.com applies account maintenance charges as described in its fee schedule. Pricing may vary by region.
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 |
Public.com does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Public.com app for current card fees |
| Settlement Speed & Reliability | ||
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time |
Cleo
ExtraCash advances approved in minutes; standard delivery fr
VS
Public.com
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account set
✓ Public.com is faster (instant vs ExtraCash advances approved in)
|
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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 |
Public.com 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 |
Public.com publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Public.com 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 |
FINRA/SIPC member (up to $500,000); SEC-registered broker-dealer; 256-bit encryption; 2FA; Public Investing Inc. registered with SEC
✓ Licensed |
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme |
FDIC insured — your funds are protected up to applicable limits.
Verify current coverage directly with Cleo |
Public.com holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Public.com |
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 |
Public.com supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
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 |
Public.com employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ 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
Public.com
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
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Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category |
AI-Powered Budgeting & Cash Advance App | Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace |
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 |
Public.com withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
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 |
Public.com supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Public.com 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 |
Public.com app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
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 |
Public.com routes support through its official help channels. Priority queue access varies by plan.
Check Public.com 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 |
Public.com KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Public.com app |
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation |
Public.com WINS with 4/5 stars vs 3/5.
Why: Public.com excels at Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios. It also has a simpler fee structure ($0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee ...). ✓ Choose Public.com if Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs ➜ Cleo is still solid for Budget-conscious Gen Z and millennial us |
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Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees |
Visit Cleo ↗ | Visit Public.com ↗ |
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
Public.com — Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
✓ Strong in its core category
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