A credit score reflects your ability to pay off the debt on time. So, your score is impacted when you charge something to your credit card or avail yourself of a new loan with the linked bank account. Today, digital banking payments and system innovations allow you to use apps that help you build credit and improve your score. We’ve compiled a list of our top picks available for download on Android and iOS platforms.

Credit building is indeed a straightforward process. And with innovative apps available for download, everyone can access these services today. So how do these apps work?

Here are how they work:

• Some apps help monitor
  When you use a credit card to make payments and consolidate the bills at the end of the cycle, a report is sent to the primary credit bureaus, including Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Credit monitoring apps can track all these transactions and build on the information to improve our score.
• Some apps offer loans
  Banks and financial institutions also offer small loans where you periodically make payments over a fixed tenure. The bureaus track these payments, and meeting deadlines improves your creditworthiness, thus reflecting your final ability to pay back debt. This, in turn, automatically improves your credit score.
• Some apps report services
  Experian Boost offers services via their in-house app to help improve bad credit scores by reporting your purchases to the credit bureaus. The service tracks all your utility and rent bill payments to provide a consolidated report. This information directly impacts your credit score and helps rebuild your creditworthiness.

Here are a few must-have apps to improve a bad credit score:

• Experian Boost
  Experian, one of the premier credit card bureaus in the country, has also developed an in-house monitoring module that helps boost your credit score. And the best part is that you can use this app for free and expect great results with a simple step-by-step process. The first step is to connect your bank account or credit card used to make regular payments with the app. The app looks up all past payment histories and compares the data with qualifying bills for the cycle. Once this information is verified, the data is added to Experian’s credit files. You will get a comprehensive credit report and can also check out the current FICO® score post-verification.The results are almost instantaneous upon primary verification, and you will see the difference in the before and after FICO® scores reflecting current creditworthiness. Experian Boost is so efficient that you can even add eligible residential rent payments, among other utility bills, to get a better score boost. It offers premium features with monthly and annual plans to boost overall credit scores using exclusive tools and linked services.
• Credit Sesame
  Credit Sesame offers the best of both worlds: a comprehensive app to help improve bad credit scores and additional cash rewards for using Credit Sesame’s services on their platform. You can customize the app’s user experience and take full control of the features built-in for comprehensive credit monitoring and FICO® score services. The app is compatible with Android and iOS platforms, so download and install across multiple devices and avail services on the go. With Seasame Credit, you can get a detailed summary of the credit report and keep track of all payments directly on the app. And the best part is that you even get a free checking account and debit card linked to your existing bank account. Get cash rewards from these accounts every time your credit score improves using the app. The app is free to download, and the services include registration.
• SeedFi
  Even taking loans and repaying them on time will significantly improve your overall credit scores. And SeedFi offers the perfect app to automate this system, where your payments earn special points that enhance your FICO® score. SeedFi has merged with Credit Karma to offer a bundle of services for interest-free loans. The first step is to sign up for the credit builder program, and once approved, the institution opens a new line of credit and a locked savings account in your name. The next step is to enroll in the auto savings program, where the amount you specify is deducted from monthly paychecks directly into the line of credit. Contributions can be made biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly, depending on the amount you choose. With every completed credit cycle, simply transfer the cumulative amount collected in that line of credit back to the savings accounts. Credit Karma will report these payments to all credit bureaus, and this process will help improve your credit score. The amount is available directly to withdraw funds or can be kept growing in the bank account. The only drawback with SeedFi is that only iOS users can download the app.
• Kikoff Credit Builder
  Kikoff is another popular choice for apps that help improve bad credit scores, available for download on Android and iOS platforms. Building a credit history is one of the biggest disadvantages for new credit users. That is where Kikoff steps in with an initial $750 line of credit given without any obligation for background checks or prior payment history. You can use this exclusive line of credit to make purchases on the brand’s official store. The $750 line of credit is a rotating benefit that is updated every month.So, this account operates as a digital credit card. The payment history is reported to only Experian and Equifax credit bureaus. Based on your payment history, a consolidated report is generated. Following up with payments automatically helps boost overall credit scores. Continuing this line of credit also improves your creditworthiness with the primary bureaus. The bottom line is that this is a very efficient way to build your credit and raise your score without using a credit card.