Banking Checking Accounts

OnePay vs. Chime® [2025]: Chime Is Better for Most

It's a close call between OnePay and Chime®, with the best possible perks between these platforms being so similar. But Chime provides more flexibility and features overall.

By Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
and Lisa Dammeyer

Edited by Michael Kurko

Updated June 23, 2025

Up to 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY on Savings with eligible deposits¹ 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of OnePay Cash accounts that either (i) received $500+ of <a href="https://support.one.app/hc/en-us/articles/360053046053-Direct-deposit">Direct Deposits</a> in the current or previous month or (ii) have a  balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without deposit or balance requirements.  3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 12/20/2024, but may change at any time before or after account opening.
No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
Integrated budgeting tools through customizable "pockets"
Cash back rewards on debit card purchases

2025 award winner Best for Bad or No Credit

4.6

No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements² There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.
Early access to direct deposits³ Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
No fee overdraft up to $200 for eligible members⁴ SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account; SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/">SpotMe on Credit Builder Terms and Conditions</a>.
Large network of fee-free ATMs⁵ Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Automatic savings features⁶ Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account.

Our view

OnePay⁷ OnePay is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank or Lead Bank, Members FDIC. and Chime®⁸ Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.  are both solid fintech firms, offering similar apps and services. If you're looking for an online bank account with perks like fee-free cash deposits, virtually no fees, and high-interest accounts, both may give you what you need. They both offer membership programs that unlock access to the most benefits: OnePay Cash+ and Chime+. Each has direct deposit requirements to qualify and several similar perks.

But although OnePay could be better for Walmart regulars, Chime would be our pick for saving, earning cash back, and building credit. The pros and cons come down to differences between OnePay Cash+ and Chime+⁹ To be eligible for Chime+TM status you must receive a qualifying direct deposit to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 34 days. Certain products marketed as Chime+ benefits have additional eligibility requirements. While some Chime+ benefits may have associated fees, none of these fees are mandatory to access Chime+ benefits or to maintain Chime+ status. See <a href="https://www.chime.com/chimeplus-terms/">Chime+ Terms and Conditions</a> for details. CHIME+ is a Trademark of Chime Financial, Inc. , and it's worth noting that Chime+ requires $200 in qualifying direct deposits each month, while OnePay Cash+ requires $500.

In this OnePay vs. Chime comparison, we'll talk about both of these banking platforms and clear up which one might be right for you, depending on exactly what you're looking for.

How we evaluate products

It's important to choose the right financial service to help manage your money. But with so many available options, how do you know which one might make the most sense for you?

In this OnePay vs. Chime review and comparison, we've researched the key details between both of these online-only financial service providers. We like OnePay's budgeting features that give you an overall snapshot of your finances, but Chime has options that might be helpful for those who are working on improving their credit.¹⁰ Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. The secured Chime Credit Builder Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.

OnePay vs. Chime

OnePay and Chime both offer online-only financial services, but they're not online banks. They're fintech companies that partner with member FDIC banks to provide banking services and insurance. Neither OnePay nor Chime has in-person physical branches.


Account type(s)	Checking accounts (with savings features)	Checking accounts, savings accounts; note that you must have a Chime checking account to be eligible for a Chime savings account¹¹ <p class="">Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.<br></p>
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)	3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY on primary savings and pockets if you meet certain direct deposit or daily balance requirements¹² <p class="">The product and annual percentage yield (APY) data displayed on this website is gathered from various sources and may not reflect all of the offers available in your area. Although we strive to provide the most accurate data possible, we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Always verify account details and availability with the financial institution before opening an account.<br></p> ¹³ <p>3.75% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of OnePay Cash accounts that either (i) received $500+ of Direct Deposits in the current or previous month or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. 3.75% APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without deposit or balance requirements. 3.75% APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 12/20/2024, but may change at any time before or after account opening.</p> 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) available on savings balances up to $250,000	Checking: Not an interest-bearing account Savings: 1.25% APY, up to 3.75% APY with Chime+¹⁴ <p>The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is effective as of 5/22/25. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The Chime+ APY is available only while you maintain eligibility requirements for Chime+, otherwise the APY for non-Chime+ members will apply. See <a href="https://www.chime.com/chimeplus-terms/">Chime+ Terms and Conditions</a> for more details.</p>
Minimum balance for APY	None	Checking: None Savings: None
Minimum deposit to open account	None	Checking: None Savings: None
Debit card	Yes	Yes
Cashback program	Yes	Yes
ATM access	Yes (Fee-free at over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs)¹⁵ <p element-id="3">Only applies to OnePay Cash accounts that have either (i) received <a href="https://www.onepay.com/help-center/articles/direct-deposit?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1207782460763901308&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBQQ6AIAwEwBdB7ybGgw8hIqs0Im1KE26%2B3ZnqrmMhko4wkeOhGhv3h0CFDaeHApXBHiqabp%2Fhghn3O2WTOWDrXk1e%2FLyW8klIAAAA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Direct Deposits</a> totaling $500+ in the current or previous month, or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. For all other ATM transactions the OnePay ATM Fee will apply and third-party ATM fees may be incurred.</p>	Yes (Fee-free at over 50,000 network ATMs: Moneypass at 7-Eleven locations, Allpoint, and Visa Plus Alliance)⁵ <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.</p>
Early paycheck	Yes¹⁶ <p><a href="https://www.onepay.com/help-center/articles/direct-deposit?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1207782460763901308&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBQQ6AIAwEwBdB7ybGgw8hIqs0Im1KE26%2B3ZnqrmMhko4wkeOhGhv3h0CFDaeHApXBHiqabp%2Fhghn3O2WTOWDrXk1e%2FLyW8klIAAAA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Direct Deposit</a> is required. Funds may be available up to 2 days in advance, depending on when your employer sends paycheck data</p>	Yes³ <p> Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.</p>
Savings round-ups	Yes	Yes¹⁷ <p class="">Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account. <br></p>
Monthly fees	$0	$0² <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p>
Mobile app	Yes (iOS and Android)	Yes (iOS and Android)¹⁸ <p>Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status.</p>
FDIC insured	Yes, through Coastal Community Bank and Lead Bank, members FDIC	Yes, through Bancorp Bank, N.A. and Stride Bank, N.A., members FDIC
	Learn more	Visit Chime

What both excel at

OnePay and Chime offer similar services, so there is plenty of overlap between the two. Here is where both financial services excel:

Early payday: You may be able to receive your direct deposit paychecks up to two days early with either OnePay¹⁶ <a href="https://www.onepay.com/help-center/articles/direct-deposit?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1207782460763901308&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBQQ6AIAwEwBdB7ybGgw8hIqs0Im1KE26%2B3ZnqrmMhko4wkeOhGhv3h0CFDaeHApXBHiqabp%2Fhghn3O2WTOWDrXk1e%2FLyW8klIAAAA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Direct Deposit</a> is required. Funds may be available up to 2 days in advance, depending on when your employer sends paycheck data or Chime.
Low fees: Neither service charges monthly maintenance, overdraft (terms apply), or ACH transfer fees. This isn't always the case with traditional bank accounts, and it's a feature I always make sure is present when evaluating online banking services.
Round-ups: Both OnePay and Chime offer features for rounding up your debit card purchases to the nearest dollar to help you with automatic savings.¹⁷ Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account.  The amount rounded up is transferred to your savings, typically by the next day. I like this feature a lot because it can help you save small amounts of money over time without having to think about it.

Get Your Paycheck Early

4.6

2025 award winner Best for Bad or No Credit

Chime® Benefits

Get no fee overdraft up to $200 with SpotMe®⁴ SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account; SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/">SpotMe on Credit Builder Terms and Conditions</a>.
Get paid up to 2 days earlier than you would with some traditional banks³ Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
24/7 live support with a real human
FDIC insured through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC

4.6

Visit Chime®

OnePay Cash+ vs. Chime+

Setting up eligible direct deposits with either OnePay or Chime can unlock each platform's best features or perks through free membership programs, and this is where you can find the most important differences between the two banking platforms.

Take a look at how these programs, OnePay Cash+ and Chime+, compare.

	OnePay Cash+	Chime+
Direct deposits required to qualify	$500 each month (or account balance of at least $5,000)	$200 every 34-day period
Savings APY	Up to 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY on up to $250,000¹³ <p>3.75% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of OnePay Cash accounts that either (i) received $500+ of Direct Deposits in the current or previous month or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. 3.75% APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without deposit or balance requirements. 3.75% APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 12/20/2024, but may change at any time before or after account opening.</p>	Up to 3.75% APY exclusively for Chime+ customers
Overdraft protection	Yes (exclusive to OnePay Cash+)	Up to $200 SpotMe overdraft protection (exclusive to Chime+)
Cash back	3% cash back on up to $150 at Walmart each month	Exclusive cash back deals
Access to credit-building program	Exclusive to OnePay Cash+ customers	Secured credit card available to all customers who qualify (not just Chime+ members)
Line of credit	N/A	Access up to $500 of your next paycheck with MyPay (MyPay is only offered in select states)

5 important differences between OnePay and Chime

If you don't qualify for OnePay Cash+ or Chime+, your banking benefits will look different. Here are five differences between the base features available with OnePay and Chime.

Savings interest and features

Winner: Chime

OnePay offers 1.00% APY when you don't meet direct deposit requirements to qualify for the maximum APY through OnePay Cash+.

Chime offers an APY of 1.25% on balances in its savings account.¹⁹ The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of 5/22/25. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.  Just note that you must have a Chime checking account to be eligible for a savings account.

Savings options

Winner: OnePay for savings goals, Chime for separate accounts

Chime offers distinct savings accounts, while OnePay does not. OnePay does, however, let you create up to three "pockets," which are like separate accounts for storing money. Since you can create multiple pockets, separating different savings goals into different accounts is easy.

Chime doesn't have this option, which limits how much you can customize and organize your finances. Both accounts offer round-up savings transfers where you can have debit card purchases rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the extra saved automatically.⁶ Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account.

Credit building

Winner: Chime (because its credit-building card is more flexible and doesn't require a premium membership)

Chime offers the Chime^® Credit Builder Secured Visa^® Credit Card²⁰ The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.  To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account. . The Credit Builder is a secured credit card, which means that you pay a security deposit. Your credit limit is determined by how much money you move onto it from your Chime checking account. Credit activity on this card is reported to all three major credit bureaus. There's no credit check to apply, no annual fee, and no minimum security deposit required.

OnePay, on the other hand, offers the Credit Builder program. The program works a bit like a loan. Essentially, you commit to a 12-month plan that reports monthly payments to the credit bureaus for $300 with an APR of 0%. OnePay puts the $300 into a locked account, and you agree to pay $25 each month. Each month, you pay at least $1 toward your loan, and OnePay takes the rest of your payment from the locked account to reach $25.

Each payment you make is reported to all three major credit bureaus, effectively raising your credit score over time. At the end of the one-year period, you get your contributions back. Note that OnePay's Credit Builder is only available to OnePay Cash+ members.

Cash back

Winner: Chime; OnePay's cash back is only offered to OnePay Cash+ customers and exclusive to Walmart.

OnePay offers 3% cash back at Walmart on up to $150 spent per month. ²¹ Cash back is earned as OnePay Points, redeemable as a deposit into a OnePay Cash account pursuant to the <a href="https://www.onepay.com/legal/onepay-rewards-terms?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1207782460763901308&utm_medium=marketing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBSwqAMAwFwBO12QviwoNIi09btB9eAtl5dmeK2dRFZHQER45pzvjW%2FgiE8MRTg4FNt4%2B4QNZ%2BH5nDFVz3wtHwA%2BiTVRhCAAAA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">OnePay Rewards Terms</a>. Only applies to OnePay Cash accounts that have either (i) received <a href="https://www.onepay.com/help-center/articles/direct-deposit?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1207782460763901308&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXBQQ6AIAwEwBdB7ybGgw8hIqs0Im1KE26%2B3ZnqrmMhko4wkeOhGhv3h0CFDaeHApXBHiqabp%2Fhghn3O2WTOWDrXk1e%2FLyW8klIAAAA" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Direct Deposits</a> totaling $500+ in the current or previous month, or (ii) have a balance of $5,000+ as of the last day of the previous month. This reward applies to purchases at U.S. Walmart locations and on Walmart.com only and may not be combined with other OnePay Cash promotions for cash back at Walmart. This perk is only offered to OnePay Cash+ customers.

Chime has a cashback program in which you can choose and activate deals for select retailers. Chime+ customers can qualify for extra deals on top of those available to all customers. Some cashback rewards programs have a small number of specific retailers, but I like that Chime has several useful options when it comes to its cashback retailers, including gas stations and grocery stores.

Additional features

Winner: Chime. It has a few more interesting benefits that I think would be attractive to more people.

Aside from your traditional banking needs, OnePay and Chime each have some unique features that set them apart. An additional feature I like about OnePay is that it allows you to send money easily and conveniently through its mobile app. You can also make global transfers to more than 140 countries. This eliminates the need for an additional app like Remitly for international transfers. Chime also allows you to pay others via the Chime app, but it does not have the global transfer feature.

OnePay also offers a number of benefits if you are a frequent Walmart shopper. These include cashback rewards when you use OnePay's digital wallet feature and the ability to add or take out cash at Walmart using your OnePay debit card of the mobile app.

For Chime, an additional feature I find interesting is its tax refund benefit. If you have your federal tax refund directly deposited with Chime, you can receive your refund up to six days early. Chime actually has a number of benefits that allow you to receive your paycheck early. For example, its MyPay benefit (only offered in select states) allows you to receive an advance of up to $500 of your paycheck. While OnePay allows you to receive your paycheck up to two days early, its early payment benefits stop there.

Which account should you choose?

Overall, OnePay and Chime accounts are similar, and you should choose whichever one you'd qualify for more benefits useful to you with.

Here are a few basic factors to consider when comparing bank accounts:

Account fees
Out-of-network ATM fees
The ability to make cash deposits if needed
Minimum balance requirements
Convenience
Account types

Online financial services that partner with banks don't have many fees or restrictions, which is different from most traditional banks and some credit unions. OnePay and Chime are similar in this regard since they charge few or no fees. However, as online-only services, don't expect to find any in-person branches with either company. This isn't an issue if you're used to phone apps and mobile banking.

FAQs

What's better: OnePay vs. Chime?

It depends on your financial situation and goals. OnePay has features that can help you budget along with checking and savings accounts.

Chime offers one of the best checking accounts as well as a savings account. It also has options that could help you build your credit.

Additionally, OnePay accounts typically offer better APY rates.

Is OnePay a checking account?

Yes, the OnePay deposit account is a checking account. However, it also has savings pockets, which can help you with setting savings goals. It also has auto-save options, and you could earn interest on your funds.

Is OnePay legit?

OnePay is a legit financial institution that provides financial services to its customers. This includes a checking account, savings pockets, and a debit card.

Bottom line

The better option for you between OnePay vs. Chime accounts depends on your banking preferences and whether you're looking for credit-building features. But overall, we prefer Chime for its flexibility and because its benefits are available to more people. Both companies offer similar financial services, though you'll find a few differences in certain benefits and features.

Up to 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY on Savings with eligible deposits¹ 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of OnePay Cash accounts that either (i) received $500+ of <a href="https://support.one.app/hc/en-us/articles/360053046053-Direct-deposit">Direct Deposits</a> in the current or previous month or (ii) have a  balance of $5,000+ at the end of the previous month. 3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without deposit or balance requirements.  3.75% (as of 12/20/2024) APY is limited to a total Savings balance of up to $250,000. All other Savings balances will earn 1.00% APY. APYs are as of 12/20/2024, but may change at any time before or after account opening.
No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
Integrated budgeting tools through customizable "pockets"
Cash back rewards on debit card purchases

2025 award winner Best for Bad or No Credit

No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements² There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.
Early access to direct deposits³ Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
No fee overdraft up to $200 for eligible members⁴ SpotMe® for Credit Builder is an optional, no interest/no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account; SpotMe on Debit is an optional, no fee service attached to your Chime Checking Account (individually or collectively, “SpotMe”). Eligibility for SpotMe requires $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account and/or their Secured Deposit Account up to $20 in total, but may be later eligible for a higher combined limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your SpotMe Limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your SpotMe Limit. Your SpotMe Limit may change at any time, at Chime or its banking partners’ discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions or OTC cash withdrawal fees at retailers. SpotMe won't cover non card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/">SpotMe on Credit Builder Terms and Conditions</a>.
Large network of fee-free ATMs⁵ Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Automatic savings features⁶ Save When I Get Paid automatically transfers 10% of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your savings account.