Banking Checking Accounts

One vs. Chime® [2024]: Which Is Better for Your Money?

It’s a close call between One and Chime®. Here’s what you need to know.

By Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®
and Lisa Dammeyer

Edited by Michael Kurko

Updated Dec. 17, 2024

Up to 3.75% APY on Savings with eligible deposits¹ 3.75% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of One Cash customers who either (i) received $500 or more of <a href="https://support.one.app/hc/en-us/articles/360053046053-Direct-deposit">Direct Deposits</a> in the previous month or (ii) have a total daily account balance of $5,000 or more. 3.75% APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without these deposit or balance requirements. In all instances 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.
No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
Integrated budgeting tools through customizable "pockets"
Cash back rewards on debit card purchases

4.6

No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
Early access to direct deposits² 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.
Fee-free overdraft up to $200 for eligible members
Large network of fee-free ATMs
Automatic savings features

Our view

One and Chime® are both solid fintech firms, offering very similar financial services to their users. If you’re looking for an online banking solution that offers high-interest accounts, cashback rewards, and virtually no monthly fees, either could be a good fit.³ 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.  ⁴ One is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.

However, I slightly prefer One for two main reasons. First, it offers a higher interest rate on its savings pockets and more opportunities to earn interest across account types. And second, I am a big fan of organizational savings tools, so One’s pockets feature really appeals to me.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either, but I would recommend One to most people deciding between these two financial services providers.

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 One vs. Chime review and comparison, we’ve researched the key details between both of these online-only financial service providers. We like One'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.⁵ 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.

One vs. Chime

One and Chime both offer online-only financial services, but they’re not online banks. They're fintech companies, and they both partner with some of the best banks to provide different types of bank accounts. Neither One nor Chime has in-person physical branches.

Without physical locations, online banking services are typically able to offer better interest rates and lower fees than traditional banks. In the table below, you can quickly compare the different fees, features, and benefits of One and Chime accounts.


Account type(s)	Checking	Checking and savings
Bank partner(s)	Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC	The Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, Members FDIC
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)	3.75% APY on primary savings and pockets if you meet certain direct deposit or daily balance requirements⁶ <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> ⁷ <p>3.75% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the total Savings balance of customers who either (i) received $500 or more of eligible direct deposits in the previous month or (ii) have a total daily account balance of $5,000 or more. Customers can also earn 3.75% APY on Pay Autosave balances without these deposit or balance requirements. In all instances 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% available on savings balances up to $250,000	Checking: Not an interest-bearing account Savings: 2.00% (as of Sept. 9, 2024) APY⁸ <p class="">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 September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest. </p> Note that you must have a Chime checking account to be eligible for a Chime savings account⁹ <p class="">Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.<br></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
Referral program	Yes	Yes
ATM access	Yes (Fee-free at over 55,000 Allpoint ATMs)¹⁰ <p element-id="3">Allpoint Network ATM transactions are fee-free for accounts with eligible direct deposits totaling at least $500 in the previous month. For all other ATM transactions, the One ATM Fee will apply, and third-party ATM fees may be incurred.</p>	Yes (Fee-free at over 60,000 network ATMs: Moneypass at 7-Eleven locations, Allpoint, and Visa Plus Alliance)¹¹ <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	Yes¹² <p>Direct deposit may be available up to 2 days in advance, but depends on when your employer sends paycheck data.</p>	Yes
Round-ups	Yes	Yes¹³ <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	$0¹⁴ <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>
Overdraft fee	$0¹⁵ <p>Available with Direct Deposits totaling at least $500 in the previous month. You must be 18 or older to receive Overdraft Protection. When on, Savings Backup will be used before Overdraft Protection. Overdraft balance is due right away. Transactions eligible for Overdraft Protection are at the discretion of One and may exclude certain transactions (e.g., bill pay, global transfers). <a href="https://support.one.app/hc/en-us/articles/360052260773-Overdraft-Protection">See details</a>.</p>	$0
ACH transfer fee	$0	$0
Mobile check deposit (checking accounts)	Yes	Yes
Mobile app	Yes (iOS and Android)	Yes (iOS and Android)
FDIC insured	Yes	Yes
	Visit One	Visit Chime

What both excel at

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

Mobile apps: Both One and Chime have visually appealing and easy-to-navigate apps that work with both Apple and Android devices. For online banking services, a useful app is extremely important and one of the first features I look for. Both of these apps have been downloaded millions of times and have high customer ratings in the Google Play and Apple App stores.
Direct deposit: Setting up an eligible direct deposit with either service unlocks certain features or perks. These include early paychecks, a credit line, and increased interest potential for One and mobile check deposits for Chime — all useful features for the average user.² 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.
Early payday: You may be able to receive your direct deposit paychecks up to two days early with either One¹² Direct deposit may be available up to 2 days in advance, but depends on when your employer sends paycheck data. or Chime.² 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.
Low fees: Neither service charges monthly maintenance, overdraft, 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.
No minimums: There’s no minimum deposit to open a One or Chime account, and you don’t need a minimum account balance to start earning interest on applicable accounts. This is another attractive feature I always look for. Many of the big banks require a minimum balance to get started.
Round-ups: Both One and Chime offer features for rounding up your debit card purchases to the nearest dollar to help you with automatic savings.¹³ 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.
ATM access: Accounts from both companies offer fee-free ATMs and ATM withdrawals at over 55,000 ATMs. Chime provides slightly more ATM access than One but not by much.¹¹ 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.
Mobile check deposit: This feature isn’t automatically included with One and Chime accounts, but it shouldn’t be hard to unlock.¹⁶ 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. Eligibility for being able to deposit your checks remotely depends on your account history and other factors for both companies.
FDIC insurance: One accounts and Chime accounts offer FDIC insurance, which means they’re insured for up to $250,000 through the applicable bank partnerships. For One, it’s through Coastal Community Bank. For Chime, it’s through The Bancorp Bank and Stride Bank.¹⁷ One is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC. Approved accounts are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor. One card is issued by Coastal Community Bank pursuant to licensing by Mastercard® International.

5 important differences between One and Chime

Comparing the differences between banking services can help you understand whether one company may suit you better than another. Here are five differences to consider between One and Chime:

APY earnings

One offers a 3.75% APY on up to $250,000 if you meet direct deposit or daily account balance requirements. All other balances receive a 1.00% APY.

Chime offers an APY of 2.00% (as of Sept. 9, 2024) on balances in its savings account.⁸ 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 September 20, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.  Note that you must have a Chime checking account to be eligible for a savings account.⁹ Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.

Winner: One offers the more attractive earning options since it offers other ways to earn interest as well, so One takes the edge over Chime here.

Savings options

You can save money with either One or Chime, but One accounts offer a few more options than Chime. I especially like that One lets 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. You can still use round-ups or automatic transfers with your Chime checking and savings accounts, but that’s where the customization ends.

Winner: One because of its pockets feature that allows you to set different savings goals.

Credit building

Bank accounts aren’t always associated with building credit, but both One and Chime offer options to help users do just that.

Chime offers the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Card¹⁸ 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.

One, on the other hand, has the Credit Builder program. The program works a bit like a loan. Essentially, you would take out a 12-month loan for $300 at 0% APR through One, and the company would then put that $300 into a lockbox. Each month, you pay $1 and $24 is taken out of your lockbox to complete your monthly payment. 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.

Winner: It’s a tie. Both companies offer good credit-building options. It just depends on whether you prefer a secured card or the Credit Builder program.

Cash back

One offers cash back through multiple offers. Some offers are applied automatically — like 3% cash back at Walmart up to $50 each year — while you need to opt in for others via One’s mobile app.¹⁹ To receive 3% cash back, eligible customers (at the time their purchase settles) must (i) have received $500 or more of eligible direct deposits in the previous month, or (ii) have a total account balance of $5,000 or more. 3% cash back is limited to up to $50 per year and applies only to purchases made at U.S. Walmart locations and on Walmart.com. This promotion may not be combined with other One promotions that offer cash back on purchases at Walmart. <a href="https://static.one.app/terms-and-conditions/promotional-terms/22/PromotionsTermsandConditions.html?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1217510716574732888&utm_medium=marketing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0jNycnXy89L1UssKNBP1S%2FPLdFNTizO0E1KTM7WLUktyi0GAAc26YwrAAAA#:~:text=3.%203%25%20Cash%20Back%20at%20Walmart%20Promotion">Terms Apply</a>. ²⁰ Cash back can be earned through the Debit Rewards Program. <a href="https://static.one.app/terms-and-conditions/cash-rewards/7/ONERewardsTerms.html?%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1171805993434719260&utm_medium=marketing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0jNycnXy89L1UssKNBP1S9KLU8sSinWLUktyi0GAPWpptMlAAAA">Terms apply</a> These include rewards at grocery stores, restaurants, and ride shares.

Chime has a cashback program in which you can choose and activate deals for select retailers. 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.

Winner: It’s a tie. Both offer solid cashback deals.

Additional features

Aside from your traditional banking needs, One and Chime each have some unique features that set them apart. An additional feature I like about One 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.

One also offers a number of benefits if you are a frequent Walmart shopper. These include cashback rewards when you use One’s digital wallet feature, which allows you to earn cash back on top of your card’s rewards, and the ability to add or take out cash at Walmart using your One 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 allows you to receive an advance of up to $500 of your paycheck. While One allows you to receive your paycheck up to two days early, its early payment benefits stop there.

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

Which account should you choose?

Overall, One and Chime accounts are very similar. Choosing the better one for your personal finance goals depends on your preferences. A One account seems like the better option on paper, but you might prefer certain features with Chime.

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. One 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.

Personally, I prefer One because it lets you set specific savings goals and separate your funds into pockets. I also think it’s hard to argue with a higher interest rate.

However, if you aren’t worried about earning interest over time or setting multiple savings goals, One and Chime offer very similar products and services. You could pick either and be just fine.

FAQs

What's better: One vs. Chime?

It depends on your financial situation and goals. One 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, One accounts typically offer better APY rates.

Is One a checking account?

Yes, the One 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 One legit?

One 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 One vs. Chime accounts depends on your banking preferences and whether you're looking for credit building features. Both companies offer similar financial services, though you’ll find a few differences with certain benefits and features.

Up to 3.75% APY on Savings with eligible deposits¹ 3.75% annual percentage yield (APY) applies to the Savings balance of One Cash customers who either (i) received $500 or more of <a href="https://support.one.app/hc/en-us/articles/360053046053-Direct-deposit">Direct Deposits</a> in the previous month or (ii) have a total daily account balance of $5,000 or more. 3.75% APY is also earned on Pay Autosave balances without these deposit or balance requirements. In all instances 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.
No minimum balance requirements or monthly fees
Integrated budgeting tools through customizable "pockets"
Cash back rewards on debit card purchases

No monthly fees or minimum balance requirements
Early access to direct deposits² 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.
Fee-free overdraft up to $200 for eligible members
Large network of fee-free ATMs
Automatic savings features

Author Details

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.