Comparison

Self vs Shield Guide

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Self

Build your credit history and savings simultaneously with tools designed to improve your financial wellness. Access quick cash advances for unexpected expenses without a credit check. Report rent and utility payments to boost your score.

Highlights
  • Build credit and savings together
  • Cash advances up to $100
  • Secured Visa credit card with no credit check
  • Report rent and utility payments
  • Credit monitoring
  • Unlock savings at the end of plans
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Build credit and grow savings or use the secured Self Visa® Credit Card to build credit. Starting fresh or needing a credit builder? Self can help you create better financial habits and put you in control of your finances. All credit scores are welcome. THE SECURED CARD WITH NO CREDIT CHECK Add the secured Self Visa® Credit Card* to your toolkit No credit check required High approval rates Control your credit limit Build credit with all 3 credit bureaus Use everywhere Visa is accepted in the US BUILD CREDIT & SAVINGS TOGETHER Sign up for a Credit Builder Account¶, and lift your credit score by 47 points, on average‡ Plans start at $25/mo.§ Unlock your savings at the end, minus interest and fees No credit score req. No credit check GET THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE FOR RENT, CELL PHONE BILLS AND MORE‖ Build credit with cell phone, water, electricity, gas, and rent payments for $6.95/mo.¹ On time rent payments reported to Experian, Equifax & TransUnion On time utility & cell phone payments reported to TransUnion Credit monitoring by TransUnion No credit check Cancel any time DISCLOSURES *Self is not a bank. The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A. each Member FDIC. Qualification for the secured Self Visa® Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility requirements, including income and expense requirements and establishment of security interest. Criteria subject to change. Intro Offer: $0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter. Variable APR of 27.74% as of 10/1/2026. Offer valid for new customers only. Self Plus Credit Card issued by Lead Bank or Sunrise Banks, N.A. See Self.inc for details. Fees Apply. ¶Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to approval. ‡Based on a 2025 TransUnion® study, customers who opened a 24 month Self Credit Builder Account in Q1 2024 with a starting VantageScore 3.0 under 600 and made on-time payments, saw an average VantageScore 3.0 increase of 47 by month 12. Results will vary, Self does not guarantee a score increase. Late/missed payments on other Self products and other credit obligations can lower scores even if Credit Builder Account payments are made on time. §Minimum and maximum repayment period for all loan products is 24 months. Maximum Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of all loan products is 15.92%. Sample loans: $25/mo, 24 mos, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, 15.69% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, 15.51% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, 15.82% APR. Variable admin fee of $1-$5 may apply. See self.inc/pricing. ¹Rent payments are reported to Experian, Equifax & TransUnion. Utility & cell phone payments are reported to TransUnion. ‖Results vary. You may not receive an improved credit score. Not all lenders use scores impacted by rent/utility payments. Self Financial, Inc. PO Box 11, Southlake, TX 76092-9998

About

Shield Guide

This app connects homeowners facing foreclosure with HUD-certified housing counselors. It guides users through preparing for counseling sessions and organizing finances, offering support in English and Spanish.

Highlights
  • Connects with HUD-certified counselors
  • Guides preparation for counseling
  • Helps organize finances
  • Available in English and Spanish
  • Protects user privacy
Features
Read full description

Shield Guide connects homeowners facing foreclosure with HUD-certified housing counselors — step by step, in English and Spanish. Whether you've received a notice of default, missed payments, or aren't sure what comes next, Shield Guide helps you take action before it's too late. What Shield Guide does: Connects you directly with HUD-certified foreclosure prevention counselors near you Guides you through the steps to prepare for your counseling session Helps you organize your financial situation before your appointment Available in English and Spanish Your privacy is protected: No data is sold or shared Your information is encrypted and secure You stay in control of your data at all times HUD-certified housing counselors are trained professionals who work directly with mortgage servicers on your behalf. Shield Guide is not affiliated with HUD, the government, or any lender. This app does not provide legal or financial advice.

Screenshots

Self4 screens
Shield Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shield Guide at free against Self's free with in-app purchases. Self's advantage is ratings volume (338K vs 1) and chart position (#157 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Self against 5.0 for Shield Guide. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Self has 338K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Self versus Shield Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSelfShield Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (338K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings338K — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#157 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSelf Lender, Inc.Shield Guide, LLC

Bugs and requests

Self

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Autopay failures
  • Unexplained account closures

Requested features

4 requests
  • Faster payout process after loan completion
  • More transparency around fees and policies
  • Improved autopay reliability
  • Ability to easily close accounts

Shield Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Self

No in-app purchases

None

Shield Guide

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Self free?
Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shield Guide free?
Shield Guide is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Self or Shield Guide?
Shield Guide is rated higher. Self averages 4.9 out of 5 from 338K ratings, while Shield Guide averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Self or Shield Guide have ads?
Neither Self nor Shield Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Self or Shield Guide?
Self ships an update fortnightly, and Shield Guide fortnightly. Most recently, Self was updated on October 26, 2026 and Shield Guide on September 28, 2026.

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