Sprout AI vs Cleo: an AI that talks money, without the lending

The core difference

Cleo and Sprout both put chat at the center. You talk to an AI about your own spending and it answers from your bank data. Cleo calls itself an AI money coach and adds real-time, two-way voice. Sprout is typed chat with charts and tables, and every answer names the accounts and dates it used, so you can check it.

The business models are where they part. Cleo's paid plans bundle cash advances, a high-yield savings account through Thread Bank, and the Cleo Card through WebBank. Sprout earns from one thing, the Sprout Plus subscription. It offers no cash advances or loans, and its read-only connection means it cannot move a single dollar.

Cash advances and money movement

As of October 2026, Cleo's pricing page lists cash advances from US$20 to US$250 on its standard plans and up to US$500 on Builder, with eligibility rules and an express fee for same-day transfers. Cleo also says you can request a cash advance without subscribing. For someone a little short before payday, that option can matter.

Sprout takes the opposite stance. It cannot move money, transfer, pay bills, offer cash advances or loans, or make credit decisions. Its bank connection through Plaid is read-only, so it sees transactions and balances and nothing more. If you want an AI for understanding your spending that is kept entirely separate from borrowing, that line is the point.

There is also a regulatory history worth knowing. In March 2025 the FTC alleged that Cleo misled consumers about how much they could get in cash advances and how fast, and made subscriptions hard to cancel. Cleo agreed to pay US$17 million to resolve the allegations. The FTC's release is linked in the sources below.

Price, honestly

Cleo is cheaper per month. As of October 2026, Plus costs US$5.99 a month, Pro US$8.99, and Builder US$14.99, and some money features are free. Sprout Plus costs US$99.99 a year, which works out to about US$8.33 a month, or US$9.99 a week if you only want it for a short stretch.

What you pay for differs. Cleo's higher tiers add advance limits, savings, and the card. Sprout's one plan is about understanding your money: chat with receipts, subscriptions, cash flow, unusual charges, the daily habit, and Money Wrapped. Sprout's trial is 3 days on iPhone for eligible Apple accounts, and you can explore fictional sample data before connecting a bank.

Platforms and countries

Cleo's App Store listing is for iPhone, and Cleo is also on Android. There is no iPad or Mac version listed. Sprout runs on iPhone, iPad, the web, and as a native Mac app, so you can ask about last month's spending on a big screen. Sprout has no Android version, so Android users should look elsewhere.

Country support is a bigger gap. Cleo's website offers a US version and a UK version, and Canada is not among the options. Sprout supports eligible banks in the United States and Canada, keeps CAD and USD in their own currencies, and charges CA$129.99 a year in Canada. See Sprout for Canada.

The fun part, built on real numbers

Sprout makes checking in a habit. The daily Money Minute compares yesterday's spending with your usual day, shows your biggest purchase and the month's pace, and lists upcoming recurring charges. Streaks, streak freezes, and a Sprout pet that grows from a seed into an ancient oak reward you for showing up.

Then there is the Spending Roast: Sprout's honest, funny take on your last 30 days, where every line quotes a real number and praise lines keep it kind. Weekly and Monthly Money Wrapped stories recap your spending with share cards, and the money personality quiz tells you whether you are The Foodie or The Silent Saver.

Switching from Cleo to Sprout

Sprout cannot see or manage your Cleo account, so check Cleo's own steps for cancelling and for any open advance before you leave. You can set up Sprout first and run both apps for a while. Sprout's read-only connection never touches your money.

1. Look at the sample data

   See how Sprout's answers, charts, and receipts work before you connect anything.

2. Connect your accounts

   Link the banks and cards you use through Plaid, US or Canadian, and choose which ones Sprout reads.

3. Ask what you asked Cleo

   Where did my money go this month? Which subscriptions renew next week? What was my biggest purchase?

4. Make it daily

   Add a Home Screen widget, do the Money Minute, and start a streak.