Arro vs Chime

Arro vs Chime at a glance

Figures as published by: NerdWallet: Arro Card review (April 6, 2026); Chime: secured credit cards overview (July 2026). Checked November 9, 2026. Issuers change terms, so confirm on the issuer's own site before you apply.

The differences that matter

Whose money you spend. With Chime you can only spend what you have already moved into the secured account, so it behaves like a debit card that reports as credit. With Arro you borrow and repay.

Cost. Chime Card: $0 fee, 0% APR. Arro: up to $60 a year and interest if you carry a balance.

Banking. Chime requires a Chime Checking Account. Arro links to the bank you already use.

Utilization. Chime's approach avoids the high-utilization problem of a tiny limit. Arro's small line needs careful handling.

Approval. Chime runs no credit check. Arro checks bank activity.

What a year costs

Our arithmetic from each product's published fee and APR: yearly fees plus one year of interest on $150 where interest applies. Chime: you spend your own deposited money. Arro: membership depends on starting limit. Try other amounts in the Arro Card cost calculator.

Choose Arro if

• You want to keep your current bank.
• You need a short float between purchase and payday.
• You want a limit that grows without adding your own cash.

Choose Chime if

• You are happy to open a Chime account.
• You want to pay nothing in fees or interest.
• You worry about overspending on credit.

Verdict

For pure cost, Chime wins easily. Arro is worth its fee only if you need an unsecured line or do not want to move your banking.

Still comparing? See all nine in cards like Arro, or read our Arro Card review.