Acima Credit lease-to-own service: 2024 review

Acima is best for lease-to-own purchases

Acima allows consumers to borrow up to $5,000 for personal and household goods. Depending on the retailer, borrowers may have immediate access to the lease upon checkout and can finance their purchase over a 12 month minimum.

Acima lease uses

Acima is available at over 15,000 retail stores, and is used for personal and household goods. To best ensure your purchase is eligible for leasing through Acima, you can shop through its mobile app or through the Acima MarketPlace online.

Regardless of how you shop, make sure you're aware of the prohibited uses so you don't bank on using the product for an unapproved purchase.

Where Acima leases stands out 

• Over 15,000 popular partners: Acima works at many popular retailers, like Best Buy, Ashley Furniture and Goodyear. You can use it to lease eligible purchases online and in-person at participating retailers. 
• Predictable payments: Your Acima lease agreement includes a set monthly payment based on the term you select. You can choose between 12, 18 or 24 months, and can pay off the lease early depending on your lease agreement. 
• Option to return: You can return your product in good condition to terminate your leasing agreement without penalty. 

Where Acima leases fall short 

• Not ideal for most traditional loan purposes: Acima is not a traditional lender, offering a lease-to-own arrangement that's more restrictive than personal loans. While you can finance certain goods, you can't use the money for common services or purchases, like home improvement projects and clothing. 
• No fee transparency: The fees are not explicitly stated, but its website does say that failed or late payments may accrue fees. 
• Total cost: Your total lease cost factors in the merchandise's value according to Acima, the cost of the lease service and sales tax in most states. Completing the entire lease will work out to approximately double the original cost of the item. 
• Not available in all states: Acima is not available in Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin or Wyoming.

Acima customer experience 

Customer support

Acima Credit's customer service department can be reached by phone Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT and on Saturday from 7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. MT. 

It also has an online chat option on its website that's available on Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. MT and on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. MT. According to Trustpilot, Acima's response time is fast — it has replied to 99 percent of negative reviews, typically in 24 hours or less. 

Digital experience

Compared to similar lease-to-own companies, Acima has a fairly comprehensive digital experience, offering both an online marketplace and a free mobile app. Because it isn't a loan and doesn't require a hard check, the process of applying is simple and much faster than if you were to apply for a traditional personal loan. 

The mobile app, Acima Leasing, is free for both Apple and Android users, earning a 4.6 out of 5 stars on the Apple store and a 4.2 out of 5 on the Google Play store. 

What people are saying about Acima Credit 

Acima's reviews are mixed. The company earns a middling 3.8 of 5 stars on Trustpilot as of June 13, 2024, with most negative reviews centered on the high leasing fees. Customers called out the fact that leasing with Acima will at least double the item's original price if paid off after the initial 90 days.

"I have demonstrated my loyalty to Acima by consistently paying on time through the auto-pay feature. However, I cannot recommend them to anyone. The late fees are exorbitant, and even the charges before the deadline are unreasonable. I am relieved that my association with them has ended. Regarding customer service, it's a mixed experience — sometimes unprofessional, other times friendly."

— Trustpilot User

However, the positive reviews outweigh the negative, with 70 percent of the over 19,700 Trustpilot reviews coming in at 5 out of 5 stars. Many positive reviews call out the 90-day option as being beneficial for their personal situation, while others highlight good customer service interactions.

"I have had excellent service from Acima in providing funds for important car repairs that I was able to pay off twice in three months with a little profit to them. The 12 month payment option is expensive and it is best to pay off the lease in 3 months but one must do what one must do."

— Trustpilot User

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How this lender compares

How Bankrate rates Acima

Bankrate considers 20 factors when reviewing lenders. Credit requirements, APR ranges, fees, loan amounts and flexibility are all taken into account so that ratings are representative of how competitive lenders are for a wide range of credit profiles and budgets. The Bankrate Score for personal loans consists of four categories: