The 12 Best Money Saving Apps That Everyone Should Consider

By Todd Kunsman

Saving Money

Published on

Updated on

Starting to work on your finances and saving money can be challenging. Especially when you first get started and are just learning the basics or getting more financially organized.

But a great way to help keep you on track is to use money saving apps, which can else help you develop better financial habits.

Many of these tools can also teach you about your debt or investing — directly from your phone! 

Yet, saving money with apps has become so popular that there is a sea of choices right at your fingertips. It can be a bit overwhelming to know which ones are solid options and are trusted. 

Below, you’ll find some of the best apps for saving money that you might want to try out. 

Note: All of these can be found on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Many of these can also be logged on from your computer.

Best Apps for Saving Money

So why are apps so great? Well since pretty much everyone has a smartphone these days and is with you everywhere, your finances can now come with you too.

As you are just getting started or need more accountability, a mobile app can be your perfect financial assistant for anywhere you go. 

And these savings apps can automate some of the financial work for you. So there is a convenience factor many like to consider.

Along with that, many of these apps provide real time alerts and data organized around your spending habits. This data and simple charts can help you visualize your overall financial health. 

Now, many of the options below are free to use, will offer a free trial, or may also have a paid option as well. What you potentially choose to download and use will be up to you.

Save Money Shopping

While being frugal is always a good call for saving money, you can’t avoid shopping altogether from time to time. Whether that is groceries, clothes, or just looking to treat yourself occasionally.

However, you can still set yourself up to save money while shopping. 

Ibotta

This free cash back app helps you get more money for shopping. So in the end, you are actually saving money on your purchases! 

After downloading and signing-up, you can save money in a few ways:

  • Using their shopping portal to get cash back
  • If you make purchases through their 300+ partnered stores, you can snap a pic of the receipt and get cash back
  • Instant cash back by showing the coupon in Ibotta to the cashier

You can also earn money by referring a friend and even through different sign-up bonuses. Sign-up for your free Ibotta account here.

Wikibuy

While this is technically a browser extension, this money saving app is perfect for when you are online shopping. They have extensions for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

So how does it work? When you are shopping online and add stuff to your cart, Wikibuy scans the web for better deals and coupon codes.

Then you can use the recommended codes to save money or follow their recommendation links for better pricing at other outlets.

You can also earn credits from purchases at large retailers, which can be use later for gift cards or other future purchases. 

Learn More And Get Wikibuy

Save Money On Bills

Paying bills is no fun, but it’s a part of life — unfortunately!

Another frustrating part about your monthly bills is seeing prices go up for no reason or other random fees. These can add up over time and impact your savings goal. 

Luckily, there are some money saving apps that help with your bills

Trim

Need help tracking your spending and get alerts about your spending? Maybe you need help negotiating bills like cable, internet, and phone to lower your price? Then Trim is an app you’ll want to consider. 

The Trim app will analyze your spending patterns to figure out the best ways that you can take action and help you save you money.

Trim has both a free and paid version pending what features you’d want to take advantage of specifically. 

With the free services you’ll get the personal finance dashboard, personalized spend alerts and reminders, detection and fighting of overdraft fees, finding and cancelling old subscriptions, and more.

Now in their paid offering, you’ll have access to their Bill Negotiation, Debt Payoff, and Trim Simple Savings options. You can read my Trim Review here

Learn More About Trim and Sign-Up For Free Here

Billshark

Another popular application in the bill saving and negotiation space is Billshark.

The company boasts a 90% success rate with their negotiations, which is pretty solid. Additionally, they give you real time text alerts and updates on their progress.

And Billshark will keep track of when your new savings expire. This way they can automatically restart negotiations, so you are always getting the best rate possible. 

Billshark charges a one-time fee of 40% of any savings. This gives them incentive to get the best deals for you, otherwise you make know money back. But you get to keep the 60% difference, which is more than you had prior to the negotiations. 

They also offer to cancel unwanted or forgotten subscriptions and check on your insurance rates for you to get the best deals.

Learn More About Billshark and Sign-Up

Save Money for Investing

Another important area to your finances besides saving is investing. As you save more money, you want to start building up your wealth and have your money work for you. 

That’s where some investing apps will become valuable. Not only do they help you save money, but help you get started with investing too. 

Acorns

A well-known and popular investing app to consider is Acorns. And this money app offers plenty of features to save and boost your finances.

Set aside the spare change from everyday purchases by turning on automatic Round-Ups.

Shop with their money partners, and they’ll automatically invest in your Acorns Core account! 

Acorns is not free, but it only costs $1, $2 or $3 per month — pending on which options you are interested in using with their app. 

And they have various portfolios you can choose to invest in which consist of ETFs from companies like Vanguard and BlackRock. Plus, when your portfolio moves around, Acorns will rebalance it to keep you on track.

Get $10 After Your First Investment with Acorns

Stash

Another investing app with money saving capabilities is Stash. From this app you have access to banking, investments, retirement, and saving all in one. 

There are no hidden fees and pricing depends on the options you want to use.

For example, they have $1 a month, $3 per month, and a $9 per month option. As you go up in your pricing, you get more features and product access. 

What can you expect to get with Stash?

  • Online banking to get paid early, stock rewards for using the Stash Debit Card, mobile check deposit, and more.
  • Fractional share investing in over 400 stocks and funds. This includes stocks, ETFs, and bonds. Plus, save and invest automatically. 
  • Can open a retirement account with just $5. Roth IRA or Traditional IRA options. 
  • Also you can open an investing account for your children.

Get $5 Towards Your Investments with Stash

General Money Saving Apps

Saving money with apps is one of my favorite ways to stay consistent with my finances. And in the early days of teaching myself about personal finance, some apps were important learning tools. 

Since then, more financial companies have developed newer apps that include even better features than before.

It’s an exciting time for finances as the industry has seen a shift into helping the everyday users more. 

Here are a few of the best money saving apps to consider. 

Tally

Another interesting money saving app is Tally, which offers a few features that some of these other apps I have listed don’t do. 

The main goal with Tally is to help you manage your credit cards. The app helps save you money through lower interest rates and no late fees, and essentially act as your mobile credit card manager.

It keeps track of multiple credit card payments for you, tracks your APRs, balances and due dates, etc. And Tally handles your random due dates and instead, you pay Tally in one monthly payment. 

If you are juggling credit cards and debt, this app might be a great choice for you. 

Learn More And Sign-Up for Free

Cleo

If there is one powerful technology advancement in recent years it’s AI or artificial intelligence. 

And it was only a matter of time before the fintech world would use this to help people with their finances.

Enter Cleo, the app that roasts you about your spending, money horoscopes, and encourages you to save more.

You can build a custom budget that tracks your spending and gives steps to reach your financial goals. There are games and quizzes which help your financial literacy, plus you can potentially win some cash. 

But what’s great about Cleo is it can automatically set money aside each week based on your spending. All that is free to sign-up and use

And if you need more features extra help or want to prioritize their financial well-being there’s Cleo Plus, for just 5.99 a month.

Learn more and Sign-Up for Cleo

Personal Capital

If you have explored your personal finances and investing further, then you probably have come across Personal Capital

You can use their mobile apps to connect all your accounts in one place, which helps you keep track of spending and net worth. You can connect things like banking accounts, credit cards, and investments as well. 

Personal Capital also allows you to analyze your investment in various ways: you can check how well your portfolio is performing, find out if you’re paying unnecessary fees, and see how your net worth is growing.

The basic platform is available for free and work great. But there are paid services if you want to receive professional advice from finance experts.

Sign-Up for Personal Capital Free

Chime

You might have seen Chime Bank’s ads recently, but this online only bank is changing the way people handle their finances. 

While I won’t go in-depth here, (you can read my review here), there are some great features. 

Mobile banking has taken off, so it’s no surprise that Chime Bank offers users access to their accounts via iOS or Android, besides a desktop login.

So what does Chime offer? Automatic savings and purchase round-ups, get paid up to two days early, no hidden fees, real time mobile alerts, mobile payment app, and more. The downside is they do not offer a savings account currently. 

Learn more and open an account with Chime

Qaptial

By using Qapital, you can set goals and rules that the app will ensure to help you save and invest better.

They have a few features that make them interesting:

Payday Divvy to define your spending. This means you can divvy up significant deposits in a few taps to make sure you cover your commitments while still saving.

They have what they call “Money Missions,” which are fun challenges that help you think a bit deeper about your spending. You’ll unlock helpful insights into how you use your money

Qapital also has pre-built portfolios if you want to start investing – you give them a timeline and amount and they handle it all.

While Qapital is not free, but they do offer a 30-day free trial. And their paid plans are $3 for basic, $6 for complete, and $12 for their master plan.

Learn More and Sign-Up Here

You Need A Budget

Another well known financial company is You Need A Budget or YNAB as it is often abbreviated. The reason this one is so popular is it is a brilliant way to take control of your finances.

 If you have no idea where to start, how to best budget, and need more accountability — then YNAB will be your best friend.

You can add your banking info in one place, develop a tailored budget, track how much you’re spending, helps you set goals and ensures you achieve them. 

YNAB is not free, but does offer a nice 34-day free trial (no need to enter credit card), and after that it’s $12/mo or $84/year.

Learn More And Start Your Free Trial

Are Money Saving Apps Safe?

Yes, money saving apps are safe to use and can help your personal finances. Always ensure to read reviews, the company feedback, and keep your login information protected.

Additionally, these apps generally are using secure algorithms and encryption methods to help safeguard your data and stop hackers. And many of the apps use the same security as well-known banks and other financial institutions. 

What is the Best App for Saving Money?

I don’t think there is one single money saving app that is best for you. Your needs and personal preferences will vary from others — including my own opinion. 

Personally, the one I like that has worked well for my needs is Personal Capital. However, I mainly need it for keeping track of my net worth, investments, and I like seeing the bigger picture organized. 

But your needs and interests will vary, so figure out where you need help and test out an app to see if it is the right fit for you. 

What is the Best Free Money Saving App?

Surprisingly, there are quite a few free money saving apps that you might want to consider. Here are some of the best ones you might want to try out: Trim, Personal Capital, Cleo, Chime, and Ibotta.

Is There An App That Saves Your Spare Change?

You bet! There are a few apps that can save and even invest your spare change. These features have grown in popularity over the last few years and will become more common in the future. A few that currently offer this feature include Acorns, Stash, and Chime. 

Which Money Saving App is For You?

Ultimately, there is no right answer for which money saving app is perfect for you. Everyone has various finance goals, experiences, and preferences when it comes to money tools.

These apps are here to help you stay consistent, simplify the process, and help you learn along the way. 

But remember, these mobile apps won’t do it all for you and your finances need more a bit more attention.

These various money apps should be used to assist your finances and savings account, but not be the only thing you do.

 If you do find some to be distracting or not what you expect, don’t feel obligated to stick with it. You want to find what works and is comfortable for you! 

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