Based on a survey by Bankrate, about two-thirds of smartphone users already use at least one financial app.

But because people approach savings differently some like a hands-on experience, others prefer automation it’s important to choose a tool that aligns with your style.

Most money-saving apps fall into three main types: those that help you save toward specific goals, those that offer shopping rewards or cashback, and those that reduce or manage your everyday expenses.

Your best choice may depend on your lifestyle and money goals you might need just one type or a mix of all three.

Let’s explore the top-rated apps in each category to help you decide.

Best Automatic Saving Apps

Saving money is vital, but sticking to a plan can be tricky. These apps are built to help you automate your savings and make the habit stick whether through round-up features or customized savings rules.

To begin, you’ll typically download the app, set up an account, and link a checking account or credit card.

1. Acorns – Best for Beginner Investors

Acorns simplifies investing by rounding up purchases made with linked cards and transferring the change into a portfolio. Over time, you can increase the round-up amounts and set recurring contributions daily, weekly, or monthly.

Acorns creates a custom investment plan for you after gathering details about your finances, goals, and risk tolerance, then places you in one of its five ETF-based portfolios. You can also change the plan manually.

It includes a rewards program: shop through Acorns partners like Nike or Airbnb, and earn cashback. It’s a great stepping stone for new investors, though larger investments may benefit from more advanced tools.

2. Qapital – Best for Goal-Oriented Savers

Qapital adds a fun, rules-based approach to savings. Set triggers like “save $5 each time I skip coffee” or “save every time I post on Instagram.” You can also go with more basic options like saving a portion of your paycheck.

Choose between saving in an FDIC-insured account or investing. Qapital users save an average of $5,000 annually, according to the company.

3. Digit – Best for Minimal Effort

Digit evaluates your income, expenses, and goals, then automatically transfers safe-to-save amounts into a savings account. You earn a 0.5% savings bonus every quarter based on your average balance.

Digit removes the guesswork by analyzing spending patterns, making saving almost effortless, especially for people with variable incomes or expenses.

4. SmartyPig – Best Free Virtual Savings Tool

With SmartyPig, you can set up multiple online savings accounts for various goals (e.g., “Trip to Japan – $3,000”). Fund them manually or through automatic deposits from your checking account.

Progress is tracked visually, and delays in withdrawing funds help deter impulsive spending. Best of all? The app is completely free.

5. Chime – Best for Rebuilding Financial Health

Chime offers checking and savings accounts with no credit checks or ChexSystems screenings, making it ideal for users with rough banking history.

You can enable round-ups or set automatic savings from your paycheck. There are no overdraft fees, monthly maintenance costs, or minimum balance requirements, offering flexibility and accessibility.

Best Money-Saving Apps for Shopping

If you’d rather avoid traditional couponing but still love saving, these shopping-focused apps can help you earn cash back, rewards, and discounts on everyday purchases.

6. TopCashback – Best for maximizing cashback rates

TopCashback offers some of the highest cashback rates in the industry. It partners with over 4,000 retailers and returns nearly 100% of its affiliate commissions to users. Like Rakuten, you start by shopping through the TopCashback site or browser extension.

There’s no minimum payout threshold, and you can receive your earnings via PayPal, direct deposit, or gift cards. The site is great for savvy shoppers who want to optimize every purchase for savings without relying on coupons or surveys.

7. Rakuten – Best for passive online shopping savings

Rakuten gives you cash back when you shop through their app or browser extension at thousands of online stores including Macy’s, Best Buy, Walmart, and more. Simply activate cashback by visiting the store through Rakuten, and your rewards are automatically tracked.

You can earn a percentage back on each eligible purchase, and Rakuten sends your earnings via PayPal or check every quarter. The platform often offers sign-up bonuses and increased cashback rates during holidays or sales.

8. Fetch Rewards – Best for Effort-Free Receipt Scanning

Just scan your receipts with Fetch Rewards and earn points when you purchase from partnered brands. There’s no need to manually apply coupons or link shopping accounts.

Points can be redeemed for gift cards or used in giveaways, and the app offers a simple, secure alternative to browser-based trackers.

Best Apps for Budget Tracking

Rising expenses often prevent people from saving. These budgeting apps give you a clear view of your finances and help redirect spending into savings.

9. Trim – Best Browser-Based Expense Tracker

Trim examines your linked bank and card accounts to detect recurring charges and negotiate your bills. You’ll get alerts about subscriptions or overcharges, and Trim can cancel services on your behalf.

There’s no mobile app—Trim works through a browser. If they save you money, they take 33% of the total saved during your first year.

10. Rocket Money – Best Mobile Budgeting App

Formerly Truebill, Rocket Money offers similar services to Trim but adds an intuitive mobile app. It analyzes your spending, suggests ways to cut costs, and negotiates bills.

Like Trim, it takes a cut of your savings (40%). The difference is Rocket Money offers robust budgeting reports and visual tools to help you track monthly spending.

11. Empower – Best All-Around Financial Tool

Empower combines features like budgeting, savings, personalized insights, and even cash advances of up to $250. It transfers small amounts to savings automatically based on what you can afford, recalculating weekly.

You’ll get alerts about overdraft risks, unusual fees, and more. While it doesn’t allow multiple savings goals, its holistic approach makes it a strong all-in-one app.

12. Tiller – Best for Spreadsheet Lovers

Tiller connects your bank and card accounts to Google Sheets or Excel and updates them daily. Use their Foundation Template to break down transactions, track net worth, and adjust monthly budgets.

While it’s not an app in the traditional sense, Tiller gives highly customizable visibility into your finances—perfect for spreadsheet enthusiasts.

13. Undebt.it – Best App for Paying Down Debt

Undebt.it helps you create a personalized debt repayment plan. Enter your debts, interest rates, and minimum payments, and the tool helps you choose the best strategy (e.g., snowball vs. avalanche method).

You can also tailor the plan to suit your pace or priorities. The service claims its users are collectively tackling $9 billion in debt using its system.