Saving money can feel like a constant struggle, especially when expenses keep piling up and your income stays the same. You might have good intentions to save, but somehow the money always seems to disappear before you can set any aside.
The good news is that technology has made saving easier than ever before. There are now dozens of apps designed specifically to help you save money without much effort on your part.
These apps use different strategies to help you build your savings, from automatically transferring small amounts to finding you better deals on everyday purchases.
Whether you’re saving for an emergency fund, a big purchase, or just trying to build better financial habits, there’s an app that can help.
Below are the top apps that help you save in dollars:
Acorns
Acorns is one of the most popular savings apps, and for good reason. The app works by rounding up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and investing the spare change. For example, if you buy coffee for $3.50, Acorns rounds it up to $4.00 and invests the extra $0.50.
These small amounts might not seem like much, but they add up quickly over time. The app links to your debit or credit card and automatically tracks your purchases.
You won’t even notice the small amounts being saved because they’re so minimal.
Acorns also offers different investment portfolios based on your risk tolerance and financial goals. You can choose conservative, moderate, or aggressive investment options. The app charges a small monthly fee, but the automatic saving feature makes it worth it for many people.
If you struggle to save consistently, Acorns takes the decision-making out of your hands.
Digit
Digit analyzes your spending patterns and automatically saves money for you.
The app uses an algorithm to figure out how much you can afford to save without affecting your daily expenses. It transfers small amounts from your checking account to your Digit savings account every few days.
The transfers are typically so small that you won’t miss the money. What makes Digit special is that it learns your spending habits over time and adjusts how much it saves accordingly.
If you have a particularly expensive week, it saves less. If you have extra money, it saves more. Digit also offers a “no overdraft guarantee,” meaning if their transfers cause you to overdraft, they’ll cover the fee.
The app charges a monthly subscription fee after a free trial period. You can access your saved money anytime and transfer it back to your checking account when needed.
Digit is perfect for people who find it hard to remember to save manually.
Qapital
Qapital lets you set personalized savings rules based on your lifestyle and goals.
You can create custom rules that trigger automatic savings.
For example, you can set a rule to save $5 every time you buy coffee, or save $10 every time your favorite sports team wins. You can also use the “guilty pleasure rule” that saves money whenever you make purchases you’re trying to avoid.
The app makes saving feel like a game rather than a chore.
Qapital also offers goal-setting features where you can create specific savings goals with target amounts and deadlines. You can have multiple goals running at the same time, like saving for a vacation while also building an emergency fund.
The app shows you visual progress toward your goals, which can be very motivating. Qapital charges a small monthly fee depending on which plan you choose. The basic plan is affordable and gives you access to most features.
If you like having control over your savings strategy, Qapital is an excellent choice.
Chime
Chime is a mobile banking app that includes automatic savings features.
When you open a Chime account, you get access to their “Save When You Spend” feature. This works similarly to Acorns by rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar and saving the difference.
Chime also offers a “Save When You Get Paid” feature that automatically transfers a percentage of your paycheck to savings. You can choose the percentage, whether it’s 5%, 10%, or more.
The best part about Chime is that there are no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no overdraft fees. Your savings earn a competitive interest rate, which is higher than many traditional banks offer.
You can access both your checking and savings accounts through the same app. Transfers between accounts are instant, so you have easy access to your money when you need it.
Chime is ideal if you want a full banking solution with built-in savings features and no fees.
Trim
Trim is a financial assistant app that helps you save money by cutting unnecessary expenses.
The app analyzes your spending and looks for subscriptions you might have forgotten about. It identifies recurring charges and asks if you want to cancel any of them.
Many people are shocked to discover they’re paying for services they no longer use. Trim can also negotiate your bills for services like cable, internet, and phone plans.
The app contacts your service providers on your behalf and tries to get you better rates. If Trim successfully lowers your bills, they take a percentage of the savings as their fee.
If they don’t save you money, you don’t pay anything. The app also helps you create a budget and tracks your spending in different categories. You can see where your money is going and identify areas where you can cut back.
Trim is particularly useful for people who have multiple subscriptions or high monthly bills they want to reduce.
Honey
Honey isn’t a traditional savings app, but it helps you save money on purchases you’re already making. The app is a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes when you shop online.
When you’re about to check out on a website, Honey tests all available coupon codes to find you the best discount. This happens automatically, you don’t have to search for codes yourself.
Honey works on thousands of websites, from major retailers to smaller online stores. The app also has a feature called Honey Gold, which gives you rewards points on purchases at participating stores. You can redeem these points for gift cards to popular retailers.
Honey also offers price tracking that monitors items you’re interested in and alerts you when prices drop. The app is completely free to use with no subscription fees or hidden costs.
If you shop online frequently, Honey can help you save significant amounts over time. Download it from apexglobalcareer.com’s recommended tools section for easy access.
Rakuten
Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is a cashback app that pays you for shopping at your favorite stores.
The app partners with thousands of retailers who pay Rakuten a commission for referring customers. Rakuten shares a portion of that commission with you as cashback. To use Rakuten, you shop through their app or website before making purchases.
The cashback rates vary by store, ranging from 1% to 40% or more depending on promotions. Rakuten sends you cashback payments quarterly via check or PayPal. The app also offers browser extensions that alert you when you’re on a participating retailer’s website.
You can earn cashback both for online shopping and in-store purchases at certain retailers. Rakuten frequently offers special deals and bonuses for new users. There are no fees to use the app, and you’re earning money on purchases you would have made anyway.
If you shop online regularly, Rakuten is an easy way to save money without changing your habits.
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB is a comprehensive budgeting app that helps you save by giving every dollar a specific job. The app is based on four rules that help you take control of your money and save more effectively.
Rule 1 is “Give Every Dollar a Job,” which means you assign all your income to specific categories before spending.
Rule 2 is “Embrace Your True Expenses,” which helps you save for irregular expenses like car repairs or annual subscriptions.
Rule 3 is “Roll With the Punches,” allowing you to adjust your budget when unexpected expenses come up.
Rule 4 is “Age Your Money,” which encourages you to spend money you earned at least 30 days ago.
YNAB connects to your bank accounts and credit cards to track your spending in real-time. The app shows you exactly where your money is going and helps you identify areas to cut back. Many users report saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars within the first few months of using YNAB.
The app charges a yearly subscription fee, but they offer a free trial period. If you’re serious about transforming your financial situation and building substantial savings, YNAB is worth the investment.
Mint
Mint is a free budgeting and savings app owned by Intuit, the company behind TurboTax and QuickBooks. The app connects all your financial accounts in one place, giving you a complete picture of your finances.
Mint automatically categorizes your spending so you can see where your money goes each month. The app creates a budget for you based on your spending patterns, though you can customize it.
Mint sends you alerts when you’re approaching your budget limits in different categories. The app also tracks your bills and sends reminders when payments are due. This helps you avoid late fees, which is another form of saving money.
Mint offers free credit score monitoring and provides tips on how to improve your credit. The app also suggests ways to save money based on your spending habits.
For example, if you’re paying high interest rates on credit cards, Mint might recommend balance transfer options.
Mint is completely free to use with no subscription fees. The app makes money by recommending financial products, but you’re never obligated to use them. If you want a comprehensive view of your finances with budgeting and savings features at no cost, Mint is an excellent choice.
PocketGuard
PocketGuard helps you save by showing you how much money you have available to spend after accounting for bills, goals, and necessities.
The app calculates your “In My Pocket” amount, which is the money you can safely spend without affecting your savings goals or bill payments. This prevents you from accidentally spending money you need for other purposes.
PocketGuard connects to your bank accounts and tracks all your transactions automatically. The app categorizes your spending and helps you identify areas where you’re overspending. It also finds recurring subscriptions and helps you cancel ones you don’t need.
PocketGuard offers a feature that helps you lower your bills by analyzing your expenses and finding better deals. The app can help you save on services like phone plans, cable, and insurance. You can set savings goals within the app and track your progress toward them.
PocketGuard offers both a free version with basic features and a paid version with advanced capabilities. The free version is sufficient for most users who want to track spending and save money.
If you want a simple way to know exactly how much you can spend without breaking your budget, PocketGuard makes it easy.
Final Words
Saving money doesn’t have to be complicated or require superhuman willpower.
These apps make saving automatic, painless, and even fun by using technology to do the hard work for you.
Whether you want to save spare change, cut unnecessary expenses, earn cashback on purchases, or build a comprehensive budget, there’s an app that fits your needs. The key is to choose one or two apps that match your saving style and stick with them consistently.
Most of these apps are free or charge minimal fees, so there’s little risk in trying them out. Start with one app and see how it works for you before adding others.
Remember, saving money is a habit that builds over time. Even small amounts saved regularly can grow into significant sums over months and years.
The most important step is to start saving today, and these apps make it easier than ever to do just that.
