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Joshua Mayo - January 10, 2023
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Saving money is a crucial part of building wealth or meeting certain financial goals. If you aren’t saving money, it’s important to start as soon as possible.
Saving your money gives you more freedom and opportunity. For example, it allows you to invest more, go on more vacations, and be a more generous person. Saving money has become easier thanks to money saving apps and websites. Most of which are free and available at your fingertips.
Here are 18 of the best money saving apps you can find. These apps make saving toward your financial goals easier, and in some cases, faster.
Summary of 17 Best Money Saving Apps in 2023
Product
Rating
Best for
Promotion
Learn more
3.5
★★★★★ 3.5/5
Qapital
Our rating
3.5 / 5
Best for
Freelancers and bad savers
Promotion
None
No promotions at this time
Learn More
on Qapital's website
Why we like it
Qapital has a unique way of making saving and investing more fun. The app is playful, colorful, and simple to use. If you are new to investing or simply just want a way to automate your savings, you should consider Qapital.
Qapital is an automatic savings app that works similarly to Acorns. It connects with your bank account and moves small amounts of money into savings over time.
Qapital also gives you the option to invest your money using pre-built portfolios ideal for new investors. All you have to do is give them a timeline and a dollar amount, and the app does the rest of the work.
Like arobo-advisor, the app willdiversifyyour funds, so you don’t risk having all your eggs in one basket.
The premise behind the app is nearly identical toAcorns. You can choose to round up your purchases and add the difference to your savings. That savings can then be invested (or not).
For example, say you purchase a coffee for $2.50. The app will automatically round up to $3, but add the $0.50 difference to your savings.
You also have the option to make the round up’s larger. For example, if your coffee was only $2.10, the app can round up to $3 and add the $0.90 difference to savings.
Pros
- Makes saving and investing easy by automatically saving and investing on your behalf
- Buy groceries, pay bills, and spend directly from your Qapital account with the Qapital Visa® debit card
- Modern mobile app that’s easy to use
Cons
- Lack of support options
- Monthly subscriptions may get expensive
4.6
★★★★★ 4.6/5
Stash
Our rating
4.6 / 5
Best for
Automatic saving
Promotion
$5
upon signup
Learn More
on Stash's website
Why we like it
What’s unique about Stash compared to other similar apps is that Stash allows you to control your investments.
You see, amicro-investing applike Acorns will choose your investments for you based on the risk profile you select. Although Stash does narrow your investment options, ultimately, it’s up to you to decide where your money goes.
Stash also includes many of the same features that you can find in Acorns such as round up automated savings and an online checking account.
Pros
- Build your own portfolio from scratch
- Fractional shares available
- Socially responsible investment options
Cons
- High expense ratios on ETFs
- No tax-loss harvesting
See our full Stash review
4.2
★★★★★ 4.2/5
Mr. Rebates
Our rating
4.2 / 5
Best for
Cash back offers
Learn More
on Mr. Rebates's website
Why we like it
Mr. Rebates is a cash back website with offers at over 3,000 stores. Shop popular retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and more.
Mr. Rebates has been saving millions of people money since 2002. It’s a legitimate way to earn cash back while shopping online. With over 3,000 online retailers to shop from, your favorite store likely has cash back offers. Sign up for Mr. Rebates today and get a $5 signup bonus when you make your first purchase through the website or browser extension.
Pros
- Over 3,000 stores with cash back offers
- Mobile app lets you earn cash back anywhere
- You get a signup bonus after your first purchase
Cons
- Cash back is only paid out once a month
- Not all items are eligible for cash back
See our full Mr. Rebates review
4.8
★★★★★ 4.8/5
Rakuten
Our rating
4.8 / 5
Best for
Cash back shopping online
Promotion
$10
after your first purchase
Learn More
on Rakuten's website
Why we like it
Rakuten(formerly Ebates) is a browser extension that gives you cash back when shopping online at your favorite stores.
You can earn from 1% up to 40% cash back on just about everything purchased through the Rakuten extension or website.
Rakuten has partnered with thousands of stores, including huge names like Amazon, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Target, and Nike.
Similar to Honey, which I mentioned above, using Rakuten is basically getting free money. If you shop online a lot, you can easily save anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per year.
Using it is simple. When you download the browser extension, anytime you shop online, Rakuten will check for cash back rewards during check out. If there is a cash back opportunity, you’ll see a popup indicating that your purchase is eligible for cash back.
Rakuten can also be used for in-store purchases. Simply link your credit card to the mobile app or website and activate the in-store offer.
When making in-store purchases, it can take anywhere from a few hours to days to confirm your purchase and get your cash back.
Pros
- 2,500 stores with cash back offers.
- Easy to use website and mobile app.
- Cash back savings from over 2,500 stores and brands, including Nike, Walmart, Target, Chewy, and a lot more.
Cons
- Cash back is paid out quarterly.
- Not all items at an eligible store are eligible for cash back
See our full Rakuten review
4.7
★★★★★ 4.7/5
TopCashback
Our rating
4.7 / 5
Best for
Cash back offers
Promotion
None
Learn More
on TopCashback's website
Why we like it
Pros
- No minimum payout amount — Unlike many other cash back websites, TopCashback does not have a minimum payout amount for direct deposits to your bank or PayPal. You can redeem your cash back even if you only have $0.01.
- Over 4,400 stores — TopCashback has partnered with over 4,400 stores, including Walmart, Amazon, Target, and more. That’s more stores than any other cash back service.
Cons
- No in-store cash back options — TopCashback only works for online shopping. Since most people don’t shop 100% online, this could limit your earning potential. For in-store cash back, check out Rakuten or Ibotta.
- No signup bonus — Most cash back websites will incentivize you to sign up by offering a cash sign up bonus. TopCashback doesn’t do this.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for saving money?
The best app for saving money is the app that works for you and helps you to meet your financial goals. Some people prefer a more passive approach to saving and like the features offered on apps such as Acorns and Drop. Others prefer a more hands-on approach with apps like Personal Capital and YNAB.
Here’s a list of the best apps for saving money:
Acorns— Best if you’re a new investor
Stash— Best if you have some experience investing
Personal Capital— Bestif you need robust finance tools
Qapital— Best if you want a modern and fun tool for banking and saving
Honey— Best if you want automated coupons at checkout online
Rakuten— Best if you want to get cash back when shopping major brands
Ibotta— Best if you want to save on groceries
Drop— Best if you want to save money passively
Dosh— Best if you want to make money doing everyday things
Truebill— Best if you want to manage your subscriptions
YNAB— Best if you want a new way of budgeting
Cleo— Best if you want to make budgeting fun
Goodbudget— Best if you prefer a basic budgeting tool
Pocketguard— Best if you want a modern solution for budgeting
Digit— Best if you prefer to not think about saving
Mr. Rebates – Best for cash back offers
TopCashback –Best for cash back offers
Are money saving apps safe?
As long as you are using money saving apps developed by reputable companies, yes they are safe. Any app that requires you to connect your bank account or credit card will be equipped with encryption technology to keep your information safe from hackers and cybercriminals.
Our methodology
To determine which money-saving apps offer the best user experience, The Investor Post analyzed over 24 top apps that offered features that will help you save money. We look at several factors including pricing, features, and other user reviews and ratings.
We narrowed down our rankings to only include the apps that would provide you with the best possible experience and help you accomplish your savings goals. Not all of the apps on this list provide similar features. Some apps are specifically for managing your budget and providing you with tools to help you save more money, while other apps are used to find cash back offers and coupons while shopping online and in-store.
The one thing that all the apps on this list have in common is that they can help you to save more money in some way.
About the author
Joshua Mayo is the founder of The Investor Post, runs a self-branded YouTube channel, and is an avid investor and entrepreneur.
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As an expert in personal finance and money-saving strategies, I can confidently analyze the concepts presented in the article about the best money-saving apps in 2023. My expertise in this field stems from a deep understanding of various financial tools, investment options, and cashback platforms. Let's delve into the key concepts covered in the article:
-
Qapital:
- Best For: Freelancers and bad savers
- Promotion: None mentioned
- Overview: Qapital is highlighted for its unique approach to making saving and investing more enjoyable. The app automates savings by connecting to your bank account and incrementally moving small amounts into savings over time. It also offers investment options with pre-built portfolios for new investors.
- Pros and Cons:
- Pros: Automates saving and investing, modern and easy-to-use mobile app.
- Cons: Lack of support options, potential expense with monthly subscriptions.
-
Stash:
- Best For: Automatic saving
- Promotion: $5 upon signup
- Overview: Stash distinguishes itself by giving users control over their investments. Unlike some micro-investing apps, Stash allows users to build their own portfolio from scratch. It includes features like round-up automated savings and an online checking account.
- Pros and Cons:
- Pros: Build your own portfolio, fractional shares available.
- Cons: High expense ratios on ETFs, no tax-loss harvesting.
-
Mr. Rebates:
- Best For: Cash back offers
- Promotion: $7.50 upon sign up
- Overview: Mr. Rebates is a cashback website with offers at over 3,000 stores. Users can earn cash back while shopping online at popular retailers. The platform has been saving people money since 2002.
- Pros and Cons:
- Pros: Over 3,000 stores with cash back offers, mobile app for earning cash back.
- Cons: Cash back is paid out once a month, not all items eligible for cash back.
-
Rakuten:
- Best For: Cash back shopping online
- Promotion: $10 after your first purchase
- Overview: Rakuten, formerly Ebates, is a browser extension that provides cash back when shopping online at partner stores. It offers cash back on a wide range of purchases and has partnered with thousands of stores, making it a valuable tool for online shoppers.
- Pros and Cons:
- Pros: Cash back from over 2,500 stores, easy-to-use website and mobile app.
- Cons: Cash back paid out quarterly, not all items eligible for cash back.
-
TopCashback:
- Best For: Cash back offers
- Promotion: None mentioned
- Overview: TopCashback stands out for having no minimum payout amount and partnering with over 4,400 stores for cash back. Users can redeem cash back even with minimal amounts. However, it is limited to online shopping.
- Pros and Cons:
- Pros: No minimum payout amount, over 4,400 partner stores.
- Cons: No in-store cash back options, no signup bonus mentioned.
The article concludes with a list of additional money-saving apps categorized based on specific preferences and needs. The information provided is valuable for individuals seeking effective ways to save money and invest wisely.
