18 Top Money-Saving Apps I’ve Tried and Recommend

Looking for the best money saving apps and websites?

Technology makes saving easier than ever. There are many apps and websites designed to help you save, earn, or better manage your money. Below is a curated list of top personal finance tools and a clear summary of what each does so you can decide which ones suit your needs.

What I appreciate most about these tools is how simple they make tracking finances—your phone or tablet gives you instant visibility into your spending, savings, and goals.

Whether an app simplifies budgeting, helps lower everyday expenses, gives cash back while you shop, or helps you invest, these tools can make a measurable difference in your financial life.

With prices rising, every little saving helps. The apps and sites below can help you:

• Save money directly from your phone
• Earn cash back when shopping online
• Manage finances across accounts
• Find side hustle opportunities
• Save on grocery shopping
• Set and achieve savings goals
• Invest small amounts for the future
• Improve spending habits
• Reduce monthly expenses

These services are available on iOS, Android, and web. You can sign up via app stores or each company’s website.

This article explains the top money saving apps and answers common questions like “Are these apps safe?” and “How do they pay users?”

Related content:

• 30 Best Money Making Apps
• 16 Alternatives To Cable TV That WILL Save You Money
• 12 Passive Income Ideas That Will Let You Enjoy Life More
• 15 Best Coupon Sites To Save Money

18 Best Money Saving Apps

Here’s a quick list of top money saving apps covered in this guide:

1. Empower
2. Capital One Shopping
3. Upside
4. Fetch Rewards
5. Ibotta
6. Swagbucks
7. Rakuten
8. Acorns
9. American Consumer Opinion
10. Neighbor
11. Survey Junkie
12. InboxDollars
13. Gazelle
14. Bestmark
15. RVshare
16. Get Jerry
17. Chime®
18. Albert

1. Empower (formerly Personal Capital)

Empower is a comprehensive personal finance and investment tool. It shows your net worth, evaluates retirement readiness, helps set spending targets, analyzes cash flow, and reviews investment fees so you can reduce unnecessary costs.

It also offers a fee-free, FDIC-insured high-yield savings account. Empower is available as a free mobile app and on the web.

2. Capital One Shopping – Automatically apply coupon codes

Capital One Shopping runs in your browser and applies the best coupon codes at checkout automatically. It saves time by searching digital coupons for you and works across major browsers for free.

3. Upside – Save at gas stations

Upside helps you find nearby gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants that offer cash back. Rewards vary by merchant—gas, groceries, and dining. It also provides a local gas price map so you can find the lowest pump price and earn cash back simultaneously.

4. Fetch Rewards – Scan grocery receipts

Fetch Rewards awards points for scanning receipts from any retailer. Points can be redeemed for gift cards to big-name stores. It’s one of the simplest ways to get value from everyday purchases—just take a photo of your receipt and earn points.

• Shop as usual
• Scan your receipt
• Redeem points for rewards

5. Ibotta – Earn on everyday purchases

Ibotta provides rebates for in-store and online purchases across hundreds of retailers. You unlock offers, shop, verify purchases, and receive cash back or gift cards. You can also link loyalty cards so offers apply automatically.

6. Swagbucks – Complete simple online tasks

Swagbucks rewards users for activities like watching videos, playing games, scanning receipts, printing coupons, taking polls, and using their search engine. Earned points are redeemable for PayPal cash or gift cards.

7. Rakuten – Cash back at online retailers

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) gives cash back when you shop through its links. The company earns a commission from merchants and shares part of that commission with you. It’s an easy way to get money back on purchases you’d make anyway.

8. Acorns – Invest spare change

Acorns rounds up purchases to invest your spare change into diversified portfolios. It enables micro-investing through fractional shares and offers multiplied round-up options to accelerate savings. It’s a user-friendly option for beginners who want an automated investing habit.

9. American Consumer Opinion – Paid surveys

American Consumer Opinion pays for survey responses and occasionally provides product testing opportunities. Payouts vary by survey length and complexity. The platform has paid millions to members and hosts many survey opportunities for those who qualify.

10. Neighbor – Rent out unused storage

Neighbor is a peer-to-peer storage marketplace where you can list garages, driveways, basements, or closets for rent. You set pricing and approve reservations, turning unused space into ongoing income.

11. Survey Junkie – Paid survey platform

Survey Junkie matches your profile to paid surveys. Rewards are paid via PayPal or gift cards. The platform operates in the United States, Canada, and Australia.

12. InboxDollars – Watch videos and play games for rewards

InboxDollars pays members for watching videos, taking surveys, printing grocery coupons, and playing games. Surveys typically pay modest amounts and the site offers a variety of low-effort ways to earn a bit of extra cash.

13. Gazelle – Sell old electronics

Gazelle buys used phones and electronics. It’s a straightforward way to sell devices you no longer use and get paid quickly.

14. Bestmark – Mystery shopping

Bestmark connects mystery shoppers with assignments to evaluate customer experiences. Jobs can pay in cash or free products and are a flexible way to earn while shopping or dining out.

15. RVshare – Rent out your RV

RVshare lets owners list RVs for rent and can generate significant income during rental seasons. The platform handles bookings and payments, releasing funds soon after rentals begin.

16. Get Jerry – Compare car insurance

Get Jerry compares insurance quotes from dozens of companies to help you find better car insurance rates. It’s designed to make shopping for insurance faster and easier, often resulting in substantial annual savings.

17. Chime®

Chime is a banking app focused on helping users save automatically. Features include round-ups on purchases, early direct deposit, no monthly fees, fee-free overdraft, and competitive APYs on savings accounts.

18. Albert – Simplified saving and investing

Albert combines saving, investing, and budgeting in one app. It includes a “Genius” in-app chat for financial help and tools designed to automate savings and investment decisions for users with varying experience levels.

Do money saving apps actually work?

Yes. Money saving apps are effective when used consistently and matched to your financial habits. Not every app fits every person, but many of the options above can reduce expenses, automate savings, or generate extra income if used correctly.

Are money saving apps safe?

The apps and websites listed here are reputable and widely used. Always review each service’s privacy policy and security features before linking financial accounts, and enable two-factor authentication where available.

Where do these apps get money? Why do they pay users?

These platforms earn revenue through methods such as:

• Affiliate commissions when they refer customers to retailers
• Selling aggregated market research or facilitating paid surveys
• Display advertising and partnerships
• Buying and reselling items (marketplace models)
• Client fees from companies that hire mystery shoppers

Those revenue streams allow these services to share value with users in the form of cash back, gift cards, paid surveys, or referral bonuses.

Which apps work best on iPhone and Android?

Many of the apps listed are available on both iPhone and Android. Acorns and Ibotta are especially popular across platforms, but most services offer well-designed apps for both operating systems.

Summary — Best money saving apps

To recap, the best money saving apps highlighted here include Empower, Capital One Shopping, Upside, Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, Qapital, Swagbucks, Rakuten, Acorns, American Consumer Opinion, Neighbor, Survey Junkie, InboxDollars, Gazelle, Bestmark, RVshare, Get Jerry, Chime, and Albert.

These apps can help you reduce expenses, earn cash back, automate savings, improve spending habits, and find extra income opportunities. Try a few that match your routine and financial goals to see which deliver the most value for you.

What are your favorite money saving apps?