The 5 Top Apps for Saving Money in 2025
People will tell you to buckle down and save up money.
It’s easy, they say. You’ve just got to do it! Stay focused!
It’s just not easy for many of us, given our incomes vs. ever-rising expenses.
Only 15% of Americans can come up with $2,000, according to a Penny Hoarder analysis of Federal Reserve survey data.
If saving money were that easy, that percentage would be a lot higher.
But here’s the thing: There are plenty of money-saving tools out there that’ll make the task way easier, like Cleo and Rocket Money. Some of them will even help you grow your stash with investing.
What Is the Best Money-Saving App?
One of the best money-saving apps out there is Cleo. Its personalized insights into your spending give you the financial reality check you need while the chatbot delivers it in a fun yet sassy way.
It makes saving extra easy by making it automated, and it can analyze for you how much room you have in your budget in the first place.
Read on to hear about our other favorite apps for saving money.
5 Perfect Money-Saving Apps for You in 2025
There are so many personal finance apps, which is great, but it can quickly become overwhelming. To help you decide what’s best for you and your financial goals, we rounded up our favorite savings apps.
1. Cleo: A More Personalized Experience
Cleo is a cheeky chatbot that can also track your spending so you can keep your bad money habits in check. Need help with saving? Cleo can round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and save the difference, or “fine” you for overspending at Target. She can also create a free, personalized budget based on your spending habits. Whatever saving technique you choose, she’ll automatically transfer that money into your savings account each week. Just sit back and watch your savings grow.
The money app also can can spot you up to $250 (eligibility requirements apply) when you need it to avoid overdraft fees. No interest, no credit check and no direct deposit required.
2. Rocket Money: See Where Your Money is Going
Just when you think you’ve got a handle on all your bills and subscriptions, another random charge pops up on your bank statement. It may not seem like a big deal, but $10 here and there can seriously add up.
That’s where an app called Rocket Money comes in. It can show you exactly where you’re wasting money on forgotten subscriptions and bills that are overcharging you. It saves its members an average of $720 per year.
The easy-to-use app helps you track down and cancel unwanted subscriptions and can even help negotiate lower monthly rates with your internet company, phone company and other bills — on average, they can help lower your bills by about 20%.
Rocket Money’s app has saved its 5 million-plus users about $500 million in canceled subscriptions.
It takes just a few minutes to get started and see how much you could save this year. Just register an account and link your bank accounts, then sit back while Rocket Money goes to work.
3. Wealthfront HYS: Making Investing Easier
Savings can grow at a glacial pace when you’re already stretched thin. But what if an investing app could help you grow your money and tailor your portfolio around your preferred values and goals?
Wealthfront offers an automated investment account designed to help you manage risk and maximize potential returns without spending a ton. You can target categories like clean energy, tech or crypto, and Wealthfront will handle the trades and rebalance your portfolio for you.
It’s both easy and cost-effective— you won’t be charged any fees per trade. You’ll only pay a low annual advisory fee of 0.25%1 with support from Wealthfront’s roster of certified CPAs, CFAs and CFPs.
Another thing Wealthfront has going for it is its Tax-Loss Harvesting (TLH) software. This monitors your investments and automatically trades similar assets that have lost value, which can help lower your tax bill2 and potentially keep your portfolio on track.
To get your $50 bonus,3 all you have to do is open and fund your first investing account with Wealthfront, fill out the questionnaire on the website and keep at least $500 in your account for the first 30 days (terms and conditions apply).4
Join Wealthfront and make your money work for you.
4. Public: Maximize Your Savings
If you’re looking for another way to save besides a savings account, Public offers a Treasury account that allows you to invest in treasury bills. Treasuries basically are a loan you give the government, which pays you back later, plus interest. And being backed by the U.S. government makes them one of the safest5 ways to invest your money.
Unlike traditional savings or high-yield savings accounts, you don’t have to pay state or local taxes5 on income you earn from Treasury bills. So, depending on where you live, more of your savings may go back into your pocket.
Once you’ve signed up and created your account, you can easily transfer money by linking a bank account. From there, you can enroll in a Treasury account and start investing for as little as $100. After your Treasury bills mature, Public will automatically reinvest to create a compounding effect. You can also sell your Treasury bills at any time6.
It only takes a few minutes to enroll in a Treasury account with Public to start earning more on your savings.
5. Chime: An Account That’ll Do All The Hard Work For You
If you’re looking to combine a number of options on this list into one free and easy-to-use app, turn to Chime®.
When you sign up for Chime, you’ll gain access to an online checking and savings account.7 Because they’re connected, it’s easy to transfer money back and forth.
But more than that: Whenever you make a transaction with your Chime debit card, it’ll round up your purchase automatically and dump the change into your savings. You can schedule automatic transfers into your savings account, too.
It takes all of about five minutes to open your Chime account.
Need More Help? Find Your Perfect Budgeting App
If you’re still struggling to save money, you might need to go back to the basics with a budgeting app. By setting up a budget and tracking your expenses, you’ll be able to find exactly where you’re overdoing it and how you can better achieve your financial goals.
Read our list of the best budgeting apps to get your finances together.
FAQ: Money-Making Apps
Are money-making apps safe?
Yes, reputable money-making apps like Cleo and Rocket Money on our list are safe to use. It’s important to research and ensure you’re using apps that prioritize user safety.
Are automated savings apps worth the fees?
Many users find the fees reasonable given the convenience and potential savings growth. The value of these apps depends on your personal finance goals and whether the automated savings help you save more money than you would on your own.
What should I look for in a money-saving app?
When choosing a money-saving app, consider the following:
- Security: Ensure the app uses robust security measures to protect your financial data.
- Fees: Understand any fees associated with the app and determine if they are worth the services provided.
- Ease of use: The app should have an intuitive interface, making it easy to set up and manage your savings.
- Savings strategies: Look for apps that offer innovative ways to help you save money based on your lifestyle and spending habits.
- Reviews and ratings: Check user reviews and ratings to gauge the effectiveness and reliability of the app.
Can money-saving apps actually help me grow my savings?
Yes, money-saving apps can significantly help you grow your savings. By automating the saving process, these apps help users consistently save small amounts of money that add up over time. Additionally, apps like Wealthfront invest your savings, potentially increasing your returns through market growth. The key is to choose apps that align with your saving goals and financial situation.
How do I start using a money-saving app?
To start using a money-saving app, follow these steps:
- Choose an app: Select a money-saving app that meets your needs based on features, security, and user reviews.
- Download and install: Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Set up an account: Provide the necessary information to create an account, often including linking a bank account.
- Configure your settings: Set your saving goals and any rules related to how much and when you want to save.
- Monitor your savings: Regularly check the app to see your savings progress and make adjustments as needed.
Carson Kohler ([email protected]) is a former staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s all for automated savings.
1.All client accounts’ trading and rebalancing are managed by Wealthfront’s software.
2. Nothing in this communication should be construed as tax advice, an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money you invest, and past performance doesn’t guarantee future performance. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC (“Wealthfront Advisers”), an SEC-registered investment adviser, and brokerage products and services are provided by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.Tax Loss Harvesting benefits vary depending on the client’s entire tax and investment profile. Wealthfront Advisers doesn’t provide tax advice. The performance of the new securities purchased through the tax-loss harvesting service may be better or worse than the performance of the securities that are sold for tax-loss harvesting purposes.
3. ($50 cash bonus when you deposit $500), client must maintain $500 by the 30 day mark. See website for more details.
4. The Penny Hoarder receives compensation when a reader clicks on the referral link that redirects them to Wealthfront, which creates a conflict of interest. Penny Hoarder’s opinions in this article are their own and are not tied directly to such compensation. The Penny Hoarder and Wealthfront Brokerage, LLC are not associated with one another and have no formal relationship outside of this arrangement.
5. T-bills are subject to price change and availability – yield is subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Investments in T-bills involve a variety of risks, including credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. As a general rule, the price of a T- bills moves inversely to changes in interest rates. Although T-bills are considered safer than many other financial instruments, you could lose all or a part of your investment.Investment income on T-bills is taxed federally by the Internal Revenue Service. Income earned from T-bills is not subject to state tax, and is not subject to local income taxes. Jiko U.S. Treasuries Risk Disclosures for further details.
6. Yield is an annualized 26-week T-bill rate (as of 11/21/2023) when held to maturity. Rate assumes holding T-bill until maturity (26-weeks). T-bills liquidated prior to maturity may result in a loss of interest or principal. Rate is gross of fees and is annualized. Fee schedule at public.com/disclosures/fee-schedule.T-bills are purchased in increments of $100 par value at a discount; any remaining balance after purchase is held in cash. All investing involves risk of loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Risks. US members only.
7. Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by, and debit card issued by, Bancorp Bank or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.
