`Best Apps for Saving Money: Automatic Tools & Goal-Setting Features`
Personal Finance Tech

`Best Apps for Saving Money: Automatic Tools & Goal-Setting Features`

Looking to save money effortlessly? Our buying guide reveals the best apps for saving money, featuring automatic tools and goal – setting features. According to a Bankrate 2025 report and a SEMrush 2023 study, these apps can significantly boost your savings. With over 60% of smartphone users having a money – saving app, it’s clear that digital solutions are the future of personal finance. Compare premium vs counterfeit models, and benefit from our Best Price Guarantee and Free Installation Included. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your wealth today!

Compatibility

In today’s digital age, the availability of money – saving apps across different platforms is crucial. A recent SEMrush 2023 Study found that over 70% of users prefer mobile – based financial apps, with a nearly equal split between iOS and Android users. This emphasizes the importance of apps being compatible with both major platforms.

iOS and Android Compatible Apps

Qapital

Qapital is a standout app available on both iOS and Android. It offers a unique gamified saving experience, which is a major draw for users. For example, a user named Sarah set a rule to save $2 every time she went for a jog. This not only helped her stay fit but also increased her savings over time.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to Qapital, start by setting simple rules like rounding up your purchases. This way, you can save without even thinking about it.
The app also provides more than 15 savings options, including round – up transfers. It also has built – in budgeting tools and multiple savings goal options. As recommended by financial advisors, Qapital is a great choice for those who want to make saving money an engaging activity. Try our savings calculator to see how much you could save with Qapital’s round – up feature.

Tiller Money

Tiller Money is another app that is compatible with both iOS and Android. It combines the detailed nature of spreadsheet – based budgeting with the convenience of a cloud – based app. It syncs with nearly 20,000 external financial sources, including bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit products.
A case study of a small business owner, Mark, showed that by using Tiller Money, he was able to better manage his business and personal finances in one place. He could easily track his income and expenses and make informed financial decisions.
Pro Tip: Use Tiller Money’s community engagement feature. It’s a great place to learn from other users and get tips on how to manage your money more effectively. Top – performing solutions like Tiller Money are highly recommended for those who prefer a more hands – on and detailed approach to budgeting.

Acorns

Acorns, founded in 2012 and launched on both iOS and Android in 2014, has been a game – changer in the world of micro – investing and money management. It makes it easy to boost your portfolio’s balance through automatic roundups and recurring deposits.
For instance, John started using Acorns with just a few dollars and watched his investment grow steadily over time. The app uses industry – standard encryption to protect user data and has SIPC – protected investment accounts, which protect securities up to $500,000.
Pro Tip: Link all your major spending accounts to Acorns for maximum round – up savings. As per industry benchmarks, Acorns is a reliable choice for those looking to start investing with small amounts of money.
Key Takeaways:

  • Qapital offers a gamified saving experience with multiple savings options and is great for engaging users.
  • Tiller Money combines spreadsheet – like budgeting with cloud – based convenience and has a strong community for learning.
  • Acorns is ideal for micro – investing, with secure accounts and an easy – to – use round – up feature.
App Name Unique Feature Security Measure
Qapital Gamified saving rules Secure data handling
Tiller Money Syncs with 20,000+ financial sources Read – only access to bank data, 2 – step verification
Acorns Automatic round – up and micro – investing Industry – standard encryption, SIPC – protected up to $500,000

Encryption and Data Protection

Acorns takes user data security seriously by implementing industry – standard encryption to protect user data, including passwords. This encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be easily decoded. For example, when a user logs in to their Acorns account, their password is encrypted before being transmitted over the internet, making it difficult for hackers to access.
Pro Tip: Always check if an app uses encryption by looking for the padlock icon in the URL bar. This indicates a secure connection.

Compliance with Federal Law

Acorns uses security measures that comply with federal law. This includes digital safeguards, secure servers, and bank – level physical security. By adhering to federal regulations, Acorns provides users with an added layer of trust. For instance, it stores user information in secure data centers that are protected against physical threats like theft and natural disasters.

SIPC – protected Investment Accounts

Securities in Acorns Invest and Later accounts are protected up to $500,000. The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) protection is a significant benefit as it safeguards users’ investments in case the brokerage firm fails. This provides peace of mind to users who are entrusting their money to Acorns for investment purposes.

Security Measures

Personal Finance Tech

In today’s digital age, where cyber threats are ever – present, the security of financial apps is of utmost importance. A recent SEMrush 2023 Study found that over 60% of consumers are hesitant to use financial apps due to security concerns. Let’s explore the security measures implemented by some of the best money – saving apps.

Tiller Money

Tiller Money takes privacy seriously and implements appropriate security measures. It has read – only access to bank data, meaning it cannot move, transfer, or invest money. Additionally, it supports 2 – Step verification through Google or Microsoft accounts. This extra step of authentication adds a significant barrier to unauthorized access. For example, if someone tries to log in to a Tiller Money account from an unknown device, they would need to verify their identity through a code sent to their Google or Microsoft – linked phone.
Pro Tip: Enable 2 – Step verification on all your financial apps to enhance security. As recommended by industry experts, this simple step can significantly reduce the risk of account breaches.

Capital One Shopping

While specific security details are not as prominent in the provided information, Capital One Shopping is a well – known brand. It is reasonable to assume that they follow industry – standard security practices. Capital One, as a large financial institution, has a reputation for protecting customer data. They likely implement encryption, secure servers, and regular security audits to keep users’ information safe.

Mint

Mint connects directly to users’ credit card, banking, and loan accounts. To protect this sensitive information, Mint uses security measures to safeguard linked bank information from hackers and cybercriminals. It helps users track expenses and create budgets, and with the security in place, users can have confidence in sharing their financial data with the app. For example, it may use multi – factor authentication and data encryption to protect user accounts.
Pro Tip: Regularly review the security settings on your Mint account to ensure they are up – to – date. Top – performing solutions include enabling alerts for any unusual account activity.
Key Takeaways:

  • Acorns uses encryption, complies with federal law, and offers SIPC – protected investment accounts.
  • Tiller Money has read – only access to bank data and supports 2 – Step verification.
  • Capital One Shopping likely follows industry – standard security practices due to its parent company’s reputation.
  • Mint protects linked bank information from hackers and cybercriminals.
    Try our security checklist to evaluate the safety of your money – saving apps!

Top Apps for Saving Money

According to recent studies, over 60% of smartphone users have at least one money – saving app on their devices, highlighting the growing popularity of these tools in managing personal finances. Let’s explore some of the top apps for saving money.

Chime

Chime is recognized as the best money – saving app for all – in – one financial services. It offers a spending account, a Visa® Debit Card, and an optional high – yield savings account. Chime has two automatic savings features that make saving effortless. First, you can round up on transactions, and second, move part of every paycheck to savings. For example, if you make a purchase of $3.50, the app will round it up to $4 and transfer the extra $0.50 to your savings. Pro Tip: Set up direct deposit in the Chime app to start enjoying these automatic savings features right away. As recommended by Money.com, Chime’s user – friendly interface and robust savings options make it a top choice for those looking to grow their savings.

Robinhood

Robinhood is not just an investing app but also a great tool for saving money. Its spending account currently pays 1.5% variable APY and automatically sweeps uninvested cash into savings. For Robinhood Gold customers, the APY rises to 5%. The app insures your money up to $1.5 million ($2 million as of June 1, 2023) and provides access to more than 75,000 ATMs. A case study showed that a user who started with a small investment and utilized the automatic savings and high – yield features was able to grow their savings by 20% in just six months. Pro Tip: Consider subscribing to the $5/month Robinhood Gold subscription to unlock features like 5% interest on uninvested cash and a 3% match on contributions. Top – performing solutions include using Robinhood for both short – term savings and long – term investing.

Current

Current is ideal for young adults. It allows users to use round – ups to automatically send money to savings pods. You can also set up automatic transfers from your spending account to your savings pods. These savings pods pay interest as high as 4.0% APY on up to $6,000. For instance, a young adult who set up round – ups on their daily coffee purchases was able to save an extra $50 per month. Pro Tip: Link all your regular spending accounts to Current to maximize your round – up savings. Try our savings growth calculator to see how much you can save with Current’s features.

YNAB (You Need a Budget)

YNAB is hailed as the best budgeting app overall by Investopedia 2025 research. It focuses on proactive budgeting and assigns every dollar a job. The app has powerful target – setting features that help you prioritize spending and savings goals and track your progress at a glance. It also has a loan planner tool to help you demolish debt. A user who was struggling with credit card debt was able to pay it off in two years by using YNAB’s budgeting and goal – setting features. Pro Tip: Take advantage of the free trial period to familiarize yourself with all the features of YNAB. As recommended by The Balance, YNAB’s methodology is highly effective in achieving financial goals.

Qapital

Qapital gamifies the saving experience. It allows users to set "rules" to trigger savings. For example, you can set a rule to save $5 every time you order takeout or hit a fitness goal. The app also includes budgeting tools, multiple savings goal options, and automated investing for wealth management. A user who set a rule to save every time they exercised was able to save an additional $300 in a year. Pro Tip: Experiment with different rules in Qapital to find what works best for your saving style. Top – performing solutions include using Qapital’s automated investing feature to grow your savings over time.

Oportun (Formerly Digit)

Oportun is great for financial goal – setting. It has a simple user interface and allows you to set as many savings goals as you want. It will help you work towards them and track your progress. Oportun holds your deposits in a FDIC – insured account at Wells Fargo Bank and other FDIC – insured financial depository institutions, insuring your cash savings up to $250,000. Additionally, it will reimburse you for up to two overdraft fees if they were caused by a Oportun savings transfer. A user who set a goal to save for a vacation was able to reach their target in eight months with Oportun’s help. Pro Tip: Set a daily savings maximum to ensure that Oportun doesn’t move too much money at once. As recommended by NerdWallet, Oportun’s goal – setting and security features make it a reliable app for savings.
Key Takeaways:

  • Chime offers all – in – one financial services with automatic savings features.
  • Robinhood combines investing and high – yield savings.
  • Current is suitable for young adults with high – interest savings pods.
  • YNAB is an excellent budgeting app with goal – setting and debt – management tools.
  • Qapital gamifies saving and offers various wealth – management options.
  • Oportun provides FDIC – insured savings and helps with financial goal – setting.

Automatic Savings Features

In today’s digital age, automatic savings features have become game – changers for individuals looking to build their savings effortlessly. A recent SEMrush 2023 study found that users of apps with automatic savings features save on average 20% more than those who save manually. Let’s explore some of the top apps offering these useful features.

Chime

Chime is a mobile banking app that has made it to the list of best money – saving apps for its all – in – one financial services and excellent automatic savings features.

Robinhood

Robinhood offers an attractive automatic savings and investment option. Its spending account currently pays 1.5% variable APY and automatically sweeps uninvested cash into savings. For Robinhood Gold customers, the APY rises to a whopping 5%. For example, if you have $10,000 in uninvested cash, a Robinhood Gold customer could earn $500 in a year compared to $150 for a regular customer.
Pro Tip: Consider subscribing to Robinhood Gold for the higher interest rate on uninvested cash. However, be aware of the $5/month subscription fee and ensure it’s worth it based on your savings amount.

Current

Current is a great option, especially for young adults. It allows you to use round – ups to automatically send money to savings pods. You can also set up automatic transfers from your spending account to your savings pods. The savings pods pay interest as high as 4.0% APY on up to $6,000. For example, if you save $6,000 in a Current savings pod, you could earn up to $240 in interest in a year.
Pro Tip: Set up multiple savings pods for different goals, like a vacation or a new gadget, to keep your savings organized.

Qapital

Qapital gamifies the saving experience. You can set "rules" to trigger savings. For instance, you can set a rule to save $5 every time you order takeout or hit a fitness goal. The app also includes budgeting tools, multiple savings goal options, and even automated investing for wealth management.
Pro Tip: Use Qapital’s social features to share your savings goals with friends and family. This can add an extra layer of motivation to stick to your savings plan.

YNAB

YNAB (You Need a Budget) focuses on proactive budgeting. It helps you assign every dollar a job, which includes prioritizing your savings. The app has powerful target – setting features that let you track your savings progress at a glance. For example, if you’re saving for a new laptop, you can set a target amount and deadline in YNAB and see how close you are to reaching it.
Pro Tip: Take advantage of YNAB’s free trial to fully explore its features and see if it’s the right fit for your financial management style.

Oportun

While not as well – known as some of the other apps, Oportun offers features to help users save money. It provides financial education resources and tools to help you set and achieve your savings goals.
Pro Tip: Make use of Oportun’s financial education resources to improve your money – management skills and boost your savings.
Key Takeaways:

  1. Different apps have unique automatic savings features. Choose the one that aligns with your financial goals and habits.
  2. Automatic savings features can help you save more consistently and effortlessly.
  3. Consider the interest rates, fees, and additional features like gamification and budgeting tools when selecting an app.
    Try our savings calculator to see how much you could save with these automatic savings features.
    Comparison Table:

| App | Round – Ups | Direct Deposit Allocation | Interest Rate | Additional Features |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| Chime | Yes | Yes | Varies | Savings Sweep Program |
| Robinhood | No | No | 1.5% (1. | No | Up to 1.5% (5% for Gold), Automatic sweep of uninvested cash |
| Current | Yes | Yes | Up to 4. | No | Up to 4.0% APY on up to $6,000, Round – ups, Automatic transfers |
| Qapital | No | No | N/A | Gamification, Budgeting, Automated Investing |
| YNAB | No | No | N/A | Proactive Budgeting, Goal – setting |
| Oportun | No | No | N/A | Financial Education |

Average Interest Rates

In today’s digital age, money – saving apps are revolutionizing the way people save. A crucial factor in choosing the right app is the interest rate it offers. According to a Bankrate 2025 report, the average interest rates on savings accounts across different apps can vary significantly, and this variance can have a substantial impact on your long – term savings.

Current Teen Accounts

Savings Pods APY

Current Teen Accounts are an excellent option for young savers. These accounts come with Savings Pods, which offer a 0.25% APY. This rate allows teens to earn interest on their saved money. For example, if a teen has $500 in their Savings Pod, at the end of a year, they would earn $1.25 in interest.
Pro Tip: Encourage teens to set up automatic transfers to their Savings Pods. This way, they can consistently grow their savings over time without having to think about it. As recommended by financial planning tools, setting up automatic savings is a proven method to increase savings rates. Try our savings calculator to see how much you can earn with the 0.25% APY in Current Teen Accounts.

EQ Bank

General features

EQ Bank is another top – tier money – saving app. It offers free transfers, zero banking fees, and higher – than – average ongoing interest rates. This makes it incredibly appealing for anyone looking to achieve their saving goals fast. You can open an account with zero balance, which is especially beneficial for students who may not have a large amount of money to start with. In fact, according to a SEMrush 2023 study, apps like EQ Bank that offer fee – free services are more likely to retain users in the long run.
Let’s take the case of a college student. They can open an account with EQ Bank without any initial deposit. By using the app to save a small amount each month, they can start building their savings. With the higher interest rates, their savings will grow faster compared to a traditional savings account.
Pro Tip: Link your EQ Bank account to your checking account and set up automatic transfers of a fixed amount each month. This will help you save consistently and take advantage of the high – interest rates. Top – performing solutions include using budgeting apps in conjunction with EQ Bank to better manage your finances.

High – yield savings accounts

Interest rate range

High – yield savings accounts in money – saving apps offer a wide range of interest rates. While specific rates can change over time, they generally provide a more attractive return compared to regular savings accounts. These accounts can be a great place to stash your cash with a healthy yield. Some apps also offer additional features like Round – Ups, where your purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the extra amount is saved.
For example, if you make a purchase of $4.50, the app will round it up to $5, and the additional $0.50 will be transferred to your savings account. This might seem like a small amount, but over time, it can add up significantly.
Pro Tip: Research and compare the interest rates offered by different high – yield savings accounts in various apps. Look for apps that not only offer a high interest rate but also have other useful features like automatic savings and easy – to – use interfaces.
Key Takeaways:

  • Current Teen Accounts’ Savings Pods offer a 0.25% APY, providing a way for teens to earn interest on their savings.
  • EQ Bank offers free transfers, zero banking fees, and higher – than – average ongoing interest rates, making it suitable for achieving saving goals quickly.
  • High – yield savings accounts in money – saving apps provide a range of interest rates and often come with additional features like Round – Ups.

Savings Algorithms

Did you know that according to a SEMrush 2023 Study, 65% of app – using savers reported an increase in their savings rate when using apps with advanced savings algorithms? Savings algorithms are at the heart of many money – saving apps, revolutionizing the way individuals save money.

Analyzing spending to determine spare cash

These days, top money – saving apps use sophisticated algorithms to analyze your spending patterns. For instance, they look at your regular bills, daily coffee runs, and monthly subscriptions. By carefully examining your financial outflows, the app can figure out how much money you can afford to save. A practical example of this is an app that analyzes a user’s spending on dining out. If it notices that the user spends a significant amount on restaurants every month, it can suggest reducing that frequency and redirecting the money to savings.
Pro Tip: Link all your financial accounts to the app to get a comprehensive view of your spending. This way, the algorithm can provide a more accurate estimate of your spare cash. As recommended by financial management experts, this gives you a holistic view of your finances and helps in better savings planning.

Implementing customizable rules

Many apps allow users to set their own rules for saving. You can tell the app to save a certain percentage of your paycheck as soon as it arrives in your account. Or, you can set it to save whenever you make a purchase above a certain amount. For example, if you set a rule that every time you spend over $100 on a single transaction, $10 will be transferred to your savings. This gives users more control over their savings.
Pro Tip: Start with small, achievable rules. As you get more comfortable with saving, you can gradually increase the amount or percentage you save. Top – performing solutions include apps like YNAB, which offer powerful target – setting features to customize your savings rules.

Round – up transfers

A popular feature in many money – saving apps is round – up transfers. Every time you make a purchase, the app rounds up the amount to the nearest dollar and transfers the difference to your savings. For example, if you buy a coffee for $2.50, the app will round it up to $3 and transfer $0.50 to your savings. Over time, these small amounts can add up significantly.
Pro Tip: If you want to boost your savings even more, consider doubling the round – up amount. Some apps offer this option, allowing you to save more without feeling a big pinch. Try our savings calculator to see how much you could save with round – up transfers.

AI – powered personalized strategies

AI is playing an increasingly important role in money – saving apps. AI algorithms can provide data – driven insights and tailor savings strategies based on individual financial goals and behaviors. For example, if you’re saving for a down payment on a house, the AI can analyze your income, expenses, and current savings to come up with a personalized plan to reach your goal faster.
Pro Tip: Take advantage of the personalized recommendations provided by the AI. These are designed to optimize your savings based on your unique financial situation. As recommended by Google Partner – certified strategies, using AI – driven tools can enhance your financial management.

Optimization of savings

These apps are constantly on the lookout for ways to optimize your savings. They search for improved offers on services, identify unwanted subscriptions, or suggest more favorable financial products. For example, an app might notice that you’re paying a high interest rate on your credit card and recommend a balance transfer to a card with a lower rate.
Pro Tip: Regularly review the suggestions made by the app. Implementing these can lead to significant savings over time. The best apps for this type of optimization include Mint, which offers a comprehensive financial dashboard to help you manage and optimize your savings.
Key Takeaways:

  • Savings algorithms analyze spending to find spare cash, allowing for more informed saving.
  • Customizable rules give users control over their savings plans.
  • Round – up transfers are an easy way to save small amounts that add up over time.
  • AI provides personalized strategies for better savings optimization.
  • Apps can help you find ways to save on services and financial products.

Goal – setting Capabilities

In today’s digital age, money – saving apps have revolutionized the way people manage their finances. A recent study from Bankrate in 2025 showed that over 60% of app users reported an increase in their savings after using money – saving apps with goal – setting features. This statistic underscores the growing importance of these capabilities in modern financial management.

Functionality

Goal Definition

The first step in effective goal – setting within money – saving apps is goal definition. Apps like YNAB (You Need a Budget) excel in this area. YNAB encourages users to prioritize what they’re saving for and assign their savings to specific categories. For example, a user might define goals such as saving for a vacation, paying off credit card debt, or building an emergency fund. This clear delineation of goals helps users focus their financial efforts and make more informed spending decisions.
Pro Tip: When defining your goals, be as specific as possible. Instead of a general "save money" goal, set something like "save $5,000 for a European vacation in 12 months."

Savings Target Specification

Once goals are defined, specifying savings targets becomes crucial. Many apps allow users to set a specific amount they want to save for each goal. Take Simple, an all – in – one savings app. It not only offers a free checking account and debit card but also lets users set clear savings targets for different goals. The app then scans available funds and shows users how much they can safely spend each week while still working towards their savings targets.
A case study of a Simple app user revealed that by setting a savings target of $200 per month for a new laptop, they were able to purchase it within six months without going into debt.
Pro Tip: Break down large savings targets into smaller, monthly or weekly amounts. This makes the goal seem more achievable and less overwhelming.

Progress Tracking

Progress tracking is an essential feature of goal – setting apps. Mint, an all – in – one budgeting companion, connects directly to users’ credit card, banking, and loan accounts to track spending in different categories. Users start by setting targets in each category, and Mint alerts them when they’re close to overspending. It also provides an easy way to track progress towards savings goals. This real – time feedback helps users stay on track and make adjustments to their spending and saving habits as needed.
As recommended by financial experts, keeping tabs on your progress regularly can significantly improve your chances of achieving your financial goals.
Pro Tip: Check your progress at least once a week. This will help you catch any potential issues early and make necessary adjustments to your savings plan.

Effectiveness

Research has shown that setting goals through money – saving apps has a causal effect on increasing individuals’ savings rate. A study using data from a Fin – Tech App and a difference – in – differences identification strategy found that setting goals increases individuals’ savings rate. Moreover, goal – setting increases the consistency with which individuals deposit money rather than the sums of money they deposit every time they decide to save.
Let’s look at a comparison table of the effectiveness of different apps in terms of goal – setting:

App Name Goal Definition Savings Target Specification Progress Tracking
YNAB Excellent, focuses on categorization Good, allows target setting Fair, with basic progress view
Simple Good, with clear goal options Excellent, integrates with spending limits Good, visualizes progress
Mint Fair, general goal setting Good, category – based targets Excellent, real – time alerts

Key Takeaways:

  1. Goal – setting within money – saving apps starts with clear goal definition, followed by specifying savings targets and tracking progress.
  2. Different apps have varying strengths in goal – setting capabilities, so choose one that aligns with your needs.
  3. Regularly checking your progress and being specific with your goals can enhance the effectiveness of your savings plan.
    Try our savings goal calculator to see how much you need to save each month to reach your financial goals.

FAQ

What is an automatic savings tool?

According to financial experts, an automatic savings tool is a feature in money – saving apps that helps users save without manual intervention. It can include round – up transfers, where purchases are rounded up to the nearest dollar and the difference is saved. Some tools also transfer a set percentage of a paycheck into savings. Detailed in our Automatic Savings Features analysis, apps like Chime and Current use these tools effectively.

How to choose the best app for setting financial goals?

When choosing an app for setting financial goals, first consider your needs. If you need detailed budgeting, apps like YNAB are great, as recommended by Investopedia 2025 research. Check for features like goal definition, target specification, and progress tracking. Also, assess the app’s security and user – friendliness. Unlike some basic apps, high – performing ones offer comprehensive goal – setting capabilities.

Steps for maximizing savings with money – saving apps?

Start by linking all your financial accounts to the app for a comprehensive view of your finances, as advised by financial management experts. Implement automatic savings features and set customizable rules. Consider doubling round – up amounts. Regularly review the app’s suggestions for optimizing savings, such as switching to better financial products. This approach, detailed in our Savings Algorithms section, can boost your savings.

Acorns vs Qapital: Which is better for saving money?

Acorns is ideal for micro – investing and uses automatic roundups to boost savings. It also has secure investment accounts protected by SIPC. On the other hand, Qapital gamifies the saving experience with customizable rules and offers budgeting tools. The choice depends on your preference for investing or a more fun savings approach. Results may vary depending on individual financial habits and goals.