5 Money Saving Apps to Download in 2025

Build your savings using money saving apps

Saving money is hard, particularly when the cost of living is high. According to a recent survey from Bankrate, just 41% of Americans can afford to pay a $1,000 emergency expense from their savings. That means three of every five adults need to rely on other financial resources when emergencies arise. This article profiles five money saving apps that may help you avoid that.

Key takeaways:

1. Different apps use unique approaches: App developers build in round-ups, automation, or gamification. Pick one that matches your habits.
2. Safety matters: Look for FDIC insurance and bank-level security.
3. Real savings are possible: Users typically save $50 to $200 monthly.
4. Features matter more than popularity: Consumers tend to focus on meaningful tools like bill negotiation or goal tracking.
5. Anyone can start: Intuitive interfaces and automation make saving effortless.

What are money saving apps?

Apps that help you save money typically do it by automating the savings process. Funds are directly debited from the user's debit card or checking account and placed in an interest-bearing savings account. The amounts of those deposits are usually small, but most cash-saving apps allow users to select higher amounts if they want to be more aggressive.

Round-up apps like Acorns invest spare change from purchases. Rule-based apps like Qapital save based on habits or triggers. Gamified apps make saving feel like playing games. AI-driven apps analyze spending patterns and transfer amounts. Legitimate apps use bank-level encryption, connect through trusted services like Plaid, and offer FDIC insurance.

5 money saving apps to download in 2025

Rocket Money - For subscription management

• What It Does: Rocket Money cancels unwanted subscriptions while automatically saving toward goals. It also negotiates bills and tracks spending.
• Best For: People struggling with subscription creep who want to redirect that money toward savings.
• Pricing: Free version available; Premium costs $6 to $12 per month but typically pays for itself.
• Security: FDIC-insured, bank-level encryption, two-factor authentication.
• Takeaway: Great for finding forgotten subscriptions and potentially reducing bills.

Qapital - For behavioral savers

• What It Does: Qapital offers customizable saving rules, round-ups, recurring transfers, and fitness-linked deposits based on your behaviors.
• Best For: People who want to gamify savings or tie financial goals to lifestyle changes.
• Pricing: $3 to $12 per month; includes investing options at higher tiers.
• Security: FDIC-insured, uses Plaid, offers fraud protection.
• Takeaway: Feels like a personal challenge rather than a financial obligation.

Acorns - For beginner investors

• What It Does: Acorns rounds up purchases and invests spare change in diversified portfolios. It also has retirement accounts and cash-back with partner brands.
• Best For: People who want to combine savings and long-term investing.
• Pricing: $3 to $12 per month, depending on features.
• Security: FDIC-insured cash, SIPC-protected investments, bank-level security.
• Takeaway: Round-ups can feel invisible but add up quickly. Excellent educational content for beginners.

Chime Save When I Get Paid - For paycheck automation

• What It Does: Chime automatically saves 10% of direct deposits (adjustable) and rounds up debit purchases into high-yield savings.
• Best For: People with regular paychecks who want simple, automated saving.
• Pricing: Free with a Chime checking account.
• Security: FDIC-insured through partner banks.
• Takeaway: Ultimate simplicity. There are no complex rules or decisions.

Digit (part of Oportun) - For AI-driven saving

• What It Does: Digit, which is now called Oportun, analyzes spending patterns to automatically transfer safe amounts without impacting daily life.
• Best For: People with irregular income or those who want hands-off saving.
• Pricing: $5 per month.
• Security: FDIC-insured, bank-level encryption, overdraft reimbursement guarantee.
• Takeaway: AI may help you save more during low-expense weeks and hold off during high-bill periods.

Are money-saving apps safe and worth it?

Safe money-saving apps use bank-level security and offer FDIC insurance on your funds. That means up to $250,000 of your money is protected if the app discontinues its operations. Look for that and check the data aggregator the app uses. For example, Plaid is well-known for several of its security measures, including encryption, tokenization, and authentication protocols.

Are money-saving apps worth it? Most of them may pay for themselves. For example, Rocket Money’s fees can be offset by cancelled subscriptions. Acorns has investment and retirement options. Digit’s AI adjustments eliminate the need to withdraw funds when times are tough. These are all key features that make savings apps “worth it.”

Tips for success

Set specific goals. If you’re planning a vacation, label the savings plan with the destination and date. Combine roundups and recurring transfers to increase your savings and enable notifications for weekly progress summaries. That will help you make adjustments when economic circumstances change.

When used correctly, each of the apps on this list may help you build an emergency fund and potentially save for a major purchase or even retirement in some cases. These apps also help consumers build good financial habits, which is something you can’t put a price tag on. Savings discipline is a key element in long-term financial planning.

Start saving smarter

The apps listed in this article employ automation that makes savings easier. That’s smart. Stop trying to do it the old-fashioned way.

These five apps represent different approaches, from AI analysis to gamified goals. We recommend testing each of them for yourself if you can’t decide between them. You’ll find that success comes from automation, not willpower. When saving happens without conscious decisions, your chances of success improve.