Last updated: 22 April 2026
There are hundreds of money-saving apps in the UK app stores. Most of them are rubbish. The best apps to save money are the ones we've tested over the past few years, narrowed down and kept on our phones because they genuinely work. No fluff, no apps we downloaded once and forgot about. Just the ones that earned a permanent spot.
Between the team we've got about 12 money apps installed. Half of them we actually use. The other half sit there judging us. We tried about 20 apps before settling on this list. Some were too fiddly. Some had great ideas but terrible execution. A couple were genuinely brilliant but shut down. These are the survivors.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this list offer savings and investment features. Your capital may be at risk. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Many of the links below are referral links, which means we may earn a small reward if you sign up. This costs you nothing and in most cases gives you a bonus too.
The apps that work best are the ones you forget about. Chip moves money automatically. Airtime Rewards earns cashback just by having it installed. Sprive chips away at your mortgage without you thinking about it. The less you have to do, the more you save. So we've grouped the best apps to save money into categories based on what they actually do for you.
Apps that save automatically
If you struggle to put money aside manually, auto-saving tools are among the best apps to save money because they remove the effort entirely. They analyse your spending and move small amounts into savings before you notice. Over time, those small amounts stack up surprisingly fast.
Chip
Chip is an auto-saving app that uses AI to work out what you can afford to set aside each week, then moves it into a savings account. You set your "saving mood" from gentle to aggressive, and the app handles the rest. On top of that, Chip offers competitive interest rates. As of April 2026, the Easy Access Saver pays up to 3.81% AER (variable) for new customers, while the Instant Access account pays up to 3.71% AER (variable). There's also a Cash ISA at 3.55% AER and a Prize Saver account that works a bit like Premium Bonds.
What we like: The auto-save feature is genuinely clever. It learns your spending patterns and adjusts how much it saves. You barely notice the money leaving, which is sort of the point. Chip has put away about £1,200 for us that we wouldn't have saved otherwise. With over 500,000 users and a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store, it's clearly working for a lot of people.
What we don't like: Auto-save costs £0.45 per save, which eats into small deposits. Also, the boosted interest rates are temporary, so you'll want to keep an eye on what rate you're actually earning after the promotional period ends.
Best for: Anyone who wants to save without thinking about it.
All eligible deposits are FSCS protected up to £120,000. For a closer look at how Chip's Prize Saver compares to Premium Bonds, see our Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds comparison.
Try Chip (£50 bonus)Plum
Plum is Chip's closest competitor and works in a similar way. It connects to your bank via Open Banking, analyses your spending, and automatically sets money aside. Where Plum differs is in its investment options. As well as savings pockets (currently up to 3.63% AER variable on Easy Access, FSCS protected via Investec Bank), Plum also offers a Stocks and Shares ISA, a Lifetime ISA and access to over 3,000 company stocks.
What we like: The "Plum Brain" has eight different automated rules you can toggle on, from round-ups to payday saves. The Cash ISA rate is strong too, currently up to 4.35% AER (variable, with a 12-month bonus). Overall, it's a very polished app with a good range of features.
What we don't like: The free plan is quite limited. To access the better interest rates, additional pockets and investing features, you'll need a paid plan starting at £2.99 a month. Some users have also reported slow withdrawal times. Additionally, some of Plum's "interest" products are actually money market funds (capital at risk), so read the small print.
Best for: Savers who also want to start investing in one app.
Try PlumMonzo (round-ups and savings pots)
Monzo isn't just a bank account. Its savings pots and round-up feature make it a genuinely useful saving tool. Every time you spend, Monzo rounds up the transaction to the nearest pound and drops the spare change into a savings pot. You can also set up salary sorting to split your pay into different pots the moment it lands.
What we like: The round-ups are brilliant because they're invisible. Monzo users save an average of £129 a year just from spare change, according to Monzo's own data. Savings pots currently pay up to 3.65% AER (variable) on Select Access, or 2.75% AER on Instant Access (3.25% with Perks). Everything is FSCS protected up to £120,000. With over 15 million customers, Monzo is one of the most trusted banking apps in the UK.
What we don't like: The savings rates aren't the highest available. If you want the best rates, a dedicated savings app like Chip will usually beat Monzo. However, the convenience of having everything in one place has real value.
Best for: People who want saving baked into their everyday banking.
For a full breakdown of how the pots work, see our guide to Monzo savings pots explained.
Get MonzoApps that earn you cashback
Cashback apps won't make you rich. But they're some of the best apps to save money on things you're already buying, and over a year the returns add up. Airtime Rewards saves us about £3 to £5 a month on our phone bill. TopCashback has earned us about £150 over the past year. Individually these are modest. Combined, it starts to feel worthwhile. For a deeper dive into cashback apps specifically, see our full cashback apps guide.
TopCashback
TopCashback is the UK's biggest cashback site, partnering with thousands of online retailers. You shop through their links, and the cashback gets credited to your account. It's completely free to use on the Classic plan. As of April 2026, new members can earn an £18 sign-up bonus after making a qualifying purchase. You can withdraw via bank transfer, PayPal or gift cards.
What we like: The range of retailers is enormous, from insurance and broadband switching (where the biggest cashback lives) to everyday shopping. The browser extension is useful too, as it reminds you to activate cashback when you visit a supported retailer. There's no minimum payout threshold on the Classic plan.
What we don't like: Cashback can take weeks to become "payable" after a purchase. The site constantly nudges you to upgrade to Plus (£5 a year), which gets a bit tiresome. And cashback tracking occasionally fails, though their missing cashback claims process is generally effective.
Best for: Anyone who shops online regularly.
Try TopCashbackJamDoughnut
JamDoughnut takes a different approach to cashback. Instead of tracking affiliate links, you buy a digital gift card for the retailer you're about to shop at, then pay with that gift card. The cashback is credited to your JamDoughnut wallet instantly. It works in-store and online across over 200 UK retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, IKEA and Argos.
What we like: The "instant" part is genuinely instant. You see the cashback hit your wallet within seconds of buying the gift card. Rates typically range from 1% to 7%, with occasional "pumped up" promotions pushing higher. For supermarket shopping, it's become second nature. The app has a 4.7/5 on Trustpilot and over 500,000 users.
What we don't like: Paying via bank transfer gives better cashback than paying by card, which adds an extra step. You also need to build up £10 before you can cash out. And if you forget to use the gift card, the balance just sits there.
Best for: In-store shoppers, especially anyone doing a weekly supermarket shop. Also see our guide on how to earn cashback on your weekly shop.
Try JamDoughnutAirtime Rewards
Airtime Rewards is probably the most passive app on this list. You link your debit and credit cards, shop at any of the 200+ participating retailers (Boots, Argos, IKEA, ASOS, Greggs and more), and earn cashback automatically. The money goes towards your mobile phone bill. You don't need to click links, buy gift cards or remember anything. It just runs in the background.
What we like: Honestly, we forget it's even there, which is exactly the point. With 4.5 million members across the UK, it's one of the most popular cashback apps around. It works with most major networks including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Cashback rates range from about 1% to 15%, depending on the retailer and any bonus offers running.
What we don't like: You need to accumulate at least £10 before you can redeem, and transactions can take up to 14 days to appear. Retailer offers change frequently, so a brand you were earning from last month might not be available this month. It also doesn't work with American Express cards.
Best for: Literally anyone with a UK mobile contract. It's free and you don't need to change your behaviour at all.
Try Airtime RewardsQuidco
Quidco is TopCashback's main rival and works in much the same way. You shop through Quidco's tracked links, earn cashback, and withdraw when it becomes payable. It partners with thousands of UK retailers and regularly runs sign-up bonuses for new members. If you're already using TopCashback, there's no harm in having Quidco too, as some retailers offer better rates on one platform than the other.
What we like: Good retailer range and a clean app. The "Cashback Boost" feature occasionally pushes rates higher on selected retailers.
What we don't like: Very similar to TopCashback, so it can feel redundant unless you're comparing rates between the two. The free tier (Classic) is perfectly usable though.
Best for: Cashback enthusiasts who want to compare rates across platforms.
Try QuidcoApps that cut specific bills
Some of the best apps to save money don't try to cover everything. Instead, they focus on one specific cost and do a really good job of reducing it. These two target your mortgage and your train fares, which are often among the biggest recurring costs people face.
Sprive
Sprive is a mortgage overpayment app. It auto-saves small amounts from your current account and routes them into mortgage overpayments. On top of that, Sprive's in-app cashback feature lets you shop at over 1,000 brands (including major supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons) and put the cashback directly towards your mortgage. Over time, even modest regular overpayments can save thousands in interest and shave years off your mortgage term.
What we like: It makes overpaying your mortgage feel effortless. The cashback-to-mortgage model is clever because you're turning everyday spending into mortgage reduction. Sprive is free to use, FCA regulated (via Connect IFA Ltd, FRN 441505), and appeared on BBC Dragons' Den. For a detailed look, read our full Sprive review.
What we don't like: It's only relevant if you have a mortgage, which narrows the audience. You'll also need to check your lender's overpayment limits (most allow up to 10% per year without penalty). The auto-saving feature can occasionally need bank reconnection, which is an Open Banking quirk rather than a Sprive issue.
Best for: Homeowners with a mortgage who want to pay it off faster without changing their lifestyle.
Try SpriveTrainPal
TrainPal saves money on UK train tickets using split-ticketing technology. Instead of buying one direct ticket, it automatically breaks your journey into segments to find cheaper fares. You sit on the same train the entire time. The app also offers digital railcards, no booking fees and regular promo codes.
What we like: The split-ticketing genuinely works. TrainPal claims average savings of around 30%, with some routes seeing reductions of up to 90%. Digital railcards are slightly cheaper than buying directly too. For regular commuters and frequent travellers, the savings stack up quickly. For more detail, see our TrainPal vs Trainline comparison.
What we don't like: Railcards purchased through TrainPal can only be used within the TrainPal app, not the official Railcard app. Some users have reported frustrating customer service experiences with refunds. The split-ticketing savings are route-dependent, so shorter journeys may not see much benefit.
Best for: Anyone who regularly travels by train in the UK, especially on longer routes.
Try TrainPalApps that track your spending
You can't save what you can't see. Budgeting apps show you exactly where your money goes, highlight wasteful subscriptions, and help you set realistic spending targets. They're not the most obvious choice when people search for the best apps to save money, but they make saving possible by giving you the visibility you need.
Emma
Emma connects all your bank accounts, credit cards, savings and investments into a single dashboard using Open Banking. From there, it categorises your spending, tracks subscriptions, flags potential waste and lets you set custom budgets. It supports over 50 UK banks and is FCA registered (FRN 794952).
What we like: The subscription tracking is where Emma really shines. It surfaces recurring payments you might have forgotten about, and that alone can save real money. The spending insights are clear and well-presented. Emma also offers cashback, rent reporting to credit bureaus, and savings features on its paid plans.
What we don't like: The free plan only lets you connect two accounts, which isn't enough for most people. Paid plans start at £4.99 a month, which feels expensive for a budgeting app. Emma also pushes upgrades constantly, which gets old quickly. For our full take, read our Emma app review.
Best for: People who want detailed control over their budget and are willing to pay for it.
How much can you actually save?
Let's be realistic about what the best apps to save money can actually deliver. No single app on this list is going to transform your finances overnight. Airtime Rewards saves us about £3 to £5 a month on our phone bill. TopCashback has earned us roughly £150 over the past year. Chip has put away about £1,200 we wouldn't have saved otherwise. JamDoughnut has given us about £80 back on supermarket shopping. Individually, these are modest amounts.
Combined, though, that's well over £1,500 a year without really trying. And that's the real point. The best apps to save money work not because any single one is life-changing, but because stacking several together compounds the savings across your spending. For more ways to save alongside these apps, check out our guide to the best savings options for the new tax year, or browse all our current referral offers.
The ones we tried and dropped
Not every app makes the cut, and being honest about that is important. Here are a few that didn't work for us.
Cleo: An AI-powered budgeting app with a chatbot interface. Fun at first, but the novelty wore off quickly and the free tier was too limited to be genuinely useful. The "roast" feature where it judges your spending is amusing for about five minutes.
Snoop: A solid free budgeting app with bill-switching alerts. We liked the concept, but it overlapped too much with what Emma already does for us, so it felt redundant rather than additive.
Yolt: This was actually one of the better Open Banking aggregators, but it shut down in 2023. A good reminder that not all fintech apps stick around, so it's worth staying flexible.
If an app makes you work too hard for small returns, it's not worth the screen space. The best apps to save money are the ones that either run quietly in the background or slot seamlessly into habits you already have.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this list offer savings and investment features. Your capital may be at risk. Savings rates and referral bonuses are correct at the time of writing but may change. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. If you're unsure about a financial decision, consider speaking to an independent financial adviser. Many of the links in this article are referral links, which means we may earn a small reward if you sign up. This never costs you extra and in many cases gives you a bonus too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to save money UK?
The best apps to save money depend on what you need. For auto-saving, Chip and Plum are the strongest options. For cashback on everyday shopping, TopCashback and JamDoughnut are excellent. For a passive, set-and-forget approach, Airtime Rewards is hard to beat. Most people will benefit from using two or three apps together rather than relying on one.
Do cashback apps actually work?
Yes, but with realistic expectations. Cashback apps like TopCashback, JamDoughnut and Airtime Rewards genuinely pay out. We've earned hundreds of pounds across these apps over the past couple of years. However, the amounts per transaction are small, so the value comes from consistent use over time rather than one big payout.
Is Chip better than Plum?
Both are strong auto-saving apps. Chip currently offers slightly better savings interest rates (up to 3.81% AER on Easy Access). Plum has more investment options and a Lifetime ISA. If your priority is pure saving, Chip edges ahead. If you also want to invest, Plum gives you more flexibility. For an in-depth comparison, both apps are free to start with, so you could try both and see which suits your habits.
How does Airtime Rewards work?
You link your debit or credit cards to the Airtime Rewards app. When you shop at any of the 200+ participating UK retailers, cashback is automatically tracked and added to your balance. Once you reach £10, you can redeem it as credit off your mobile phone bill. It works with most UK networks including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three.
Can apps help you save for a mortgage deposit?
Absolutely. Auto-saving apps like Chip and Plum are excellent for building a deposit over time. Plum also offers a Lifetime ISA with a 25% government bonus (up to £1,000 per year), which is specifically designed for first-time buyers. Chip offers a Cash ISA too. Combined with cashback from apps like TopCashback and JamDoughnut, every little bit helps when you're working towards a deposit. Once you've bought a home, Sprive can then help you pay off your mortgage faster.
Are money-saving apps safe UK?
Reputable apps use Open Banking, which provides read-only access to your bank data without sharing your login credentials. Savings held through Chip, Monzo and Plum's FSCS-protected accounts are covered up to £120,000 per person per banking licence. You can learn more about deposit protection on the FSCS website. Always check that an app is regulated by the FCA before depositing money. You can verify any firm's regulatory status on the FCA Register.
What is the best cashback app UK 2026?
TopCashback and Quidco lead for online shopping. JamDoughnut is the standout for in-store cashback, particularly at supermarkets. Airtime Rewards is the best for completely passive cashback. For a full comparison, read our best cashback apps UK guide.
How much can you save with auto-saving apps?
It varies depending on your income and the aggressiveness of your settings. From our experience, Chip auto-saved around £100 per month on moderate settings, totalling about £1,200 over a year. Plum users report similar figures. The key advantage is behavioural: the best apps to save money work because they remove the friction of doing it manually, so you save more without thinking about it.
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