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July 20, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

That Mortgage App on the Channel 4 Advert? It’s Sprive

Last updated: 20 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have used Sprive with my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, making regular overpayments through the app, so this is written from about four years of real use.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This is not financial advice. It is one homeowner's experience, shared to help you make your own call.

So you spotted the Sprive advert on the telly and wondered what that mortgage app actually is. Here is the short answer: yes, the mortgage app on the Channel 4 advert is Sprive, and it helps you chip away at your mortgage a little faster. Below, I explain what it does, whether it is legit, and what it is like after four years of real use.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Want to try the app from the advert?

The current Sprive sign-up offer and how to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the Sprive referral bonus

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Mortgage, Personal finance
Tags: how to pay off mortgage faster, mortgage, mortgage app, mortgage overpayment, mortgage overpayment app, personal finance, Sprive, Sprive app
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July 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mobbin New July 2026: What’s New on Mobbin This Month

Last updated: 2 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This post contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Mobbin / Design LibraryJuly 2026 Edit

What's new on Mobbin this July

Here is everything new on Mobbin this month, pulled straight from the Latest feeds I keep open like a second inbox. July is a proper mixed bag, too. AI muscles onto the web feed, fintech quietly gets calmer, and the wellness crowd keeps softening every edge in sight.

So grab a coffee, because there is plenty worth stealing. If Mobbin is new to you, start here first with our full Mobbin review, then come back for the picks.

Want a deal on Mobbin Pro?

The current saving on Mobbin's paid plans always lives on our promo code page, kept up to date so you never miss it.

See the Mobbin promo code

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Designers, Services
Tags: app design, ChatGPT, design inspiration, design tools, ElevenLabs, Google Gemini, Hype, iOS apps, Liquid Glass, Lumy, mobbin, Telegram, UI design, ux design, Vocabulary app
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June 30, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive Gift Cards: The Reloadable Card Explained

Sprive gift cards are now reloadable. Here is how the one-card, Apple Wallet and auto top-up setup works, from four years of real use.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Cashback, Mortgage, Personal finance
Tags: Apple Wallet, auto top-up, cashback, gift card cashback, money apps, mortgage overpayment, Sprive, Sprive app
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June 22, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

How Does Sprive AutoSave Work?

Sprive AutoSave2026 Guide

Sprive AutoSave, explained in plain English

Last updated: 19 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have run my Nationwide mortgage through Sprive since October 2021, so more than four years now, making regular overpayments through the app. Because of that, this guide to Sprive AutoSave comes from steady real use rather than a quick demo.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This is general information, not financial advice. Sprive deals with your mortgage, so your circumstances matter and it is worth doing your own research.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

So what actually happens when you switch on Sprive AutoSave? In short, you set an amount, and each month it quietly moves that money into a holding pot inside the app, ready for your mortgage. Above all, you stay in control, because nothing reaches your lender until you tap to send it. Below, I walk through exactly how Sprive AutoSave works, where the money sits, and how to pause or switch it off, with notes from four years of real use.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Mortgage, Personal finance
Tags: mortgage overpayment, mortgage overpayment app, Open Banking, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive AutoSave
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June 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Can AI Turn $1,000 Into $10,000? My AI Stock Picking Experiment

My AI stock picking experiment: can four AI models grow $1,000 into $10,000 on Lightyear? I post honest, not-advice weekly updates.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Investing, Personal finance
Tags: AI investing, AI tools, Autopilot, ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Grok, investing, Lightyear, us stocks
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June 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mobbin New Apps (June 2026): Lumy, Hype and AI Refreshes

Last updated: 1 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This post contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect our editorial view.

Tracking Mobbin new apps each month remains one of the quickest ways to see where real product design is actually heading, without trawling the App Store for sport. June's batch is a treat, too. Lumy turns the sunrise into something close to UI poetry, Hype drags fashion culture onto your home screen, and three of the biggest names in tech, ChatGPT, Gemini and Telegram, all turned up wearing the same new outfit.

So grab a coffee, because there is plenty worth stealing this month. If you are new to the platform, start here first: our Mobbin review.

After a Mobbin deal?

The current saving on Mobbin's paid plans always lives on our promo code page.

See the Mobbin promo code

Read more
Published by Stiv in Apps, Designers, Services
Tags: app design, ChatGPT, design inspiration, design tools, ElevenLabs, Google Gemini, Hype, iOS apps, Liquid Glass, Lumy, mobbin, Telegram, UI design, ux design, Vocabulary app
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May 10, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Mobbin New Apps (May 2026): Fi, Alan and Afterpay Refresh

Last updated: 10 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Tracking Mobbin new apps each month is one of the fastest ways to spot where real product UX is heading without scrolling app stores for sport. May's batch is a proper mix: pet-tech, regulated healthcare with a fluffy mascot, and a high-profile fintech rebrand. In other words, three completely different categories, all worth opening side by side.

If you are new to the platform, start here first: Mobbin review: is it worth it? If you already know you want it and just want the cheaper route, head straight to our Mobbin promo code page.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Designers, Services
Tags: ai ux, brand voice, design research, fintech ux, mobbin, mobbin new apps, pet tech, product design, ui patterns, ux design
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May 9, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

XTB App Review UK 2026: One Star Opinion (1/5)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have used investing apps for over a decade, including Freetrade, Lightyear, Trading 212, Interactive Brokers and JPMorgan Personal Investing. This XTB app review is based on real, recent first-hand use on iPhone over the past few weeks.

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are my own personal experience and observations. Other XTB customers have reported very different experiences, both better and worse, and you can read those views directly on the App Store, Google Play and Trustpilot. Nothing in this review constitutes professional, financial or legal advice, nor an allegation of wrongdoing by XTB. Capital is at risk when investing.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view. This post does not contain any XTB referral links; where alternative brokers are mentioned, those links may include CoolCuration referral codes. We have no referral relationship with XTB and do not benefit financially from XTB itself.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Cool Factor: 1/5

Welcome to our XTB app review. After spending the last few weeks battling with the broker's iOS app, surviving a verification process worthy of a Kafka novella, and being chased around the screen by stock notifications I never asked for, I have reached a personal verdict. It is not flattering. So if you have seen the ads and the free share offers, this XTB app review explains exactly what you would be signing up for, in my experience.

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Published by Stiv in Apps, Personal finance, Reviews
Tags: broker app, broker review, Freetrade alternative, investment apps, Lightyear alternative, opinion, uk investing, XTB, XTB app, XTB review
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April 29, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive vs Plum vs Chip: Honest Comparison (2026)

Last updated: 19 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've been using Sprive with my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, making £100 monthly overpayments through the app. This comparison is based on over four years of real use alongside Chip and Plum.

Sprive vs Plum vs Chip is the question that keeps coming up whenever anyone in the UK talks about saving money automatically. All three apps promise to do the hard bit for you. But they are not the same thing, and picking the wrong one means you are either missing features you need or paying for ones you do not. Here is how they actually compare after months of using all three.

Between the team, we run all three. Sprive handles mortgage overpayments. Chip is our primary auto-saver. Plum runs alongside Chip so we can see how the two compare in real life. Each has earned its place on someone's home screen, but for very different reasons.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this comparison offer investing features, which carry risk including the possible loss of capital. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Sprive's current sign-up offer

If Sprive ends up being your pick of the three, the latest welcome bonus is always on our referral page.

View the current Sprive bonus

Read more
Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money saving, Personal finance, Saving
Tags: app comparison, auto-saving apps, Chip, Chip vs Plum, fintech UK, money apps UK, mortgage overpayment, personal finance uk, Plum, savings apps UK, Sprive, Sprive vs Chip
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