The best free budgeting apps in the UK for 2026, compared: what each free tier really includes, what is paywalled, and who each app suits.
July 25, 2026Comments are off for this post.
The best free budgeting apps in the UK for 2026, compared: what each free tier really includes, what is paywalled, and who each app suits.
June 22, 2026Comments are off for this post.
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.
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.
Setting up AutoSave? The walkthrough is below. For every Sprive guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, updated as the app changes.
Read moreApril 15, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 19 July 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
I have a Nationwide mortgage and have used Sprive to make overpayments since October 2021, over four years of regular use.
Disclosure: 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.
Not financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for information only. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Should you fancy trying the app while you read, the current welcome bonus and how to claim it are set out on our referral page.
View the Sprive referral offer
If Sprive is completely free to use, how does Sprive make money? It's a fair question, and one worth asking before trusting an app with your bank account and mortgage details. The short answer: Sprive earns from remortgage commissions and a share of gift card cashback revenue. The longer answer is worth reading, because understanding the business model helps you judge whether the app's incentives actually line up with yours.
Digging into how Sprive works? Good instinct. For every guide we have written on the app, from safety to cashback, see our Sprive guides hub.
Read moreApril 1, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 19 July 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
I have a Nationwide mortgage and have been testing mortgage overpayment tools since 2021, including Sprive alongside manual standing orders and savings apps.
Disclosure: 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.
Not financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article is for information only. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Sprive leads the comparison below, and the sign-up offer it currently runs is covered on our referral page.
Looking for the best mortgage overpayment apps in the UK? Whether you want an app that automates everything, a savings tool that builds your overpayment pot, or a budgeting app that finds spare cash you didn't know you had, there are more options in 2026 than ever. I've tested and compared the main contenders so you can find the right one for how you actually manage money.
Read moreMarch 12, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 19 July 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
I have used Shop with Sprive for my weekly shops since October 2021, alongside £100 monthly overpayments on my Nationwide mortgage, so everything below comes from over four years of buying gift cards at real checkouts.
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. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this is not financial advice.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Before we get into the mechanics, the current welcome offer and how to claim it are detailed on our referral page.
"Cashback towards your mortgage" sounds brilliant, until you hit the fine print: gift cards, checkout friction, and that one purchase that never tracked. This Sprive cashback explained guide covers how Shop with Sprive actually works in practice, which retailers are worth the effort, and a simple test for whether it's a genuine time-saver or just another app you'll forget about.
Getting more from Sprive cashback? The mechanics are below. For every other Sprive guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, updated as the app changes.
Read moreFebruary 8, 2026Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 19 July 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.
I've been using Sprive with my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, making £100 monthly overpayments through the app's auto-save feature. In that time I've overpaid a total of £3,294.55, including cashback from Shop with Sprive on our weekly shops. This review is based on over four years of real, daily use.
If you're looking for a realistic way to make progress on your mortgage without committing to rigid overpayments, the Sprive mortgage app is one of the better-known tools in the UK. Sprive has also pushed further into the mainstream in 2026, with a TV advert running on Channel 4 under the line "Shop away your mortgage. Brick by brick." This Sprive mortgage app review focuses on what actually matters: how it works in day-to-day use, who it's good for, and where it falls short. It's not a sales pitch, and it's not a deep dive into regulation or bonuses. If you're mainly concerned about security and FCA regulation, we cover that separately: Is Sprive safe?
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. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this is an opinion, not financial advice.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
The current Sprive sign-up bonus and how to claim it are kept up to date on one page.
Claim the Sprive referral bonus
Cool Factor
★★★★☆
4 out of 5
Reading up on Sprive? This review is the deep dive. For every guide we have written on the app in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, kept current as the app changes.
Read moreApril 4, 2024Comments are off for this post.
Last updated: 19 July 2026
By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance
Quick context before the verdict: I pay a Nationwide mortgage myself and have put £100 a month through Sprive since October 2021, so this opinion rests on over four years of actual overpayments rather than a quick trial.
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.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and this is not financial advice.
If you decide to give the app a go, the current sign-up bonus and the steps to claim it are kept up to date on our referral page.
Claim the Sprive sign-up bonus
Is Sprive any good? That is the question most UK homeowners land on after hearing about the mortgage overpayment app for the first time. You have probably seen it on Dragons' Den, spotted it on Trustpilot, or had a friend mention it over a pint. In my experience, for many people with a mortgage who want to overpay but struggle to stay consistent, Sprive does the job well, though whether it suits you depends on your lender support and your habits. It is not magic, it is not going to halve your mortgage overnight, and it is not for everyone. But after using it since October 2021 with my Nationwide mortgage, making regular monthly overpayments, I think it earns its place on your phone. Here is why.
Weighing Sprive up? This is the short verdict. For the full review, the comparisons and every other guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub.
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