Apps don’t just have to be time wasting or money draining. Check out these 24 money saving apps that will not only help you save you money, but also better manage your finances.
For General Finances:
1. Mint
The “Beyoncé” of personal finance apps; this little powerhouse allows you to keep track of all your financial activity from all your accounts: checking, savings, retirement—you name it! Every transaction is automatically recorded and categorized. Mint makes note of your spending patterns and creates a budget. Additionally, on the iPad, it generates graphs to give you visual representations of your net worth and cash flow. For those worried about security, the app is password protected and there is a way to deactivate access from your phone through the Mint website. It is a fantastic way to keep tabs on your overall financial health and be able to spot potential problems. (Plus, it’s free!)
Available for: iOS and Android
2. BillTracker
Never miss a bill payment again with this great app from SnapTap. Passcode-protected BillTracker allows you to keep all due dates and amount totals in one place and even gives you notifications for impending payments. Due dates are highlighted on the calendar for quick views.
Available for: iOS
3. You Need a Budget (YNAB)
The name says it all: YNAB is an incredibly detailed but easy-to-use budget interface. The software operates by four simple rules: 1) Give every dollar a job, 2) Save for a rainy day, 3) Roll with the punches, and 4) Live on last month’s income. YNAB’s goal is to change the way you manage money and to create stress-free finances. The app is supplemental to the $60 software you purchase for your Windows or Mac and is meant to allow users to check their transactions and budgetary restrictions on-the-go. If you are looking to turn your finances around or gain a better understanding of your financial situation, purchasing the software is well worth the investment.
Available for: iOS and Android
For Shopping:
4. Shopkick
Over six million people are already using Shopkick to browse products, find inspiration, and discover great deals at stores like Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, and more. Users are able to earn points by making purchases, inviting friends to join, and even by just walking into the stores. Then, the points can be transformed into gift cards at partnering stores. The icing on the cake is the slick new design—a shopper’s dream!
Available for: iOS and Android
5. Ibotta
Ibotta allows shoppers to earn real money for shopping. Start by perusing the different offers in the product gallery and choose the ones you’re interested in. Every time you compete a “task” (like sharing on Facebook, taking a poll, or watching a video), pending cash is added to your account that can be accessed once you actually purchase the product from one of the 50 retailers partnered with Ibotta. Once the purchase is verified, cash is put into your PayPal account or turned into gift cards.
Available for: iOS and Android
6. RetailMeNot
“Thousands of coupons in your pocket.” Browse coupons and deals from J Crew, Victoria’s Secret, Starbucks, Target, Sephora, Bed Bath & Beyond, Forever 21, Bloomingdale’s, and hundreds more! Save the coupons you want to use for easy access and get notifications for coupon expiration dates. You can also search for deals at the nearest stores. Don’t worry about printing the coupons; all you have to do is show your phone at the register. Talk about convenience!
Available for: iOS and Android
7. SnipSnap
Like RetailMeNot, SnipSnap is a mobile coupon haven. However, this one also lets you take pictures of printed coupons from many retailers and turns them into digital, mobile-ready ones. You can also browse the online directory and see the coupons that friends have “snipped.”
Available for: iOS
For Groceries:
8. Grocery iQ
Stay on task and avoid impulse purchases with this incredibly detailed grocery shopping list platform. Not only can you build grocery lists by searching through the millions of products in the app’s database, but you can use voice recognition or barcode scanning. Grocery iQ also has a store locator feature and offers coupons. This app is a must-have for busy families or for anyone trying to keep their grocery budget under control.
Available for: iOS and Android
9. SavingStar
SavingStar is a digital coupon app for thousands of grocery stores and drugstores that is linked to your individual store loyalty cards. (Yes, you have to have loyalty cards to get rewards.) You choose the digital coupons you want to use and the reward is applied to your loyalty card and when you reach $5 in savings, you earn cash! You can even opt for your cash savings to go towards donations for the charity American Forests.
Available for: iOS and Android
For Local Deals:
10. Groupon
Redeem Groupon deals (as much as 50-90% off!) on everything from restaurants to retailers to hotels. You can search by location to find deals closest to you. Groupon consistently offers great, diverse deals and they even have options tailored for the holiday season. It’s also a great way to step out of your comfort zone and try out new places.
Available for: iOS, Android, and Windows
11. LivingSocial
Similar to Groupon, you can use this app to gain hand-held access to all of LivingSocial’s deals. Search for amazing discounts in your own city and get alerts on fun local events. Save on hotels, restaurants, and other places. Also, the discounts are great for gifts. An added bonus: if you share a discount you received on your social media accounts and three of your friends purchase the same deal, you’ll get yours free of charge!
Available for: iOS, Android, and Windows
12. Amazon Local
“Save up to 75% in your city.” Use this app to find Amazon-level deals on the go. What’s great about Amazon Local is that you can search for deals and buy them instantly right from your phone. You are also able to set specific preferences or favorites so that the application knows what offerings you are most interested in purchasing. Like the other discount apps mentioned, there is no need to print out coupons or vouchers.
Available for: iOS, Android, and Kindle Fire
13. Scoutmob
An exceptionally well-designed and clever app (love the “Stache Cam” feature), this is an excellent option for those living in a big city; it is only available in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC. In addition to finding great discounts at different eateries and shops, you can also search through articles and other local happenings.
Available for: iOS and Android
For Those in Financial Trouble:
14. DebtTracker Pro
For those working their way out of debt, DebtTracker Pro can serve as a payoff plan and can help you keep track of your road to financial recovery. Users are able to choose their strategy for overcoming debt and the app not only recommends payment strategies but sends reminders when payments are due. There is a visual reminder of how close you are to your goal (sorted by account) to serve as further incentive. Getting out of debt is a long and difficult process, but this app will help keep you organized.
Available for: iOS
For TV Addicts:
15. Viggle
An app that awards you for watching TV?! Viggle lets users “check in” to whatever show they’re watching and earn points to be redeemed for rewards from Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, and other great brands. You can earn additional points by testing your television IQ and playing games. The app also allows you to interact with friends. (Note: sometimes the “audio sampling” feature can be buggy.)
Available for: iOS and Android
For Military Families:
16. Military Cost Cutters
This app is a must-have for military personnel and their families. This free application allows veterans to find military-friendly businesses in their area that offer discounts for their service. You are able to search by city, state, and zip code for best results. Additionally, you can leave comments on your experience.
Available for: iOS and Android
For Travel:
17. GasBuddy
Gas prices can be a major headache, but with GasBuddy, you can find the cheapest gas prices closest to you! Additionally, for every gas price you report, you earn points towards winning the weekly $250 prize for gas. With over 32 million visitors, the app remains extraordinarily up-to-date on your best gas deals.
Available for: iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows
18. Hotel Tonight
This international app allows you to find incredibly low prices on last-minute hotel bookings. Amazingly, you can arrange same-day bookings until 2 a.m. and for multiple nights. This service is a lifesaver for everything from unexpected layovers to spontaneous vacations. Hotel Tonight is constantly adding new locations and has stellar 24/7 customer support to keep their customers happy.
Available for: iOS and Android
19. Compare Bookings
Not only does Compare Bookings let you search for hotel options wherever you are, but you can compare deals from all the best travel sites (like Priceline, Travelocity, and Expedia) to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. It’s not just for hotels: you can also find promotions for cruises, car rentals, and other travel expenses.
Available for: iOS and Android
20. BestParking
Trying to find affordable parking (especially when traveling in an unfamiliar city) can be stressful and a put a strain on your wallet. BestParking will help you avoid parking garage rip-offs by directing you towards the closest and cheapest parking options. In living up to their promise for accuracy, any report of inaccurate pricing is backed up with a $5 Starbucks giftcard.
Available for: iOS, Android, and Blackberry
For Professionals:
21. Expensify
Expensify is designed with easy expense reporting in mind, which makes it ideal for salespeople or traveling business people. Photograph receipts, keep track of miles traveled, and record other travel expenses all on one platform to make your life a little easier. The great part about the receipt photography is that the app is able to read the values on the receipt so no manual entry is necessary. If you’re no good at keeping track of your receipts, you can also import credit transactions digitally.
Available for: iOS, Android, Windows, and Blackberry
For Gamers:
22. GameFly
Most gamers have heard of (and used) Gamefly, and the app just further solidifies the brand as a fantastic, money-saving resource. Browse for, rent, pre-order, or purchase your favorite games at killer prices, as well stay in the loop on the latest in video games news. Earn GameFly rewards and use coupons to save you even more money. The “Game of the Day” app is particularly nice feature that highlights a free or discounted game every single day.
Available for: iOS and Android
For Smartphone Users:
23. Onavo Extend
Are you hit with data overage charges month after month? Onavo Extend allows you to not only keep track of your data expenditure through monthly reports but actually compresses your data and extends your plan! According to the website, you can save up to 80% on your data usage. Not bad for a free app!
Available for: iOS and Android
24. Appsfire
Appsfire offers free and highly discounted apps every single day. By filling in a little bit of information, the app can make you a list of recommended downloads to suit your interests. Additionally, you can set up a wish list with notifications for deals or discounts on the apps you want to purchase. You can also avoid unimpressive apps by scrolling through ratings and get a heads up on “the next big thing” by browsing through trending applications.
Available for: iOS and Android
