8 Best Money Saving Apps That Actually Help You Save in 2026

If you want a simple way to dial back your spending, money saving apps can help you cut everyday expenses, earn cash back and automate savings with little effort. These tools work quietly in the background to reduce bills, reward purchases and move small amounts into savings over time.

Below, we’ve listed the best money saving apps in 2026 by category so you can quickly find the right fit for your financial situation.

What Are Money Saving Apps?

Money saving apps are mobile tools that help you reduce spending, earn cash back or automatically move money into savings.

Some apps reward you for purchases you’re already making. Others negotiate bills, track subscriptions or put your spare change into savings or investments. Many are free to use, though some charge subscription fees or take a percentage of savings.

Unlike budgeting apps that only track expenses, money saving apps are designed to actively lower costs or increase your savings balance. We researched some of our favorites. 

The Best Money Saving Apps by Category

The best money saving apps fall into five main categories: cash back, automatic savings, bill negotiation, grocery rewards and price tracking.

Best Cashback & Rewards Apps

Cashback apps give you a percentage of eligible purchases back in cash or points.

Rakuten

Rakuten pays you cash back when you shop through its app or browser extension at participating retailers. It typically saves shoppers between 1 and 10% per purchase, and they pay out quarterly. I have this app installed on my computer, and every three months, I receive a check in the mail ranging from a few dollars to about $50, depending on how much I spent online shopping (during Black Friday, the Rakuten rates go even higher!). It’s totally free to use, and once you set it up, you could forget about it. Your checks will be automatically issued.

Best for: Frequent online shoppers
Typical savings: 1%–10% per purchase

Pros:

• Free to use
• Thousands of partner retailers
• Quarterly payouts

Cons:

• Must activate offers by clicking the pop-up
• Minimum payout threshold

How are you earning this cash back? Rakuten earns retailer commissions and shares a portion with users. 

Ibotta

Ibotta is a cash back app that rewards shoppers for everyday purchases. Browse offers, shop in-store or online, upload receipts or link accounts, and earn money back. Your earnings can be transferred to PayPal, Venmo or gift cards, turning routing grocery runs into small but satisfying financial wins.

Best for: Grocery shoppers
Typical savings: $10–$25 per month

Pros:

• Works with major grocery chains
• Frequent bonuses
• Free to join

Cons:

• Requires offer selection
• Receipt uploads take time

Fetch

Fetch is a free rewards app that allows users to earn points by snapping photos of their receipts. Unlike many cash back platforms, Fetch awards points on virtually any grocery, retail or restaurant purchase, with bonus points for featured brands. Users redeem points for gift cards to popular retailers, restaurants and online stores. 

Best for: Low-effort rewards
Typical savings: $5–$15 per month

Pros:

• No need to preselect offers
• Simple receipt scanning
• Gift card redemptions

Cons:

• Lower payout value than some cashback apps

Upside

Upside is a cash back app focused primarily on gas, groceries and restaurants. Users claim an offer in the app, make a purchase at participating locations, and upload a receipt or check to verify the transaction. The app provides cash back, which can be transferred to a bank account, PayPal or can be redeemed as a gift card. 

Best for: Drivers and commuters
Typical savings: 5–25 cents per gallon

Pros:

• Easy gas rewards
• Direct cash-out options

Cons:

• Must claim offers in advance
• Availability varies by area

Best Apps That Automatically Save Money

Automatic savings apps move cash into savings or investments without you having to do it yourself.

Cleo

Cleo is a cheeky chatbot that can also track your spending so you can keep your bad money habits in check. Need help with saving? Cleo can round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and save the difference, or “fine” you for overspending at Target. She can also create a free, personalized budget based on your spending habits. Whatever saving technique you choose, she’ll automatically transfer that money into your savings account each week. Just sit back and watch your savings grow.

Best for: Beginners who want passive investing
Typical annual savings/investing: $300+ depending on spending

Pros:

• Hands-off savings
• Automatic round-ups
• Personalized budget 

Cons:

• Not everyone enjoys the chatbot 
• Some tools cost money 

If you want to build stronger saving habits before you automate your efforts, explore our guide to the best budgeting apps.

Best Apps to Lower Bills

Bill negotiation apps help reduce recurring expenses like cable, internet and subscriptions.

Rocket Money

Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps users track spending, manage subscriptions and lower monthly bills. After linking financial accounts, users can see recurring charges, identify unwanted subscriptions and monitor budgets in a single dashboard. Rocket Money also offers bill negotiation services and credit score tracking. 

Best for: Households with multiple recurring charges
Typical savings: $200–$600 per year if bills are reduced

Pros:

• Subscription tracking
• Cancellation assistance
• Negotiation service

Cons:

• Takes a percentage of negotiated savings
• Not all bills qualify

Best Grocery Savings Apps

Grocery savings apps combine cash back, coupons and loyalty rewards to reduce food expenses.

Apps like Ibotta and Fetch integrate with store loyalty programs and offer stacking opportunities with sales and store promotions. Upside also offers cash back on grocery purchases. If you use these apps consistently, they can meaningfully reduce your monthly grocery bill.

If you need to reduce your grocery spending even more, check out our guide to the cheapest places to buy groceries. 

Best Passive Price-Tracking Apps

Price-tracking apps monitor items online and notify you when prices drop.

Honey

Honey is a free browser extension and shopping app that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout. When users shop online, Honey tests available promo codes to secure potential savings without manually searching. It also offers price tracking, alerts for price drops and a rewards program called Honey Gold that can be redeemed for gift cards.

Best for: Online shoppers
Typical savings: Varies by purchase

Pros:

• Automatic coupon testing
• Price alerts

Cons:

• Primarily works online

Capital One Shopping

Capital One Shopping is a free browser extension and mobile app that helps users find deals and compare prices while shopping online. It automatically applies available coupon codes at checkout, alerts users when prices drop on saved items and compares prices across retailers. Users can also earn rewards on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for gift cards.

Best for: Comparison shoppers
Typical savings: Varies

Pros:

• Free browser extension
• Built-in price comparison

Cons:

• Rewards paid as gift cards

How Much Can Money Saving Apps Really Save You?

Money saving apps can realistically help you save between $100 and $1,000 per year depending on usage and spending habits.

For example:

• $20/month in cashback = $240/year
• $25/month in reduced bills = $300/year
• $30/month in automatic savings = $360/year

That totals $900 per year without major lifestyle changes. Savings vary, but stacking multiple tools can improve results.

How to Choose the Right Money Saving App

The right money saving app depends on your financial goals and preferred level of effort.

• Want passive savings? Choose round-up or automated savings apps.
• Want grocery savings? Use cashback grocery apps.
• Want lower bills? Try negotiation tools.
• Want easy rewards? Use receipt-scanning apps.

Always review fees, privacy policies and terms before linking your bank account.

Are Money Saving Apps Safe?

Most money saving apps use encrypted connections and secure bank-linking services, but safety depends on the company and how you use the app.

Look for transparent privacy policies, clear fee disclosures and optional security features like two-factor authentication. Monitor any linked accounts and avoid sharing unnecessary data.

FAQs About Money Saving Apps

Final Thoughts: Which Money Saving App Is Best for You?

The best money saving app is the one that fits into your lifestyle and financial goals.

If you want simple rewards, start with cash back apps. If bills feel high, try negotiation tools. If saving feels inconsistent, automate it. You don’t need every app on this list if you don’t have some of these issues .

It’s important to note that savings are never guaranteed and depend on how often you use each tool. But when chosen thoughtfully, money saving apps can help you keep more of your money in 2026 and beyond.

The Penny Hoarder contributor Danielle Braff is a Chicago writer who specializes in consumer goods and shopping on a budget. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Real Simple and more.

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