Let’s face it: managing your finances can feel like a chore. Between budgeting, saving, and investing, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the numbers and decisions.
But here’s the good news—there’s an app for that! Actually, there are several apps and tools that can help you automate your finances, making it easier to stay on top of your money with minimal effort.
From tracking your spending to setting up automatic savings, here’s how to make your money work for you on autopilot.
1. Mint: Your Personal Finance Dashboard
If you want to see all your financial accounts in one place, Mint is your go-to app. Mint links to your bank accounts, credit cards, and investment accounts, giving you a complete overview of your finances. Plus, it tracks your spending and helps you set up a budget, all in one place.
Key Features:
- Automatic transaction categorization: Mint organizes your spending into categories, so you can see exactly where your money is going.
- Budgeting tools: Set up budgets for different spending categories and get alerts if you’re close to overspending.
- Bill reminders: Avoid late fees by getting notifications about upcoming bills.
Pro Tip:
Use Mint’s budgeting tools to set up a savings goal, like building an emergency fund or saving for a vacation. Mint will show you how much to set aside each month to reach your goal on time.
2. You Need a Budget (YNAB): Budget Like a Pro
You Need a Budget, or YNAB, is perfect if you’re serious about taking control of your money. YNAB is based on a unique budgeting philosophy that encourages you to give every dollar a job, helping you live within your means and prioritize savings.
Key Features:
- Real-time syncing: Track your spending on the go with automatic syncing across devices.
- Goal-setting tools: Whether you’re saving for a down payment or trying to pay off debt, YNAB helps you create a plan and stick to it.
- Detailed reports: See your spending trends and progress with easy-to-understand charts.
Pro Tip:
YNAB has a learning curve, but the app offers plenty of free workshops and resources to help you get started. Give it a try with their 34-day free trial, and see if it’s the right fit for your financial goals.
3. Acorns: Invest Your Spare Change
Acorns makes investing easy by rounding up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and investing the spare change. It’s a great way to dip your toes into investing without even noticing the impact on your bank account.
Key Features:
- Round-Up feature: Acorns rounds up each purchase to the nearest dollar and invests the difference automatically.
- Portfolio options: Choose from a variety of pre-built portfolios based on your risk tolerance and financial goals.
- Automatic recurring investments: Set up automatic transfers to boost your investment account, even if it’s just a few bucks a week.
Pro Tip:
Acorns also offers retirement accounts (IRA) and a checking account that integrates seamlessly with its investing features. It’s a one-stop-shop for saving and investing without the hassle.
4. Digit: Automated Savings for Busy People
If you struggle to save money, Digit might just be your new best friend. This app automatically analyzes your spending habits and moves small amounts of money from your checking account to a Digit savings account. The best part? You won’t even miss the cash that’s being saved.
Key Features:
- AI-powered savings: Digit uses algorithms to determine how much you can afford to save, then transfers that amount to your savings automatically.
- Multiple savings goals: Whether you’re saving for a vacation, a new gadget, or just building up an emergency fund, Digit helps you organize and prioritize your goals.
- No-overdraft guarantee: Digit will never pull more than you can afford and ensures you don’t accidentally go into overdraft.
Pro Tip:
Digit charges a small monthly fee, but if you save more than $100 in the first month, the fee is worth it. Plus, you can earn a 0.1% annual bonus on your savings, adding a little extra to your stash.
5. Personal Capital: Automate Your Investments and Net Worth Tracking
For those who want to track their investments along with their spending and net worth, Personal Capital is a must-have app. It provides you with a holistic view of your finances, including your investments, and offers tools to help you make smarter financial decisions.
Key Features:
- Investment tracking: See all your investment accounts in one place and get insights into your portfolio’s performance.
- Retirement planner: This tool helps you estimate your retirement readiness and offers suggestions to improve your financial outlook.
- Fee analyzer: Get a breakdown of fees you’re paying across your investment accounts, and see how they’re impacting your long-term returns.
Pro Tip:
Personal Capital’s free tools are powerful, but they also offer paid advisory services if you’re looking for professional financial guidance. Consider giving it a try to see if it meets your needs.
6. Chime: The Bank Account That Automates Savings
Chime isn’t just a bank—it’s a financial tool that makes saving money easier. With its automatic savings features, Chime helps you save a percentage of each paycheck and rounds up your purchases to save even more.
Key Features:
- Automatic savings: Chime automatically saves 10% of your direct deposit paycheck into a separate savings account.
- Round-Up Savings: Just like Acorns, Chime rounds up your transactions and saves the spare change.
- Early payday: Get paid up to two days early when you set up direct deposit with Chime.
Pro Tip:
Chime doesn’t have any hidden fees, which makes it a great option for anyone looking to save on banking fees while building up their savings.
7. Robinhood: Investing Made Simple
Robinhood is perfect for beginners who want to start investing in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies without paying commission fees. It’s super easy to use, with a simple interface that makes investing feel less intimidating.
Key Features:
- No-commission trades: Robinhood doesn’t charge fees for buying and selling stocks or ETFs, so you can invest without worrying about transaction costs.
- Fractional shares: You can buy a portion of a share, which means you can invest in big companies without needing a ton of money.
- Cryptocurrency options: Robinhood lets you invest in popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, all from the same app.
Pro Tip:
If you’re looking for a more hands-off approach, check out Robinhood’s “Recurring Investments” feature. You can set up automatic, recurring investments in your favorite stocks or ETFs.
Automating your finances doesn’t mean giving up control—it means taking advantage of tools that help you make smarter financial decisions with less effort. Pick one or two apps that suit your needs, and give them a try. You’ll be amazed at how much easier managing your money becomes when you have a few extra digital helpers on your side. Now, which app will you try first?