Plum and Chip are the best hands-off saving apps, automatically moving money you can afford into savings.
Cashback apps like TopCashback and JamDoughnut can earn you 1-15% back on purchases you were already making.
Stacking a saving app with a cashback app creates a powerful combination — save automatically and earn on spending.
Free tiers of most apps are powerful enough; premium plans rarely justify the extra cost for casual savers.
Saving money is easier when you don’t have to think about it. Here are the best UK apps for automated saving in 2026.
Automatic Saving Apps
App
How It Works
Best For
Plum
AI analyses income and saves automatically
Hands-off savers
Chip
Automatic amounts based on what you can afford
Inconsistent savers
Moneybox
Round-ups from everyday spending
Micro-savers
Monzo Pots
Round-ups + scheduled savings
Monzo users
Starling Spaces
Bill splitting + saving goals
Starling users
Cashback and Discount Apps
App
What It Does
Earnings Potential
TopCashback
Cashback on online purchases
1-15% per purchase
Quidco
Similar to TopCashback
1-15% per purchase
JamDoughnut
Cashback on gift cards
2-8%
Shopmium
Cashback on specific grocery items
Free products
Olio
Food sharing, free items
Free food
Bill-Switching Apps
App
What It Does
Potential Saving
Uswitch
Compares energy, broadband, insurance
Up to £400/year
MoneySavingExpert
Club deals and switching guides
£100s/year
Paribus (by Capital One)
Gets refunds on price drops
Variable
Switchd
Automatic energy switching
Up to £300/year
Investment Micro-Saving
App
How It Works
Risk
Moneybox
Round-ups into investments
Medium
Nutmeg
Automated investing
Low-Medium
Freetrade
Commission-free investing
Medium
Trading 212
Fractional shares, ISA
Medium
Round-Up Comparison
App
Round-Up Amount
Withdrawal
Monzo
To nearest £1
Instant to Monzo
Moneybox
To nearest £1
3-5 days
Plum
Variable based on AI
Instant (Plum account)
Which App Should You Use?
If You Want…
Use
To save without thinking
Plum or Chip
Round-ups from spending
Moneybox or Monzo
Cashback on everything
TopCashback
To invest small amounts
Moneybox or Trading 212
Lower bills
Uswitch or Switchd
Free stuff
Olio or Shopmium
Tips for Maximising Savings Apps
Don’t pay for premium — Free tiers of most apps are powerful enough
Set and forget — Automate savings on payday
Stack apps — Use Plum for saving + TopCashback for spending
Review quarterly — Check if you’re actually saving more
Watch fees — Investment micro-saving apps charge fees that can eat into small balances
Bottom Line
The best saving app is the one you actually use. Start with one automatic saver (Plum or Chip) and one cashback app (TopCashback). Combine with good habits, and you’ll save hundreds of pounds a year without feeling it.
Building Better Saving Habits
Apps are tools, not solutions on their own. The real power comes from pairing automation with a few disciplined habits. Set a specific savings goal — a holiday fund, an emergency buffer, or a deposit — so you can see progress rather than watching an anonymous balance grow. Review your linked accounts quarterly to confirm the app is actually moving money, not just rounding up pennies. If you find yourself dipping into savings pots regularly, switch to an app with withdrawal friction like Moneybox, which takes 3-5 days. Small barriers make a meaningful difference. Over a year, consistently automated saving of even £20 per week adds up to over £1,000, and the habit compounds as your income grows.
Taking Stock of Your Savings
Get into the habit of treating these apps as a genuine savings system rather than a novelty. At the start of each month, check whether the previous month’s automated transfers actually landed in your savings balance and whether any cashback has been confirmed and paid out. If an app’s free tier no longer meets your needs, upgrade deliberately rather than out of habit, and downgrade or cancel anything you stop using. When your savings reach a meaningful milestone — £1,000, £5,000, or a full month of expenses — decide what happens next: leave it accumulating a little interest or move it to a better-paying account. Keeping that review routine turns a passive tool into an actively managed plan, which is exactly where the real savings accumulate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are money-saving apps safe to use?
Established UK apps like Plum, Chip, and Monzo are FCA-regulated or partner with regulated institutions. Your money is protected up to the relevant compensation scheme limits. Always check the FCA register before linking bank accounts.
Which app saves the most money automatically?
Plum tends to save more because it uses AI to analyse your income and spending patterns, moving amounts you will not miss. Chip uses a similar approach. Moneybox rounds up transactions, which saves smaller amounts but builds consistently.
Do cashback apps really pay out?
Yes. TopCashback and Quidco have paid out hundreds of millions in cashback to UK users. Payouts typically take a few weeks to become confirmed, then you can withdraw to your bank or as gift cards. Read the terms for each retailer, as exclusions apply.
Can I use multiple saving apps at once?
You can, but keep it simple. One automatic saving app (Plum or Chip) plus one cashback app (TopCashback) covers most ground. Using too many apps makes it harder to track where your money is.
PP
PaisayehPaisa Editorial Team
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