Many finance-related goals can be at least partially automated. While I generally caution against leaning on AI in personal finance, most money-saving apps are essentially like robo-advisors. That is to say, they have their limitations, but they have some major upsides as well. For the most part, these apps are designed to make managing your finances as simple as possible. This means one of their biggest downfalls is that they often offer narrow investment options and generic strategies, without fully taking your personal situation into account. That being said, AI-powered apps can provide ever-evolving recommendations based on your personal finances as well as trends out in the real world. As long as you use these apps with a grain of salt (a grain that only a real human can provide), consider the following tools to make the most of managing your money.
Disclaimer: I don’t regularly rely on any of the apps below. I simply did my research and played around with each one to make sure they were legit.
The best apps to automate your savings, based on your spending
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- Oportun. Previously called Digit, this app is connected to your bank accounts and uses AI to analyze spending and automatically transfer small amounts to a savings account. Helps you save without thinking about it.
- Qapital. Another one of those “set and forget” tools great for passive investors. Uses rules and triggers you set to automate saving and investing. Rounds up transactions or sets aside money based on your goals.
- Albert. Provides users with a personalized finance expert who can make recommendations for budgeting, saving, and managing debt based on income and spending patterns.
The best apps to cut back on bills
- Trim. Uses AI to analyze your spending and negotiate bills and subscriptions on your behalf to lower costs. Can cancel unwanted subscriptions.
- Spruce. Specifically looks for ways you can lower utility, cable/internet, and cell phone bills. Their AI seeks out better plans to optimize spending.
- Rocket Money. Great for managing recurring payments. It’s designed to identify expenses you might have otherwise overlooked and comes with autosave features.
The best apps to improve your investing know-how
- Cleo. “AI meets money.”An AI chatbot that gives you insights on your finances and helps you track budgets and expenditures. Can find ways to save and give objective money advice.
- Magnifi. Positions itself as an “AI investing assistant.” Similar to ChatGPT, it offers conversational guidance to help users research and buy investments, manage and diversify their portfolios and learn about investing. Magnifi costs $13.99 per month or $133.99 annually.
While the AI-powered apps above can give you a financial edge, you should balance their guidance with that of a human professional if you really want to optimize your savings. If you do choose to invest in a financial advisor, be sure to read up on the difference between fee-based and fee-only advisors, as certain financial advisors may not have your best interests at heart. After all, when it comes to finding the right financial planner for you, the last thing you want is to get ripped off.
For more, here are some of the best apps depending on what kind of spender you are, or based on your savings goals.