10 Best Money-Saving Apps for UK Families Right Now

The app stores are full of money-saving tools, and most of them aren’t worth downloading. But there’s a handful that genuinely work, and the good ones can save a typical UK family anywhere from £100 to £500 a year with minimal effort. This list covers the ten best money-saving apps for UK families right now, what each one actually does, and who will get the most out of it.

The 10 best money-saving apps for UK families

1. TopCashback

What it does: Pays you cashback on online purchases at over 6,000 retailers.
Best for: Anyone who shops online.
Cost: Free (paid Plus tier available).
Our rating: 5/5

TopCashback is the biggest cashback platform in the UK. Install the browser extension, shop as normal, and earn a percentage of every eligible purchase back as cash. Most UK families earn between £100 and £300 per year without changing their shopping habits.

2. Quidco

What it does: Cashback platform, similar to TopCashback, with strong bonus offers.
Best for: Use alongside TopCashback to always get the best rate.
Cost: Free.
Our rating: 4.5/5

Quidco covers similar retailers to TopCashback. Rates vary between the two platforms, so it’s worth checking both before any significant purchase. Sign up for free and install the extension.

3. Plum

What it does: Connects to your bank and automatically saves small amounts based on what you can afford.
Best for: Anyone who struggles to save consistently.
Cost: Free tier available.
Our rating: 4.5/5

Plum analyses your income and spending, then quietly moves money into a savings account in small amounts you won’t notice. It also offers competitive interest rates and spending insights.

4. Emma

What it does: Connects all your bank accounts and credit cards in one place, tracks subscriptions, and highlights overspending.
Best for: Families with multiple accounts who want a complete money overview.
Cost: Free tier available.
Our rating: 4/5

Emma is particularly good at finding forgotten subscriptions and flagging duplicate spending. Many users discover they’re paying for services they’d forgotten existed.

5. Chip

What it does: Automatic savings with competitive interest rates.
Best for: Building an emergency fund or saving for a specific goal.
Cost: Free tier available.
Our rating: 4/5

Chip has some of the best savings interest rates available outside of a fixed-term account. The automatic saving feature works similarly to Plum: connect your bank and Chip does the rest.

6. Snoop

What it does: Monitors your bills and alerts you when cheaper deals are available.
Best for: Anyone who hasn’t reviewed their bills in a while.
Cost: Free.
Our rating: 4/5

Snoop connects to your accounts and watches for overpaying on things like broadband, insurance and energy. It’s a passive money-saver: you set it up and it tells you when action is needed.

7. Monzo

What it does: Full current account with built-in budgeting, spending categories and savings pots.
Best for: People willing to switch their main bank account.
Cost: Free (paid tiers available).
Our rating: 4/5

If you’re open to changing banks, Monzo has excellent built-in tools: spending notifications, budget limits per category, and savings pots you can separate from your main balance.

8. Starling Bank

What it does: Full current account with spending insights, savings spaces and joint accounts.
Best for: Families who want a modern bank account with good budgeting tools.
Cost: Free.
Our rating: 4/5

Starling is similar to Monzo but tends to have fewer restrictions for families and slightly better customer service reviews. Both are worth considering as a main or secondary account.

9. JamDoughnut

What it does: Instant cashback on supermarket gift cards, typically 4 to 5 percent.
Best for: Weekly grocery shoppers at major UK supermarkets.
Cost: Free.
Our rating: 3.5/5

JamDoughnut is unique because the cashback is instant rather than pending for weeks. Buy a gift card through the app, get the cashback straight away, spend the card in store or online. Simple.

10. Honey

What it does: Browser extension that automatically tests discount codes at checkout and offers some PayPal cashback.
Best for: People who regularly buy online and want automatic code-testing.
Cost: Free.
Our rating: 3.5/5

Honey won’t always find a code, but when it does you save money you wouldn’t have otherwise noticed. It’s worth having alongside TopCashback and Quidco.

How to get the most from these apps

You don’t need all ten. Start with TopCashback and Quidco for cashback, add Plum for automated saving, and download Snoop to check your bills. That combination alone can make a significant difference without taking up much of your time.