The start of a new year often comes with big, sweeping financial resolutions. Save thousands, overhaul your budget, and generally just “get on top of everything”. But for many of us, that kind of pressure just isn’t realistic.
The good news is that you don’t need a dramatic money makeover to make meaningful progress. Sometimes it’s the small, almost invisible changes that make the biggest difference over time – and that’s where auto-savings apps come in.
If you’re trying to build a buffer in 2026 without feeling deprived, these apps can help you put money aside little and often, largely on autopilot.
How auto-savings apps work
Auto-savings apps link to your bank account and use technology to help you save without constant decision-making. Most will:
- Analyse your spending to estimate what you can afford to save
- Automatically move small amounts into a separate savings pot
- Round up your card purchases and save the spare change
By setting aside modest amounts regularly, you can build a useful pot without having to think about it every day. If money is tight one month, you can usually pause, reduce or withdraw your savings – which makes these apps more flexible than traditional standing orders.
One important thing to remember: the convenience is the main benefit. Interest rates on app-based savings can often be beaten elsewhere, so once you’ve built up a pot, it may make sense to move it to a higher-paying – and more sustainable – savings account.
Our top auto-savings apps for 2026
Below are three of the most popular options, with a look at how they work, what they cost and where to be cautious.
Moneybox
Moneybox is one of the best-known auto-savings apps in the UK, built around the simple idea of rounding up your spending and saving the difference.
Once you connect a bank account, Moneybox can round transactions up to the nearest pound and move the spare change into your “digital moneybox”. You can automate this fully or choose when to transfer the money yourself. Moneybox offers a range of cash savings accounts, including easy-access, notice accounts and a Cash ISA, as well as investment products such as a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA and SIPP.
Savings held with Moneybox as savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000.
The good stuff
The app is well designed and easy to navigate, making it a good option if you’re new to saving or investing. Customer service scores are generally strong, and Moneybox offers ESG-labelled investment options for those who want to consider sustainability alongside returns. That said, information about the underlying ESG funds is fairly high-level, so if you like to dig into detailed holdings and exclusions, you may find this limiting.
What’s the cost?
There are no fees for Moneybox’s cash savings accounts. Investment products come with platform and fund fees, which are clearly listed in the app.
Plum
Plum is designed to take even more of the thinking out of saving. It connects to your bank account and uses algorithms to analyse your income and spending, then automatically sets aside what it thinks you can afford.
You can also enable round-ups, set savings challenges, or create themed rules, such as saving every time you shop at certain retailers.
Plum lets you organise your money into different “pockets” for specific goals. Some pockets hold cash in FSCS-protected savings accounts, while others place your money into low-risk money market funds, which are investments rather than traditional savings. Plum also offers Stocks and Shares ISAs and SIPPs, including ESG-focused fund options.
The good stuff
Plum is particularly good if you struggle with consistency. Features like the £1 challenge, “rainy day” saving and automated weekly deposits can make saving feel more like a game than a chore.
It also gives users access to sustainable investment funds, though some of its cash and investment products rely on large asset managers that have faced criticism over greenwashing – something ethically minded savers may want to consider.
What’s the cost?
Plum has a free basic tier that includes automated saving and one interest-earning pocket. Paid plans unlock more features and higher rates, but they come with monthly fees – so it’s worth checking whether the extras are actually worth the cost for you.
Chip
Chip uses similar technology to Plum, analysing your spending to calculate how much you can afford to save automatically. The app offers a mix of instant-access savings, prize-linked savings and a Cash ISA, alongside investment options.
Chip is particularly popular with people who like to keep everything – saving and investing – in one place.
The good stuff
Chip’s interface is straightforward, and the app makes it easy to start saving with very little effort. The prize savings account can also appeal if you like the idea of a lottery-style incentive without risking your capital. However, many of Chip’s investment products are run through large global fund managers, which may not align with everyone’s values on sustainability.
What’s the cost?
Chip can be used for free, but some features – such as recurring or automated saves – come with small per-use charges. There’s also a premium subscription that removes these fees, which may or may not be good value depending on how often you save.
Other options to consider
You don’t necessarily need a separate app to save automatically. Several banks and building societies – including Starling, Monzo Nationwide and Tandem – offer round-up savings features built directly into their current accounts.
These can be a simpler option if you want fewer apps to manage, though they usually come with less automation and fewer nudges than dedicated savings tools.
