Saving money doesn’t have to be a big effort—sometimes all it takes is your spare change. Look into apps that automatically round up your everyday purchases and explore how small amounts can grow into real savings over time.
How Round-Up Savings Works
Round-up savings apps work by rounding each purchase you make to the nearest dollar and moving the difference into a savings or investment account. For example, if you spend $3.45 on coffee, the app rounds it to $4.00 and moves $0.55 to your savings.
It’s a small amount you won’t miss—and when you do it every time you spend, those small amounts add up fast. The beauty of round-up apps is that they help you save consistently without forcing you to change your lifestyle or remember to transfer money manually.
1. Acorns: Invest Your Spare Change Automatically
Acorns is the most popular round-up app and goes beyond just saving—it invests your spare change into a diversified portfolio. Once you link your debit or credit card, Acorns tracks your purchases, rounds them up, and invests the difference in low-risk funds.
You can also set recurring deposits or take advantage of their cashback features through partnered retailers. Acorns is perfect if you want to start investing without needing to know much about the stock market.
The base plan costs a small monthly fee, but the automated investing and easy-to-use interface make it a solid pick for building wealth slowly and steadily.
2. Chime: Save While You Spend (and Get Paid Early)
Chime is a mobile banking app with built-in round-up savings. Every time you use your Chime debit card, your purchase is rounded up to the nearest dollar and the change is moved into your savings account.
In addition to round-ups, Chime also offers automatic transfers from your paycheck to your savings and early direct deposit features. There are no monthly fees or minimum balances, making it an easy and affordable way to automate savings.
3. Qapital: Smart Saving Based on Your Rules
Qapital offers round-up savings as one of its many customizable rules. You can set it to round up your purchases and automatically move the difference into one of your goals—like saving for a vacation or paying off debt.
The app also lets you create other savings rules, like saving a certain amount every time you hit your step goal or when you avoid a spending category. It’s one of the most flexible and user-friendly options for people who want to combine automation with personalized goals.
4. Bank of America Keep the Change: Classic Round-Ups From a Major Bank
If you bank with Bank of America, their “Keep the Change” program rounds up every debit card purchase and transfers the difference into your savings account. It’s one of the original round-up savings programs and works automatically once you enroll.
This option is best for people who already use Bank of America and want to keep things simple without downloading a new app or creating another account.
5. Current: A Mobile Bank That Saves While You Shop
Current is a modern mobile banking app that includes round-up savings as one of its features. Every time you swipe your Current debit card, it rounds up the purchase and adds the difference to your Savings Pod—a separate savings section in the app.
You can also earn points on purchases and track spending habits right in the app. It’s a good fit for people looking for a sleek, app-first bank with smart saving features built in.
6. Monzo (UK): Round-Up and Save in Pots
If you’re in the UK, Monzo is one of the best digital banks offering round-up savings. You can enable round-ups to a savings “pot,” which is like a mini-savings account within your Monzo app. It’s visual, customizable, and great for organizing your savings by goal.
While not available in the U.S. yet, Monzo is worth mentioning for users overseas or anyone interested in international fintech.
Why Round-Up Apps Work So Well
The reason round-up apps are so effective is simple: they work behind the scenes. You don’t notice the money leaving your account, but you’ll see it growing in your savings. They also build a habit—once you see progress, you’re more likely to add even more manually or stick to a larger savings goal.
Plus, round-up savings fits all income levels. You don’t need to save $100 at a time—just a few cents from each purchase adds up over days, weeks, and months.
Tips to Maximize Round-Up Savings
Combine round-ups with recurring transfers to speed up your savings.
Link your most-used debit or credit card to catch the most transactions.
Set clear goals in your app so your savings feel more purposeful.
Review your balance monthly to track progress and stay motivated.
Is It Safe to Use These Apps?
Most round-up apps use the same level of encryption as banks and don’t store your actual login credentials. They link securely to your accounts using services like Plaid, and you can disconnect them at any time.
Always download from official app stores, read reviews, and stick with well-known providers like Acorns, Chime, or Qapital for peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve struggled to save money, round-up apps can be the no-brainer solution you’ve been looking for. With just a few taps, they start turning your everyday spending into steady, stress-free savings. Choose one that fits your lifestyle, set it up once, and let your spare change start working for you.
Sources:
