Expert reviews with no paid promotions. We help first-time users choose the right banking, budgeting, and investing apps.
Choosing your first financial app can be overwhelming. We reviewed the best beginner-friendly banking, budgeting, and investing apps in the US—focusing on ease of use, fees, setup speed, and real user ratings.
No-Fee Banking For First-Time Users
Chime is ranked #1 for beginners because it has no monthly fees, a fast signup process, and a very simple mobile experience. Read our full Chime review for details on fees and features.
Everyday Payments With Simple Money Tools
Cash App ranks highly for beginners thanks to its fast setup, simple interface, and easy peer-to-peer payments. See how it compares in our Chime vs Cash App comparison.
All In-One Banking, Saving And Investing
SoFi is a strong option for beginners who want banking, saving, and investing in one place. Check our Safe Finance Guide to verify its FDIC coverage.
Guided Budgeting And Automatic Saving
Albert is well suited for beginners who want guided budgeting and automated saving tools. Great for those focused on building savings habits.
Modern Banking With Fast Setup
Current offers fast direct deposit and a clean interface, making it ideal for first-time banking app users. Compare options in our full comparison table.
Managing Cash Flow And Avoiding Overdrafts
Dave helps avoid overdraft fees with cash advances up to $500. Learn more about fee-free banking in our FAQ section.
Simple Mobile Banking With Fewer Hidden Fees
Varo is an actual FDIC-insured bank (not just partnered), offering high APY savings. See our Safe Finance Guide for why this matters.
Starter Credit And Money Tool
Upgrade combines banking with credit-building tools. Good for beginners working on their credit score.
Beginner Investing (Learn Before You Trade)
Robinhood pioneered commission-free trading, making it accessible for beginner investors. Compare it to Acorns in our investing guides.
For beginners, we recommend starting with Chime for no-fee banking, Cash App for peer-to-peer payments, and Acorns for automated investing. Not sure which fits you? Take our quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Most apps on our list offer free basic accounts. Some, like Acorns ($3-5/month) and Albert (optional subscription), have premium features with fees. Use our comparison table to quickly see all fees side-by-side.
All banking apps in our top 10 partner with FDIC-insured banks, protecting deposits up to $250,000. Investment apps like Robinhood are SIPC-insured for securities. Learn more in our Safe Finance Guide to verify coverage for any app.
We evaluate apps based on ease of use (30%), fees and transparency (25%), app store ratings (20%), setup speed (15%), and beginner features (10%). We accept no paid placements. Read more on our About page and full methodology.
Have more questions? Visit our complete FAQ page or explore our beginner guides.