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Best Banking Apps: The Top Tools for Managing Your Money on the Go

Review Updated
Ryan Wilcox
Author: Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox
Full-Time Personal Finance Writer

Ryan is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money. He’s been covering topics like credit cards and savings since 2022, when he began his writing career at The Points Guy. He later joined Motley Fool Money, where he continues helping people who are new to the world of personal finance. Outside of work, you’ll find Ryan reading, writing, listening to music or obsessively updating his Letterboxd account.

See Full Bio

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. APY = Annual Percentage Yield.

If you're like me, you probably use your bank's mobile app all the time, just to track everyday spending and move money around when needed. So why not choose a bank with an app that actually makes your life easier?

The best banking apps are simple, responsive, and packed with useful tools to help you stay on top of your finances. Maybe they even offer other financial products, like loan and investment platforms, so you don't need to juggle a bunch of different platforms.

In short, these mobile banking apps make it easier than ever to manage your money. Keep reading to learn which one is right for you.

  • Our team of experts assessed 100+ banking institutions
  • We evaluate all banking institutions across the same 4 key criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks
  • Our bank ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

Best for automated savings: SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC)

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Aug 28, 2025
Limited-Time Offer

SoFi Checking and Savings

Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

APY
up to 3.80% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. Earn up to 4.50% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.80% APY as of 8/5/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY on both Savings and Checking
  • No monthly account fee
  • Welcome bonus up to $300 (direct deposit required)
  • ATM access
  • Unlimited number of external transfers (up to daily transaction limits)
  • FDIC insured (up to $3M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)
  • Early access to direct deposits
  • Tools to help you track savings goals
  • Combo account only; no stand-alone savings or checking
  • Maximum Savings APY requires direct deposit
  • No branch access; online only
  • Overdraft protection requires monthly direct deposit minimum

For those who plan to set up direct deposit with their new account, we think SoFi Checking and Savings (Member FDIC) is hard to beat. Not only does this savings account offer a strong APY, but the linked checking account earns an above-average rate, too -- which is a rare perk. Plus, new customers earn a bonus of up to $300 with eligible direct deposit. Frankly, it's the kind of combo that could make it worthwhile to switch banking relationships.

You can earn the maximum APY either by making direct deposits into checking or savings, or by depositing $5,000 or more every 30 days. Learn more.

Read Full Review

If saving money feels like an impossible dream, SoFi® can help. Its app has a few key features that automate the process:

  • AutoSave: Move a fixed amount or a percentage of your paycheck into savings automatically.
  • Roundups: Every time you spend, your purchase is rounded up to the next dollar -- and the difference goes into savings.
  • Vaults: Create separate savings "buckets" for different goals, like travel or emergencies.

I made the switch to SoFi® a few months ago and have been loving it. I find it to be super useful if you're working toward multiple savings goals or just want to grow your emergency fund.

It also has no monthly fees and pays a strong, competitive annual percentage yield (APY), making it one of our favorite banking options in 2025.

  • iOS rating: 4.8 out of stars
  • Android rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best for user experience: Chase Total Checking®

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Aug 28, 2025

Chase Total Checking®

Open Account for Chase Total Checking®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Open Account for Chase Total Checking®

On Chase's Secure Website.

APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Largest bank in the U.S. in terms of assets 
  • More than 15,000 ATMs and 4,700 physical locations
  • Wide range of financial products
  • User-friendly online and mobile banking tools
  • No minimum deposit to open
  • Chase Overdraft Assist
  • Low APYs on savings accounts and CDs
  • $12 ($15, effective August 24, 2025) monthly maintenance fee waived only with qualifying activity

Chase Total Checking® combines tons of features with superior customer service. It's a safe place to put your money. You can walk into any of thousands of branches and withdraw cash from more than 15,000 ATMs in Chase's network. You can access everything online, too. It's one of the best checking accounts for in-person and over-the-phone customer service.

  • Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer, when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $500 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.
  • Access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs and more than 4,700 branches
  • Chase Mobile® app - Manage your accounts, deposit checks, transfer money and more -- all from your device.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC
  • Open your account online now
  • Available online nationwide except in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For branch locations, visit locator.chase.com.
  • Chase Overdraft Assist℠ – no overdraft fees if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day or if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day*


*With Chase Overdraft Assist℠, we won't charge an Overdraft Fee if you're overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day OR if you're overdrawn by more than $50 and you bring your account balance to overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the next business day (you have until 11 PM ET (8 PM PT) to make a deposit or transfer). Chase Overdraft Assist does not require enrollment and comes with eligible Chase checking accounts.

**Monthly service fee is $12 ($15, effective August 24, 2025), or $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period:

Electronic deposits made into this account totaling $500 or more, such as payments from payroll providers or government benefit providers, by using (i) the ACH network, (ii) the Real Time Payment or FedNowSM network, (iii) third party services that facilitate payments to your debit card using the Visa® or Mastercard® network, OR a balance at the beginning of each day of $1,500 or more in this account, OR an average beginning day balance of $5,000 or more in any combination of this account and linked qualifying Chase checking, savings, and other balances.

Read Full Review

The Chase banking app is one of the smoothest, most intuitive options out there. You can do practically everything you'd expect from a big bank:

  • View and filter transactions
  • Lock and unlock your card
  • Redeem Chase credit card rewards
  • Use 24/7 fraud monitoring and in-app customer support

The app also links seamlessly with other Chase products, like credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans. If you already bank with Chase or want the perks of a large national bank, its mobile app delivers a premium experience.

  • iOS rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
  • Android rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best for account monitoring: Capital One 360 Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Aug 28, 2025

Capital One 360 Checking

Read Review
Member FDIC.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
0.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Branches and Capital One Cafes in some states
  • Variety of accounts
  • Robust digital platform and app
  • Great customer service
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions

Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach. However the APY is lower than other online banks.

Capital One's mobile app makes it easy to stay on top of all your accounts. You'll get features like:

  • Balance tracking and transaction history
  • Zelle digital payments
  • Get paid up to two days sooner with early paycheck
  • Eno, a virtual assistant that flags unusual activity like duplicate charges

Capital One offers one of the best tools for people who want full visibility and control over their spending. You can also manage Capital One credit cards in the same app, making it a strong pick for keeping all your finances in sync.

  • iOS rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
  • Android rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best virtual assistant: Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Aug 28, 2025

Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking

Read Review
Member FDIC.
3.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
3.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
N/A
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Second-largest bank in the U.S. in terms of assets 
  • Balance Connect® for overdraft protection
  • Total Security Protection® and fraud monitoring
  • Wide-range of financial products
  • Bank of America Online and Mobile Security Guarantee
  • Low APYs on savings accounts and CDs
  • $100 minimum opening deposit
  • $12 monthly maintenance fee waived only with qualifying activity

Bank of America is the second-largest bank in terms of assets and has over 3,800 branches and 16,000 ATMs. Bank of America has a wide variety of financial products and tools, including being able to set custom alerts and savings goals. Bank of America also offers BankAmeriDeals where you can get cash back offers on shopping, dining, streaming and more. Its robust app includes Life Plan, an easy way to set and track short- and long-term financial goals and get personalized advice.

However, rates are low, and there is a $100 minimum required to open an account. The $12 monthly maintenance fee can be waived with qualifying activity. Bank of America offers an Online & Mobile Security Guarantee where you are never liable for unauthorized purchases or transactions -- as long as they’re reported promptly.

Bank of America's app stands out thanks to Erica, a smart virtual assistant that helps you:

  • Track spending trends
  • Check balances
  • Review credit card activity

You also get all the basics: mobile check deposit, bill pay, Zelle transfers, and more.

Erica gives proactive tips and reminders, so you're not just reacting to financial changes -- you're planning ahead. It's great if you want a hand managing day-to-day finances.

  • iOS rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
  • Android rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best credit union app: Alliant High-Rate Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings
Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings

On SoFi's Secure Website.

Member FDIC.

Ratings Methodology
Rates as of Aug 28, 2025

Alliant High-Rate Checking

4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
APY
0.25%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
  • No monthly fees or overdraft fees
  • No monthly minimum balance requirements
  • Network of 80,000 ATMs
  • Reimburses up to $20 ATM fees
  • No monthly fees, overdraft fees, and no monthly minimum balance requirements
  • No physical branches
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions
  • Need to meet certain requirements to receive the dividend

Alliant is an online-only credit union based out of Chicago; however, anyone can qualify for membership. There is no monthly maintenance fee, no overdraft fees, and no monthly minimum balance requirement. To qualify for the high-yield account, you only need to meet two monthly requirements. It's not a bank, so it's not a member of the FDIC, but Alliant accounts are federally insured through the National Credit Union Administration.

Credit unions don't always come with the best tech or sleekest interface -- but Alliant is different. Its app is:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Packed with tools like fingerprint login, mobile check deposit, and bill pay
  • Highly rated by users on both iOS and Android

Alliant combines the low fees and high interest rates of a credit union with a sleek, modern app. It's ideal if you want a simple, no-frills interface but don't want to compromise on features or security.

  • iOS rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
  • Android rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates bank accounts.

Features of the best online banking apps

Choosing the right banking app goes beyond basic account access. At minimum, your app should let you:

  • Check your balance
  • View transaction history
  • Pay bills
  • Deposit checks
  • Transfer money
  • Use Zelle
  • Find nearby ATMs

But the best apps offer much more. Look for features like:

  • Budgeting and savings tools
  • Personalized insights and alerts
  • Real-time fraud monitoring
  • Biometric login options (face or fingerprint)
  • Ability to freeze or unfreeze cards
  • Cardless ATM access

These extras can make your app more useful day to day and protect your account from fishy activity.

Are banking apps safe?

Yes, mobile banking apps are designed with strong security features to keep your money and data safe. These typically include:

  • Biometric login (fingerprint or face ID)
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Real-time alerts for suspicious activity
  • Data encryption

Plus, all the banks listed above are FDIC-insured, which means your money is protected up to $250,000. Just be sure to keep your phone software updated and use strong passwords or biometric login.

Do you need a mobile banking app?

If you want fast, flexible control over your money, the answer is a resounding yes. With a mobile app, you can check balances, transfer funds, send money via Zelle, deposit checks, track spending, and redeem rewards -- all without visiting a branch.

Even if you still prefer face-to-face service once in a while, a mobile app saves you time for all the daily stuff. Once you try it, it'll be hard to go back.

Banks we monitor

  • Alliant, Ally, All America Bank, American First Credit Union, American Express National Bank (Member FDIC), Arvest Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, B2 Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Betterment, Bluevine, BMO Bank, Bread Financial, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime®, CIT, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Copper, Cross River Bank, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADEEdward Jones, EverBank, Fidelity, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flushing Bank, Freedom Bank, Generations Bank, GN Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenlight, Harborstone Credit Union, HSBC, Huntington Bank, Ivella, Jenius Bank, Kabbage by American Express, KeyBank, Laurel Road, LendingClub, Liberty Bank, Liberty Federal Credit Union, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Mercury, Municipal Credit Union, Mutual of Omaha, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, New York Community Bank, NexBank, Northpointe Bank, Novo, OceanFirst Bank, Old National Bank, ONE Finance, OneUnited Bank, Oxygen, Pacific Western Bank, PNC Bank, Ponce Bank, Popular Direct, Presidential Bank, Prime Alliance Bank, Quontic, Radius, Raisin, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Relay, Republic Bank of Chicago, Revolut, Salem Five Bank, Sallie Mae, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Simple, SoFi®, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Third Federal, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB, Upgrade, USAA, Valley Bank, Vanguard, Varo Bank, Vio Bank, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, and Zeta.

FAQs

  • It depends what matters most to you. SoFi® is great for savings and ease of use. Chase offers a polished user experience. Capital One is ideal for tracking and managing spending.

  • All of the apps listed here have iOS ratings of 4.7 or higher, with Google Play ratings not far behind.

  • Most apps work abroad, but features like mobile check deposit and Zelle may not. Also, you may need to use a VPN or confirm international access with your bank before traveling.