If you need to download another app, it had better be a good one. Luckily, most mobile banking apps are free to download and use, but a few among the thousands stand out for their extra features and customer experience. Compare the best mobile banking apps for the top innovations in online and mobile banking.
Earn a $250 bonus with 360 Checking. Open a new account on or after August 22nd, 2024 using the promo code CHECKING250 then set up and receive at least 2 qualifying direct deposits of $500 or more within 75 days of account opening. Terms Apply.
Here are the best mobile banking apps with an average app rating of at least 4 stars and additional mobile banking features beyond typical account management.
Finder’s experts looked at hundreds of popular banking apps. We only considered apps with:
at least 100,000 total customer ratings
an overall average rating of over 4 stars on the Apple App Store and Google Play
features beyond typical account management
We also required the bank, credit union or fintech to have at least one account with no monthly fees.
Which banking app is the best?
In terms of customer app store ratings, Wells Fargo has the best mobile app, boasting an impressive 4.9 stars on the Apple App Store out of over 10 million ratings and 4.8 stars on Google Play out of over 2.83 million ratings.
Wells Fargo also offers tons of deposit account options, wealth management services and lending options. However, it doesn’t have the best reputation with regulators, having paid millions of dollars in fines for shady practices and consumer protection violations in the last few years.
If you’re looking for the most features and a highly rated mobile app, Chase and SoFi are the top options, offering far more mobile features than the competition.
Chase’s app is packed with perks, such as FICO credit score viewing, reward management, in-app credit applications, investment management tools and the ability to schedule meetings with bankers and advisors. Chase also has the most physical branch locations in the US, and you can locate ATMs and branches in the app.
SoFi’s mobile app has tons of management tools because it doesn’t have any physical branches. The SoFi account is a hybrid checking and savings account. You can invest, apply for credit and perform peer-to-peer transfers. However, it’s worth noting that SoFi has significantly higher customer satisfaction among Apple device users based on app store reviews.
Best mobile banking app features to look for
Most bank apps allow you to move funds between your accounts, turn cards on and off, order replacement cards and view bank statements. Even mobile check deposit is now considered a staple app feature.
Here are what we’d consider top-of-the-line mobile banking features:
Generation Z (64%) and Millennials (68%) use mobile banking apps the most, while more than half of Generation X (55%) primarily use mobile banking apps, according to the American Bankers Association. Overall, most US adults now prefer using their bank’s mobile app or website for everyday banking tasks, from checking balances to transferring funds. Whether you’re budgeting, sending money, or getting paid early, the right app can transform your financial routine.
On the other hand, a bad banking app can lead to major frustration. Does your bank app have a way to easily transfer funds between accounts? Does the app offer mobile check deposit? Do you have 24/7 access to customer support when things go wrong? When it comes to your cash, having a working app can mean all the difference in convenience, service and the ability to manage your funds effectively.
Bottom line
Most mobile banking apps allow you to view transactions, manage accounts, make mobile check deposits and transfer money. You’re more likely to find the best mobile banking apps with the largest banks, as they’ll have more resources to create top-ranking apps with great functionality.
An alternative to choosing a big bank is opting for a fintech or online bank, such as Chime or SoFi. These online-only banking options typically offer a wide range of mobile banking features since they don’t have to maintain branches and mobile banking is their customers’ primary form of account management.
Nearly all mobile banking apps are free to download and use, typically offered as a complimentary service and companion app for your bank account. In some cases, you can download a mobile banking app before opening an account and apply for one through the app.
Both banking portals and mobile apps usually have security measures to keep your information safe, but mobile banking apps often offer an extra layer of security if you enable it. For example, you can set your bank app login to use Apple's Face ID or a fingerprint scan, so you're not always using your username and password, making it harder for someone to access your account if they get a hold of your phone.
The terms "mobile banking" and "banking app" can be used interchangeably when referring to a bank's mobile app for managing accounts. Learn more about online and digital banking.
Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto.
Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt.
Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others.
Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine.
See full bio
Bethany's expertise
Bethany
has written
464
Finder guides across topics including:
If you set up a Varo Checking account through Finder, you could earn a $300 digital Visa card—just for becoming a new customer and following a few simple steps. Offer is valid for a limited time only.
Top online banks like Chime include SoFi, Revolut, Varo, Current, Capital One, Step, Mine (formerly Fizz) and more. See how these Chime alternatives compare.
A mobile-only account to make banking more convenient.
Advertiser disclosure
Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
