A slick and easy to use mobile app has become a must-have for challenger banks, but not all financial institutions are quite there yet. This guide focuses on apps for personal banking. We have created a guide to best business accounts for anyone looking for an app to run their business account from. We also have a guide on the best money saving apps if you are wishing to create a savings pot.
| Rank | App | Review | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 |  | Absolutely packed with features, Starling’s banking app is easy to use and lets you handle all aspects of your current account, including categorising your spending, setting savings goals and paying in cheques digitally. | ||
#2 |  | Monzo’s reputation for being one of the coolest banking apps available isn’t unwarranted. It’s slick and colourful, lets you access all the features of your bank account and its spending reports make budgeting almost fun. | ||
#3 |  | The Revolut app integrates effortlessly in your day-to-day money life, offering a series of useful features for saving and organising your finances, including spending notifications and savings pots. | ||
#4 |  | Lloyds tops the chart of traditional banks and has got all your banking bases covered, from carrying out your everyday banking and making payments, to categorising your spending and planning a budget. | ||
#5 |  | The Barclays app meets all your basic banking need and more, with spending notifications, card locking and a 24/7 in-app customer support chat. | ||
#6 |  | The NatWest app comes with all the standard banking features you’d expect, plus card freezing, spending categories and cheque scanning. | ||
#7 |  | The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) app also offers digital cheque deposits and card locking, as well as spending analysis and all the usual banking features. | ||
#8 |  | Halifax has built a solid banking app, where you can log in using face or touch ID, see what you’ve spent and where, and round up your spare change from purchases. | ||
#9 |  | You can use a biometric log in for the Bank of Scotland app, receive spending notifications, freeze your card and round up your spare change. | ||
#10 |  | Digital-only Monese has all you would expect in its banking app, from the ability to instantly freeze your card if you lose it, to spending pots and a nice visualisation of your spending data. |
Revolut Standard Account
9.1 ExcellentRevolut calls itself an “all-in-one finance app” and it lets you do most of the things you might want to do with your money, all in one place. That means you can save and earn interest as well as invest in stocks, commodities and even crypto. If you’re travelling, you can spend and send money abroad with ease, with low fees.
In the app you can set and customise spending categories, set spending budgets, freeze and unfreeze your card, send round-ups to a savings account, pay direct debits and have your salary paid in, among other things. It also has 24-hour in-app support.
Monzo Free Account
9.8 ExcellentMonzo has a reputation for being one of the coolest banking apps available. It’s slick and colourful, lets you access all the features of your bank account and its spending reports make budgeting almost fun. It’s easy to use and relatively simple, but full of features and account options.
It is constantly growing what it offers in the app but is already among the best banking apps available in the UK, with current accounts, joint accounts, teen accounts, business accounts, savings pots, cashback, loans, mortgages, pensions, ISAs and investment accounts all available. This is on top of an array of in-app features to make it easier to manage your money
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.
Starling Bank Account
9.5 Excellent| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Absolutely packed with features, Starling’s banking app is easy to use and lets you handle all aspects of your current account, including categorising your spending into more than 50 categories, setting savings goals and budgets and paying in cheques digitally. It offers current accounts, savings accounts, joint accounts, children’s accounts and business accounts, as well as loans and overdrafts.
In terms of app features, you can also have your salary paid in, create separate savings accounts, round up spending into a savings account and send money abroad. There’s 24-hour in-app customer service and you can freeze and unfreeze your card from the app.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Chase Current Account
8.2 Great| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Chase has a simple app, but it still has plenty of features. You can see a visual breakdown of spending, set up direct debits, top up via bank transfer, have your salary paid in and have separate savings accounts that pay interest on the balance. The app also has 24-hour customer service and lets you freeze your card if you misplace it (then unfreeze it if you find it again).
You’re also able to earn cashback on purchases with the card and earn a higher rate of interest on round-ups, which are among Chase’s biggest selling points.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Chip – Chip Easy Access Saver
| Rate | 4.76% AER variable (includes a 1.15% bonus ) |
|---|---|
| Withdrawals | Instant access |
| Account type | Variable |
Chip uses Open Banking and AI to calculate how much you can afford to save, then moves small amounts of money from your current account into a Chip account at regular intervals, which you control. You’re able to set savings goals and create savings plans that suit you and your lifestyle. It has in-app chat support on weekdays.
It offers a range of account options, including an easy access account, cash ISA, stocks and shares ISA, instant access account and prize savings account. On top of this, Chip offers a suite of investment options so you can make your money go further and build your wealth how you see fit.
| Rate | 4.76% AER variable (includes a 1.15% bonus ) |
|---|---|
| Withdrawals | Instant access |
| Account type | Variable |
Plum – Plum Cash ISA
| Rate | 5.06% AER variable (on balance over £100) (includes a 1.5% bonus ) |
|---|---|
| Withdrawals | Instant access |
| Account type | Cash ISA |
Plum’s app is designed to make managing your money easy. It uses AI and Open Banking to predict your saving and spending habits, then helps find you ways to optimise your finances. It comes with budgeting and auto-save features, as well as in-app chat support. You’ll be given recommendations for saving money and offered deals to cut your household bills, which can be initiated in the app.
Its account options include cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, easy access savings accounts, notice savings accounts, pensions and general investment accounts. Some of these are available on the free plan, but to get full access you’ll have to pick a paid option.
| Rate | 5.06% AER variable (on balance over £100) (includes a 1.5% bonus ) |
|---|---|
| Withdrawals | Instant access |
| Account type | Cash ISA |
GoHenry Account - with £20 pocket money and 2 months free
9.2 ExcellentGoHenry is a debit card and app for kids aged 6–18. The app has a version for kids and adults. Parents can set up regular pocket money payments, spending controls and notifications for card spending, as well as setting chores or tasks for their child to complete to earn money.
Kids benefit from learning resources and being able to set savings goals. They’re also incentivised to earn money by completing chores or tasks their parents set them.
The app allows you to freeze and unfreeze your card if it gets lost and then found again. Children are also able to receive gifts from people other than their parents, which is a win for everyone.
NatWest Rooster Money Account
9.3 ExcellentRooster Money’s app is streamlined and easy to use. It’s available for kids aged 3–17, though the accompanying card is only available from 6 years old. It has a different app view for kids and parents.
The app allows parents to set up regular pocket money payments and set spending controls. They can also view card spend notifications and set tasks for their child to earn money. It’s also possible to set savings goals and freeze/unfreeze the card if needed.
Kids get to explore a range of learning resources that are designed to give them a fun introduction to money.
Tide Free Account
8.6 GreatTide’s app is designed for businesses to manage their finances. Its range of features includes in-app cheque scanning, being able to freeze/unfreeze cards, accountancy software integrations, sending money abroad, in-app applications and customer service. You’re also able to make and receive payments, create invoices and manage expenses through the app.
There are a number of different account options, depending on the size of your business, so you can find one that suits your needs. And it’s easy to earn interest on your cash by setting up a savings account in the app, so you can earn money while on your cash.
| Brand | Logo | Customers who'd recommend | Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase |
 |
100% |
Chase stands out amongst the crowded current account market by offering its current account holders 1% cashback (up to £15 a month). |
|
Revolut |
|
93% |
Revolut's Revolut is an app-based banking brand with a range of personal e-money accounts and offers fee-free spending abroad. |
|
Starling |
 |
93% |
Starling's easy-to-use app and current account is the perfect way to track your spending habits, and it's also good for travelling abroad. |
|
Monzo |
 |
90% |
Popular digital challenger bank Monzo offers app-based current accounts that are packed with useful money tools. |
|
first direct |
 |
90% |
Known for its reliability and providing great customer service on the phone 24/7, first direct is loved by customers. |
|
Bank of Scotland |
 |
90% |
Bank of Scotland is a subsidiary of the Lloyds banking group that offers solid benefits and a variety of accounts. |
|
NatWest |
 |
89% |
With NatWest, is an established bank with good customer service and a network of branches. |
|
Nationwide |
 |
89% |
Nationwide offers a wide range of current accounts, some of which come with great incentives and perks. |
|
HSBC |
 |
86% |
With HSBC,you get the benefits of a global bank such as security, 24/7 customer service and fraud detection. |
|
Lloyds Bank |
 |
85% |
Lloyds comes with the pros of a major UK bank: a network of branches, customer service and top-level security. |
|
Kroo |
 |
83% |
Kroo gives a good interest rate on your current account balance as well as fee-free spending abroad. |
|
Halifax |
 |
81% |
Halifax has several current account options, ranging from basic accounts up to reward accounts and has a range of services on offer. |
|
Virgin Money |
 |
80% |
Virgin Money has developed a comprehensive current account offering, which includes interest on your balance and free overseas card use. |
|
The Co-operative Bank |
 |
80% |
With The Co-operative Bank's current accounts, you can get a range of benefits and features while also supporting their ethical approach. |
|
Barclays |
 |
79% |
Current accounts by Barclays offers a full range of current accounts with different sets of perks and rewards. |
|
Santander |
 |
78% |
High street bank Santander offers a wide range of current accounts, some with cashback and other perks.
| |
RBS |
 |
77% |
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) offers a selection of current accounts that include cashback at selected retailers and other perks. |
|
Metro Bank |
 |
77% |
Metro Bank is all about better customer service and transparency. You don't need an appointment to open a bank account. |
|
TSB |
 |
73% |
TSB offers a range of account options, including some specifically geared towards students and young people. |
|
Monese |
 |
67% |
Monese is a digital banking app and card using smartphone technology to improve your banking experience. |
While it’s great to have a bank account with an intelligent mobile app, most consumers would agree that this shouldn’t be their only priority. You may prefer to choose your bank based on the interest rates, rewards and customer service offered instead.
So here are some factors you may want to consider when choosing the best bank (and app) for your needs:
An easy to use mobile app with a range of useful features can make your banking experience much easier.
The breed of newer challenger banks that operate primarily via smartphone apps and online banking have been able to build their customer base by offering a strong user experience. Tops apps from the likes of Starling and Monzo enable account holders to manage their finances effortlessly, budget at the touch of a button and keep their accounts secure.
The larger established banks are starting to up their game too, with high street names like Lloyds and Barclays offering great apps for their customers to manage their accounts easily. Elsewhere, NatWest customers are able to withdraw cash from the bank’s ATM network via a unique code generated by its smartphone app. A concept known as cardless cash.
Think about which features are most important for your day-to-day banking app needs before making your choice.
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