Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. The following fifteen apps are the best examples of how technology has made it easier for us to save money. Whether it’s cutting down our costs by applying coupons we wouldn’t otherwise have, helping us find the cheapest gas station within our location, or keeping us accountable for our everyday expenses, these apps are on our side. They make money when we make money and that’s why we simply shouldn’t shop without them.

It’s now uncommon for anyone to shop without coupons. Apps work the same way except their digital coupons are much more efficient and convenient to use. Imagine paying full-price for an item that could be half off with the application of a coupon code. It really is not very difficult to save money in this digital era we live in. Some people are hesitant to synch their email or banking accounts with apps, but there are privacy policies in place to protect your money. Also, the chances of getting scammed by a huge app are very slim. Do your research and see what are the top-rated and most highly recommended apps to use before getting started. This list can help you do just that.

15. Robinhood

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Robinhood is a game-changer that promotes no-fee stock trading like no other service can offer, especially in the form of an app. Robinhood gives you a real-time at-a-glance snapshot of your gains and losses and how much buying power you have. It makes it super easy to trade stocks without paying heavy fees and to buy and sell stocks with just a few clicks of buttons. Also, another perk about Robinhood is that it’s super easy to transfer your earnings into your bank account. For anyone who wants to dabble into stock trading on a regular basis, this tool is super convenient and makes it possible for you to buy and sell at any time of the day.

14. Cartwheel

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone, Blackberry

You shouldn’t be shopping at Target without the Cartwheel app. The app makes it super easy to save money by allowing you to scan the barcode on your products for Target discounts. These are discounts that are in addition to manufacturer’s coupons, meaning even more savings! Usually, they can range from anywhere between five to fifty percent off, so always be sure to scan everything. Also, regardless of how much you save, you get perks just for using the app every time you make a purchase. The perks are pretty sweet and range from a free Starbucks drink to a free DVD.  Free stuff is always good and this is another reason why it’s better to shop at Target than Walmart.

13. Shopkick

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

The nice thing about the Shopkick app is that you don’t actually have to shop in order to earn rewards. You get ‘kicks’ just for walking into stores and even more for scanning certain products and referring friends to join. You can also earn kicks for purchases you’ve made, and also by scanning in your receipts. It does take a bit of time to go around looking for the best places to earn maximum kicks, especially if you don’t want to do any spending, but you can just use it minimally by collecting kicks every time you walk in and out of a store. The payout is great considering that you can earn free gift cards upon earning a certain amount of kicks.

12. iBotta

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

iBotta works similarly to Shopkick, except it doesn’t reward you for walking in and out of stores. Also, they don’t pay you out in gift cards. Instead, they offer money back on select purchases you’ve made. Or you can also see what specific pay-back amounts they’re offering on select products and plan your shopping that way as well. The way it works is that you scan your receipt and product barcode in after you’ve made the purchase. If iBotta is offering money back on your purchases, then you can redeem it in real cash back after meeting a certain amount. The idea is similar to that of a rebate.

11. Mint

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Mint is your personal financial advisor in the form of an app. Any time you want a real-time snapshot of where all of your money is going, you can open up your Mint app and see how much you’ve spent on food, bills, and etc. Mint is great because it syncs with your bank accounts and keeps you accountable for your spending – the first step towards financial freedom. It also alerts you of upcoming bills, rate changes, late fees, and if you’ve over-budgeted in any one category. Its snapshot quick views are super easy to read and is the absolute easiest and smartest way to track your expenses.

10. RetailMeNot

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

What’s so awesome about the RetailMeNot app is that it’s an enormous library of digital coupons all in one app. From online shopping to eating out, never check out without checking your RetailMeNot app first. You can save a ton of money by using a handy coupon code or in-store coupon. RetailMeNot is probably the biggest coupon site and so you’re almost guaranteed to find an applicable discount on there if one is available. It’s also super easy to search for your store and scroll down and find the right coupon code you need. Also, because so many customers use RMN on a regular basis, you also get real-time feedback as to whether or not the coupon still works or has already expired.

9. Yelp

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone, Blackberry

Yelp has recently come out with a new incentive that will make you want to use the Yelp app every time you go out. The incentive is that you can link the app with your credit card and get a certain percentage of cash back every time you check out with your Yelp app. The percentage varies between restaurants and vendors, ranging anywhere between five and twenty-five percent. Hey, every little dollar counts and if you’re big on eating out, then this is the app for you. Also, since Yelp is the best place to look at company reviews, you don’t have to waste your money on service or products that don’t measure up.

8. PageOnce

Cost: Free | Phones: Android, iPhone

You will never miss another bill payment again. This is the app to use if you’re tired of racking up late fees and overdrafts or if you have way too many bills to keep track of. The app is designed to act as a calendar and keep all of your due dates neatly organized in one central location. It also sends you notifications for late and impending payments. This is something that your Google calendar can’t do and exactly why you need this app. Also, the calendar is super easy to read and manage, making it easy to change amounts or due dates whenever necessary.

7. GasBuddy

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Before you fill up your gas tank, do a quick app download of GasBuddy. This app will help you find the cheapest deals on gas within your local proximity. You can search for gas prices near any location with the US and Canada, and also get real-time updates of trends and national averages. That’s probably a lot more information than you need, but the gist of it is that you don’t want to spend more on gas than you should. Also, you can fill up your tank before gas prices are expected to increase. Saving money at the pump can really help you save overall.

6. ATM Hunter

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone, Blackberry

ATM Hunter works just like Gas Buddy but instead of searching gas prices, it searches your location for nearby ATMs. Also, it saves you money by telling you which of those ATMs will charge you a fee, and how much that fee will be. This is huge considering that some ATMs charge up to $4.00 just for withdrawing as little as $20.00. It solves the problem of having to hunt down the cheapest ATMs. Also, you can filter your search to find just ATM machines from your own bank. God bless the makers of this app indeed.

5. Digit

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

The Digit app has a single purpose and that is to help you save money. It does this by syncing with your checking and savings accounts, analyzing your bills and leisure expenditures, and then tucking away small increments of money that you don’t need or didn’t end up using elsewhere. It is constantly communicating its activities with you via text messaging so that you’re always up-to-date with where your money is going and how much you’re saving. The app also makes it super easy to check your account balances and make electronic withdrawals and transfers. This app is on your side.

4. Ebates

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Ebates is an app that allows you to get cash back from both online and in-store purchases. That’s right, the app has partnered with over 2,000 retailers to get you money back from your purchases of anything and everything. Just bring your app with you to the register and earn a percentage of what you paid back. For example, you can easily get back 3% from Macy’s and 4% back from Bed Bath & Beyond. And it works the same way with shopping online. Ebates also scans all available coupons and promotional codes and applies them to your shopping cart to help you save the most money.

3. Tip Yourself

Cost: FREE | Phones: iPhone

Tip Yourself is a great app that encourages you to, well, tip yourself. It helps you set savings goals and encourages you to meet them by rewarding, or tipping, yourself on an occasional basis. Before you make a purchase of any sort, the app prompts you to keep a portion of your money for yourself. It’s literally a virtual piggy bank that synchs with your savings and checking accounts to make those savings transactions whenever you’re ready to tip yourself. You can also come up with other fun reasons for tipping yourself and set up regular reminders to have your app remind you to tip yourself first.

2. Credit Karma

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Credit Karma is known for providing free credit reports, but it also provides a ton of other money-services that makes this one of the best money-saving apps to have. It monitors the activity of your credit cards and bank accounts and can make recommendations for better credit cards that can help you save via lower interest rates and so forth. It can also help you find better rates on car insurance, personal loans, and mortgages. This app is the big brother of all money saving apps and is surely helping its over 32 million worldwide users to improve their finances.

1. Acorns

Cost: FREE | Phones: Android, iPhone

Acorns is an investment app with a different twist. It’s like a combination of Tip Yourself and Robinhood. It takes the money that you didn’t use and instead of transferring it to your savings account, it invests it for you in low-cost EFTs. You can sync the app with your credit and debit cards and it works just as hard as you do. Every time you make a purchase or have some financial activity, Acorns works just as hard to help you gain in investments. Currently, the average user invests anywhere between $30 to $80 per month. Also, the app is super easy to use and is a great introduction for amateur investors.