6 Apps for Building Your Emergency Fund in 2025

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The Fidelity Investments 2025 Financial Resolutions Study noted that 79% of Americans planned to grow their emergency funds this year, though 36% were concerned about saving cash while covering bills.

If you’re on a tight budget, finding the extra money and being disciplined enough to regularly commit it to your emergency savings can seem intimidating. Thankfully, several popular apps let you budget better, automate contributions or even earn extra cash.

Here are six apps you can use to build your emergency fund in 2025.

You Need a Budget (YNAB)

YNAB is ideal for controlling spending and leaving cash for goals. It focuses on zero-based budgeting, which requires putting all income toward specific expenses (essential and discretionary), savings and debt payoff goals. By dedicating income each month to an emergency fund bucket in the app, you’ll prioritize saving.

The app comes with convenient features, such as financial account linking, automated expense tracking and financial goal tools. Plus, it has money reports that help with spotting spending issues and checking progress toward growing wealth and wiping out debt.

While YNAB costs $14.99 per month, or $109 annually, it has a 34-day free trial.

Rocket Money

Like YNAB, Rocket Money focuses on budgeting with tools that let you track various expenses and goals, link accounts, and get alerts on transactions. However, it has a few unique features that can accelerate building your emergency savings. 

First, Rocket Money can link up with your checking account to automatically make savings contributions to a provided savings account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) based on your goals and spending habits. Plus, it can cancel unwanted subscriptions and negotiate bills so you can free up more cash for your emergency fund.

While there’s a free version, only Rocket Money Premium ($6 to $12 monthly) supports the subscription cancellation and automatic savings features. 

Ibotta

Ibotta can provide some money back on everyday purchases so you can contribute extra cash to your emergency fund. It lists several offers in different product categories, such as groceries and pet food, as well as general rewards for making any purchase. Bonuses are also available for certain brands.

You can shop through the app at several retailers, such as Walmart and Kohl’s. You can also upload receipts or use the loyalty account linking feature for in-person shopping trips. After earning $20, you can request the money through a bank transfer or opt for a gift card.

Rakuten

Rakuten is another free app with cashback offers that can help build your savings. However, it’s more flexible than Ibotta since you often don’t have to purchase specific products, though some categories may be ineligible.

You typically get a percentage back on purchases through 3,500-plus eligible retailers. While the biggest selection of offers is online, you can also earn rewards at some physical shops, such as CVS, Urban Outfitters and Foot Locker. Plus, no receipt uploads are required.

Rakuten uses a quarterly payout schedule with a low $5 minimum. It offers PayPal payment and paper check options.

Chime

Chime is a mobile banking app that offers checking and savings accounts with perks that can make saving for emergencies easier. It can help you avoid common banking fees, automate contributions and earn a more competitive rate on your savings.

While the checking account has perks like early paycheck access and fee-free overdraft options, it’s especially useful when linked to a Chime savings account with a 2% annual percentage rate (compared with the 0.42% national average, per the FDIC). There are options to automatically save a portion of your paycheck and the spare change from debit card purchases.

Chime has some basic requirements for opening these accounts, but there’s no minimum deposit for either.

Acorns

The investing app Acorns offers three plans with different features, such as educational resources, banking services and earnings opportunities. While there’s a $3 monthly base plan, the Acorns Silver ($6 monthly) and Acorns Gold ($12 monthly) plans better suit building an emergency fund.

These two plans provide checking and emergency fund accounts with competitive APYs of 2.57% and 4.05%, respectively. They make saving easier with automatic contributions from your Acorns checking account. Plus, Acorns can round up debit card purchases and automatically use those funds for investments.

The monthly fee for either plan is waived with at least $250 in monthly Acorns checking direct deposits within 45 days of signing up for a Mighty Oak Card.

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