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Best Mobile Banking Apps for 2024

Review Updated
Brittney Myers
By: Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Writer

Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

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Our Banking Expert

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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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 our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.

We use banking apps for everything, from quick balance checks before making a purchase to easy on-the-go transfers to pay bills. Our favorite online banking apps are full-service mobile banking machines. Take a look at our list of mobile banking apps to see if your bank makes the cut.

Best mobile banking apps

  • We pride ourselves on being able to confidently say that these bank accounts are chosen by personal finance experts that operate independently of our Partnerships team, meaning the picks on this page are not and never have been influenced by advertising deals.

    Our Ratings team:

Best app for automated savings: SoFi

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

SoFi Checking and Savings

Open Account for SoFi Checking and Savings
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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
Offer Alert
New customers can earn up to a $300 bonus with qualifying direct deposits!
APY
up to 4.60% Rate info Circle with letter I in it. You can earn the maximum APY by having Direct Deposit (no minimum amount required) or by making $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits every 30 days. See SoFi Checking and Savings rate sheet at: https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Competitive APY on both Savings and Checking
  • No account fees
  • Welcome bonus up to $300 (direct deposit required)
  • Early access to direct deposits
  • Tools to help you track savings goals
  • Unlimited number of external transfers (up to daily transaction limits)
  • ATM access
  • FDIC insured (up to $2M with opt-in to SoFi Insured Deposit Program)
  • Combo account only; no stand-alone savings or checking
  • Maximum Savings APY requires direct deposit
  • Overdraft protection requires monthly direct deposit minimum
  • No branch access; online only

For those who plan to set up direct deposit with their new account, we think SoFi Checking and Savings 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, there's the opportunity for a bonus of up to $300 and a long list of extra account features. 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.

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Why it's the best for automated savings: SoFi offers a variety of ways to make saving money easier, including lots of features for automating your savings. For example, the AutoSave feature lets you automatically save a set amount or percentage from each paycheck. Roundups are like a digital change jar, letting you round up debit card purchases and save the difference automatically. Plus, you can direct savings into specific savings Vaults to work toward specific savings goals.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.8/5.0
  • Android app rating: 3.9/5.0
  • Cost: $0

Best app user experience: Chase

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024

Chase Total Checking®

Open Account for Chase Total Checking®
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
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.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
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.
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= Excellent
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Open Account for Chase Total Checking®
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 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.

  • New Chase checking customers enjoy a $300 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities
  • 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.

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Why it's the best user experience: A banking behemoth like Chase has plenty of money to make a functional app -- and it's every bit as good as you'd expect it to be. The Chase mobile banking app is smooth, attractive, easy to navigate, and includes pretty much all of the features you'd expect from a quality mobile app.

Users can track transactions, redeem Chase credit card rewards, and add the latest Chase deals to their favorite card. There's also Chase's in-app 24/7 support, which is a standout feature that users give high marks.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.8/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.4/5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best for customer service: Discover® Bank

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024
Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Discover® Cashback Debit

Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 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.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 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.
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Open Account for Discover® Cashback Debit
Offer alert
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month (see details when you click 'Open Account')
APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Cash back rewards on debit cards
  • Early direct deposit
  • No monthly maintenance, NSF, or overdraft fees
  • Great customer service
  • Cash back rewards capped
  • No interest-bearing checking account
  • No physical branches
  • No reimbursement for out-of-network ATMs

The Discover Cashback Debit account could be a lucrative option for those who frequently use their debit card. With cash back on eligible purchases, it's possible to earn even more than you could with a typical checking account APY without changing your habits at all. The fact that Discover has done away with many common checking account fees only adds to its appeal.

Read Full Review

Why it's the best for customer service: Discover® Bank consistently ranks highly for customer service, often ranking first or second in surveys like J.D. Power for customer satisfaction.

The mobile app gives you access to that great customer service through a robust help center, as well as online chat. Plus, the app has all of the digital banking tools you could need to manage your Discover credit card and bank accounts, wrapped up with a clean, easy-to-navigate interface.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.9/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.5/5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best app for account monitoring: Capital One

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024

Capital One 360 Checking

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
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Read Review
APY
0.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
  • 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.

Why it's the best for account monitoring: Capital One's mobile banking app includes multiple tools for staying on top of all of your Capital One accounts. You can view transactions, check balances, lock (and unlock) your card, and set up basic account alerts.

You also use Capital One's digital assistant, Eno, which can provide alerts for less common issues, such as duplicate transactions. Plus, you can manage your Capital One cards in all of your mobile and digital wallets right from the app.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.8/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.5/5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best app virtual assistant: Bank of America

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024

Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking

Read Review
Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
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
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
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.

Why it's the best virtual assistant: Inside the Bank of America mobile app is Erica, a virtual banking assistant with a lot of features. Erica can help with your Bank of America credit card transactions, check checking and savings account balances, and even provide insights into your spending.

That's on top of all the typical services for a bank mobile app like money transfers, mobile bill pay, check deposits, and Zelle transactions.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.8/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.6/5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Best credit union app: Alliant Credit Union

Rates as of Jun 28, 2024

Alliant High Rate Checking

Read Review
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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
0.25%
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.

Why it's the best credit union app: Alliant Credit Union is a consistent front-runner as the best credit union on many lists, and it's not just because of its low-cost bank accounts.

The mobile app scores high marks with users who value its simplicity, ease of use, and rich feature set. It has a sharp interface that's easy to navigate, plus it offers all the tools you could want -- including mobile deposits and fingerprint logins.

Customer ratings:

  • iOS app rating: 4.7/5 stars
  • Android app rating: 4.4/5 stars
  • Cost: $0

Features of the best online banking apps

There are some important features you'll find in all the best banking apps. At minimum, you'll need all-in-one account management to keep on top of your bank, loan, and credit card accounts in one place. There's also a set of standard tools to look for in all the best online banking apps:

  • Account balances
  • Transaction history
  • Bill payments
  • Mobile check deposits
  • Money transfers
  • Zelle compatibility
  • ATM locators

Of course, some apps take it even further, with extras that help them stand out amongst the best banking apps. For example, a few of our best banking apps include budgeting, saving, and money management tools.

And any bank with "best mobile banking" status will offer additional security in the form of facial, fingerprint, or even voice recognition during login, as well as the option to freeze your debit and credit cards from the app. You may even get perks like cardless ATMs, where your mobile app can stand in for your debit card.

Are banking apps safe?

Banks have gone to great lengths to make their mobile banking apps secure because many mobile app users are concerned about account and data safety.

The best banking apps include a range of robust security features, including biometric login options like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.

Plus, every bank on this list is FDIC insured, so up to $250,000 of your money is protected.

Do you need a mobile banking app?

The best banking apps make it simple to track and manage your money -- but they also do so much more. You may need to use mobile banking if you want to do any of the following:

  • Check your balance from anywhere, at any time
  • Transfer money to a friend via Zelle right from the restaurant
  • Move money between bank accounts to cover a surprise expense
  • Deposit a paper check using your mobile device
  • Redeem rewards on the go

Sure, sometimes you just want to visit a bank teller face to face. But for everything else, mobile banking is the way to go. At the very least, give it a shot before you make your decision.

Our bank and credit union methodology

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 The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.

Banks we monitor

  • Alliant, Ally, All America Bank, American First Credit Union, American Express® National Bank, Arvest Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, B2 Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Betterment, Bluevine, BMO, Bread Financial, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT, Citibank, Citizens Bank, 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

  • Yes, you can make a budget with some banking apps.

    Several of the best mobile bank apps include budgeting tools. You can use these budgeting features to manage your money and stay on top of your financial goals.

    However, not all banking apps have budgeting tools built into them. In this case, you may need to find a third-party budgeting app that will let you link your bank accounts directly.

  • No. All of the major banking apps are entirely free to use. Banks offer these apps at no cost so customers can manage their finances and handle banking needs whenever they want.

  • The best online banking apps can do just about anything you can do by visiting a bank branch -- but with less hassle. You can manage your accounts, make check deposits, track your transactions, and find local ATMs. The best banking apps also allow Zelle transfers and have enhanced security features like fingerprint and facial recognition.

    Additionally, the best banking apps provide all-in-one account access from your phone. It should be simple to manage your credit cards in the same app as your checking account. This allows you to easily track your card purchases, pay your credit card bill, and redeem your purchase rewards.