5 Financial Apps to Help You Manage Your Money in 2024

A friend of mine recently reached out, asking for recommendations on budgeting apps. It got me thinking: we’re all in the thick of that New Year, New Me buzz – you know, the time when we've set our ambitious goals for the year and we really want to stay committed to them. For many of us, this journey involves making better and more informed money decisions.

Luckily for us, navigating this financial path has never been more exciting, thanks to the many apps designed to simplify our financial experiences.

Whether you're looking to build that emergency fund, trim unnecessary expenses, or venture into the world of investments, there's an app for really almost anything.

So, grab your coffee and let's chat about some financial apps that are going to make your financial journey a whole lot smoother.

Here are our 5 top financial apps to help you manage your money:

22Seven for budgeting
Franc for investing
Splitwise for sharing expenses
Clearscore for tracking your credit score
Snapscan for paying on-the-go

Best App for Budgeting: 22Seven

22Seven app for budgeting

What it helps you do 📲Streamline your financial management and budgeting without the need for spreadsheets.

How it works ⚙️22Seven connects easily and securely to all your bank accounts, credit and store cards and investment accounts (without being able to transact on your behalf), and keeps track of your expenses, investments and debt. It’s the best way to track your expenses to see where your money actually goes each month.

💡

The best part: It also creates an automatic and personalised budget for you based on your previous spending, provides you with some personalised insights into your spending, and alerts you when you overspend on specific categories.

Available on iOS App store, Android Play store and Huawei App gallery.

Best App for Investing: Franc

Franc app for investing

What it helps you do 📲Ideal for those looking to dip their toes into investing without the headache that comes with overwhelming investment fund choice and complex financial jargon.

How it works ⚙️Franc makes the investment process super easy and intuitive by allowing you to set your financial goals, get a recommended investment strategy based on your risk tolerance and timeline, and deposit into your investment goal, all in one app.

Whether you want to save for an emergency fund, buy a house or go on holiday with friends and family, the app gives you access to top cash and equity funds and makes monitoring your investment and the progress towards your goal very easy.

💡

The best part: Franc gives you the resources you need to make informed financial decisions with the first in-app robo-advisor in South Africa, making it even easier for you to get started on the journey to grow your wealth.

Available on iOS App store, Android Play store and Huawei App gallery. There’s also a web app option.

Best App for Shared Expenses: Splitwise

Splitwise app for shared expenses

What it helps you do 📲 This app is a game-changer for those who share expenses with friends, family or flat mates.

How it works ⚙️Splitting bills and asking for money back can be extremely awkward. Splitwise helps with this process by dividing bills and keeping track of money owed, ensuring that everyone pays their fair share without the need for awkward conversations or chasing down friends for reimbursement.

💡

The best part: It sends subtle nudges to people in the group that owe you money, so you don’t have to.

Available on iOS App store, Android Play store and Huawei App gallery.

Best App for Credit Scores: Clearscore

Clearscore app for checking your credit score

What it helps you do 📲It helps you stay on top of your credit score and financial health.

How it works ⚙️ The Clearscore app provides free access to your credit score and detailed credit reports with information about any open accounts, payment history and other factors affecting your credit score.

💡

The best part: Clear score provides you with personalised tips to improve your credit score, as well as information you need to make informed decisions about loans and credit cards.

Available on iOS App store, Android Play store and Huawei App gallery for free.

Best App for Paying On-The-Go: Snapscan

Snapscan app for paying on-the-go

What it helps you do 📲Pay or receive payment from your phone without the fuss of handling cash, cards or EFTs.

How it works ⚙️ Snapscan utilises a QR code system. When you need to pay, you just scan from the app on your phone and authorise the payment from your card that’s already loaded. If you’re a small business owner or have a side hustle, you can sign up for a unique QR code for your business and have it displayed physically, or integrated into your e-commerce journey.

💡

The best part: We love it for pay-backs between friends or at clothes swaps. Just have your friend scan your code and pay into your Snapscan wallet. You can then use the credit for Snapscan payments in future.

Available on iOS App store, Android Play store and Huawei App gallery.

Managing money has never been more accessible, thanks to the financial apps we have available in the palm of our hands today. So, whether you're looking for a new app to budget, want to kick off your investment journey or you’re simply someone wanting to stay on top of your finances, consider downloading these apps onto your phone. Here's to a financially savvy and prosperous year ahead!