Investing Apps
Robinhood
Commission-free trading with fractional shares—perfect for beginners exploring stocks without high fees. I use it personally for easy entry into investing. Pros: No commissions, user-friendly app. Cons: Can be glitchy in high-volume markets; limited advanced tools.
- ✓ Fractional shares
- ✓ Crypto trading
- ✓ Options trading
Webull
Free trades with real-time data, extended hours, and paper trading for practice—great for technical analysis on underrated stocks. Pros: Strong charting tools. Cons: Slower customer support; no mutual funds.
- ✓ Advanced charts
- ✓ Extended trading hours
- ✓ Paper trading
Acorns
Automatically invests spare change from purchases for passive growth—ideal for hands-off savers in low-competition niches. Pros: Set-it-and-forget-it. Cons: Fees can add up on small balances.
- ✓ Round-up investing
- ✓ Diversified portfolios
- ✓ Automatic investing
Budgeting Tools
Mint (by Intuit)
Free app for tracking spending, bills, and credit score in one dashboard—helps spot underrated savings opportunities. Pros: Great overview and bank sync. Cons: Ads can be intrusive.
- ✓ Auto-categorization
- ✓ Bill reminders
- ✓ Credit score tracking
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Teaches proactive zero-based budgeting to give every dollar a job—transformative for building financial discipline. Pros: Excellent education resources. Cons: $99/year after trial; steep learning curve.
- ✓ Goal tracking
- ✓ Detailed reports
- ✓ Bank synchronization
PocketGuard
AI-powered insights to track bills and find savings automatically—useful for overspenders targeting niche finance hacks. Pros: Subscription detection. Cons: Full features require premium ($4.99/month).
- ✓ Auto-savings detection
- ✓ Bill negotiation
- ✓ Spending insights
Credit Monitoring
Credit Karma
Free credit scores, reports, and recommendations—perfect for quietly building credit without hype. Pros: Accurate monitoring. Cons: Upsells products heavily.
- ✓ Score simulator
- ✓ Personalized tips
- ✓ Free credit reports
Credit Sesame
Free tools focused on score improvement and credit offers—good for niche credit-building strategies. Pros: Loan/offer suggestions. Cons: Some privacy concerns.
- ✓ Credit alerts
- ✓ Identity protection
- ✓ Score improvement tips
Crypto Platforms
Coinbase
Easy beginner-friendly crypto buying/selling with learning rewards—suits viewers exploring alternative investments quietly. Pros: Secure, educational. Cons: Higher fees on small trades.
- ✓ Crypto wallet
- ✓ Staking rewards
- ✓ Learning rewards
Gemini
Regulated exchange with interest-earning accounts—strong for compliant crypto exposure. Pros: Lower fees, high security. Cons: Fewer coins available.
- ✓ Earn interest
- ✓ Active trader tools
- ✓ High security
Tax Software
TurboTax (Intuit)
Guided AI-powered tax filing with deduction finder—ideal for maximizing returns on side hustles or investments. Pros: Comprehensive, accurate. Cons: Pricey for complex returns.
- ✓ Import documents
- ✓ Expert help available
- ✓ Deduction finder
H&R Block
Affordable online tax prep with chat support—great value alternative for self-employed or niche filers. Pros: Lower cost. Cons: Interface feels dated.
- ✓ Free simple filing
- ✓ Audit support
- ✓ Chat support