Best Banking Apps [2026]: Expect More From Mobile

Mobile banking apps have never been more important. According to a 2025 study by the Morning Consult on behalf of the American Bankers Association, 54% of U.S. consumers primarily use mobile apps to bank, up from 26% in 2017. Some generations, including Gen Z and Millennials, use banking apps even more.

You shouldn't settle for any old banking app, since it's not new and exciting for banks to offer them anymore (and hasn't been for years). You should prioritize banks with excellent mobile apps, because chances are you'll bank from your phone sometimes, no matter what kind of institution you choose.

The best banking apps are exceptionally user-friendly and intuitive, with rich features like chatbot support, automated savings tools, credit-tracking dashboards, and budgeting capabilities. And if a banking app is top-notch, it should get updated often. An app that stays the same will only become outdated.

To get you started, we've rounded up a list of banks with the best mobile apps.

Limited-Time Offer

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Learn More on SoFi's secure website, Member FDIC

Bonus Offer

Up to $400 New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/

Minimum Opening Balance

$0

Monthly Fee

$0

Why We Like It

• Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit¹ <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits&nbsp;received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> and up to 3.80% APY² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> on your money
• Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY to up to 3.80% for up to 6 months on new accounts. Terms apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
• No account, overdraft, or monthly fees³ <p>We do not charge any account, service, or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge transaction fees for outgoing wire transfers, Instant Transfers, and global remittance transfers. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Bank Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a>.</p>
• Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit⁴ <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
• Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Learn More on SoFi's secure website, Member FDIC

Banks with the best mobile apps compared

Financial institution	Best for …	Apple App Store rating	Google Play rating
Chase	Solid mobile banking for a brick-and-mortar bank	4.8/5	4.7/5
Chime®6 <p class="">Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC.&nbsp;<br></p>	Helpful features for saving more (and spending less)	4.8/5	4.8/5
Bank of America	Chatbot support	4.8/5	4.6/5
Capital One	Customer satisfaction	4.9/5	4.5/5
Wells Fargo	Safety	4.9/5	4.8/5

Chase

Chase Total Checking®

4.3

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Learn More on Chase's secure website, Member FDIC

Bonus Offer

$400 Receive your bonus within 15 days of completing the necessary requirements. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment.

Minimum Opening Balance

$0

Monthly Fee

$15 or $0 $15 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: $500+ in qualifying electronic deposits OR $1,500+ balance at the beginning of each day OR $5,000+ average beginning day balance in this account, or in combination with any linked qualifying personal deposits or in investmentsOR Link this account to a qualifying checking account

Why We Like It

• Get a $400 bonus when you open a Chase Total Checking® account and make direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more within 90 days of coupon enrollment.⁷ <p>Receive your bonus within 15 days of completing the necessary requirements. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment.</p>
• $15 monthly service fee but you have multiple ways to waive it⁸ <p>$15 Monthly Service Fee OR $0 with one of the following, each monthly statement period: </p> <p>$500+ in qualifying electronic deposits</p> <p> OR $1,500+ balance at the beginning of each day</p> <p> OR $5,000+&nbsp;average beginning day balance in this account, or in combination with any linked qualifying personal deposits or in investments</p><p class="">OR&nbsp;Link this account to a qualifying checking account</p>
• Over 5,000 in-person branches and more than 14,000 ATMs
• No overdraft fee if you’re overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day.⁹ <p>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.</p>
• Member FDIC

Learn More on Chase's secure website, Member FDIC

Big, brick-and-mortar banks don't have the best reputation for mobile banking. Often, institutions with large physical presences lag behind smaller, digital-only banks and fintechs in terms of technology. This can be for a host of reasons, but big banking juggernauts often have legacy systems that can take longer and cost more to update. As a result, brick-and-mortar banks may sometimes have pretty lousy mobile banking apps compared to their lighter, online counterparts.

Chase is the largest bank in the U.S. by assets, and its app is incredibly well-rated for its user base. High ratings on more reviews obviously reflect better on the bank than a few good reviews would. Especially for a big bank, Chase provides a top-notch banking experience through its mobile app. It stands out for how easy it is to use and how many valuable features are baked into the interface.

Account numbers, credit monitoring tools, cash back, net worth tracking, spending habits, and more are all right there, front and center, when you log into the app. The navigation is smoother, quicker, and more intuitive than what we've experienced from other banking mobile apps, and you have to do less clicking around to get from one account or service to the next. We won't say that the app reads your mind, but it sure seems to know what people are looking for.

Perspectives

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Writer

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Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.

WHY I LIKE THIS APP

I've used the Chase mobile app and online banking for many years with little to no issues. I especially like how fast I'm able to check on my deposit and credit card accounts through the app, as well as send and receive secure messages through my online account. Mobile check deposits are always quick and easy.

Visit Chase | Read our Chase Bank review

Chime®

2026 AWARD WINNER Best Checking for Bad or No Credit

Chime®

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Learn More on Chime's secure website, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC

Bonus Offer

N/A

Minimum Opening Balance

$0

Monthly Fee

$0

Why We Like It

• No minimum balance, no monthly service fees¹⁰ <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p>
• Get your paycheck up to 2 days earlier with direct deposit¹¹ <p> Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.</p>
• Eligible Members can access fee-free overdraft up to $200¹² <p>SpotMe® on Credit is an optional, no interest / no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account available to qualifying members with an active Chime Card Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Chime Card service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime® Checking Account each month and have activated your physical secured Chime Visa® Credit Card or Chime Visa® Debit Card.</p><br> <p>Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Secured Deposit Account up to $20, but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Chime Card Limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime’s or its banking partners’ discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Chime Card, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe on Chime Card won’t cover non-card transactions. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">SpotMe on Chime Card Terms and Conditions</a>.</p>
• 47K+ fee-free ATMs nationwide¹³ <p>Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply except at FCTI® ATMs in a 7-Eleven® or Speedway, or any Allpoint® or Visa® Plus Alliance ATM participating in the Allpoint network.</p>
• Automatic savings helps you grow your money faster¹⁴ <p>You can automatically transfer part of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your selected Chime account(s).</p>

Learn More on Chime's secure website, The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A.; Members FDIC

We included Chime on this list because, in many ways, its online and mobile banking platforms have raised the bar for modern digital banking. The Chime app is one of the top free financial apps on Google Play and App Store. Chime is a financial technology company known for its monthly-fee-free online banking accounts and feature-packed platform.¹⁵ <p>Optional services and products may have fees or charges, such as outbound instant transfers, out-of-network transactions, and credit products. Learn more here. Link leads to <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/fees-info/">chime.com/feesinfo</a></p> ¹⁰ <p>There’s no fee for the Chime Savings Account. Cash withdrawal and Third-party fees may apply to Chime Checking Accounts. You must have a Chime Checking Account to open a Chime Savings Account.</p>

Chime stands out from the other banking apps because it offers more helpful features, especially related to saving money, making transfers, and stretching your paycheck. You'll see us talk about the Chime Checking account's SpotMe® overdraft¹⁶ <p>SpotMe® on Debit is an optional, no fee overdraft service attached to your Chime Checking Account. To qualify for the SpotMe on Debit service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical Chime Visa® Debit Card or secured Chime Visa® Credit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Chime Checking Account for up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe on Debit limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime's sole discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe on Debit, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe on Debit will not cover any non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. <a href="https://www.chime.com/policies/">SpotMe on Debit Terms and Conditions</a>.</p> feature often because it offers one of the highest fee-free overdraft limits we've found. The Chime app is also a great option for getting your paycheck up to two days early and sending instant money transfers without your friends and family needing to sign up for any new accounts.¹¹ <p> Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.</p> ¹⁷ <p>Funds are automatically debited from your Checking Account and typically deposited into the recipient’s Checking Account within seconds. Pay Anyone transactions will be monitored and may be held, delayed or blocked if the transfer could result in fraud or another form of financial&nbsp;harm. Sometimes instant transfers can be delayed.</p>

Another feature that makes the Chime mobile app better than others is the option to enroll in automated savings. With Save When I Get Paid,¹⁴ <p>You can automatically transfer part of your direct deposits of $1 or more from your Checking Account into your selected Chime account(s).</p> you can allocate a percentage of your direct deposit to your high-yield Chime Savings¹⁸ <p class="">Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.<br></p> account. And with debit card Round Ups,¹⁹ <p class="">Round Ups automatically round up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and transfer the round up from your Chime Checking Account to your savings account.&nbsp;<br></p> Chime will round all of your debit card purchases up to the nearest dollar and send the excess to savings. The Chime Savings account earns 0.75% APY²⁰ <p class="">The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) for the Chime Savings Account is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of 01/29/26. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.&nbsp;</p> on any balance.

Many of the best mobile banking apps like Chime include a feature to automatically send a portion of your paycheck to your savings, but debit card round-ups are rarer. Chime isn't the oldest fintech by any stretch, but many platforms have tried to copy what it's doing with online banking.

Visit Chime Checking | Read our Chime review

Bank of America

Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®

4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Learn More on Bank of America's secure website, Member FDIC

Bonus Offer

Up to $500

Minimum Opening Balance

$100

Monthly Fee

Multiple ways to waive the monthly fee

Why We Like It

• New checking customers only: Get a bonus offer up to $500 after completing qualifying transactions. See offer page for more details
• Multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee—including a qualifying direct deposit.
• 24/7 security. Total Security Protection® and fraud monitoring. Secure sign-in, card locking features and more.
• Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC

Learn More on Bank of America's secure website, Member FDIC

As another one of the largest banks in the U.S., Bank of America offers a wide range of accounts — and a mobile app that does the trick no matter what services you use. We picked it for this list of banks with the best mobile apps because it has a lot going on in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming.

It also has a great chatbot, Erica, that we'd recommend checking out if you're the type of person who likes to get answers with a quick search rather than a phone call or lots of scrolling around in FAQs. Erica was one of the first mobile banking bots out there, and it's (she's?) still one of the most impressive. It's not the same as live chat, but the feature helps get most common questions taken care of quickly and painlessly.

Bank of America is a Member FDIC.

Visit Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking^® | Read our Bank of America Advantage Banking review

Capital One

2026 AWARD WINNER Best Overall Checking Account

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

• Earn a $250 bonus with fee-free 360 Checking.
• No fees, no minimums
• Terms Apply.²¹ <p>Earn a $250 bonus with 360 Checking. Open a new account on or after August 22nd, 2024 using the promo code CHECKING250, then set up and receive at least 2 direct deposits of $500 or more within 75 days of account opening. Terms Apply.</p>

Learn More

on Capital One's secure website

Capital One's mobile app is a thing of legend in digital banking, as much as an app can be legendary. Capital One often ranks highly in independent studies for overall customer satisfaction, and given how few Capital One branches there are, its banking app carries a lot of that weight. In the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Online Banking Satisfaction Study, Capital One took first place, beating all larger banks. It also placed highest in the 2024 U.S. Banking Mobile App Satisfaction Study.

The Capital One app is better the more you use it and the more accounts you have. It's as great for managing credit card accounts as it is for managing Capital One 360 bank accounts like 360 Checking, 360 Performance Savings, CDs, MONEY Teen Checking, and more. The app is packed with tools and offers that feel helpful, rather than overly busy, from credit monitoring to shopping.

If you do decide to open cards where you bank, and you should consider it, there's no shortage of Capital One credit cards worth having. The app features a clean card dashboard, with your current balance, available credit, scheduled payments, and a "Get your virtual card" button right above the card graphic.

Capital One is a Member FDIC.

Read our

Wells Fargo

Surprised to see another big bank on this list? Well, you shouldn't be, given the resources these institutions can invest in developing their products. Many people compare the Wells Fargo mobile app to the Chase mobile app, and we're inclined to agree. Wells Fargo, however, stands out from many banks for its extremely high customer app ratings and overall safety, thanks to both its institutional stability and its digital safety features, including encryption and two-factor authentication. It isn't the most innovative, but security is more important.

The Wells Fargo banking app wasn't always so good. It's undergone some pretty significant changes in the last few years and gone from an app we wouldn't have wanted to use as often to one we would like to open. It used to be more buggy and bloated than it is now, and the developers seem to stay on top of issues well by rolling out frequent updates and patches (and responses to many reviews). However, some users miss how powerful the previous version was since many features have been stripped away.

Read our Wells Fargo banking review.

Today's Top Financial Offers

Make your money work harder with these top picks to maximize your savings.

Bank/Institution	APY Annual Percentage Yield	Bonus Offer	Open Account	Bonus Offer
2026 AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking
5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.	3.80 % APY With $0 min. balanceEarn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking & Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at sofi.com/banking#2. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.	Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% boost on Savings APY to up to 3.80% for up to 6 months on new accounts2 <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> + $50 or $400 Bonus with eligible direct deposit.1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits&nbsp;received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> Terms apply.	Learn More on SoFi's secure website Member FDIC	Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% boost on Savings APY to up to 3.80% for up to 6 months on new accounts2 <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> + $50 or $400 Bonus with eligible direct deposit.1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits&nbsp;received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> Terms apply.

Mobile banking across generations

Consumers are increasingly choosing mobile apps over traditional banking channels like branches or even desktop websites. The chart below highlights how this trend spans generations. Millennials and Gen Z lead the way, but even older groups like Gen X and Baby Boomers are steadily embracing banking apps as their primary way to manage money.

As mobile banking continues to grow in popularity across all age groups, choosing a reliable, feature-rich banking app is more important than ever.

How to choose the best banking apps

Consider these factors to help you choose the bank with the best mobile app:

Read customer reviews

Be picky about which banking mobile app you go with and read a few reviews from real users to help you decide. While a mobile app rating of 3.5 out of 5 is above average, the best online banks tend to have ratings of 4 out of 5 or better.

Study account benefits

Depending on what type of account you're looking at, you might want to prioritize banks with the best APYs, apps that'll help you build or repair your credit most, minimal checking fees, or something else.

Look into customer service

Especially if you do a lot of your banking from your phone, it's important to be able to get help when and how you need it. Many mobile banking apps offer helpful support features like live chat or automated chatbots to help you get or find answers to questions quickly, while others only offer phone, email, or secure message support.

Consider product/account variety

It's often more convenient to use multiple services from the same bank, so it's worth checking to see if a financial institution offers all the different products you need. You'll often be able to see and manage all of these from one mobile banking app.

Check for budgeting, credit, and net worth tools

A good banking app will let you dig deeper than just your bank accounts and balances, with reporting on broader aspects of your finances, like your credit, net worth, debt, and more. For example, many mobile banking apps have their own credit monitoring tools now to show you changes to your credit just about as soon as they're posted to your file.

Banking apps that didn't make our list

SoFi®

Even though we feel strongly that SoFi has something truly special in its SoFi Checking and Savings account, we couldn't include SoFi in our top five banks with the best mobile app because it does get more negative reviews on Google Play. With a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars for Android users, its overall rating was on the lower side for this analysis.

However, it's worth noting that some user complaints aren't really based on the app itself despite being featured on the mobile app's review page. For example, one (who shall remain nameless) reported direct deposit issues not related to the app. Others, though, have valid and relevant gripes, like saying that the app's design is busy.

SoFi is a Member FDIC. It offers up to $250,000 of standard FDIC insurance for applicable accounts.⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

Read our full SoFi® review.

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

AWARD WINNER Best Online Checking

SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $400 When You Set Up Direct Deposit

Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $400 bonus with eligible direct deposit and up to 3.80% APY on Savings (3.10% APY¹ <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits&nbsp;received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more) OR $400 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct&nbsp;Deposit of $1 or more). Cash bonus amount will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit received within 25 calendar days of your first Eligible Direct Deposit of $1 or more. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in&nbsp;your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 5/15/2026 and will be available through 12/31/26. See full bonus and annual percentage yield (APY) terms at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/">sofi.com/banking/checking-offer/</a></p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for up to 6 Months on new accounts. Terms Apply.² <p>Earn up to 3.80% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.10% APY) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking &amp; Savings account with Eligible Direct Deposit by 12/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.⁵ <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, Roboto, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations.&nbsp;Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at&nbsp;<a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>

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Varo

Although Varo's mobile app ratings speak for themselves, and the online bank no doubt offers a great mobile banking experience, we didn't include it in the top mobile banking apps because it has far fewer ratings and downloads overall compared to the others on this list.

All that said, we'd still confidently recommend Varo to anyone looking for fee-free banking, since that's where this digital institution shines. It's also a particularly good choice if you've struggled with bad credit and/or are looking for second-chance checking since it caters to both of these crowds better than most.

Read our full Varo review.

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

2026 AWARD WINNER Best Overall High-Yield Savings Account

CapitalOne 360 Performance Savings

There are no monthly fees to get between you and your money. Zero never sounded so good.²² <span>A rate of 3.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) applies to all account balances. Advertised rates are variable and effective as of 06/02/2026. Rates are subject to change at any time before or after account opening. The 360 Performance Savings account has no monthly cycle service charge and no minimum balance required to open or maintain the account.</span>

Open Account

4.3

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Enjoy $400 as a new Chase checking customer

When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.²³ <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $1,000 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 7/15/2026.

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4.8

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence our ratings.

Bank of America Advantage Plus Banking®

New checking customers only: Get a bonus offer up to $500 after completing qualifying transactions. Click Learn More for details. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC

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FAQs

Bottom line

Big banks and online or hybrid banks alike can offer high-quality mobile banking experiences. In fact, many banking apps today don't just get the job done, but introduce features you didn't realize you needed or wanted on mobile. Some banks with the best mobile apps based on our analysis and customer reviews include Chase, Chime, Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargo.

These mobile banking apps stand out for being more intuitive and user-friendly than others, and their user ratings back that up.

If these companies and banks aren't right for you, explore our list of the best banks.