Choosing to live frugally has obvious benefits, but it can be hard for you to choose the right phone apps to keep you on track.

There are hundreds of choices, and some are significantly better than others. So, we’ve sorted out the very best for you.

All of the apps listed here are entirely free to use! This easy-to-follow list will guide you through making the right app choices to enhance your frugal lifestyle and stick to your goals.

Free Apps To Help You Save Locally

If you’re living a frugal lifestyle, one of the most important ways to save money is on local purchases. This list has you covered on everything from groceries for your household to gas for your car.

Ibotta

This app works for grocery stores, as well as general merchandise stores such as Walmart or Lowe’s. It’s easy to use before or after shopping, although you’ll score more savings if you check what offers are available before shopping.

To use the app, log in on your phone and select the store you would like to shop. If you’re looking for something specific, you can search by department, brand name, or product type. Add items you intend to purchase to your Ibotta list.

After that, it’s as simple as completing your shopping trip and getting a receipt. Ibotta verifies the deals you qualify for by scanning your receipts, so it’s important to remember to get a physical printout!

Checkout51

This cash-back app is very similar to Ibotta. However, they frequently offer different deals, discounts, and cashback opportunities than the Ibotta app does.

Checkout51 does have a unique feature that sets it apart from other apps of its kind, though.

Unlike other apps, you can purchase items listed on the app from practically any retailer and redeem the offers for cash. Just don’t forget the receipt printout!

Flipp

The Flipp app is another excellent way to save money when shopping for groceries or merchandise from other local retailers in your area. It’s a discreet and easy way to find out the best prices currently offered on necessities in your area.

The Flipp app keeps track of all local circulars so that you can compare prices amongst different local stores without ever leaving the house. There’s no more waiting for the mail delivery or driving around town looking for the best price on chicken. Just log in and start searching!

Gas Buddy

The struggle to find affordable gas prices is real and Gas Buddy is prepared to help. This straightforward and easy-to-use app can save you so much money, whether you’re staying local or traveling!

This fantastic app specializes in just one thing—finding the cheapest gas available in your area.

This app can not only be helpful for the area you live in, but you can also look up the most affordable gas stations while you’re traveling!

Free Apps that Find the Best Price Globally

Living a life free of excessive spending and unnecessary luxuries can be so rewarding. Still, it can be challenging to stick to if you live in a rural area or a small city with limited resources. Sometimes, the most sensible option is to search globally. 

Searching the internet for the best deals can be time-consuming at its best and daunting at its worst. The following apps simplify the search for you while saving you both time and money.

Honey

Honey is the easiest and fastest way to save money online shopping. It requires little to no effort on your part to rack up savings.

To get started, you just visit the online store that you’d like to shop. Honey will automatically inform you if there are better prices available on the items you are buying. The Honey app finds you the best price on your items in a few different ways.

First, it searches for cheaper options around the web. Then it searches for applicable coupons and automatically applies the best deal for you, so you don’t have to do the math on percentage discounts.

Finally, Honey gives you the latest information on price changes for your items so that you can decide if it is a good time to buy or if you’ll save money by waiting.

Red Laser Barcode Scanner + QR Reader

The Red Laser app is awesome for saving money on larger items like furniture, appliances, and equipment.

Simply download the app before you visit local stores to make your larger purchases. Then use the app’s scanner feature to read barcode and QR information in-store.

Once the Red Laser scanner has identified your item, the app will search locally and online for better deals for you and your family!

Shop Savvy

This easy-to-use app is another barcode scanner and QR code reader for those who like to check prices while they are on the go. When searching for economical options, it never hurts to check multiple apps. Even if they provide the same service, they may have information or deals that other apps do not.

This app works exactly like the Red Laser Scanner/Reader but frequently lists different discounted sale offers than its’ counterpart.

Free Budgeting Apps To Help You Buckle-Down Financially

Once you start saving money using these awesome apps, you should consider choosing a budgeting app to help you keep track of your savings, expenses, etc.

A good budgeting app will change your financial life.

Mint

If you’re ready to start managing your budget and finances, you need Mint. It is the best free budget and management app out there currently. Mint does much more than just track your spending, however.

To get started with this app, you’ll want to get all of your bank, card, and asset information together. You’ll connect Mint to all of your accounts that you would like monitored and included in your budget management plan. You can then set up categories, goals, and spending limits to help you save.

Mint takes care of the rest! Once you tell Mint about your finances and your goals, it takes care of tracking it all for you. The app even prepares statements for you regularly to help you keep track of where you’re at with specific goals/plans.

Good Budget

The Good Budget app is another excellent option for financial management and budgeting, particularly for sharing a financial plan with a partner, roommate, or family member. This app operates on the “envelope” system, in which you break down all of your monthly income into different spending categories.

It is a bit more simplified than apps like Mint, but the setup is essentially the same. You will gather your financial information and enter it into the app to get started. The app will then keep track of your expenses, income, and financial budgeting goals.

Unlike many similar apps, Good Budget doesn’t connect directly to your accounts. You manually enter your asset balances. This option is ideal for those who prefer to keep their personal information personal for security reasons.

Additional Apps To Compliment Your Frugal Lifestyle

These apps deserve your attention as well. They range from free/cheap entertainment to no-purchase-necessary cash kickbacks!

Swagbucks

Swagbucks is simple to use. You log in while doing your regular shopping. Check to see what items in-store Swagbucks is offering rewards on, then scan them with your phone.

It’s that simple! You can redeem your credits via PayPal or a gift card.

Shopkick

Shopkick is nearly identical to Swagbucks. They simply have different offers from which to choose. It’s a good idea to check Shopkick while doing your regular shopping, too, just to make sure you aren’t missing out on any great cashback offers!

Fun with Frugality

This list of apps will not only help you with your frugal living goals but hopefully inject a bit of fun into the mix!

Download even just one or two today to get started on your stress-free frugal living plan. You’ll see results as soon as your next shopping trip!

Image by ESB Professional via Shutterstock.com.