The Best Mobile Banking Apps | Guide | How to Find the Top, Free, or Best Internet Banking Apps

Guide: Finding the The Best Mobile Banking Apps

Mobile apps for banking are not only our future; they are our present! Studies show that both young and old are excited to use the best mobile banking app that helps them bank conveniently on their phone or tablet:

Around ¾ of millennials are dependent on mobile banking apps to handle banking needs.
Around 42% of baby boomers are at least “somewhat” reliant on internet banking apps.

This makes finding the best mobile banking app important for most people. But not everybody wants to switch banks due to the quality (or lack thereof) of an online banking app. However, for those who depend on the ease and convenience of internet banking apps – or for those still on the hunt for the perfect bank – this mobile banking apps guide will be a lifesaver.

While there is a large variety of good banking apps – like those for taxes, stocks, or budgeting – we are going to focus on helping you find the best online banking app for this year.

How to Find the Best Mobile Banking App for You

When it comes to the ease and convenience of an online banking app, one size does not fit all. Sometimes the “top (number) bank app” articles may not actually help you in particular. After all, you may have limitations on banks depending on location, or maybe you have unique financial needs.

This is why we are going to show you how to find the best online banking app perfectly geared for what you need it to do. That does not mean we will not pay attention to great reviews – those are importan,t too – but it does mean we are going to present all the options of great mobile banking apps.

Image source: Big Stock

We are going to start our research at the two main sources: iTunes and Google Play. Then we will take a peek at some online reviews to help us learn the best mobile banking app for each particular need.

By the end of this article, you will have all the tools you need to find the right bank mobile app just for you.

iTunes: Best Mobile Banking Apps

iTunes is the first powerhouse app provider that we are going to look to in order to help you find the top mobile banking apps.

Under the category of “Banking and Credit Cards,” iTunes currently lists 18 apps (keep in mind, all of these are entirely free banking apps). Of course, there are other apps that could fall under the category of mobile banking apps, but these are highlighted:

Chase Mobile
Bank of America – Mobile Banking
Citi Mobile
Capital One Wallet
Capital One Mobile
AmEx Mobile
Barclaycard
Chime Banking
Simple – Better Banking
GoBank
Fifth Third Mobile Banking
Wells Fargo Mobile
PNC Mobile Banking
U.S. Bank Navy Federal Credit Union
USAA Mobile
CIBC Mobile Banking

Some of these apps are checking account balance apps; others help you manage credit cards, savings accounts, or other bank accounts. Some allow you to do all your normal banking functions; others are more limited.

iTunes Online Banking App Reviews

To best discover what will be the best online banking app for you, you should take some time to read the reviews on the banking apps that seem of interest to you. iTunes provides starred reviews for each to help you make your decision.

Click on the apps to see how many reviewers have reviewed that particular bank mobile app and to also see the average star rating. Keep in mind that simply because an app has fewer reviews does not necessarily mean it is not a good app.

You will see a wide variety of reviews on these mobile banking apps. Here are a few examples:

Chase has over 14,000 reviews and a 4.5 star overall rating
Wells Fargo has under 100 reviews and a 2.5 star overall rating
PNC has nearly 3,000 reviews and a 4.5 star overall rating
Simple has only 25 reviews and a 4 star overall rating

These numbers may seem confusing, so take the time to read through some customers’ written reviews to see why customers liked that particular online banking app or why they did not. This is a better indicator if whether or not it will work for you.

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Google Play: Best Mobile Banking Apps

The second app provider, Google Play, is for all Android users. Taking a look at their online banking app reviews will help us get a fuller understanding of the pros and cons of each app.

Under the category of “Mobile Banking Apps,” Google Play currently lists 29 apps (keep in mind, all of these are entirely free banking apps): Of course, there are other apps that could fall under the category of internet banking apps, but these are highlighted:

Bank of America
Wells Fargo Mobile
Chase Mobile Checking
PayPal
Android Pay
Chase Mobile
Capital One Wallet
BBVA Compass Banking
Net Spend Mobile Banking
Capital One Mobile
BankMobile Vibe App
Discover Mobile
U.S. Bank
Huntington Mobile
Simple – Better Banking
USAA Mobile
Citi Mobile
HDFC Bank Mobile Banking
AmEx Mobile
Navy Federal Credit Union
Citizens Bank Mobile Banking
Capital Bank Mobile Banking
Barclaycard for Android
Skylight Mobile Banking
ACE Elite Mobile Banking
GoBank
USE Credit Union Mobile
Associated Credit Union Mobile
PayPal Here

Some of these are checking account balance apps; others are apps to manage credit and/or savings accounts. Most allow you to do all your normal banking functions that you would at an actual branch.

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Google Play Online Banking App Reviews

In order to find what may be the best online banking app for you, take some time to read the reviews on the internet banking apps that seem of interest to you. Google Play offers starred reviews for each Android app to help you decide.

Image source: Big Stock

>Click on each app to see how many Android users are using that particular bank mobile app and to also see the average star rating. Remember: simply because an online banking app has fewer reviews does not necessarily mean it is not a good app for you.

You will see a wide variety of reviews on each of these mobile banking apps. Here are a few examples:

Bank of America has over 302,000 users and a 4 star review
Capital One Wallet has over 34,000 users and a 4.5 star review
Citi Mobile has over 43,000 reviews and a 4 star review

To better understand why they get these reviews, take time to read through some customers’ written reviews to see why these customers liked that particular online banking app or why they did not. You will more easily discover whether it is the best mobile banking app for you.

Privacy and Security for Banking Apps

Since mobile apps for banking handle so much of our confidential and important information, it is imperative that these top mobile banking apps are both private and secure.

One great resource to monitor the privacy of the potential internet banking apps you may start using is the website Privacy Grade.

Privacy Grade offers a grade (A-F) to each popular app you can find in iTunes or Google Play, including most mobile banking apps. They conduct studies to see what type of behavior these apps display on your mobile device. They then let you know how safe that app is with privacy issues.

Of course, the best online banking app will have great privacy. To learn more about the apps you are interested in, check out Privacy Grade’s website.

AdvisoryHQ on Top Mobile Banking Apps

Here at AdvisoryHQ, we also have a helpful review on five of the top banking apps. Throughout this article, you can learn the following about our top five picks for mobile banking apps (Ally, Capital One, Chase, Simple, Wells Fargo):

Key factors that made the app rank
Security features
And even more

For a comprehensive overview of each of the best online banking app and to see why they might be the perfect app for you, take a moment to read through this article.

Forbes Weighs in on Mobile Banking Apps

Forbes gives users a simple wrap-up of what they feel are the top mobile banking apps. Read through the article to see all the apps and learn more about why each is being considered the best mobile banking app.

Best Online Banking App for a Large Bank (Chase)
Best Online Banking App for a Large Credit Union (PenFed)
Best Apps Overall (Longer list of apps)
Best Internet Bank App (Simple)

Magnify Money: Best and Worst Banking Apps

Magnify Money’s article on the best and worst apps for your internet banking needs is another great review resource to help you find that perfect bank mobile app. Remember, it is sometimes as valuable to learn about the worst mobile banking apps as it is to learn about the best mobile banking app.

Throughout this article, you can see which online banking app falls under each category from Magnify Money’s perspective:

Best Big Bank App
Best Credit Union App
Best Regional Bank App
Best Online Direct Bank App
Worst Big Bank App
Worst App Overall

NerdWallet and Their Top Mobile Apps for Banking

This article from NerdWallet shares four simple banks that provide great mobile service, including banking apps, to their customers. If you are overwhelmed with researching all the options for mobile apps for banking, this short article may be a breath of fresh air.

After looking at the top internet banking application options from the biggest financial institutions, they narrowed down the options to four banks that do mobile banking well. Read NerdWallet’s article to discover their favorite internet banking application for each of the following:

Best app for frequent cash checkers
Best app for budgeters
Best ATM and branch integration
Best mobile credit union experience

Which Online Banking App Wins for You?

Now it is time to take all these resources, reviews, and lists and decide which is the best online banking app for you and your banking needs. Keep these three factors in mind while you make your choice:

Bank Preferences: Of course, you will want to take into consideration which banks are available to you in your area – or if you prefer online banks. Even if the internet banking application is great, you will have to love the bank, too.

Free Banking Apps: For both Mac and Android phones and tablets, these banking apps are all free, so cost of the app will not be a factor. Instead, you should look to factors such as features and safety.

Projected Use: Some use checking account balance apps for quick updates; others use their internet banking apps for 100% of their banking needs. Figure out how often you want to be doing your banking from your phone or tablet before choosing the best online banking app.

With all this information, you should be able to find easily the best mobile banking app for your financial needs this year.

AdvisoryHQ (AHQ) Disclaimer:

Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.

Note: Firms and products, including the one(s) reviewed above, may be AdvisoryHQ's affiliates. Click to view AdvisoryHQ's advertiser disclosures.