Mobile banking in 2025 isn’t just about checking balances — it’s about controlling your money, protecting your identity, automating goals, and making smarter decisions from a single pocket-sized hub. Below is a deep-dive, user-friendly guide to the Top 10 banking apps (neobanks and legacy banks) that deliver a winning mix of security, ease of use, and money-management features. For each app I cover what makes it stand out, the security tools to rely on, who it’s best for, and practical tips to squeeze more value from it.
Note: I drew on recent reviews and vendor pages to make sure the features and claims below reflect 2025 offerings. Where a product claim is factual and important I cite the original provider or an up-to-date review.
Business Insider
Reuters
Quick shortlist (the ten apps covered)
Chase Mobile (JPMorgan Chase)
Bank of America Mobile (BoA)
Capital One Mobile (and CreditWise)
Ally Mobile
Chime
Revolut
Monzo
Cash App (Block)
Charles Schwab Mobile (banking + investing)
Discover Mobile (Discover Bank)
This selection balances full-service legacy bank apps (Chase, BoA, Capital One), digital-first challengers and neobanks (Chime, Revolut, Monzo, Ally), payment-first platforms that provide banking features (Cash App), broker/bank hybrids (Schwab), and consumer-focused online banks (Discover). Multiple unbiased sources and the banks’ own product pages confirm the app features and security approaches discussed below.
Business Insider
Chase
Capital One
1) Chase Mobile — the all-rounder for security + features
Why it’s here: Chase Mobile combines broad account coverage (checking, savings, credit cards, mortgages, investments) with robust security controls and advanced in-app money-management tools that suit users who want everything in one place. Chase’s mobile offering is regularly recommended in reviews and included in top app lists.
Business Insider
Chase
Top money-management features
Budgeting and spending reports integrated with Chase Credit Journey and card data.
Chase
Autosave/round-up features and simple transfer scheduling.
Chase
Seamless Zelle transfers and direct deposit tools.
Key security features
Biometric login (Face ID/Touch ID and Android fingerprint).
Real-time alerts, fraud monitoring, card lock/unlock from the app.
Chase
+1
Best for: People who want a single app for banking + credit + investments and enterprise-level security.
Practical tip: Set up transaction alerts and enable biometric sign-in; those two changes reduce exposure to unauthorized access and give instant awareness of suspicious spending.
Chase
2) Bank of America Mobile — strong AI assistant and broad services
Why it’s here: Bank of America’s app is powerful because of integrated services like Erica (an AI financial assistant), broad bill-pay capabilities, and mature mobile security. That blend helps everyday customers manage cashflow and credit from one interface.
Bank of America
+1
Top money-management features
Erica helps with payments, balances, credit-score monitoring (FICO alerts), and personalized nudges.
Bank of America
Integrated Zelle for instant person-to-person payments.
Bank of America
Key security features
Multi-factor authentication options, secure encryption, card-lock controls, and transaction alerts.
Bank of America
Best for: Users who want advanced, AI-driven assistance from a full-service national bank and frequent bill-pay automation.
Practical tip: Ask Erica to set bill reminders and check your FICO updates — automating those small tasks helps you avoid late payments and improves budgeting discipline.
Bank of America
3) Capital One Mobile (and CreditWise) — credit-first with strong security
Why it’s here: Capital One’s app is known for excellent card management, intuitive interfaces, and the CreditWise ecosystem (free credit monitoring and tools). For anyone focused on credit health plus day-to-day banking, Capital One is a go-to.
Capital One
+1
Top money-management features
Real-time spending alerts, easy card controls, and built-in access to CreditWise (credit score monitoring and simulations).
Capital One
+1
Key security features
Biometric login, optional multi-factor authentication, AES/TLS encryption for data in transit, and instant fraud alerts.
Capital One
+1
Best for: Card-first customers and those focused on monitoring and improving credit scores.
Practical tip: Use CreditWise alongside your Capital One account to run “what-if” credit simulations before applying for a loan or new card. That lowers the risk of surprises.
Capital One
4) Ally Mobile — digital banking with great UX and competitive yields
Why it’s here: Ally’s app is praised for clean UX, competitive online savings rates, and cohesive banking + investing flows. The “One Ally” redesign consolidated product experiences into a single app so customers can manage savings, checking, auto, and investing accounts more easily.
Ally
+1
Top money-management features
High-yield savings, easy transfers, mobile check deposit, and built-in budgeting/transaction search.
Ally
+1
Key security features
No storage of personal account info on the device, automatic logout, multi-factor/biometric logins, and an online/mobile security guarantee for fraudulent transactions.
Google Play
Ally
Best for: People who prioritize competitive deposit rates and a straightforward, secure mobile experience.
Practical tip: Keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account accessible via Ally’s app — you earn interest while retaining quick access.
Ally
5) Chime — minimalist neobank built for saving & simplicity
Why it’s here: Chime is one of the most popular U.S. neobanks in 2025; it focuses on fee-free checking, early direct deposit, and simple savings automation. Chime’s growth and product updates (including expanded security tools and a premium tier) make it a key app for people who want a low-friction digital banking experience.
Reuters
Chime
Top money-management features
Automatic Round-Ups and Save When You Get Paid (automatic percentage transfers on payday).
Simple interface geared toward saving-first behaviors.
Key security features
Security hub with passkeys and multi-factor auth, biometric access, real-time transaction alerts, and instant card lock.
Chime
Chime
Best for: Younger customers and anyone who wants frictionless saving tools and fee-free basic banking.
Practical tip: Use Round-Ups in combination with Save When You Get Paid — the combo automates both micro-savings and regular contributions, accelerating growth without manual transfers.
Chime
6) Revolut — global features, strong in-app controls, and evolving security
Why it’s here: Revolut remains a top pick for international spending, multi-currency accounts, and in-app controls like temporary card freezing, disposable virtual cards, and granular security toggles. In 2025 Revolut continues to add advanced features (AI assistant, enhanced security hub) making it attractive both at home and abroad.
Revolut
+1
Top money-management features
Multi-currency wallets, instant FX, budgeting “Spaces” for saving, and automated analytics on spending categories.
Revolut
Key security features
One-off virtual cards for safer online checkout, advanced fraud protection, device ties & biometrics, and a dedicated in-app security centre “Revolut Secure.”
Revolut
Qorus Global
Best for: Frequent travelers, multi-currency users, and people who want strong card controls for online security.
Practical tip: Use disposable virtual cards when shopping on new or low-trust websites — they prevent your real card details from being reused if a merchant is compromised.
Revolut
7) Monzo — UK/US-friendly neobank with proactive fraud controls
Why it’s here: Monzo brings excellent real-time notifications, useful budgeting “pots,” and a strong focus on fraud prevention. For customers who want proactive fraud detection and tight card controls, Monzo offers some of the most developer-forward tools and transparency about fraud mitigation.
Monzo
+1
Top money-management features
“Pots” for earmarking savings, bill splitting, instant notifications on spending, and clear spending categories.
Key security features
Real-time spending alerts, the ability to freeze cards instantly, and recent upgrades to their fraud prevention platform and known-locations checks.
Monzo
+1
Best for: People who want simple budgeting, saving “pots,” and strong anti-fraud measures in one app.
Practical tip: Use separate Pots for short-term goals (groceries, fun) and long-term goals (emergency fund). The mental separation makes it harder to accidentally dip into savings.
Monzo
8) Cash App — payment-first with growing banking features
Why it’s here: Cash App started as a peer-to-peer payments tool but has expanded into banking-style features: direct deposit, a Cash Card (debit), stock & Bitcoin buying, and now deeper banking functionality. Its ubiquity and simple UX make it a practical choice for people who want payments, savings, and micro-investing in one place. Recent growth and product expansion in 2025 confirm its standing.
Investors
Cash App
Top money-management features
Instant P2P transfers, Cash Card for everyday spending, optional direct deposit, and in-app investing.
Cash App
Wall Street Survivor
Key security features
Data encryption, customizable security settings, login protections, and fraud detection. The platform publishes a dedicated security page outlining its protections.
Cash App
Best for: Users who want quick P2P payments, an easy debit card, and optional access to investing (stocks/crypto) without switching apps.
Practical tip: Treat Cash App balances like short-term cash; move larger savings to a high-yield savings account (Ally, Capital One, Discover) to earn more while keeping Cash App for spending and small investments.
Cash App
9) Charles Schwab Mobile — combine banking and investing in one secure app
Why it’s here: Schwab offers full brokerage capabilities plus banking features (checking with no account minimum, ATM rebates, mobile deposits). If you want a single app for both saving and investing — plus sophisticated security and research tools — Schwab is a compelling choice.
Schwab Brokerage
+1
Top money-management features
Integrated view of investment and deposit accounts, mobile check deposit, transfers, and 24/7 research tools. Schwab emphasizes tools for long-term planning alongside day-to-day banking.
Schwab Brokerage
+1
Key security features
Customizable security settings in-app (passwords, security questions, biometrics), protected logins, and strong fraud monitoring.
Schwab Brokerage
Best for: Investors who also want everyday banking without losing the ability to trade and access research.
Practical tip: Use Schwab’s mobile app to move cash automatically from your checking into an investment sweep or a low-cost ETF when it’s above your emergency buffer — a simple step that keeps idle cash working harder.
Schwab Brokerage
10) Discover Mobile — consumer-friendly banking with cash-back checking
Why it’s here: Discover’s mobile banking app supports a fee-free cashback debit account and solid mobile controls. For people who want simple banking, good customer service, and a card that gives cash back without monthly fees, Discover is a top option.
Discover
Top money-management features
Cashback Debit (1% on up to $3,000/month), mobile deposits, bill pay, and transfer tools.
Discover
Key security features
In-app alerts, debit card freeze/unfreeze, fraud monitoring, and standard encryption practices. Discover emphasizes easy mobile control of account settings.
Discover
+1
Best for: Customers who want fee-free checking with cashback rewards and a straightforward mobile experience.
Practical tip: If you have regular monthly debit spending, the cashback can offset everyday costs; pair that with an automated transfer to a high-yield savings product to accelerate your savings.
Discover
How I chose these apps — methodology (short)
I prioritized apps that combine security (biometrics, encrypted connections, fraud monitoring), usability (clear UI, budgeting tools), and money-management features (autosave, Pots/Spaces, integrated investments, credit monitoring).
Sources included recent app roundups and the banks’ own security/product pages to verify each app’s feature set in 2025. (Examples: Business Insider app list and providers’ security pages.)
Business Insider
Chase
How to pick the best app for you (decision checklist)
What’s your priority? If it’s saving rate, prefer online banks (Ally, Discover). If it’s travel & FX, choose Revolut. If it’s investments + banking, Schwab. If it’s simple day-to-day and early pay, Chime or Cash App.
Ally
Revolut
Security measures matter: Always prefer apps that offer biometrics, multi-factor authentication, real-time alerts, and the ability to lock or freeze cards from the app.
Chase
Chime
Ecosystem fit: If you already have accounts with a bank (credit card, mortgage), using the same bank’s app can simplify transfers and features (e.g., Chase, Bank of America, Capital One).
Chase
Bank of America
Fees & yields: Compare APYs (for savings) and debit/ATM fees. Some online banks offer significantly higher yields.
Kiplinger
Regulatory protections: Ensure the app’s deposits are FDIC-insured (or equivalent in your country) and read the fine print on partner banks for neobank offerings.
Monzo
Chime
Security best practices that matter more than the app
Even the most secure app can’t protect you if basic hygiene is missing. Follow these 8 practices:
Enable biometrics + a strong device passcode. Locks the device as the first defense.
Chase
Use the bank’s multi-factor authentication (MFA). SMS is better than none; app-based authenticators or passkeys are stronger.
Chime
Turn on real-time transaction alerts. Instant notification is the fastest way to catch fraud.
Chase
Freeze or lock lost cards from the app immediately. Most top apps support this.
Chase
Discover
Prefer virtual/disposable cards for risky online purchases. Revolut and others offer one-off card details.
Revolut
Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager. Prevents credential reuse attacks.
Check app permissions and only install from official app stores. Avoid side-loaded apps.
Move large savings to insured high-yield accounts; treat payment apps like transit wallets. Cash App and similar tools are great for everyday flow but aren’t ideal for large, long-term savings.
Cash App
Ally
Advanced features (2025 trends to look for)
Passkeys and passwordless login: Several apps (Chime, Chase) are adding passkey support to reduce password-based phishing risk.
Chime
Chase
AI financial assistants: Bank of America’s Erica is an early example — expect more contextual advice inside apps (budgeting, warnings, payment suggestions).
Bank of America
Disposable virtual cards & tokenized payments: Critical for safer online commerce; Revolut and other fintechs champion this.
Revolut
Integrated investing & crypto: Cash App and Schwab blend banking with easy access to stocks and crypto; understand tax and custody implications before using these features.
Wall Street Survivor
Schwab Brokerage
Comparing top features at a glance (high-level)
Best for full-service banking + rewards: Chase, Bank of America, Capital One.
Chase
Bank of America
Best for high APY savings: Ally, Discover (online).
Best for simple saving automation: Chime (round-ups, payday saves).
Chime
Ally
Best for travel & multi-currency: Revolut.
Revolut
Best for investing + banking: Schwab.
Schwab Brokerage
Best for peer-to-peer / payments: Cash App.
Cash App
Real-world workflow: build an efficient mobile banking stack
Here’s a practical stack that many users adopt to maximize security, convenience, and yield:
Primary bank app (Chase/BoA/Capital One) — daily checking, bill pay, big-ticket credit.
Chase
Bank of America
High-yield savings (Ally/Discover) — emergency fund and short-term goals.
Ally
Discover
Neobank or payments app (Chime/Cash App/Revolut) — quick P2P, travel FX, and saving automation.
Chime
Cash App
Revolut
Investment app (Schwab or the bank’s brokerage) — retirement and investing.
Schwab Brokerage
Automate: direct deposit to checking, auto-transfer to savings on payday, and round-ups to a small investment or savings pot for “fun money.” The combination reduces friction and prevents lifestyle creep.
Closing: pick security first, features second — and automate
The best banking app for you depends on priorities: interest, travel, investing, or social payments. But in 2025 the baseline expectation is the same across top providers: biometrics, multi-factor authentication, real-time alerts, and the ability to control cards instantly from the app. Once you lock down security, pick the interface and features that match your life — then automate saving and bill pay so your phone does the heavy lifting.