NerdWallet: Smart Money App

• Free

Last verified 30 Aug 2026

• Free to download

Last verified 31 Aug 2026

4.8 124804 ratings · App Store

1. 5/5The truth for me at least.

   I was working hard as hell at a fast food restaurant for about 2 years when I met a guy who taught me about credit. He recommended this app, I quickly download it and started my journey on building my credit. I use to think “why have credit? why worry about credit?, why would I put myself at risk of owing money to a bank or personal lender, I have heard so many bad things.” But the guy I met explained to me vividly how to go about building and maintaining my credit to insure that “in the worst case scenario you’ll be taken care of, but only if you use credit for credit not to splurge. Don’t use it as a means to obtain cash you don’t have at hand. Use it as a means that ensures that as you progress in life, even if things turn sour you’ll be okay but only if you maintain you’re credibility. This app will help you, I’m certain.” This helped me out a lot, I watched my credit go from 552 to 688 in a matter of 8 months of being responsible and paying back what was owed and maintaining current or new credit accounts. I give NerdWallet a 1,000,000 star rating.

   IAME.O.Houston · 30 Aug 2026

2. 4/5Love it so far!

   I’ve been looking for a free budgeting service that lets you connect your bank account for ages. I already loved Nerd Wallet for their information on banks and credit cards. This app has not disappointed! I’m still in the process of connecting all my accounts. Connecting them through Plaid can be a pain at first because I have a hard time remembering my login information, but it’s one and done once you get them all in there. It’s well worth it for the ease of my transactions being automatically loaded and accounted for all in one place, despite have over 10 different accounts (I know I’m crazy). I’ve started going through the transactions they’ve pulled, and it goes back about 2 years, which is great because I can see my spending overtime before lifestyle creep crept in. Some transactions need to be recategorized but it’s no problem for me because it makes me think harder about the money I’ve been spending. The only things that I think could be improved is 1. an option to create your own categories, or simply the addition of “personal care” and “gifts” categories. There’s not really a perfect place to put haircuts, waxing, etc., and a good chunk of my expenses tends to go towards gifts for others. 2. A way to add cash transactions. I don’t use cash often, so no biggie, but for some people it might be more important. You can still categorize ATM withdrawals how you see fit though. And 3. Subcategories. For example, restaurant expenses with friends or fast food vs. coffee shops I went to work in. Or clothing shopping expenses compared to home goods. I’ll make do with those things thing because I’m so, so happy with this app overall! Highly recommend.

   Courtney S B · 30 Aug 2026

3. 4/5Great app, but trouble linking bank accounts

   I just downloaded this app a week ago and love it. Love having my credit score readily available, all the research the app provides, and the automatic budgeting when you link your accounts. It has a lot of resources for people in all steps of their financial journey and for a young professional like me, it is great having so many resources readily available. I only have one complaint. I don’t know if this is at fault of Nerd Wallet or BBVA compass... or maybe a little bit of both. but I had the hardest time linking my bank account to the app. At first it was a fault of my own... I couldn’t remember some of my security questions because I never have to use them. But even with the correct information it kept locking me out of my account. When i would log on to my compass app i would have no problems, I’d give the same information to NerdWallet and it would lock me out. This happened a total of 3 times. I finally linked my account and was enjoying the app no more problems for a few days... was able to see where i was spending and my upcoming bills. and all the sudden i log in and it says there was some problems linking my bank account... I click for details and it says the “credentials I provided” were not correct... even though i hadn’t touched it/ tried to access my account. Got locked out of my compass mobile app AGAIN. I am thankful for the high security that both NerdWallet and Compass have... but this is ridiculous. Once I’ve proven my identity I shouldn’t have such trouble trying to access my own account. I have never had a single problem accessing my bank account until I downloaded this app.

   syd_dale · 30 Aug 2026

4. 1/5Worst thing ever!

   I tried to get into the website to see my information… no problem as soon as I tried to run the maze requires to cancel my account after 4 years, I came off the site to try again later. Then SUDDENLY the (phone saved) password suddenly does not work. GUESS WHAT, they have no service by phone… you can only contact them on the site that I can no longer get on!!! If this was a legitimate business they would not ask other members to help you out! What a crock!!! I still can’t get in, I will have to go to the bank and turn it over to fraud and have it stopped at that end! I do have an account with Self. And they are amazing, when I determined I was no longer in need of these services, they ANSWERED the phone immediately and put a check in my account by midnight that night of what I had saved with them and the posted closing of that account was midnight of the night we spoke. Nerd Wallet may have better advertising but a terrible way to run a business. Trying to save you all from this kind of aggravation . Try it out for a month or two then try to cancel THERE IS THE TRUE TEST! Then quickly go to your bank and ask them to close the account for you.. Get the SELF. App and move on.. to those of you from Nerd Wallet reading this please don’t state your usual answer.. we’re sorry you were not happy… well you have time to answer these posts but not your own web site… justify that!

   judye63 · 30 Aug 2026

5. 4/5Makes Tracking and Monitoring Financials Easy

   Overall this app makes tracking and monitoring my spending, income, debts and more so quick and easy. They’re able to integrate with so many companies, even local ones. There’s options to manually add accounts and debts, even if they’re not associated with a company, to see the overall picture. The only thing that I’d like changed is the option to manually add categories to the spending tracking, because it’s limited so many of my typical purchases have to be lumped together under categories that don’t fully match or under ‘other’ or ‘uncategorized’, so tracking the categories of where my money is being spent each month is somewhat incomplete and inconsistent. They don’t even have a category for credit cards so I have to lump those payments under loans, which is really a completely different thing. And things like buying gifts for people or spending for special occasions is different than shopping. More categories or the option to add my own additional categories for what I spent money on would be extremely helpful so I can get a full picture of what I actually am spending money on each month.

   DeputySheriff26 · 30 Aug 2026

4.3 31415 ratings · Google Play

1. 1/5

   Signing in to the app has become a total nightmare, with endless loops back to the 2FA authentication page, never sending the stupid codes & rarely allowing me into the app as a result. Useless. Other similar apps are far superior in every way.

   Drew Erben · 1 Aug 2026

2. 1/5

   Useless and pointless. I HAVE EMAILED THE SUPPORT TEAM MULTIPLE TIMES ALREADY. Accounts never update. My credit card accounts have been stuck on the same amount for weeks now. The help section of the website suggests unlinking and then relinking my accounts but I don't see that option. Even if the option is there what's the point in using such a glitchy app? Don't tell me to email your support team. I've emailed you multiple times about this already.

   Nadine Wu · 1 Aug 2026

3. 1/5

   Didn't help me out at all. You gotta have good or great credit

   Danielle Biggs · 1 Aug 2026

4. 1/5

   pretty useless, counts internal transfers as income and expenses and then constantly wants you to enter a verification code that's only valid one time and then you have to save the new one this might be the worst app I've ever used

   Chase · 1 Aug 2026

5. 2/5

   only download it.

   Connie p · 1 Aug 2026

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• 14.24.0 · 20 Jul 2026
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