Money at 30: Top 5 Personal Finance Apps and Tools to Watch in 2022 Top 5 Personal Finance Apps and Tools to Watch in 2022
top 5 personal finance apps for 2022

Money at 30: Top 5 Personal Finance Apps and Tools to Watch in 2022

Every year, as part of my weekly column, I end up reviewing dozens of personal finance apps and tools. 2021 was no exception to this as I continued to discover new services in a variety of fields. Amazingly, for as many apps as I’ve explored, I’m still often surprised to find how many offer something unique or are just plain awesome. With that in mind, I’m excited to once again offer my list of the top personal finance apps and tools for 2022.

As I did last year, this time around I’m putting an emphasis not only on products I’ve enjoyed using but also on startups/platforms I think are deserving of attention for their growth potential. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the list.

Five Personal Finance Apps and Tools to Consider for 2022

PointCard and app

PointCard

When I first encountered the PointCard, I pretty much scoffed at the idea of a debit with an annual fee. However, upon seeing that the company had raised $46.5 million, I gave the card another look and ultimately decided to give it a shot. Sure enough, once I had the chance to see how the perks worked in practice, I became a fan. Now, as we start 2022, Point has just switched banking providers and promises more updates in the coming months.

There are a lot of aspects of PointCard that I’ve come to enjoy. First, points earned can easily be converted to cash at any time and pretty much instantly. Second, while we’re on the topic of rewards, I’ve seen a ton of value from the “Streak” promotions they’ve done, allowing cardholders to earn up to 3,000 bonus points for making at least one purchase a day for a set number of days in a row. Granted, these purchases do need to total at least $200, but some strategic spending easily makes this worth it. Plus, the card refunds ATM fees (in the form of points), which makes it exceptionally useful.

As for what’s ahead for Point, they’ve already offered a bit of a preview as initial details about their PointCard Titan have been revealed. The apparent charge card will offer premium rewards and benefits while also commanding a premium annual fee of $399. Funny enough, as I recently wrote about, I’m a bit skeptical about this product just as I was the initial debit card. Perhaps they’ll prove me wrong once again but, either way, I definitely still think Point deserves a spot on this list as one to watch.

PrizePool app

PrizePool

Last year, I put the prize-linked banking account platform Yotta on my list of apps to watch. Sure enough, the FinTech had a big year, rolling out a number of new features, raising a $13.2 million Series A, etc. Yet, during 2021, I actually discovered a seemingly similar but actually significantly different prized-linked account that I may actually slightly prefer to Yotta: PrizePool.

In my head-to-head comparison of the two platforms, I noted that Yotta’s weekly contests operate in a manner more akin to a lottery while PrizePool’s were more like raffles. That difference means that customers will at least win something every week with PrizePool… even if it’s just more tickets for the following week’s contest. On top of that, the account does currently offer a 0.30% APY “savings bonus,” which is well above the national average.

Looking ahead, PrizePool currently has a least two new products in the works. The first is a debit card that will enable customers to earn bonus tickets and potentially see their purchases reimbursed. Elsewhere, a crypto savings account feature is also teased in the app. Although both additions have open waitlists at the moment, it’s not quite clear when they might officially arrive. Hopefully they will arrive in 2022 and propel PrizePool forward.

Peak Money app

Peak Money

The next two apps on my list are actually ones I haven’t had a chance to write a full review of yet but have been impressed with or interested by enough to include. Up first is Peak Money. At first glance, Peak looks like a straightforward automated savings app. However, after unlocking its premium features, it shows some really creative twists.

With Peak, users can create various savings goals and arrange to make regular contributions toward that goal. While this is hardly a new concept, Peak’s sleek app and fun graphics add some flavor to the basic idea. Peak Premium then builds on these aspects by giving users access to clever auto-save Action ideas to help them set even more money aside. These include such formulas as saving 10% of your purchase amount anytime you eat out (with the app monitoring your linked cards to find applicable transactions). Of course, customers can also create custom Actions in this vein.

To be sure, there are plenty of apps like Peak, yet I don’t think any quite package themselves the way Peak Money does. On top of that, it seems as though the startup has a smart and innovative team behind it that will hopefully inject some new ideas and features into the product. This one could be a bit of a dark horse, but I think it definitely shows potential.

Cred.ai app

Cred.ai

Another service I’ve had a chance to try but have yet to fully review is Cred.ai. Admittedly, part of the reason I haven’t yet written up my complete thoughts on the product is because I’m not 100% sure how it works. But, the basic idea is that the company’s unicorn card functions like a debit card but helps customers build credit by reporting a credit limit on your report.

There’s a lot about Cred.ai that makes it clear they are chasing a younger demographic. For one, their unicorn card is made of metal — which is all the rage among those who like to “flex.” Elsewhere, the app is filled with vibrant colors, patterns, and even video content that make it stand out. Of course, there’s also the service’s functionality, which focuses on helping consumers build up their credit without exposing them to the risks of debt.

Like I said, I do still have a few questions about Cred.ai but it’s clear that this startup is going places. I actually first heard about the product when YouTuber Philip DeFranco announced his investment in the company. With the current credit system continuing to be a point of contention, I fully expect that Cred.ai and offerings like it will prove to be big disruptors in 2022 and beyond.

One Finance app

One Finance

It’s been a while since I initially reviewed One Finance but, in that time, the app has managed to roll out several new features. In fact, while we’re on the topic of credit-building services, One happened to add such a product as well. Beyond that, the account continues to offer some clever features — not to mention some impressive APY.

Once again, One Finance is an app that looks deceptively simple yet has some profoundly useful quirks. For example, their Pockets feature can not only be used to help customers set money aside for goals but can also be used to create cash envelopes-style budgets. To that latter point, users can even select which Pocket they want to pay from when using their debit card. Meanwhile, as I mentioned, One also has some great APYs, offering up to 1% on regular savings and up to 3% on “Auto-Save” funds such as direct deposit and debit card round-up savings.

Overall, I have to say that One does a lot of things right. Furthermore, as someone who loves seeing products evolve for the better, it’s been fascinating to see the app continually innovate. In turn, putting them on my list of apps to watch in 2022 was a simple decision.


Even if 2021 wasn’t the best of years in the grand scheme of things, it turned out to be an incredible year for FinTech. Indeed, the past year introduced me to plenty of great new apps, saw continued improvements to some old favorites, and even saw the resurrection of some others! So, in addition to keeping an eye on these five apps in particular, stay tuned as I bring you many more personal finance tool reviews throughout 2022.

Author

Kyle Burbank

Head Writer ~ Fioney
Kyle is the head writer for Fioney. He is a personal finance nerd, constantly looking for new apps and services to test and incorporate into his own financial game plan. In addition to his role at Fioney, he's written for other publications including Born2Invest, Lifehack, and Laughing Place, as well as his own site Money@30. He also creates personal finance and travel-related videos for Money@30's YouTube channel, which has garnered more than 2 million views. Currently, Kyle resides in Springfield, Missouri with his wife of 10 years. Together, they enjoy traveling (including visiting Disney Parks around the world), dining, and playing with their dog Rigby.

Other Articles by Kyle Burbank

2023 Small Business Credit Card Satisfaction Tops 2019 Highs

The latest small business credit card study from J.D. Power shows satisfaction continuing to rise. About the study and results: This week, J.D Power released its 2023 U.S. Small Business Credit Card Satisfaction Study, which includes responses from more than 3,400 small business credit card customers. In this case, the study looked at businesses with annual revenues between $10,000 and $10 million. First, it was discovered that overall satisfaction among...

Discover Announces 5% Bonus Categories for First Quarter of 2024

With 2024 sneaking up on us, Discover has announced its rotating 5% bonus categories for the first quarter of next year. About the Q1 2024 bonus categories: From January through March 2024, Discover It customers will be able to earn up to 5% back in two categories: restaurants and drugstores. According to the company, the Restaurants category includes full-service establishments, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and dining delivery services. For the...

Public App Adds Corporate and Treasury Bonds Feature

The FinTech trading app Public has announced new investment options for its members. About the features: Public is now rolling out the ability for customers to invest fractionally in corporate and Treasury bonds. This capability will be introduced on both the mobile and desktop interfaces for the service. According to Public, the addition comes as demand for fixed-income products increases. In addition to these bond types, the app will also...
The "Email" field is empty, you must enter some text to proceed.The text you entered in the "Email" field appears to be invalid, please edit it and try again
Get the Latest News Delivered to Your Inbox

FedEx Announces Winners of 11th Annual 2023 Small Business Grant Contest

Nearly three months after the entry period ended, FedEx has announced the winners of its 11th annual Small Business Grant Content. This year's event saw more than $300,000 in funds going to a variety of small businesses across the nation. Last month, the company revealed 100 finalists, with that list now being narrowed down to just 10 winners. This year's grand prize winners included KindVR, The Cupcake Collection, Up In...
Summer app

Student Loan Benefit FinTech Summer Raises $6 Million

For years, student debt has been one of the most talked about financial topics. What's more, while the debt itself has become a major part of many Americans' lives, discussion of student loans has become political due to efforts to forgive certain loan repayments. However, while we wait for resolution on that front, a FinTech that brings student debt benefit solutions to employers and consumers has raised a new round...
H-E-B and Central Market  credit cards

Imprint Launches Credit Cards from H-E-B and Central Market 

The FinTech Imprint is partnering with the popular Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B for a pair of new rewards credit cards. This week saw the launch of the H-E-B Visa Signature Credit Card as well as the Central Market Visa Signature Credit Card. With these two (nearly identical) options, customers will be able to earn rewards on groceries and beyond. First, both versions of the card earn up to 5% back on select...
Melissa Urban holding a Ness card

Health and Wellness Rewards Card Ness Partners with Whole30

In recent years, several unique rewards cards have come to market. These include offerings from FinTech startups as well as brands looking to do something special for their loyal fans. On that note, a recently-announced rewards credit card offering is now working with a popular brand to introduce new benefits for customers. This week, the Ness Card (which is issued by The Bank of Missouri) unveiled a new partnership with...
Choice Privileges Select Card

Choice Hotels, Wells Fargo Debut Choice Privileges Select Card

With spring well underway and the summer travel season now just around the corner, Choice Hotels and Wells Fargo have unveiled their latest co-branded credit card offering. Today, the two companies announced the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard. Carrying an annual fee of $95, this card will serve as the premium option in the hotel brand's new lineup. Looking at the Choice Privileges Select, it offers a mix of rewards categories....