The Best Apps to Help You Save for a Deposit

Saving for a deposit can feel like the biggest hurdle when buying your first home especially with rising living costs and property prices. But the good news is that there are now powerful apps designed specifically to help first-time buyers stay motivated, track progress and build their deposit faster.

Below, we’ve rounded up the best deposit-saving and mortgage-support apps in the UK, including Tembo Money and Meet Margo, which directly support first-time buyers navigating both savings and mortgage eligibility.

Home at Last can help you every step of the way. Book a free 15-minute consultation today and let's prepare you for your homebuying journey.

1. Tembo Money – Save, Boost Affordability and Access a Lifetime ISA

Best for: First-time buyers who want help saving and improving mortgage eligibility Tembo offers a powerful combination of savings tools and Mortgage in Principle guidance. Their app supports first-time buyers by helping them understand affordability, open savings accounts, and even access a Lifetime ISA.

Key Features:

• Cash & Stocks LISA directly in app

• “Mortgage tab” to check what you could borrow

• Open an account in under 10 minutes

• Tools to grow your deposit faster

• Great for affordability boosting products

Why it’s great for first-time buyers:

You can save and prepare for your mortgage in the same place and Tembo specialises in helping buyers increase their borrowing power.

2. Meet Margo – An App for Mortgage Advice and Application Tracking

Best for: Buyers close to applying for a mortgage or wanting professional guidance Meet Margo is a mortgage-advice app that lets you compare thousands of mortgage deals from over 70 lenders and speak directly with advisers.

Key Features:

• Compare mortgage deals in-app

• Speak to a mortgage adviser

• Track your mortgage application

• Upload documents securely

• No fee for residential mortgages (lender pays the fee)

Why first-time buyers love it:

It simplifies the mortgage process and helps you understand what deals you qualify for ideal once your deposit savings are in place.

3. Plum – Automated Saving Made Easy

Best for: People who struggle to save consistently Plum analyses your income and spending, then moves small amounts of money into savings automatically.

Key Features:

• Autosaves based on spending behaviour

• Round-ups

• Savings pockets

• Investment options for long-term growth

Why first-time buyers love it:

You save without even noticing.

4. Moneybox – The Most Popular LISA App

Best for: First-time buyers using a Lifetime ISA (LISA) Moneybox is one of the UK’s leading apps for opening a Cash or Stocks & Shares LISA, where the government gives you a 25% bonus on up to £4,000 saved each year.

Key Features:

• Cash and investment LISAs

• Simple interface

• Round-ups

• Home-buying savings tracker

Perfect for: Anyone saving for a deposit with government bonuses.

5. Monzo – Budgeting and Savings in one App

Best for: Budgeting, managing bills and building good saving habits Monzo’s features help you stay on track financially, making saving for a deposit far easier.

Key Features:

• Salary sorting

• Savings pots

• Bills pots

• Instant notifications

• Round-ups

Why it's useful:

Having a clear budget is essential when preparing your mortgage application.

6. Revolut – Great for everyday saving and spending control

Best for: People who like visual tracking and automation

Key Features:

• Vaults for saving

• Round-ups

• Spending categorisation

• Budgeting tools

Why it's useful: Great for those who need help understanding where their money actually goes.

7. Chip – High-Interest Automated Saving

Best for: Earning interest on savings without tying up your money Chip automatically saves money for you and offers very competitive interest rates, often higher than high-street banks.

Key Features:

• Autosaving

• High-interest accounts

• Goal-specific saving

Perfect for: short to medium-term saving toward a deposit.

Which App should you choose?

Your Situation	Best App(s)
Struggle to save consistently	Plum, Chip
Want a Lifetime ISA	Tembo Money, Moneybox
Need better budgeting	Monzo, Revolut
Preparing for a mortgage	Tembo Money, Meet Margo
Want to track mortgage + upload documents	Meet Margo

Most first-time buyers benefit from using two apps, one for saving (e.g. Tembo Money) and one for mortgage preparation (e.g. Meet Margo).

How Home at Last can support you

At Home at Last, we help first-time buyers with every stage of the journey:

• Building a personalised deposit-saving plan

• Mortgage readiness checks

• Referrals to trusted mortgage brokers

• Property search and negotiation support

• Step-by-step buying guidance until you get your keys

If you’d like help choosing the right tools for your savings plan, or want to understand how much you could borrow, book a free consultation with our team today. We’ll help you understand your next steps, connect you with the right professionals and turn that “no” into your next “yes.”!

Disclaimer:

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional advice. The content is based on the author's research and opinions at the time of writing. Please consult with a qualified professionals before making any investment, financial, or business decisions.