I’ve been using Sprive for over a year now (read my full Sprive review here), and while it’s brilliant for mortgage overpayments, it’s not the only option out there.

If Sprive doesn’t work for you – maybe your lender isn’t supported, or you want to earn better rates on your savings first – there are loads of alternatives that can help you save money and pay off your mortgage faster.

I’ve tested most of these apps myself, so this isn’t a list copied from Google. These are the actual best apps like Sprive for making mortgage overpayments in the UK, broken down by what they’re actually good for.

Quick Comparison Table

App	Best For	How It Works	Fees	FSCS Protected?
Sprive	Direct mortgage overpayments	Auto-saves + cashback gift cards → pay lender	Free	No (but protected via Prepay Technologies)
Chip	Building pot with interest	Auto-saves to FSCS account → manual overpayment	Free (basic)	Yes (£85k limit)
Plum	AI savings + investments	AI calculates savings → manual overpayment	Free-£9.99/month	Yes (on savings pockets)
Moneybox	Round-ups + LISA	Rounds up spending → manual overpayment	£1/month	Yes
HyperJar	Visual budgeting	Budget in jars → manual overpayment	£4.99 one-off card fee	No (safeguarded)
Your Bank	Simple standing order	Set up automatic transfer → manual overpayment	Free	Yes
Cashback Apps	Earning extra money	Shop, earn cash → put towards mortgage	Free	Varies
Emma	Finding savings	Budgeting insights → you save more	Free-£9.99/month	N/A (budgeting only)

Why Look for Alternatives to Sprive?

Don’t get me wrong – I use Sprive and think it’s class. But there are some good reasons you might want an alternative:

Your lender isn’t supported. Sprive only works with about 14 UK mortgage providers. If yours isn’t on the list, you’re stuffed.

You want FSCS protection. Money in Sprive isn’t covered by the £85,000 FSCS guarantee that bank accounts have. It IS protected through other means, but some people prefer full FSCS protection.

You want better interest on savings. Sprive doesn’t pay interest on the money sitting in your account. Apps like Chip and Plum do.

You prefer manual control. Sprive automates everything, which is great – unless you’re the type who likes being hands-on with your finances.

You want to use cashback for other things too. Sprive’s cashback can ONLY go to your mortgage. Other apps let you use it for whatever you want.

You need different features. Maybe you want investment options, budgeting tools, or round-ups alongside savings.

The good news? You don’t have to pick just one. I use a combination of apps, which I’ll explain later.

Best Apps Like Sprive

Chip – Best for Passive Saving

What it is: Chip connects to your bank account, analyses your spending patterns, and automatically sets aside small amounts you won’t miss. The key difference from Sprive? Your money sits in an FSCS-protected savings account earning interest while you build up a pot for overpayments.

How it works:

1. Download Chip and link your current account
2. Set your savings preferences (£1-£100 per save)
3. Chip automatically saves small amounts 2-3 times a week
4. Money builds up in a Chip savings account earning up to 5% interest
5. When ready, withdraw and manually pay your mortgage lender

The Good Stuff:

Your money earns interest while it sits there. Sprive doesn’t pay any interest, so if you’re building up a pot over a few months, you’re losing out. With Chip, you get better rates than most high street savings accounts.

It’s FSCS protected up to £85,000. Chip savings are held with ClearBank, which is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. If anything goes wrong, you’re covered.

Works with ANY mortgage provider. You’re not limited to Sprive’s supported lenders. When you’ve saved enough, just transfer to your bank and pay your lender however they accept overpayments.

The automatic savings are clever. I’ve used Chip for six months and it genuinely picks amounts I don’t notice. One week it might save £15, another week £40, depending on my spending.

The Not-So-Good:

You have to make the overpayment yourself. Chip doesn’t have a “pay lender” button like Sprive does. You withdraw the money to your bank account, then manually overpay your mortgage.

Free version is limited. Basic auto-saving is free, but for higher interest rates and more features, you need Chip Premium (around £1.50/month after free trial).

No cashback feature. Unlike Sprive, Chip doesn’t offer gift card cashback. It’s purely a savings tool.

Who it’s for: People who want to build up a larger lump sum before overpaying (quarterly or annually), and people who want their savings protected and earning interest in the meantime.

Cost: Free for basic auto-saving. Chip Premium costs about £1.50/month for better rates and features.

My verdict: If you prefer making bigger, less frequent overpayments and want your money working for you while it builds up, Chip’s better than Sprive. The manual overpayment is a little bit annoying but not a dealbreaker.

Plum – Best for AI-Powered Auto-Saving

What it is: Plum is similar to Chip but with more bells and whistles. It uses AI to work out how much you can afford to save, offers round-ups like Moneybox, and has investment options if you want to grow your pot further.

How it works:

1. Connect your bank account to Plum
2. Plum’s AI analyses your income and spending habits
3. It automatically saves small amounts (you set min/max limits)
4. Choose to keep it in a savings pocket or invest it
5. Withdraw whenever you want to overpay your mortgage

The Good Stuff:

The AI is clever. Plum watches your spending patterns and calculates what you can actually afford to save. It won’t take money if you’re running low or about to pay a big bill.

Loads of savings and investment options. You can keep money in instant-access savings, notice accounts, Cash ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, or invest in funds. Flexibility is brilliant.

FSCS protected. Money in Plum’s savings pockets (held with Investec Bank) is protected up to £85,000.

Round-up feature included. You can enable round-ups to save your spare change from everyday spending, on top of the automatic savings.

The Not-So-Good:

Can get expensive if you want the good features. Free plan is basic. Pro costs £2.99/month, Ultra £4.99/month, and Premium £9.99/month. The free version has lower interest rates.

No direct mortgage overpayment feature. Like Chip, you withdraw money and handle the overpayment yourself.

Investment options come with risk. If you choose to invest your pot rather than save it, you could lose money. Only do this if you’re comfortable with risk and won’t need the cash short-term.

Who it’s for: People who like having options – you might save for a mortgage overpayment one month, then switch to saving for a holiday the next. The AI element appeals to people who want maximum automation.

Cost: Free (basic), £2.99/month (Pro), £4.99/month (Ultra), £9.99/month (Premium)

My verdict: Plum’s brilliant if you want an all-in-one money app. The investment angle isn’t for everyone – stick to the savings options if you’re risk-averse. More features than Chip, but also more expensive.

Moneybox – Best for Round-Ups

What it is: Moneybox rounds up your card spending to the nearest pound and invests or saves the spare change. Buy a coffee for £2.40, Moneybox saves 60p. Do this hundreds of times a month and it adds up quickly.

How it works:

1. Link your debit card to Moneybox
2. Enable round-ups
3. Every time you spend, Moneybox rounds up and saves/invests the difference
4. Add optional weekly deposits on top
5. Build up a pot, then withdraw to overpay your mortgage

The Good Stuff:

Round-ups are effortless. You literally don’t notice 60p here, 30p there. But over a month it can easily be £50-100 saved without thinking about it.

Great for first-time buyers. Moneybox offers a Lifetime ISA which is perfect if you’re saving for your first home. You get a 25% government bonus on savings up to £4,000/year. Can’t use it for mortgage overpayments on an existing property though – this is only for first-time buyers.

Investing options. Unlike Chip and Plum’s focus on savings, Moneybox leans more into investing. You can choose Stocks & Shares ISAs, pensions, general investment accounts. Your round-ups can go straight into these.

FSCS protected. Money in Moneybox savings accounts and cash products is protected up to £85,000.

The Not-So-Good:

£1 monthly subscription fee. Not much, but it does add up. There’s a free 3-month trial though.

Investment fees on top. If you use the investment products, there’s a 0.45% annual fee plus fund costs. Fine for long-term investing, not ideal if you’re saving short-term for mortgage overpayments.

Better for long-term goals. The investment angle means Moneybox works best if you’re building wealth over years, not just saving for next quarter’s mortgage overpayment.

Can’t link to Metro Bank for round-ups. Annoying if that’s your main bank.

Who it’s for: People who like the “save your spare change” concept, first-time buyers using a LISA, and people who want to combine saving with investing for long-term wealth building.

Cost: £1/month subscription (after 3-month free trial), plus investment fees if you invest.

My verdict: Love the round-ups feature – genuinely painless saving. Less ideal for mortgage overpayments specifically because it’s geared more towards long-term investing. But if you’re comfortable with that, it works.

HyperJar – Best for Budgeting First

What it is: HyperJar is different from the others. It’s not really a savings app – it’s a budgeting app that uses digital “jars” (like the old envelope system) to help you manage your money. You can then use spare cash from budgeting to overpay your mortgage.

How it works:

1. Set up HyperJar and get a prepaid debit card (£4.99 one-off fee, or free virtual card)
2. Create digital jars for different spending categories (groceries, petrol, kids, bills)
3. Transfer money into jars at the start of each month
4. Spend directly from each jar using your HyperJar card
5. Any money left over? Move it to a savings jar for your mortgage overpayment

The Good Stuff:

Brilliant for visual budgeting. Seeing exactly how much money is left in each jar is way easier than checking a bank balance and trying to remember what needs paying.

No monthly fees. Unlike Plum and Moneybox, you just pay £4.99 once for a physical card (or get a free virtual card). The app itself is completely free to use.

Cashback vouchers. Buy prepaid vouchers through HyperJar for retailers and get cashback. Similar concept to Sprive but the vouchers work at different places.

Great for kids’ pocket money. If you have children, HyperJar lets you give them their own card and set spending limits. Teaches them good financial habits.

Shared jars for couples. You can share jars with your partner which makes joint budgeting way easier. Both see the same balance and can spend from it.

The Not-So-Good:

No automatic savings. HyperJar won’t auto-save for you like Chip or Plum. You manually decide how much goes into each jar. Some people prefer this control, others find it annoying.

Money isn’t FSCS protected. Like Sprive, HyperJar isn’t a bank so your money isn’t covered by the FSCS guarantee. It IS safeguarded under Financial Conduct Authority regulations though.

You handle the overpayment. No automatic mortgage payment feature. You withdraw money from your savings jar and manually overpay.

AGR rewards are limited. The “Annual Growth Rate” rewards only work with specific retailers and aren’t massive.

Who it’s for: People who struggle with budgeting and want to see their money visually split up, families who want a budgeting system that everyone can use, and people who prefer manual control over automatic savings.

Cost: £4.99 one-off for physical card (virtual card is free), no monthly fees

My verdict: HyperJar solves a different problem than the others. If your issue is “I don’t know where my money goes each month”, start here. Fix the budgeting, THEN think about mortgage overpayments. Trying to overpay when you can’t even budget properly is backwards.

Your Bank’s App – Best for No-Faff Manual Overpayments

What it is: Sometimes the simplest option is the best. Most UK banks now have apps that let you set up standing orders easily. Just send a fixed amount to your mortgage each month. Job done.

How it works:

1. Open your banking app
2. Set up a standing order to your mortgage account
3. Choose the amount and frequency (monthly, quarterly, whatever)
4. Forget about it

The Good Stuff:

Completely free. No app subscriptions, no fees, nothing.

Works with any mortgage provider. Doesn’t matter who your lender is – you just send them money.

FSCS protected. Your money stays in your bank account (FSCS protected) until it goes to your mortgage.

No middleman. Your money goes straight from your account to your mortgage. No third-party apps involved.

The Not-So-Good:

No automation beyond the standing order. You need to manually work out how much you can afford to save each month.

No earning interest on savings. The money sits in your current account (probably earning nothing) until the standing order goes through.

Requires discipline. If you skip setting it up or cancel the standing order after a month, nothing happens. The savings apps at least nag you a bit.

Who it’s for: People who know exactly how much they can afford to overpay each month and just want to set it and forget it, people who don’t want to deal with extra apps.

Cost: Free

My verdict: If you’re disciplined and organised, this is all you need. But if you’re the type who says “I’ll overpay £200 this month” and then forgets or spends it on a takeaway, the automation of apps like Sprive or Chip is worth it.

Cashback Apps – Best for Extra Money

What it is: Cashback apps like TopCashback, Quidco, Airtime Rewards, and Green Jinn aren’t savings apps. They’re shopping apps that pay you cashback when you buy things. Use that cashback for mortgage overpayments.

How it works:

1. Download a cashback app (or several)
2. Before you buy anything online, check if there’s cashback
3. Click through the app to the retailer
4. Shop normally, earn cashback
5. Cash out and overpay your mortgage with the earnings

The Good Stuff:

Free money for stuff you’re buying anyway. If you’re shopping at Tesco, John Lewis, or online shopping on hundreds of sites, you might as well earn cashback.

No budgeting required. You’re not saving your own money – you’re earning extra money on top of normal spending.

Can be substantial. I’ve earned £200+ a year just from normal everyday shopping. That’s a nice mortgage overpayment.

Works alongside other methods. Use Chip to save, use cashback apps to earn extra, combine it all for bigger overpayments.

The Not-So-Good:

Requires planning. You have to remember to check the app before buying. Forget once and you miss out on cashback.

Cashback isn’t instant. Can take weeks or months to become withdrawable.

Temptation to overspend. “10% cashback at this shop” can lead to buying stuff you don’t need. Be disciplined.

Best Cashback Apps:

• TopCashback – Highest rates but can be slow to pay out
• Quidco – Faster payouts, good rates
• Airtime Rewards – Earn credit off your mobile phone bill from everyday shopping
• Green Jinn – Supermarket cashback specifically

Who it’s for: People who do a lot of online shopping or have a few regular shops they use frequently, people who want extra income on top of their normal savings.

Cost: Free

My verdict: Cashback apps aren’t a substitute for proper savings, but they’re a brilliant addition. Why not earn extra money on your normal spending? I use TopCashback and Airtime Rewards regularly.

Emma – Best for Finding Spare Cash

What it is: Emma is a budgeting app that connects all your bank accounts, credit cards, and subscriptions in one place. It doesn’t save money FOR you – it shows you WHERE you’re wasting money so you can save it yourself.

How it works:

1. Connect all your financial accounts to Emma (uses Open Banking)
2. Emma analyses your spending and finds subscriptions, bills, and spending patterns
3. It shows you where you’re overspending or paying for stuff you don’t use
4. You cancel the waste and put that money towards your mortgage instead

The Good Stuff:

Eye-opening spending insights. Emma will tell you that you spend £180/month on takeaways, or that you’re paying for three streaming services you barely use.

Finds forgotten subscriptions. I found £40/month of subscriptions I’d completely forgotten about. That’s £480 a year I can now overpay my mortgage with.

Completely free (basic version). The core budgeting features don’t cost anything.

Works with all major UK banks. As long as your bank supports Open Banking, you can connect it.

Bill-switching suggestions. Emma will suggest cheaper deals for energy, broadband, phone contracts. The savings from switching can go straight to mortgage overpayments.

The Not-So-Good:

Doesn’t actually save the money for you. Emma just tells you where you’re wasting money. You still need discipline to actually save it.

Premium version costs £9.99/month. The free version is good, but premium features like credit score tracking and advanced insights cost extra.

Requires Open Banking. If you’re not comfortable with apps accessing your bank data (even though it’s FCA-regulated and secure), Emma isn’t for you.

Who it’s for: People who don’t really know where their money goes each month, people who suspect they’re wasting money but can’t pinpoint where, and anyone who wants better visibility of their finances before committing to savings.

Cost: Free (basic), £9.99/month (Emma Pro)

My verdict: Start with Emma before anything else. There’s no point using Chip or Sprive to save £50/month if you’re wasting £100/month on subscription services you don’t use. Find the waste first, THEN save it.

How to Choose the Right App

Right, that’s a lot of information. How do you actually pick one?

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Does your mortgage lender work with Sprive?

If YES → Sprive is probably your best bet. It’s designed specifically for mortgage overpayments and does everything automatically.

If NO → Pick from the alternatives above.

2. Do you want full FSCS protection?

If YES → Go with Chip, Plum, Moneybox, or your bank’s standing order. All offer full FSCS protection on savings.

If NO/DON’T CARE → Sprive and HyperJar are fine (they have other protections in place).

3. Do you prefer automatic or manual savings?

Want automatic? → Chip, Plum, Moneybox
Want manual control? → HyperJar, bank standing order
Want both? → Sprive does auto-savings but you manually trigger overpayments

4. Do you need to see your budget visually?

If YES → HyperJar or Emma
If NO → Any of the others

5. Are you happy making manual overpayments to your lender?

If YES → Chip, Plum, Moneybox, HyperJar all work fine
If NO → Sprive is the only one that sends money directly to your lender

6. Do you want your savings to earn interest?

If YES → Chip or Plum (best rates)
If NO/DON’T CARE → Sprive, HyperJar work fine

7. What’s your actual financial situation?

Struggling to budget? → Start with Emma or HyperJar to fix that first
Saving well already? → Chip or Plum to maximise returns
Just want simple automation? → Sprive or bank standing order
Want to earn extra income too? → Add cashback apps on top of whatever else you choose

Can You Use Multiple Apps Together?

Absolutely. I use three apps together:

Emma → Shows me where I’m wasting money
Airtime Rewards → Gives me cashback on everyday shopping
Sprive → Auto-saves small amounts and sends it to my mortgage

Some people use:

Emma → Find savings
Chip → Build a pot with interest
Bank app → Manually overpay quarterly with the pot

Or:

HyperJar → Budget properly
TopCashback → Earn cashback
Plum → Save the spare cash automatically

The apps don’t conflict with each other. They solve different parts of the same problem.

Just don’t go mad and download ten apps. Pick 2-3 maximum that work well together for YOUR situation.

FAQ

Is Sprive better than Chip?

Depends what you want. Sprive is better if you want everything automated and don’t mind money not earning interest. Chip is better if you want FSCS protection and better interest rates while building up a pot.

Can these apps really help me pay off my mortgage faster?

Yes, but only if you actually use them consistently. Overpaying even £50/month can save thousands in interest and cut years off your mortgage term. The apps just make it easier to do consistently.

Do I need to tell my mortgage provider I’m overpaying?

Check your mortgage terms first. Most allow up to 10% overpayment per year without penalties, but some don’t. Ring your lender and confirm how much you can overpay and whether extra payments automatically reduce the term or if you need to tell them.

Which app is best for someone on a tight budget?

HyperJar or Emma. They’ll help you find money you’re wasting that you can redirect towards overpayments. There’s no point using a savings app if you have no spare money to save.

Are any of these apps actually free?

Chip (basic), Plum (basic), Emma (basic), your bank’s app, and cashback apps are all free. HyperJar charges £4.99 one-off for a card. Moneybox costs £1/month after free trial. Sprive is completely free.

Can I use these if I have a buy-to-let mortgage?

Most are designed for residential mortgages. Check the app’s terms. Commercial mortgages usually have different rules about overpayments anyway.

How much should I overpay my mortgage?

Whatever you can afford without struggle. Even £25/month makes a difference over time. Don’t overpay so much that you have nothing left for emergencies.

What if I need the money back?

Chip, Plum, Moneybox, HyperJar all let you withdraw money anytime (Moneybox has some withdrawal limits depending on account type). Sprive lets you withdraw automatic savings but not cashback. Once money goes to your mortgage, check your lender’s terms – some allow you to borrow it back, some don’t.

Should I overpay my mortgage or save in a savings account instead?

If your mortgage interest rate is higher than savings account interest rates (which it probably is), you’ll save more money by overpaying the mortgage. BUT always keep an emergency fund in an accessible savings account first.

Do these apps work in Northern Ireland?

Most UK apps work in Northern Ireland, but check individual apps. Sprive definitely works throughout the United Kingdom.

Which app has the best customer support?

From my experience: Chip and Moneybox have responsive customer support. Sprive’s support is decent but can be slow. HyperJar has been hit-and-miss in reviews. Plum gets mixed feedback.

My Final Recommendation

If your mortgage provider works with Sprive → Use Sprive. It’s the most seamless option.

If it doesn’t → Use Chip for automatic savings with FSCS protection + TopCashback for extra cashback income. Manually overpay quarterly with the pot you build up.

If you’re struggling with budgeting first → Start with Emma to find wasted money, then HyperJar to create a budgeting system. Only THEN start thinking about apps like Chip or Plum.

The key isn’t which app you use. It’s actually DOING IT. Even overpaying £25/month with a simple bank standing order is better than downloading five apps and never using them.

Pick one method, stick with it for six months, and you’ll be amazed how much you’ve saved without really noticing.

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Related Posts:

• Sprive Review: My Honest Experience
• Best UK Cashback Apps
• Money Saving Apps UK