Sci-Tech
Amazon Prime Day 2024: Live updates on the 145+ hottest Prime Day deals
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We’re in the middle of the Amazon Prime Day sale, which runs today, Tuesday, July 16, through Wednesday, July 17. Right now, you can find excellent Prime Day deals on popular products like the Apple Watch Series 9, the Nintendo Switch, the Xbox Series X, and AirPods — along with competing sales at Walmart, Best Buy, and other retailers — and more are on the way.
Our team of tech and deal-hunting experts have sorted through hundreds of deals and discounts this week to curate the best Prime Day discounts you can get your hands on during this two-day sales event, starting as early as 4 a.m. ET each day. We will help you cut through the noise to find the best Prime Day deals available on everything from TVs to tablets to robot vacuums and other useful gadgets so you can shop with confidence. We’ll update this list constantly throughout the Prime Day event, so be sure to check back for the latest deals.
Also: The best Prime Day deals so far
Our favorite Prime Day deals: Apple products, Kindles, Roombas, and more
- Apple Watch Series 9 for $280 (save $120): The Apple Watch Series 9 is our pick for the best Apple Watch for most people, and this is one of the best deals we’ve seen for it.
- Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) for $69 (save $60): Our pick for the best AirPods for the price, don’t miss this chance to grab these popular earbuds for 47% off.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for $170 (save $109): Bose’s second-generation premium earbuds are our pick for the best noise-canceling earbuds that also deliver all-day comfort.
- Kindle Scribe 16GB with Premium Pen for $260 (save $110): The Kindle Scribe is one of our favorite Kindle and e-notebook picks for its paper-like feel and high-res display — and it’s 31% off right now.
- Kindle Paperwhite 16GB for $135 (save $15): Amazon’s classic Kindle is 10% off for Prime Day.
- Hoto 12-in-1 Electric Screwdriver for $40 (save $30): We love this handy tool that makes DIY projects so much easier — especially at 43% off.
- Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner for $86 (save $38): This popular portable carpet cleaner gets a 34% discount for Prime Day.
- iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for $399 (save $399): Save 50% on our pick for the best Roomba vacuum, which in our testing, didn’t get stuck, would self-empty as needed, and did a great job cleaning.
- Dyson V15 Detect Plus Cordless Vacuum for $550 (save $200): I own and love this Dyson cordless vacuum — it’s worth the price.
- Nintendo Switch OLED for $274 (save $76 at Walmart): The latest version of the Nintendo Switch features a 7-inch OLED display for better color accuracy, detailing, and contrast while in handheld mode.
- Sony Bravia X90L 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV for $1,098 (save $202): ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner calls this “the best TV you’ve never heard of” — it’s his most-recommended TV, and it’s on sale in every size for Amazon Prime Day.
- Hisense Class A7 Series LED 4K UHD for $200 (save $50): One of the brightest TVs Hisense has to offer, the Hisense U76 features Dolby Vision and has a 144hz display, making it a great option for gamers. (All other sizes are discounted, too.)
- Sonos Ray Soundbar for $199 (save $80): Upgrade your audio setup with this great Sonos soundbar, on sale for nearly 30% off.
- Apple MacBook Air (M2) for $799 (save $200): The MacBook Air (M2) is one of our favorite laptops at ZDNET — and it’s on sale for just $799, the lowest price we’ve ever seen.
- Apple AirPods Max for $395 (save $154): Apple’s popular over-ear headphones get a rare discount for Prime Day.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for $620 (save $300): One of the best Android tablets you can buy is on sale for Prime Day.
- Apple MacBook Air (M3) for $849 (save $250): Apple’s latest MacBook Air powered by an M3 chip gets a $250 discount for Prime Day — the lowest price it’s ever been. (Make sure you apply the coupon on the page.)
- Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) for $25 (save $25): Grab a classic Echo Dot for 50% off to use Alexa wherever you’d like.
- Costco one-year membership for $60 plus a free $40 gift card (save $40 at Stack Social): This is the best deal on a Costco membership of the year, especially before membership prices rise in the fall.
Best Prime Day Apple deals: AirPods, Apple Watches, MacBooks, and more
- Apple AirPods Max for $395 (save $154): Don’t miss this rare deal for Apple’s excellent over-ear headphones.
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 for $169 (save $80): These are ZDNET’s best overall pick for AirPods, thanks to the earbuds’ immaculate noise cancellation, battery, and sound.
- Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) for $69 (save $60): Save 47% on a pair of classic Apple AirPods, our pick for the best AirPods for the price.
- Apple Watch Series 9 for $280 (save $120): The Apple Watch Series 9 is one of our most recommended options, and this is one of the best deals we’ve seen.
- Apple Watch SE for $170 (save $79): The Apple Watch SE is our favorite for first-time buyers, and has all of the basics you’ll need in a premium smartwatch.
- Apple MacBook Air (M3) for $849 (save $250): Save $200 on Apple’s latest 2024 MacBook Air, powered by an M3 chip.
- Apple MacBook Air (M2) for $799 (save $200): If you need an excellent lightweight laptop suitable for work and travel, you can save on a 2022 model with an M2 chip, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
- Apple 2023 MacBook Pro for $2,050 (save $650): If you need a premium laptop that will last you for years to come, consider the $650 discount on a MacBook Pro with top specs.
- Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) for $649 (save $50): You can save $50 on a thin and light iPad Air at Amazon, bringing the cost down of this 256GB model to $649.
- Apple AirTag for $24 (save $4): If you constantly lose your keys or wallet, you might want to invest in an AirTag tracker and save a few bucks in the process.
- Apple Pencil Pro for $119 (save $10): While the discount isn’t huge, you can still save on the Apple Pencil Pro.
- Apple iPad (10th Generation) for $300 (save $49): If you need a budget-friendly iPad, you can save $49 on a 10th-generation model powered by an A14 chip and with 64GB internal storage.
- Apple Pencil (2nd gen) for $79 (save $50): ZDNET ranked the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) as the best iPad stylus you can buy, thanks to its intuitive touch surface that supports double-tapping and pressure sensitivity.
Best Prime Day TV deals: Samsung, Sony, Hisesense, and more
Editor’s note: Many of these TV models are on sale in multiple sizes — click through to see every option.
- Sony Bravia 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L Series for $1,098 (save $202): ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner highly recommends this Sony TV thanks to its color accuracy, precision brightness, 120Hz smooth motion, and 4K image processing.
- Hisense Class A7 Series LED 4K UHD for $200 (save $50): One of the brightest TVs from Hisense, the Hisense U76 features Dolby Vision and has a 144hz display, making it a great option for gamers.
- Vizio 50-inch MQX Series 4K OLED Smart TV for $449 (save $181): This TV has Dolby Vision HDR Bright Mode and HDR10+, plus, is fine-tuned with Active Pixel Tuning so you’re getting a crystal-clear and colorful picture.
- Samsung 55-inch The Frame for $998 (save $500): Samsung’s popular Frame TVs can display famous works of art and blend into your decor — and get a rare 33% discount for Prime Day.
- LG C3 Series 65-Inch Class OLED evo 4K for $1,397 (save $200): Our pick for the best LG TV, the LG C3 has an updated OLED panel, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.
- Samsung S90C OLED smart TV for $1,598 (save $400): ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner calls this “one of the best Samsung TVs of all time” — don’t miss this deal on one.
- Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series HD smart TV for $100 (save $100): TVs don’t get much cheaper than this: Grab a Fire TV for 50% off at just $100.
- Amazon Fire TV 40-inch 2-Series HD smart TV for $170 (save $80): This is a great smaller Fire TV with Alexa support and is ideal for a smaller space.
- Vizio M-Series 5.1 Sound Bar for $250 (save $80): This soundbar is powered by Dolby Atmos and has nine performance speakers, including a wireless subwoofer to pack some punch.
- Insignia 65-inch Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV for $350 (save $100): This already-affordable 65-inch 4K Insignia Fire TV gets a big discount for Prime Day.
- Insignia 32-inch Class F20 Series Smart HD 720p Fire TV for $75 (save $55): Another incredibly affordable TV on sale is the 32-inch Insignia model, which comes with an Alexa voice remote.
- TCL 85-inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV for $900 (save $700): This smart TV comes with Dolby Atmos, HDR Pro+ with Dolby Vision for enhanced contrast and colors, and has a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Samsung 55-inch QLED 4K The Terrace outdoor TV for $2798 (save $702): Outdoor TVs can be brilliant for summer cookouts and sporting events, and right now, you can enjoy 20% off Samsung’s The Terrace model.
- Vizio 43-inch MQ6 Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV for $290 (save $60): This TV comes built-in with WatchFree+, which gives you 250+ live streaming channels and over 5,000 titles on demand for free.
Best Prime Day gadget deals: Echo devices, AirTags, iPhone chargers, and more
- Anker iPhone 15 Charger 2-pack for $13 (save $6): These chargers provide 20W of high-speed charging for devices like the iPhone 15, AirPods Pro, iPad Pro, and more for an affordable price.
- Meta Quest 3 for $430 (save $70): Unlock the power of VR and AR headsets with this ZDNET-loved headset.
- Oura Ring for $297 (save $53): Our favorite smart ring is on sale at a rare discount for the Horizon model.
- Amazon Echo Glow Smart Light for $17 (save $13): Amazon’s Echo Glow smart light pairs with Alexa-compatible devices and is perfect for a kid’s room.
- iPhone charging cable 6-pack for $8 with coupon (save $3): This is a wildly cheap pack of lightning chargers compatible with the iPhone 14, 13, 12, and more, in a variety of sizes ranging from 3 to 10 feet.
- Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook for $24 (save $10): One of our favorite smart notebooks allows you to digitize your handwritten notes.
- TP-Link Wi-Fi Extender for $13 (save $22 with coupon): If your home Wi-Fi doesn’t reach far enough, pick up this extender to boost your internet coverage up to 1,200 square feet.
- Amazon Echo + Smart bulb for $57 (save $63): This bundle includes a fourth-gen Echo and a Sengled smart light bulb to help you control your lights with Alexa.
- Apple AirTag 4 pack for $75 (save $10): Keep track of everything from your keys to your kids with this AirTag pack (or, grab a single AirTag on sale for $24).
- Anker 622 MaGo MagSafe Battery Pack for $45 (save $16): Need a battery boost? Anker’s MagSafe 5,000 mAh battery pack is $16 off right now. Plus, it’s ZDNET tested and recommended.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick for $18 (save $22): Easily access all of your streaming services and get Alexa support with the Amazon Fire TV Stick, now 55% off. (The 4K version is also on sale for $25, or 50% off.)
- Blink Mini 2 for $20 (save $20): This camera records in HD, stores videos in the cloud, allows two-way conversation, and has Alexa support.
- GE Cync A19 Smart LED Bulbs for $16 (save $8): This pack of two bulbs allows you to choose from millions of colors and create routines to schedule when your lights turn on and off.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for $200 (save $130): The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, our favorite Samsung smartwatch, is available with a 39% discount. This smartwatch has a fitness tracker, sleep coaching, mobile connectivity, and more.
- Cosori Air Fryer 9-in-1 for $86 (save $34): You can cook (and crisp) pretty much anything in this six-quart air fryer, from the brand that topped our best air fryers list. The mini version is our staff favorite.
- Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer and Oven for $60 (save $70): This air fryer is well-loved on Amazon, with over 10,000 ratings and an average 4.7-star review score.
- Birdie Personal Safety Alarm for $18 (save $12): When the two-piece body is pulled apart, this device sets off an ear-piercing 130dB alarm and jarring strobe light, making it an essential gadget for personal safety.
Best Prime Day laptop deals: MacBooks, Chromebooks, and more
- Apple MacBook Air (M2) for $799 (save $200): The MacBook Air (M2) combines performance and portability. It’s one of our favorite laptops at ZDNET and our Product of the Year — and it’s on sale for just $799, the lowest price we’ve ever seen.
- Apple MacBook Air (M3) for $849 (save $250): If you want to purchase one of Apple’s latest MacBook Air products, you can save $200 on the 2024 version, powered by an M3 chip — the lowest price of the year.
- Apple MacBook Pro (M3) for $1,400 (save $200): The MacBook Pro (M3) is one of the best-performing laptops on the market, and it’s $200 off — make sure you add the coupon offer on the page.
- Lenovo ThinkBook 15 for $559 (save $90): The ThinkBook 15 is a powerhouse for your back-to-school or business needs. Its 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor pairs with 16GB of RAM, so any major spec-heavy tasks will perform smoothly on the laptop.
- HP Stream 14-inch HD BrightView Laptop for $299 (save $100): This affordable HP laptop includes 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and one year of Office 365.
- Acer Chromebook Spin 311 for $229 (save $60): You can enjoy a 27% discount on the Acer Chromebook Spin, a convertible device suitable for casual, daily use.
- Acer Nitro V Gaming laptop for $660 (save $120): A great deal on a gaming laptop over Prime Day is for the Acer Nitro V. This model comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia graphics.
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for $649 (save $151): This laptop has a vibrant 12.4-inch touchscreen, up to 15 hours of battery life, and a full-size keyboard with a large, precision touchpad.
Best Prime Day headphone deals: Bose, Apple, Sony, and more
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II for $170 (save $109): These premium Bose earbuds are our favorite noise-canceling earbuds — and they’re also super comfortable.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra over-ear headphones for $349 (save $80): Bose’s latest premium over-ear headphones are our pick for the best headphones, thanks to their modern design, best-in-class noise-canceling, and all-day comfort.
- Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) for $169 (save $80): Apple’s premium wireless earbuds are the best portable companion for people with an iPhone or multiple Apple devices, with top-notch audio features.
- Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) for $69 (save $60): These popular AirPods are 47% off — a great deal.
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds for $99 (save $131): Samsung’s premium wireless Galaxy Buds Pro 2 are on sale following the release of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. These earbuds offer quality noise-canceling properties, integration with your other Galaxy devices, and all-day comfort.
- Sony WH-CH720N over-ear headphones for $88 (save $62): Sony’s budget over-ear headphones borrow internal audio components from the company’s flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones for a quarter of the price.
- Shokz OpenRun Pro Premium Bone Conduction Headphones for $99 (save $80 at Best Buy): Our favorite bone conduction headphones get the biggest discount at Best Buy this week.
- JBL Tune Flex Noise Cancelling Earbuds for $70 (save $30): These JBL earbuds include up to 32 hours of battery life and four microphones for better hands-free calls.
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 over-ear headphones for $250 (save $130): Sennheiser’s flagship over-ear headphones deliver highly detailed audio for Bluetooth headphones. These headphones come in many colors, and some have deeper discounts than others
- Beats Studio Pro for $170 (save $180): Beats’ premium over-ear headphones deliver all-day comfort and unique integration with Android and iOS devices. They are 51% off for Prime Day, so be sure to take advantage of this deal.
- Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones for $36 (save $44): Another worthwhile audio deal is for a pair of Sony over-ear wireless headphones, which have been reduced by 55% and now cost only $36.
- Beats Solo 4 for $120 (save $80): Beats released the latest iteration of its popular on-ear headphones two months ago, making this deal great for people looking for a pair of recently released headphones. When we tested them, we praised their comfort, style, and integration with Android and iOS devices.
- Beats Studio Buds for $79 (save $71): You save 47% off the typical RRP over Amazon Prime Day on a pair of Beats Studio Buds, now available for $79.
Best Prime Day robot vacuum deals: iRobot, Roborock, Shark, and more
- iRobot Roomba j7+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum for $399 (save $399): Take 50% off our pick for the best Roomba vacuum, which in our testing, didn’t get stuck, would self-empty as needed, and did a great job cleaning.
- Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum for $295 (save $306): At 51% off, this is one of the best discounts you’ll find on a self-emptying robot vacuum.
- Roborock S7 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo for $800 (save $500): This is the lowest price we’ve seen on this excellent Roborock vacuum that offers a hands-free cleaning experience with a self-emptying dustbin and self-washing and drying mop pads. It’s also our pick for the best Roborock vacuum for pet owners.
- Eufy BoostIQ 11S Max robot vacuum for $130 (save $120): This inexpensive robot vacuum is a perfect affordable option for pet owners, with BoostIQ technology to boost suction when carpet is detected.
- ILIFE V3s Pro robot vacuum cleaner for $100 (save $60): For a budget-friendly robot vacuum suitable for daily cleaning, you can save $60 on an ILIFE V3s Pro vacuum cleaner.
- iRobot Roomba Combo i3+ robot vacuum & mop for $330 (save $270): Another Prime Day option is an iRobot combination of a vacuum and mop, which is currently available with a substantial discount.
- Narwal Freo X Ultra robot vacuum and mop combo for $950 (save $331): A premium robot vacuum and mop, developed by Narwal Freo, is available with a $331 discount.
- Eufy L60 robot vacuum for $280 (save $120): This highly-rated Eufy robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying station that holds up to 60 days’ worth of dust and debris.
- Shark AV2501S Ultra Vacuum for $420 (save $130): This robot vacuum holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris and uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to quickly and accurately map your home to ensure a thorough clean.
- LUBA AWD Robotic lawn mower for $2499 (save $400): If you want a robot but for outside, you can save $400 on a robotic lawn mower with multi-zone management.
- ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S robot vacuum and mop for $700 (save $300): A robot vacuum and mop combination available with a $300 discount is available at Amazon.
Best Prime Day gaming deals: Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and more
- Nintendo Switch OLED for $274 (save $76 at Walmart): The latest version of the Nintendo Switch features a 7-inch OLED display for better color accuracy, detailing, and contrast while in handheld mode.
- Xbox Series X for $450 (save $100 at Best Buy): This Best Buy deal takes $50 off the flagship Xbox Series X.
- Xbox Series S plus 2 TB storage expansion card for $530 (save $130): Best Buy has the Xbox Series S on sale, bundled with a 2 TB Seagate external hard drive for expanded storage.
- Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED curved gaming monitor for $1,079 (save $720): Samsung’s biggest gaming monitor gets a major discount for Prime Day. (You can also find the 32-inch and 27-inch versions on sale for the first time, too.)
- Asus ROG Strix desktop for $2,600 (save $1,700): This gaming desktop is built with an AMD Ryzen 9 5000 CPU, 32GB RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card, a 1TB SSD, and 2 TB HDD.
- Razer BlackShark V2 X gaming headset for $35 (save $25): An excellent deal we’ve spotted for a gaming headset is $25 off a Razer BlackShark.
- CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC for $1100 (save $200): To swap your existing PC for a full gaming rig, consider the $200 discount on a CyberPower Xtreme — a PC sporting a powerful processor, strong graphics, and plenty of storage.
- GTPLAYER gaming chair for $95 (save $95): If you need a comfortable gaming chair with lumbar support, you can save $90 on this option, which is available in various colors.
Best Prime Day Kindle deals
Best Prime Day tablet deals: iPads, Galaxy Tabs, Fire tablets, and more
- Apple iPad (10th generation) for $300 (save $49): Apple’s base-level iPad is our pick for the best iPad for FaceTime and a great option for those new to Apple or those looking for something easy to use.
- Apple iPad Air 13-inch (M2) for $738 (save $61): The latest lightweight iPad Air features up to 50% better performance than the previous model, and a landscape-oriented webcam.
- Apple iPad mini (6th generation) for $380 (save $119): The iPad Mini is our pick for one of the best small tablets you can buy with its portable size and A15 Bionic chip — it’s a powerful tablet packed into a small package.
- Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4) for $1,198 (save $101): Apple’s top-of-the-line latest iPad Pro is one of our picks for the best tablets you can buy, with its speedy M4 chip.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 for $620 (save $300): One of our picks for the best Android tablet, this Samsung tablet is a well-rounded device that lets you take advantage of Samsung’s DeX platform.
- Microsoft Surface Pro 9 Tablet for $2,102 (save $598): This is our pick for one of the best large tablets for those who also want a laptop, with its 2-in-1 detachable design.
- Amazon Fire 7 tablet for $50 (save $30): At 38% off, the Amazon Fire 7 tablet is available for only $50, making it a great entry-level, affordable option.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $200 (save $130): This 10.4-inch tablet provides long battery life, a high resolution, and an S-Pen. You can save $130 for Prime Day.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ tablet for $143 (save $77): If you want to purchase a budget-friendly tablet, the Galaxy Tab A9 is available at Amazon with a $50 discount.
- Google Pixel Tablet for $349 (save $150): This Android tablet doubles as a smart home hub when it’s not in use, thanks to the included Charging Speaker Dock.
- OnePlus Pad for $370 (save $110): This Android-powered tablet is quick and snappy for daily tasks like checking your email, playing games, or browsing the web, all on a display that looks fantastic.
Best Prime Day phone deals: Samsung Galaxy, iPhones, Pixels, and more
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 phone + $200 Amazon gift card for $1,100 (save $320): When you preorder Samsung’s latest Galaxy flip phone on Amazon, you’ll get a free upgrade to 512 GB of storage plus a $200 Amazon gift card.
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 phone + $300 Amazon gift card for $1,900 (save $420): Preorder Samsung’s new folding phone and get a free upgrade to the 512 GB storage option and a $300 Amazon gift card.
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for $1,050 (save $370): Our pick for the best phone overall, Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra is 26% off for Prime Day.
- Samsung Galaxy S24+ for $820 (save $300): The Samsung S24+ (512GB) is available at Amazon with a $300 discount.
- Apple iPhone 15 for free (save $829): Get a free iPhone 15 (or iPhone 15 Pro Max) if you agree to a 36-month financing plan under one of Boost Infinite’s Unlimited services. (Verizon and T-Mobile have similar offers.)
- Motorola Razr 2023 for $333 (save $367): This is the lowest price we’ve seen on the most affordable foldable phone on the market. It doesn’t have the largest outer display of flip phones, but it’s still compact and handy to use.
- Google Pixel 8 Pro for $699 (save $300): The latest flagship phone from Google includes up to 7 years of software updates.
- Google Pixel 8a for $449 (save $50): Another Google smartphone on sale is the Google Pixel 8a, a robust mid-range smartphone sporting great camera capabilities.
- OnePlus Open for $1,300 (save $400): Arguably one of the best foldable phones on the market, even after months since launch, the OnePlus Open comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and 67W fast charging that bests any Samsung or Google competitor.
Best Prime Day deals for college students
- Apple MacBook Air (M3) for $849 (save $250): Our pick for the best laptop for college hit its lowest price ever for Prime Day. (Make sure you apply the coupon.)
- Acer Aspire Go 15 Slim Laptop for $214 (save $60): Our pick for the best budget college laptop, the Acer Aspire Go gets even cheaper for Prime Day, at 20% off.
- Power Strip Surge Protector for $13 (save $7): Maximize your dorm room outlet space with this power strip, which includes 6 outlets, 2 USB ports, and 1 USB-C port.
- Mesh Shower Caddy for $8 (save $2): This hanging shower caddy has room for all of your bathroom essentials.
- Over the Door Organizer for $18 (save $22): This useful organizer will maximize your closet space, and it’s 55% off for Prime Day.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ for $500 (save $200): The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE has an 8,000mAh battery, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage, and support for a microSD card up to 1TB.
- HP 27h Full HD Monitor for $125 (save $105): This monitor as a 75Hz refresh rate, dual, built-in 2W speakers, and has an adjustable tilt/height stand for optimal viewing.
- JBL Go 3 for $30 (save $20): This portable Bluetooth speaker is perfect for bringing to parties or study sessions and gets up to five hours of battery life on a single charge.
- Roku Express Streaming Device for $17 (save $13): This small device is one of the best Roku TV players due to its affordable price and voice assistant support. You’ll be able to stream any movie or TV show in your dorm room.
- Logitech C270 HD Webcam for $19 (save $21): This webcam allows for 720p video calling along with features like auto light correction and a noise-reducing microphone so you can look and sound your best during online classes.
Best Prime Day gift card deals
- Roblox Digital Gift Code: Get a $50 Roblox gift card for 4,500 Robux for just $40 with this Prime Day deal.
- $200 Amazon Gift Card: Get a free $200 Amazon gift card when you preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
- Get a $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for the Amazon Prime Visa credit card. You’ll also be eligible for cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market.
- DoorDash eGift Card: Receive $20 promotional credit when you spend $100 or more. Enter the code DASH at checkout.
- Uber eGift Card: Receive $10 promotional credit when you spend $100 or more. Enter the code UBERUSPD at checkout.
- Best Buy eGift Card: Save $10 when you spend $100 or more. Enter code BESTBUY at checkout.
- Razer Gold eGift Card: Receive $20 promotional credit when you spend $100 or more. Enter the code RAZER at checkout.
FAQs
When is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day 2024 runs from Tuesday, July 16 at 3 a.m. ET through Wednesday, July 17.
Are there different deals on Prime Day 2?
ZDNET’s deals editor Kayla Solino has the scoop on this. “The answer here is hard to say. It’s a yes but also a no. Invite-only Prime deals — or Lightning deals — may be different each day. Amazon confirmed last month that new deals may surface as often as every five minutes on the site. But, as always, deals only last as long as Amazon decides, with lighting deals offering a countdown to their expiration and other deals’ longevity depending on how fast products sell out (or don’t). It’s likely that as long as stock remains, many of the deals from Day 1 will remain live for Day 2, including deals on popular Amazon products such as Fire TVs, Kindles, Fire tablets, Echo devices, and more,” she writes in her Prime Day FAQ article.
How did we choose the best Amazon Prime Day deals?
ZDNET is always looking for the best deals so that you don’t have to. We take extensive care in checking which products have the best prices and which are most worthy of your hard-earned money. The quality of the product, our personal experience with it, and price history all go into determining which deals are worth sharing with you.
We will be checking for Amazon Prime Days deals often both before, during, and after the two-day sale event to bring you the best deals as soon as they’re available.
What are the best Prime Day 2024 deals?
ZDNET’s experts have been searching through Prime Day sales to find the best discounts by category:
You can also find the best Amazon Prime Day deals by price:
And the best deals from other retailers this week:
Sci-Tech
My favorite hybrid smartwatch has incredible battery life and a gorgeous look
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/760a54f877d19c5b054e6fcf22f8742e983f956b/2024/01/31/c1de0266-c560-45cd-8fcc-5c377c9568a4/withings-scanwatch23.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
![withings-scanwatch23](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/5bfbf7ae5ea01f0a9e8d445db59a5b79beb81f7a/2024/01/31/c1de0266-c560-45cd-8fcc-5c377c9568a4/withings-scanwatch23.jpg?auto=webp&width=1280)
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Withings ScanWatch 2 is available now for $349 in two sizes and various colors.
- The wearable is well-designed and much thinner than a standard smartwatch. It has analog hands to show the time, a robust feature set for health tracking, and a battery that lasts a full month.
- The usual drawbacks of a hybrid smartwatch include the lack of detailed graphics, no GPS tracking, and limited interactions with incoming notifications.
How often do you charge your smartwatch? Once or twice every day? Too often? Doing so regularly often makes me wonder exactly how much value I’m getting out of those occasional notifications and alerts, and it’s a big reason why I still have an affection for hybrid smartwatches.
Also: One of the longest-lasting sports watches I’ve tested is also the most gorgeous
One of these is the first Withings ScanWatch, released in 2021. I’ve worn it regularly over the past couple of years, primarily because it feels fantastic on the wrist while capturing key health data. Each charge can last up to one month.
At first glance, the newer ScanWatch 2 is tough to distinguish from the original, but it packs a few important upgrades that make one of my go-to health trackers even better.
I tested the ScanWatch 2 in Black (pictured below), but it is also available in Pearl White for the larger size. The Black model has hands that feature a Super LumiNova coating so they glow in the dark for a short time after exposure to light. If you prefer a smaller 38mm size, that’s available in Pearl White, Black, Sand, and Blue. Interestingly, both sizes cost $349, so you don’t need to pay more for a larger watch face, which is nice.
The 42mm ScanWatch 2 I’ve been wearing weighs about 52 grams and fits gently on the wrist. As much as I’ve enjoyed the watch’s health-tracking capabilities, the look and feel of the ScanWatch on my wrist are easily one of my favorite features.
The original ScanWatch (left) next to the new version (right).
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
A domed sapphire glass covers the analog watch hands and internal OLED display. When paired with the stainless steel case and rotating crown button, the watch screams elegance. So avoid this if you prefer rugged, multi-textured sports watches.
Navigating the watch is as easy as rotating the crown button through the various displays and pressing in to make selections. There is no back button, so you must scroll through the available screens in each widget to get to the back option on the display and return to the original main display carousel.
Also: Forget the Pixel Watch: This $350 Android has a sportier look and superior battery life
The ScanWatch 2 is built with a 5 ATM level of water resistance, so I was able to wear it while running in the rain. If you are a swimmer or surfer, you can wear it and track those activities in the water as well.
Withings states that the ScanWatch 2 charges up in two hours and may last up to 30 days. I can confirm the charging time is accurate, but I haven’t been using the wearable on “watch mode” only, so I can’t confirm the 30-day battery life. I ran with the watch several times while training for a marathon and connected it to my phone to test the connected GPS capability. When you use it for an activity, especially with connected GPS, the battery life will be significantly reduced.
On a positive note, I’ve been able to wear the watch much longer than my usual fitness trackers. I once took it on three runs, varying from 35 to 55 minutes, and saw the watch still last for over a week before I had to charge it up.
The Withings smartphone application is surprisingly powerful and can share its collected data with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Google Fit. The application also brings in data from other Withings devices, including its scales, blood pressure monitors, and more so a full view of your entire physical state is available in the app. The watch will store up to seven days of data, so I suggest syncing it at least once a week.
Also: The best smart rings 2024
On the app, skin temperature changes are shown at the bottom of your daily activity metrics (it initially took me a while to find where this skin data was being presented) with a baseline plot and minimum and maximum changes throughout the day. This information may be used when working out in warm environments where heat exhaustion may be a concern. The only thing missing here is longer-term trends for body temperature, which I have my fingers crossed that Withings will add in a future software update.
The ScanWatch 2 (right) has larger sensors and a flatter tracking surface on the back than the original (left).
Matthew Miller/ZDNET
The ScanWatch 2 can also perform an ECG assessment, measure blood oxygen levels, track heart rate throughout the day, measure sleep, and track general physical activity. One gripe I have with the sleep tracking on the watch is that it can’t distinguish between deep and REM sleep, so it’s not the most informative sleep-tracking device available today.
Also: Samsung is trying to beat Apple to these two life-changing health tracking features
Lastly, in addition to the watch, Withings launched a subscription service similar to Fitbit Premium, where additional insights and metrics are provided at a cost. The service also includes “Missions” intended to help inspire you to move or eat well, while other modules will aid you in building better fitness habits, such as improving your sleep scores. The monthly subscription is available for $9.95 or $99.50 per year.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Not only is the Withings ScanWatch 2 a fantastic timepiece thanks to its always-on analog hands, but it feels fantastic on the wrist, has a long battery life, and measures the key health and wellness data needed to help you improve your lifestyle. At $349, the smartwatch is reasonably priced and competes well with others in the hybrid watches I’ve tested.
Sci-Tech
The best Mint alternatives
As a former Mint user, I had to find a new budgeting app not too long ago. Intuit, parent company of Mint, shut down the service in March 2024, and prompted users to transition to its other financial app, Credit Karma. However, after testing Credit Karma myself, I found it to be a poor Mint replacement — that meant I needed to branch out and look elsewhere for a trusted app to track all of my financial accounts, monitor my credit score, follow a monthly spending plan and set goals like building a rainy-day fund and paying down my mortgage faster. I tried out Mint’s top competitors in the hopes that I’d be able to find a new budgeting app that could handle all of my financial needs. Hopefully my journey can help you find the best budgeting app for you and your money as well.
How we tested
Before I dove in and started testing out budgeting apps, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to try out, I consulted trusty ol’ Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps they might be using for money management. Some of the apps I found were free and these, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, “offers”) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $100 a year, or $15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.)
All of the services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web.
Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps, I made a point of adding every account to every budgeting app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once.
Best budgeting apps of 2024
No pun intended, but what I like about Quicken Simplifi is its simplicity. Whereas other budgeting apps try to distinguish themselves with dark themes and customizable emoji, Simplifi has a clean user interface, with a landing page that you just keep scrolling through to get a detailed overview of all your stats. These include your top-line balances; net worth; recent spending; upcoming recurring payments; a snapshot of your spending plan; top spending categories; achievements; and any watchlists you’ve set up. You can also set up savings goals elsewhere in the app. I also appreciate how it offers neat, almost playful visualizations without ever looking cluttered. I felt at home in the mobile and web dashboards after a day or so, which is faster than I adapted to some competing services (I’m looking at you, YNAB and Monarch).
Getting set up with Simplifi was mostly painless. I was particularly impressed at how easily it connected to Fidelity; not all budget trackers do, for whatever reason. This is also one of the only services I tested that gives you the option of inviting a spouse or financial advisor to co-manage your account. One thing I would add to my initial assessment of the app, having used it for a few months now: I wish Simplifi offered Zillow integration for easily tracking your home value (or at least a rough estimate of it). Various competitors including Monarch Money and Copilot Money work with Zillow, so clearly there’s a Zillow API available for use. As it stands, Simplifi users must add real estate manually like any other asset.
In practice, Simplifi miscategorized some of my expenses, but nothing out of the ordinary compared to any of these budget trackers. As you’re reviewing transactions, you can also mark if you’re expecting a refund, which is a unique feature among the services I tested. Simplifi also estimated my regular income better than some other apps I tested. Most of all, I appreciated the option of being able to categorize some, but not all, purchases from a merchant as recurring. For instance, I can add my two Amazon subscribe-and-saves as recurring payments, without having to create a broad-strokes rule for every Amazon purchase.
The budgeting feature is also self-explanatory. Just check that your regular income is accurate and be sure to set up recurring payments, making note of which are bills and which are subscriptions. This is important because Simplifi shows you your total take-home income as well as an “income after bills” figure. That number includes, well, bills but not discretionary subscriptions. From there, you can add spending targets by category in the “planned spending” bucket. Planned spending can also include one-time expenditures, not just monthly budgets. When you create a budget, Simplifi will suggest a number based on a six-month average.
Not dealbreakers, but two things to keep in mind as you get started: Simplifi is notable in that you can’t set up an account through Apple or Google. There is also no option for a free trial, though Quicken promises a “30-day money back guarantee.”
- Easy-to-use app with a gentle learning curve
- Does a good job detecting recurring income and bills
- Less expensive than the competition
- Lets you share app access with a spouse or financial advisor
- Handy refund tracker
- No free trial
- You can’t create an account using your Apple or Google ID
- No Zillow integration
Monarch Money grew on me. My first impression of the budgeting app, which was founded by a former Mint product manager, was that it’s more difficult to use than others on this list, including Simplifi, NerdWallet and Copilot. And it is. Editing expense categories, adding recurring transactions and creating rules, for example, is a little more complicated than it needs to be, especially in the mobile app. (My advice: Use the web app for fine-tuning details.) Monarch also didn’t get my income right; I had to edit it.
Once you’re set up, though, Monarch offers an impressive level of granularity. In the budgets section, you can see a bona fide balance sheet showing budgets and actuals for each category. You’ll also find a forecast, for the year or by month. And recurring expenses can be set not just by merchant, but other parameters as well. For instance, while most Amazon purchases might be marked as “shopping,” those for the amounts of $54.18 or $34.18 are definitely baby supplies, and can be automatically marked as such each time, not to mention programmed as recurring payments. Weirdly, though, there’s no way to mark certain recurring payments as bills, specifically.
Not long after I first published this story in December 2023, Monarch introduced a detailed reporting section where you can create on-demand graphs based on things like accounts, categories and tags. That feature is available just on the web version of the app for now. As part of this same update, Monarch added support for an aggregator that makes it possible to automatically update the value of your car. This, combined with the existing Zillow integration for tracking your home value, makes it easy to quickly add a non-liquid asset like a vehicle or real estate, and have it show up in your net worth graph.
The mobile app is mostly self-explanatory. The main dashboard shows your net worth; your four most recent transactions; a month-over-month spending comparison; income month-to-date; upcoming bills; an investments snapshot; a list of any goals you’ve set; and, finally, a link to your month-in-review. That month-in-review is more detailed than most, delving into cash flow; top income and expense categories; cash flow trends; changes to your net worth, assets and liabilities; plus asset and liability breakdowns. In February 2024, Monarch expanded on the net worth graph, so that if you click on the Accounts tab you can see how your net worth changed over different periods of time, including one month, three months, six months, a year or all time.
On the main screen, you’ll also find tabs for accounts, transactions, cash flow, budget and recurring. Like many of the other apps featured here, Monarch can auto-detect recurring expenses and income, even if it gets the category wrong. (They all do to an extent.) Expense categories are marked by emoji, which you can customize if you’re so inclined.
Monarch Money uses a combination of networks to connect with banks, including Plaid, MX and Finicity, a competing network owned by Mastercard. (I have a quick explainer on Plaid, the industry standard in this space, toward the end of this guide.) As part of an update in late December, Monarch has also made it easier to connect through those other two networks, if for some reason Plaid fails. Similar to NerdWallet, I found myself completing two-factor authentication every time I wanted to get past the Plaid screen to add another account. Notably, Monarch is the only other app I tested that allows you to grant access to someone else in your family — likely a spouse or financial advisor.
Additionally, Monarch just added the ability to track Apple Card, Apple Cash, and Savings accounts, thanks to new functionality brought with the iOS 17.4 update. It’s not the only one either; currently, Copilot and YNAB have also added similar functionality that will be available to anyone with the latest versions of their respective apps on a device running iOS 17.4. Instead of manually uploading statements, the new functionality allows apps like Monarch’s to automatically pull in transactions and balance history. That should make it easier to account for spending on Apple cards and accounts throughout the month.
Monarch also recently launched investment transactions in beta. It also says bill tracking and an overhauled goals system are coming soon. Monarch hasn’t provided a timeline for that last one, except to say that the improved goals feature is coming in early 2024.
- Lots of detail and opportunities for customization
- Helpful “goals” feature
- You can grant account access to other people
- Chrome extension for importing from Mint
- Month-in-review recap is more thorough than most
- Car value syncing
- Zillow integration
- Steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers
- The mobile app feels restricted and less intuitive than the web version
- Doesn’t seem to distinguish between bills and other recurring expenses
- Some bugginess on mobile around creating rules for expense categories
You may know NerdWallet as a site that offers a mix of personal finance news, explainers and guides. I see it often when I google a financial term I don’t know and sure enough, it’s one of the sites I’m most likely to click on. As it happens, NerdWallet also has the distinction of offering one of the only free budgeting apps I tested. In fact, there is no paid version; nothing is locked behind a paywall. The main catch: There are ads everywhere.
Even with the inescapable credit card offers, NerdWallet has a clean, easy-to-understand user interface, which includes both a web and a mobile app. The key metrics that it highlights most prominently are your cash flow, net worth and credit score. I particularly enjoyed the weekly insights, which delve into things like where you spent the most money or how much you paid in fees — and how that compares to the previous month. Because this is NerdWallet, an encyclopedia of financial info, you get some particularly specific category options when setting up your accounts (think: a Roth or non-Roth IRA).
As a budgeting app, NerdWallet is more than serviceable, if a bit basic. Like other apps I tested, you can set up recurring bills. Importantly, it follows the popular 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which has you putting 50% of your budget toward things you need, 30% toward things you want, and the remaining 20% into savings or debt repayments. If this works for you, great — just know that you can’t customize your budget to the same degree as some competing apps. You can’t currently create custom spending categories, though a note inside the dashboard section of the app says “you’ll be able to customize them in the future.” You also can’t move items from the wants column to “needs” or vice versa but “In the future, you’ll be able to move specific transactions to actively manage what falls into each group.” A NerdWallet spokesperson declined to provide an ETA, though.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that NerdWallet had one of the most onerous setup processes of any app I tested. I don’t think this is a dealbreaker, as you’ll only have to do it once and, hopefully, you aren’t setting up six or seven apps in tandem as I was. What made NerdWallet’s onboarding especially tedious is that every time I wanted to add an account, I had to go through a two-factor authentication process to even get past the Plaid splash screen, and that’s not including the 2FA I had set up at each of my banks. This is a security policy on NerdWallet’s end, not Plaid’s, a Plaid spokesperson says.
Precisely because NerdWallet is one of the only budget trackers to offer credit score monitoring, it also needs more of your personal info during setup, including your birthday, address, phone number and the last four digits of your social security number. It’s the same with Credit Karma, which also does credit score monitoring.
Related to the setup process, I found that NerdWallet was less adept than other apps at automatically detecting my regular income. In my case, it counted a large one-time wire transfer as income, at which point my only other option was to enter my income manually (which is slightly annoying because I would have needed my pay stub handy to double-check my take-home pay).
- Free
- Easy to use
- Helpful weekly insights
- NerdWallet has a deep well of helpful financial explainers and guides
- One of the few options that offers credit score monitoring
- Ads everywhere
- No customization for spending categories
- Less adept at detecting regular income
- One of the more tedious setup processes
Copilot Money might be the best-looking budgeting app I tested. It also has the distinction of being exclusive to iOS and Macs — at least for now. Andres Ugarte, the company’s CEO, has publicly promised that Android and web apps are coming in 2024 (more likely the second half of the year, Ugarte tells me). But until it follows through, I can’t recommend Copilot for most people with so many good competitors out there.
There are other features that Copilot is missing, which I’ll get into. But it is promising, and one to keep an eye on. It’s just a fast, efficient, well designed app, and Android users will be in for a treat when they’ll finally be able to download it. It makes good use of colors, emoji and graphs to help you understand at a glance how you’re doing on everything from your budgets to your investment performance to your credit card debt over time. In particular, Copilot does a better job than almost any other app of visualizing your recurring monthly expenses.
Behind those punchy colors and cutesy emoji, though, is some sophisticated performance. Copilot’s AI-powered “Intelligence” gets smarter as you go at categorizing your expenses. (You can also add your own categories, complete with your choice of emoji.) It’s not perfect. Copilot miscategorized some purchases (they all do), but it makes it easier to edit than most. On top of that, the internal search feature is very fast; it starts whittling down results in your transaction history as soon as you begin typing.
Copilot is also unique in offering Amazon and Venmo integrations, allowing you to see transaction details. With Amazon, this requires just signing into your Amazon account via an in-app browser. For Venmo, you have to set up fwd@copilot.money as a forwarding address and then create a filter, wherein emails from venmo@venmo.com are automatically forwarded to fwd@copilot.money. Like Monarch Money, you can also add any property you own and track its value through Zillow, which is integrated with the app.
While the app is heavily automated, I still appreciate that Copilot marks new transactions for review. It’s a good way to both weed out fraudulent charges, and also be somewhat intentional about your spending habits.
Like Monarch Money, Copilot updated its app to make it easier to connect to banks through networks other than Plaid. As part of the same update, Copilot said it has improved its connections to both American Express and Fidelity which, again, can be a bugbear for some budget tracking apps. In an even more recent update, Copilot added a Mint import option, which other budgeting apps have begun to offer as well.
Because the app is relatively new (it launched in early 2020), the company is still catching up to the competition on some table-stakes features. Ugarte told me that his team is almost done building out a detailed cash flow section, which could launch before the end of 2023, but more likely in early 2024. On its website, Copilot also promises a raft of AI-powered features that build on its current “Intelligence” platform, the one that powers its smart expense categorization. These include “smart financial goals,” natural language search, a chat interface, forecasting and benchmarking. That benchmarking, Ugarte tells me, is meant to give people a sense of how they’re doing compared to other Copilot users, on both spending and investment performance. Most of these features should arrive in the new year.
Copilot does a couple interesting things for new customers that distinguish it from the competition. There’s a “demo mode” that feels like a game simulator; no need to add your own accounts. The company is also offering two free months with RIPMINT — a more generous introductory offer than most. When it finally does come time to pony up, the $7.92 monthly plan is cheaper than some competing apps, although the $95-a-year-option is in the same ballpark.
- Slick UI
- Standalone Mac app
- Lower monthly price than some competing apps
- Does a good job visualizing recurring expenses
- Optional Amazon, Venmo and Zillow integration
- “To review” section is handy
- No web or Android app yet
- Miscategorized more expenses than our top pick
- Lots of otherwise common features are still in development
YNAB is, by its own admission, “different from anything you’ve tried before.” The app, whose name is short for You Need a Budget, promotes a so-called zero-based budgeting system, which forces you to assign a purpose for every dollar you earn. A frequently used analogy is to put each dollar in an envelope; you can always move money from one envelope to another in a pinch. These envelopes can include rent and utilities, along with unforeseen expenses like holiday gifts and the inevitable car repair. The idea is that if you budget a certain amount for the unknowns each month, they won’t feel like they’re sneaking up on you.
Importantly, YNAB is only concerned with the money you have in your accounts now. The app does not ask you to provide your take-home income or set up recurring income payments (although there is a way to do this). The money you will make later in the month through your salaried job is not relevant, because YNAB does not engage in forecasting.
The app is harder to learn than any other here, and it requires more ongoing effort from the user. And YNAB knows that. Inside both the mobile and web apps are links to videos and other tutorials. Although I never quite got comfortable with the user interface, I did come to appreciate YNAB’s insistence on intentionality. Forcing users to draft a new budget each month and to review each transaction is not necessarily a bad thing. As YNAB says on its website, “Sure, you’ve got pie charts showing that you spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants — but you’ve still spent an obscene amount of money in restaurants.” I can see this approach being useful for people who don’t tend to have a lot of cash in reserve at a given time, or who have spending habits they want to correct (to riff off of YNAB’s own example, ordering Seamless four times a week).
My colleague Valentina Palladino, knowing I was working on this guide, penned a respectful rebuttal, explaining why she’s been using YNAB for years. Perhaps, like her, you have major savings goals you want to achieve, whether it’s paying for a wedding or buying a house. I suggest you give her column a read. For me, though, YNAB’s approach feels like overkill.
- Particularly strong emphasis on budgeting
- Unique “zero-dollar” approach to financial planning that some people swear by
- Steep learning curve
- Harder to use certain features on the mobile app than on the web
PocketGuard is one of the only reputable free budget trackers I found in my research. Just know it’s far more restricted at the free tier than NerdWallet. In my testing, I was prompted to pay after I attempted to link more than two bank accounts. So much for free, unless you keep things simple with one cash account and one credit card. When it comes time to upgrade to PocketGuard Plus, you have three options: pay $7.99 a month, $34.99 a year or $79.99 for a one-time lifetime license. That lifetime option is actually one of the few unique selling points for me: I’m sure some people will appreciate paying once and never having to, uh, budget for it again.
From the main screen, you’ll see tabs for accounts, insights, transactions and the “Plan,” which is where you see recurring payments stacked on top of what looks like a budget. The main overview screen shows you your net worth, total assets and debts; net income and total spending for the month; upcoming bills; a handy reminder of when your next paycheck lands; any debt payoff plan you have; and any goals.
Like some other apps, including Quicken Simplifi, PocketGuard promotes an “after bills” approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you what’s left, and that’s what you’re supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income. Obviously, other apps have a different philosophy: take into account all of your post-tax income and use it to pay the bills, purchase things you want and maybe even save a little. But in PocketGuard, it’s the “in your pocket” number that’s most prominent. To PocketGuard’s credit, it does a good job visualizing which bills are upcoming and which ones you’ve already paid.
PocketGuard has also publicly committed to adding some popular features in early 2024. These include rollover budgeting in January 2024, categorization rules in February and shared household access in March.
Although PocketGuard’s UI is easy enough to understand, it lacks polish. The “accounts” tab is a little busy, and doesn’t show totals for categories like cash or investments. Seemingly small details like weirdly phrased or punctuated copy occasionally make the app feel janky. More than once, it prompted me to update the app when no updates were available. The web version, meanwhile, feels like the mobile app blown up to a larger format and doesn’t take advantage of the extra screen real estate.
Of note, although PocketGuard does work with Plaid, its primary bank-connecting platform is actually Finicity. Setting up my accounts through Finicity was mostly a straightforward process. I did encounter one hiccup: Finicity would not connect to my SoFi account. I was able to do it through Plaid, but PocketGuard doesn’t make it easy to access Plaid in the app. The only way, as far as I can tell, is to knowingly search for the name of a bank that isn’t available through Finicity, at which point you get the option to try Plaid instead. Like I said: the experience can be janky.
- One of the only budget trackers with a free plan
- You can avoid an ongoing subscription fee by opting for a one-time lifetime license
- Less expensive than most competitors
- Helpful “upcoming bills” view in the app
- The free version is so restricted that the “free” label feels misleading; the user experience feels less polished than some competing apps
- The web app doesn’t take advantage of the larger screen space on desktop
FAQs
What is Plaid and how does it work?
Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so it’s worth explaining what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims.
To be clear, you don’t need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including all of the budgeting apps listed in this guide. Once you find the “add an account” option in whichever one you’re using, you’ll see a menu of commonly used banks. There’s also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, you’ll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, you’ll need to enter a one-time passcode as well.
As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didn’t note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting “more financial data than was needed.” As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices.
In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that “the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaid’s role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track.”
Why did Mint shut down?
When parent company Intuit announced in December 2023 that it would shut down Mint, it did not provide a reason why it made the decision to do so. It did say that Mint’s millions of users would be funneled over to its other finance app, Credit Karma. “Credit Karma is thrilled to invite all Minters to continue their financial journey on Credit Karma, where they will have access to Credit Karma’s suite of features, products, tools and services, including some of Mint’s most popular features,” Mint wrote on its product blog. In our testing, we found that Credit Karma isn’t an exact replacement for Mint — so if you’re still looking for a Mint alternative, you have some decent options.
What about Rocket Money?
Rocket Money is another free financial app that tracks spending and supports things like balance alerts and account linking. If you pay for the premium tier, the service can also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions. We did not test it for this guide, but we’ll consider it in future updates.
Sci-Tech
Best Apple iPhone SE Cases for 2024
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/d0c14819518428f49cf7d4ccd48e357c85372557/hub/2024/05/26/7e4811fb-16a1-4c57-996a-4f7c4944b0e8/iphone-se-3rd-gen-commerce-image.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
Torras cases: Torras makes several cases with integrated kickstands, but they each have their own style of stand. They include the Lstand which has a retractable kickstand ring around the camera, the Pstand which has a flip-out kickstand on the bottom of the case, and the Ostand which has a retractable ring around the MagSafe ring.
Inbeage case: Inbeage cases are made out of plant-based materials and are 100% biodegradable (over 3 years). They’re not going to look and feel exactly like your typical silicone or hard plastic case and they are fairly basic. They offer decent drop protection and come in a variety of eye-catching designs. Better yet, they’re affordable, costing around $19 and sometimes less (like now where there are some cases on sale 50% off) after you apply an instant coupon. Their one downside is they’re not MagSafe-enabled (there’s no built-in ring), but if you can live with that and are looking for an eco-friendly case, Inbeage is one of the best ones out there for the money.
Pitaka MagEZ Case 4: If you’re looking for more serious protection from drops, this probably isn’t the right case for you, particularly because it’s rather expensive (between $60 and $70). If you’re looking for a very slim, lightweight case, you should give it some consideration. It does come in a few different designs, some a little more eye-catching than others. All the cases are MagSafe-enabled using Pitaka’s MagSafe SlimBoard technology.
Mujjo cases: Mujjo has been making attractive vegetable-tanned leather cases for the iPhone for a while and its cases for the iPhone SE include its standard Leather Case with MagSafe, a Leather Wallet Case with MagSafe and its tougher Shield case with MagSafe. They cost $64, although sometimes you can find them on sale for less on Amazon. They are currently on sale for $45 on Mujo.
SwitchEasy Roam M + Strap: I haven’t tried SwitchEasy cases for a few generations of iPhones but I got a chance to test a few of its new cases for the iPhone SE that come with a crossbody strap, including the Roam + Strap and Odyssey Ultra M + Strap. Both feature excellent drop protection, but the Odyssey Ultra has even more elevated corner protection. They’re both available in a few color options.
![](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8caa575f16ad708b295f4285a740ff93b09a4462/hub/2022/03/23/504178c0-2049-4942-bf57-11e0178d6992/yt-iphone-se-drop-test-v3.jpg?auto=webp&width=768)
Watch this: 2022 iPhone SE Disappoints in Drop Test
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