Unexpected Tech Tools to Instantly Slash Your Essentials Bills (That Most People Haven’t Tried Yet)

Most people feel like their monthly bills are leaking money, no matter how hard they try to save. Coupons and loyalty cards help, but the savings often seem small. There are new tech tools that can help you keep more money in your pocket. These tools do more than just find coupons. They can talk to your service providers, cancel old subscriptions, and help you shop smarter. Some people have saved $20, $50, or even $100 each month, just by letting these apps do the work.

Here are some of the best tech tools that many shoppers have never tried. You do not need to be a tech expert. Most of these tools are easy to use and can help you save money on things you buy every month.

Why Most People Miss Out on Hidden Tech Savings

Most shoppers use the same apps and tricks. But there are more digital tools that work behind the scenes to find discounts, automate savings, and even talk to your bill companies for you. These are not your average coupon apps. They are smarter, faster, and often overlooked.

How We Chose These Unexpected Tools

We picked tools that show real savings, are easy to use, have good reviews, and are available in the U.S. Each one is made to help you save money on essentials, even if you are not good with technology.

Quick-Glance Comparison: Tech Tools to Slash Your Bills

There are several tech tools that can help you save on your essentials. Trim is a service that negotiates bills and finds savings on utilities and subscriptions. Many users say they save up to $50 or more each month. Billshark also negotiates recurring bills, like cable or phone, and some people report saving over $100 a year. Basket is a free app that compares grocery prices in real time, and families have saved up to 30 percent on a single trip. Sense is a device that monitors your home’s energy use, and the company says it can help you cut 10 to 20 percent off your yearly bill. OhmConnect pays users to reduce energy at peak times, and some families have earned more than $100 a year. Bobby is an app that tracks subscriptions and alerts you if prices go up, making it easier to avoid surprise charges. All of these tools are easy to use, and most are free or have a small fee only if you save money.

Trim: The Subscription and Bill Buster

Trim helps you save money on your monthly bills and subscriptions. When you link your accounts, Trim looks for charges that happen every month, like streaming services or gym memberships. If you want, Trim will contact your service providers to try to get you a lower price. It can also cancel subscriptions you do not use anymore. One user in California saved $20 a month on internet and stopped paying $15 a month for a gym membership she forgot about. Trim takes a part of what you save, usually about 15 percent, and not all providers will work with the app. You can learn more at asktrim.com.

Billshark: The Heavyweight Bill Negotiator

Billshark tries to lower your regular bills, like cable, phone, or even home security. You send them your bills, and their team will call your providers to ask for a better rate. Billshark can also help you cancel subscriptions you do not want. Linda in Florida used Billshark and saved over $200 a year on her phone and cable bills. You only pay if you save money, but Billshark keeps about 40 percent of what you save. Some companies may not agree to lower your bills, but many people find it worth a try. You can visit billshark.com for more information.

Basket: Real-Time Grocery Price Comparisons

Basket is a free app that helps you compare grocery prices at stores near you. You can scan your shopping list, and the app will show you which stores have the lowest prices for the things you need. This means you do not have to guess where to shop or drive all over town. The Lee family in Ohio used Basket and saved almost $20 on one grocery trip by picking a different store for a few items. The app works with most big grocery chains, but sometimes the prices or items might not be in the database for your area. Find out more at basket.com.

Sense: Your Home’s Energy Detective

Sense is a device you put in your home’s electrical panel. It helps you see how much electricity your appliances use. The app shows you which devices use the most power and when. This can help you spot things that waste energy and cost you money. Sam in California found out his old fridge was using a lot of power. When he replaced it, his electric bill went down by $18 a month. Sense costs money up front, and you might need an electrician to install it, but it can help you save over time. Learn more at sense.com.

OhmConnect: Get Paid to Save Power

OhmConnect is a program that pays you to use less electricity when the power grid is busy. If you live in California, Texas, or New York, you can sign up and connect your utility account. When there is a chance to save, OhmConnect will send you a message. If you use less power during that time, you can earn cash or gift cards. Some families have made $100 or more in a year by changing when they run their dishwasher or laundry. Not everyone can use OhmConnect, since it only works in certain states and you need a smart meter. Check if you are eligible at ohmconnect.com.

Bobby: The Subscription Tracker

Bobby is an app that helps you keep track of all your subscriptions. You can enter your subscriptions by hand or let the app scan your transactions. Bobby will remind you before you are charged and let you know if a price goes up. A user in Illinois caught a $12 subscription that had doubled in price and canceled it before the next charge. Bobby is simple to use, but you may need to enter some information yourself, and it does not negotiate bills for you. You can find Bobby at bobbyapp.co.

Real Stories: How These Tools Saved Real People Money

Many people have seen real savings with these tools. Maria from Texas saw her cable bill drop by $35 a month after using a bill negotiation app. The Lee family in Ohio saved almost $20 on groceries in one trip by using a price comparison app. Sam in California lowered his electric bill by $18 a month after a home energy monitor showed him which appliance was wasting power. Linda in Florida saved over $200 a year on phone and cable bills with a negotiation service. The Patel family in New York earned $120 last year by using a program that paid them to run their appliances at different times.

Tips for Getting the Most from These Tools

You can save even more by using more than one tool at the same time. For example, some people try a price comparison app for groceries, a bill negotiation service for utilities, and a subscription tracker for streaming services. Before you sign up, it is smart to check if the service charges a fee or takes a part of your savings. Always look at what information the app needs and how it uses your data. Setting up reminders or letting the apps handle things for you can help you avoid forgetting important payments. Every month, take a moment to check what you have saved and see if there are new tools that could help you even more.

Small Tech Tweaks, Big Savings

You do not need to be a tech expert or spend hours searching for deals. Let these tools do the work for you. Even trying just one or two can help you keep more money in your pocket. Every dollar you save is a dollar you can use for something you enjoy.

Sources & Further Reading

If you want to learn more about these tools, you can visit their official websites. Trim offers details about their bill negotiation services at asktrim.com. Billshark explains how they help with recurring bills at billshark.com. For grocery price comparisons, Basket provides more information at basket.com. Sense, which monitors home energy use, shares tips and product details at sense.com. OhmConnect, a program that pays users to reduce energy at peak times, has resources at ohmconnect.com. Bobby, the subscription tracker, can be found at bobbyapp.co. For general advice on saving energy at home, the US Department of Energy’s Energy Saver site is helpful, and Statista provides up-to-date statistics on US household spending trends.

This article was developed using available sources and analyses through an automated process. We strive to provide accurate information, but it might contain mistakes. If you have any feedback, we'll gladly take it into account! Learn more