Snoop was founded in 2019 by former Virgin CEO Jane-Anne Gadhia and ex-Managing Director John Natalizia. It launched its money-saving app in April 2020 and markets itself as 'A clever robot that's able to help you spend, save and live smarter'. Snoop is an iOS and android app that uses open banking to analyse your spending, suggesting ways to save money across a number of areas of personal finance.
Snoop combines all of your accounts in one place so you can easily see what you're spending and on which card. It also checks and notifies you if you're overpaying on bills and purchases and creates a personalised list of ways you can save money.
Snoop is designed to offer a personalised experience for each user. The app is regularly updated and uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to learn from the actions of each of its users.
Snoop app key features
Snoop works in a similar way to other budgeting apps such as Emma and Money Dashboard, however, it does have a couple of interesting features that are unique, such as the 'Discount code finder'.
Below is a list of all of the features that the Snoop app currently offers:
- View all of your accounts in one place - access all of your accounts from one screen
- Tracking your bills - Activate tracking on your bills and receive reminders to switch and save money
- Snoop of the day - Get a list of the best deals to save you money
- Net financial position - see the combined total of all of your connected accounts
- Save money on your bills - Save money on your household bills with tips within the Snoop app
- Spot unexpected price hikes - Snoop will monitor your bill payments and notify you of any price hikes and any deals that are better value
- See upcoming bills - Have a summary of paid and upcoming bills for the month
- Weekly and monthly spending summaries - know exactly where your money is going each week/month
- Spending categorisation - itemised spending so that you can keep on top of your spending
- Custom categories - customise your spending categories to suit specific events in your life e.g holiday or wedding savings
- Daily balance alerts - daily updates allowing you to spot unusual transactions
- Recommend a friend - Get £50 in vouchers for recommending Snoop to a friend
Snoop accounts
The following comparison table highlights the different accounts available with Snoop. If you would like to upgrade to Snoop Plus you can do so at any time within the app by looking out for the Snoop Plus logo. If you want to cancel Snoop Plus you can do so at any time.
| Snoop | Snoop Plus | |
| Monthly cost | Free | £4.99 or £31.99 a year |
| See all of your bank accounts in one app |  |
|
| Daily account balance updates | |
|
| Automatic spending categorisation | |
|
| Monthly and all time spend analysis | |
|
| View spending by merchant or category | |
|
| Weekly spending report | |
|
| Regular payment and subscription tracking | |
|
| Weekly reminder of upcoming bills | |
|
| Contract renewal reminders | |
|
| Exclusive product switching deals | |
|
| Daily personalised money-saving suggestions | |
|
| Exclusive deals | |
|
| Money guidance and insights | |
|
| Unlimited custom spending categories |  |
|
| Manually add accounts | |
|
| Track your total net worth | |
|
| Track payday-to-payday spending | |
|
| Create unlimited custom spending reports | |
|
| Create unlimited spending alerts | |
|
| Create unlimited refund alerts | |
|
| Track bills by pay cycle | |
|
How does Snoop work?
Snoop uses open banking to connect to your bank accounts and credit cards, curating savings suggestions based on your spending habits. Open banking is a secure process that allows third-party apps to access your bank account information without having access to your login details. Permissions are 'read-only', meaning your money is never at risk.
How do I set up a Snoop account?
To set up a Snoop account you need to download the free app from the Apple or Google Play store. Once downloaded, you'll need to enter your name and mobile number, followed by the secure 6-digit code in order to verify your identity. Next, you need to enter your email address and set up a secure 5-digit pin to access the app and you may also be given the chance to set up Face ID for the future.
Once set up, you will need to connect to your bank/s via open banking and will be guided through the process by the Snoop app. I connected my Monzo account and you can see the process via the screenshots below.
What banks are supported by Snoop?
Snoop currently connects to most of the large high street banks including American Express, Barclays, First Direct, Halifax and NatWest. It also connects to app-only banks such as Monzo, Revolut and Starling Bank. For more information on the banks connected with Snoop click here.
How much does Snoop app cost?
Snoop is a free app that can be downloaded on your phone via the Apple or Google Play store. There is the opportunity to upgrade Snoop to its subscription account which costs £4.99 a month and you can unlock access to additional features.
How does Snoop make money?
Snoop makes money by sharing your spending data with other companies in order to identify trends. Snoop assures that your data will never be used in a way that allows you to be identified as an individual.
Like most companies, Snoop may receive a payment if you move to a product or service that has been recommended by it. Although Snoop says it remains impartial and only recommends products that are best for the customer.
Additionally, Snoop will earn money from its subscription account which charges £4.99 a month or £31.99 a year.
Is Snoop app safe?
Snoop uses open banking to analyse your spending. This means it cannot see your login information and only has access to your spending data. Snoop does not have the ability to move money from your accounts on your behalf. Snoop is registered and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Snoop app customer reviews
Snoop only launched in April 2020 and so only has 35 reviews on independent review site Trustpilot. 28 of which are 5/5 stars with users calling Snoop a 'gamechanger' and 'one of the best personal finance monitoring apps out there'. The 4 negative reviews are where customers are hesitant to enter their bank details into the app and a lack of trust in the security of the data, however, we explain here why Snoop is safe to use.
Snoop also has a rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 rating on iTunes from over 2,600 reviews. Users cite features such as the 'Snoops' (short insightful tips) as particularly useful. The poor reviews, though not many it has to be said, say they had problems being kicked out of the app. Another believes the app is just pushing affiliate deals to make money.
Snoop app alternatives
Snoop app vs Emma
Snoop is very similar to the mobile banking app Emma in that it analyses your spending, however, it doesn't yet have the same budgeting prowess that makes Emma particularly attractive. That said, Snoop seems to be more interested in helping users to save money by finding vouchers and deals and so if you are a keen bargain hunter then Snoop could be for you. For more information on Emma, check out our independent Emma app review.
Snoop app vs Money Dashboard
Again, if you want powerful tools that can help you budget effectively then apps like Money Dashboard and Emma currently have the edge. If bargain hunting and deals are of interest, then Snoop could be for you. For more information on Money Dashboard, check out our independent Money Dashboard review.
Pros and cons of Snoop
Pros of Snoop
- Easy to set up
- FCA regulated
- See all of your accounts in one place
- Insightful tips to help you save money
- Categorises your spending
Cons of Snoop
- The app is still learning and growing so it will be a while before you benefit from the full list of features
- The name 'Snoop' can be offputting to some due to its negative connotation
Summary
Snoop makes it easy to see all of your transactions in one place and provides quick and easy tips on how and where you can save money. It is a neat app that can help simplify your finances and spot opportunities to save money but those serious about understanding their finances may want to look at Emma or Money Dashboard due to the superior budgeting tools that are on offer.
