Tired of earning next to nothing in your savings accounts? Me too.

Still, we have to save our money somewhere, right?

If you’re looking for the best spot to stash your savings, emergency fund, or vacation fund, consider using a high-yield savings account.

The best online savings accounts can provide exceptionally higher rates and much lower fees compared to those at traditional banks. Just take a look at these measly savings account rates from some of the most popular traditional banks:

• U.S. Bank – 0.01% APY
• Bank of America – 0.01% APY
• Chase – 0.01% APY
• PNC – 0.01% APY
• Wells Fargo – 0.01% APY

Yuck!

All the top high-yield savings accounts offer rates higher than these, and it’s not even close. Even better, just like traditional banks, they’re all FDIC (or NCUA) insured. That means up to $250,000 of your money is insured at each bank through the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

We’ve created a list of the best high-yield savings accounts, and we update many of the rates daily! So, what are the best online savings accounts right now? Let’s take a look.

Summary of Top High-Yield Savings Account Rates

Here’s a quick overview from our list of the best savings account rates for today.

Disclosure: The offers that appear below are from companies from whom Club Thrifty receives compensation. This may affect the order and manner in which they appear. Club Thrifty does not include or review all companies or available offers.

Bank	APY	Learn More
Platinum Savings	4.70% APY $5,000 Minimum Balance	Learn More
High Yield Savings	4.00% APY $100 Minimum to Open	Learn More
High Yield Savings	0.61% APY No Minimum Balance	Learn More
Updated: November 11, 2024

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts for 2024 – Our Picks

1) CIT Bank Platinum Savings

CIT Bank (FDIC #58978) provides online banking services throughout the U.S. They offer a host of checking and savings products, but our current favorite is the Platinum Savings account. In fact, we think it’s one of the best high-yield savings account on the market.

The Platinum Savings account is a straightforward savings account that offers excellent rates to those who meet the minimum balance requirement. You’ll earn a nifty 4.70% APY when you have a balance of $5,000 or more in the account. It really is that simple.

CIT Bank’s money market account also offers a nice 1.55% APY, making it another one of our favorite online savings products. Additionally, CIT Bank offers checking accounts, IRAs, and custodial accounts.

2) Quontic Bank High Yield Savings

Quontic Bank (FDIC #57807) is a digital bank that operates throughout the United States. They offer a full menu of personal banking options – including savings accounts, checking accounts, mortgage loans, and more.

One of our favorite products is their High Yield Savings account. The account earns a 4.00% APY, which we think is a pretty stellar rate in the current environment. This account requires a nominal $100 minimum opening deposit. It also comes with no monthly service fees and up to six withdrawals every statement cycle.

In addition to their High Yield Savings product, they also offer one of our top checking accounts. Quontic’s High Interest Checking Account currently earns a whopping 1.10% APY. That is a great rate for a checking account, helping it to land at the top of our rankings. Learn more here.

To top it off, Quontic Bank is one of only 3% of American banks to earn the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Certification. This certification is given to mission-driven banks who provide financial services to low-income and underbanked communities. We think that is pretty cool.

3) Axos Bank High Yield Savings

Axos Bank (FDIC #35546) is an online bank offering a full slate of banking services – including personal bank accounts, business bank accounts, personal loans, mortgages, and more. The company has been in business since 2000, and they trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AX.

Although Axos offers a host of personal banking options, their High Yield Savings account is one of the best savings options you’ll find. In fact, its 0.61% APY is currently one of the highest interest rate on our list.

The Axox High Yield Savings account comes with no minimum balance requirements and no monthly maintenance fees. You can open a new account with a reasonable $250 minimum deposit. ATM cards are available upon request, plus you’ll have access to convenient tools like online banking and mobile check deposits.

More Online Savings Accounts

Looking for more high-yield savings account options? Here are some other online banks to consider.

Barclays

Barclays Bank (FDIC #57203) is probably the most widely known bank on this list.

A giant in the British banking scene, most Americans probably recognize Barclays for their credit card offerings. However, when it comes to rates, Barclays also offers one of the best online savings accounts around – which is why it ranks so highly on our list.

There is no minimum to open the Barclays online savings account and no hidden fees. Additionally, you earn the same rate no matter what your daily balance reads, making it a great choice for both new savers and super savers. Like the other banks listed, Barclays also offers online CDs with competitive rates and terms.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Live Oak Bank

Live Oak Bank (FDIC #58665) has been around since 2005. They offer competitive rates and good service, making them one of the best online savings accounts you’ll find.

With Live Oak Bank, there are no monthly maintenance fees. While Live Oak does have some miscellaneous fees, they offer a low minimum balance of $10.01. Fund transfers are done through another external bank account you can access your account any time through their mobile app.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Marcus by Goldman Sachs

Marcus (FDIC #33124) is the online banking option from Goldman Sachs.

Their best high-yield savings account offers a competitive APY, which you can claim with only a $1 deposit. Additionally, their online savings accounts have no fees and no minimum balance.

Marcus also offers fixed-rate personal loans and CDs. Unfortunately, they don’t offer a debit card or ATM card and you can only transfer funds in your account through a linked traditional bank account, direct deposit, or a wire transfer from another bank.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Synchrony Bank

Synchrony Bank (FDIC #27314) offers an savings account with no minimum balance required. Combined with the fact that they have no monthly service fees, and this is one of the best high-yield savings accounts you’ll find.

Part of Synchrony Financial, a Fortune 500 company, they are consistently found at or near the top of our list for their competitive rates and excellent customer service. In addition to their high yield savings account, they also offer money market accounts, CDs, and IRA options.

>> Learn More About Synchrony Bank <<

Ally Bank

Ally Bank (FDIC #57803) was one of the pioneers of online banking, which also makes them one of the most recognizable names on the list. They are known for their competitive rates and no monthly maintenance fees, and you earn their rate no matter your balance.

With their high-yield savings account offering the same rate across all tiers, Ally still gains high marks on our list.

In addition to its online savings account, Ally Bank also offers online interest checking accounts, CDs, money market accounts, loans, and more.

> Open an Account with Ally <

Betterment Cash Reserve

Betterment is well-known for their investment services and recently released a savings account with an interest rate of 2.25% APY.

The Cash Reserve account requires just $10 to open and unlock one of the top interest rates available in an online savings account. They don’t charge any fees, either.

Transferring money to and from your Betterment Cash Reserve is a breeze. You link an existing bank account to take advantage of the high interest rate. Best of all, unlike most online savings accounts, Betterment Cash Reserve doesn’t limit how many withdrawals you can make each month.

The money in your account isn’t invested like their other products, so there’s no risk. Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $1 million.

HSBC Direct

HSBC (FDIC #57890) offers a Direct Savings account with a competitive interest rate. This account has no hidden fees and only requires a deposit of $1 to open.

As a Direct Savings customer, you’ll also have access to their Money Management Tools. These tools allow you to organize your finances, set up savings goals, and plan a budget. You can also set email alerts and watch your financial progress.

In case you’re wondering, you can also access your Direct Savings account 24/7 online or through HSBC’s mobile banking app.

>> Open an Account Here <<

American Express Personal Savings

American Express Personal Savings (FDIC #27471) allows you to link three external bank accounts to your high-yield savings account, allowing you to move money easily between accounts. There is no minimum balance required, no minimum opening deposit, and no fees.

Interest rates on their online savings accounts are competitive, although you can find higher rates elsewhere.

American Express also offers CDs, but no checking accounts.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Discover Savings

Discover Bank (FDIC #5649) offers an online savings account with a nice rate of 3.90% APY and no minimum deposit to open an account. There’s also no minimum balance for customers to worry about. If that’s not enough, how about no fees of any kind? All of this, combined with the excellent 24/7 customer service Discover is known for, makes this high-yield savings account one of the best around, ranking high on our list.

Customers can access their accounts anytime through the Discover mobile app available on Android and iOS. Through the app, you can quickly deposit a check by snapping a photo on your phone. Users can also transfer money between accounts. There’s also a quick-view option to see a snapshot of your account balance without logging in.

Discover is best known for its credit card options, but it offers popular banking options like checking, savings, money market accounts, and IRA CDs, as well. For college students, there are also Discover student loans to help cover education costs.

Discover’s online savings account can help customers save and earn quickly with its high interest rate. Read our complete review here or get started below.

PenFed Savings

Pentagon Federal Credit Union, or PenFed, offers high interest rates for its premium online savings account – currently 2.70% APY. Because the credit union is a non-profit, it can provide a higher rate as a way to give back to its members.

PenFed was established in 1935. Its accounts are insured by the NCUA to at least $250,000. The NCUA is similar to the FDIC, but oversees credit unions rather than banks.

The opportunity to open a savings account is only available to PenFed members. Membership is limited to members of the military, their families, and employees or volunteers of other associated organizations. If you qualify for membership, opening an online savings account with PenFed is an excellent option.

There’s a $5 minimum to open a savings account and there are no monthly maintenance fees.

PenFed savings accounts allow members to make free online transfers. However, its online savings account is not accessible from an ATM. PenFed members also receive top-of-the-line customer service with options to call, email, or chat online through its website.

PenFed has been working hard to help its customers for over 80 years. Its premium online savings account is one more way that PenFed provides value to its members.

VIO Bank

VIO Bank (FDIC #4063) currently offers one of the highest APYs you’ll find on this list. This high-yield online savings account requires a $100 minimum deposit to open, but you’ll find no monthly fees once you’ve deposited your money.

To put money in your savings account, funds can be transferred by ACH through external bank accounts. Vio also offers a free app, online banking, and live customer service agents you can speak with should you need help.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Citizens Access

Citizens Access (FDIC #57957), part of Citizens Bank, offers very competitive online savings accounts with some very nice average yields. You won’t find any monthly fees, but there is a kicker. Citizens does require a minimum $5,000 balance to keep their best rate. Dipping below the minimum will cause you to lose the rate.

Citizens Access doesn’t offer checking accounts and requires either an external bank account or check deposit to transfer money. They also don’t offer a mobile app, but their website is optimized for mobile use.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Pure Point Financial

Boasting a highly competitive rate, Pure Point Financial (FDIC #22826) is a good option for a high-yield savings account…if you have a lot of money to deposit, that is.

At Pure Point, there is a $10,000 minimum to open an account, which could obviously be a hindrance to some people. You’ll also need to maintain that balance in order to earn their top rate. Balances falling below $10,000 see their rate drop all the way to 0.10%.

With that said, the only fee Pure Point charges is a $10 excess activity fee for making more than six transactions a month. You can also access your account from anywhere via desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. So, if you’re looking to stash more than $10,000 with minimal fees, this might be your account.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Alliant Credit Union

As far as high-yield savings accounts go, Alliant (NCUA #67955) has a very nice offering. In fact, their current interest rate competes with some of the best online savings accounts.

Alliant customers can access their account anytime through their mobile app. If you elect to receive paperless statements, there are no fees. They also have a low-barrier to entry, with a minimum deposit of just $5 required to open a new account.

Additionally, Alliant lets you make deposits and withdrawals at thousands of ATMs nationwide. They also offer checking accounts, custodial accounts, and CDs. As a credit union, Alliant is insured by NCUA – which offers the same protection $250,000 protection as FDIC-insured accounts.

>> Open an Account Here <<

TIAA Bank

TIAA Bank (FDIC #34775) only offers a basic online savings account. There is a $25 minimum to open an account, and the account is actually IRA eligible – making it a great companion to TIAA’s basic checking account.

If you’re looking for better rates, you may still be able to find them here. TIAA Bank is best known for its Yield Pledge checking accounts, money market accounts, and CDs, which actually offer higher APYs than their savings accounts. Additionally, TIAA Bank also offers personal lending and investment options for customers.

>> Open an Account Here <<

Capital One 360

Capital One 360 (FDIC #33954) packs a very recognizable punch, but it doesn’t have quite as high of APY rates as many of the other online banks on this list. With that said, they do offer some flexibility that other banks don’t.

Capital One 360 savings accounts have no fees and no minimum balance. You can transfer money to your account by making a mobile deposit, setting up an Automatic Savings Plan, transferring money from another Capital One account or external bank account, or by wiring money into the account. Customers can also make a deposit at one of the 39,000 Capital One and AllPoint® ATMs across the country.

Fans of technology will also love that Capital One 360 offers an excellent mobile app.

>> Open an Account Here <<

BBVA

BBVA (FDIC #19048) offers their ClearConnect online savings accounts. Unfortunately, if you are looking for competitive APY rates, BBVA is pretty low on the list. You’ll actually find much better rates using BBVA’s money market accounts. (In fact, their money market accounts are extremely competitive when compared to the other high-yield savings accounts on this list.)

Be aware that ClearConnect savings accounts don’t have quarterly fees, but they do have other various fees. Check their terms and conditions for details.

BBVA also offers checking accounts, CDs, and IRA accounts, as well as credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans.

>> Open an Account Here <<

How Do High-Yield Savings Accounts Work?

So, why not just keep your dough in your checking account? Well, a high-yield savings account works differently, hopefully allowing you to get a better return.

For starters, most checking accounts don’t pay interest unless you have a high daily balance. And, per federal regulations, savings accounts are limited to six outgoing transactions per statement cycle, including transfers and withdrawals. This keeps you from using it as a checking account.

However, like checking accounts, a high-yield savings account with these banks are FDIC or NCUA insured, which means the bank insures your money up to $250,000. Depending on the bank, the interest you earn can be compounded daily or monthly.

Additionally, online savings accounts generally offer much higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts. These high-yield savings accounts are perfect for things like an emergency fund, travel fund, or any other special savings fund you’d like to create.

How are Savings Accounts Different from Money Market Accounts?

As you consider your options, you’ll notice some differences between savings accounts and money market accounts.

Money market accounts typically combine the best parts of savings and checking accounts. Additionally, money market accounts will often earn more interest than a typical savings account. With that said, interest rates for high-yield savings accounts are often on par (or higher) with money market accounts.

Money market accounts often are attached to debit cards and checks but are limited to six outgoing transactions per statement cycle, just like savings accounts. Additionally, these accounts often will have a longer waiting period after withdrawals. Still, most of the differences between money market accounts and savings accounts have to do with what the bank is allowed to do with those funds.

See Also: Best Money Market Accounts This Year

The post Earn Up to 5.0% APY (or More) – Top Savings Accounts for November 2024 appeared first on Club Thrifty.

One of the best things about holding an American passport is that you can travel to most countries without the hassle and cost of applying for a visa. According to the Henley Passport Index, as of January 2020, a U.S. passport granted visa-free entry to 184 countries, tying for the eighth most powerful passport in the world. That’s pretty impressive, but is that all about to change?

In short, no.

You may have heard that Americans planning to visit Europe will soon be required to obtain a visa. That isn’t quite true. While there is a change on the horizon, you can relax. Once Europe opens its borders after the COVID-19 pandemic, getting to Europe will remain relatively easy (and awesome).

Of course, it is important that you understand what’s coming, so here’s the quick and dirty version: Starting sometime in the first half of 2025, Americans must register for travel to the Schengen Area of Europe by applying for something called the ETIAS.

Don’t have the slightest idea what I’m talking about? Don’t worry, you’re in the right place. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the ETIAS and how it might affect your European travel plans.

What Is the ETIAS and How Does It Work?

Sometimes called the ETIAS visa, the ETIAS isn’t actually a visa at all. It’s technically a visa waiver. It stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System, and its purpose is to improve security in the Schengen Area by collecting information on visitors from lower-risk countries.

Currently, U.S. passport holders and travelers from other low-risk countries can visit the Schengen Area visa-free, without any special security screening or cost implications. The ETIAS, whose original 2021 rollout has been delayed until the first part of 2025, will shake that up a little.

Beginning sometime during the first half of 2025 (likely around May 2025), U.S. passport holders will need to apply for the ETIAS before they visit a European country that is part of the Schengen Area. The online application process is easy and cheap, so it isn’t a big deal, but it is an important step that you won’t want to skip.

Applications need to be completed at least 96 hours before entering the Schengen Area. When travelers provide their personal and passport information, the ETIAS system will cross-reference that info against numerous databases to make sure there are no security risks associated with the applicant. If red flags are identified, the applicant will need to provide additional information before being cleared to travel.

This helps promote security of Schengen Area countries in a couple of ways. It allows them to collect information about who is entering the region, and it enables them to require that ETIAS applicants with security flags provide additional information or go through the more stringent process of applying for an actual Schengen visa.

What Is the Schengen Area?

This might be a good time to back up and explain what the Schengen Area is. Simply put, it’s a group of 26 European countries that have entered into a treaty to allow free passage between their borders. You might hear it referred to as Schengen, the Schengen Region, or the Schengen Zone.

As a visitor, you show your passport and move through customs and immigration upon arrival in one of the Schengen Zone countries. After that, you can freely cross into neighboring Schengen countries. It makes travel within Europe incredibly easy and saves a lot of time in immigration lines.

The Schengen Area is sometimes equated to the EU (European Union), but that isn’t quite accurate. They overlap some, but here’s where things get a bit confusing. Most, but not all, EU countries are members of the Schengen Zone. For example, Ireland is in the EU, but it’s not a Schengen country. There are also a few Schengen countries, such as Norway and Switzerland, that aren’t EU members.

To make it simple, here are the 26 countries that currently make up the Schengen Area. You’ll need an ETIAS visa waiver to visit these countries beginning in 2023:

Who Will Need the ETIAS Travel Authorization?

Anyone who can currently visit the Schengen Area visa-free but does not hold a Schengen-country passport will be required to obtain an ETIAS. This includes Americans, Canadians, Australians, and people from many other countries the EU classifies as low risk.

Travelers of all ages will be required to obtain an ETIAS, but those under age 18 won’t have to pay the processing fee (more on that in a minute).

Who Won’t Need the ETIAS?

This should be obvious, but Schengen-country passport holders won’t need to register through the ETIAS. They will still move freely between member countries – no changes there. This also applies to people with dual citizenship for a member country. Travelers holding a Schengen visa will not need the ETIAS, either. Basically, it only applies to non-Schengen-country passport holders who are currently visa exempt.

U.S. residents who hold international passports (but not a U.S. passport) should check if their home country has a visa-free regime established with Schengen. If not, they will be required to apply for a Schengen visa before departing for one of its 26 countries.

How Much Will the ETIAS Cost?

The ETIAS is expected to cost €7. It’s valid for three years, so that works out to a whopping €2.30 per year. If you can afford European travel, I think you can swing it. (And if you can’t afford European travel, read this to learn how to travel for free.)

How to Apply for the ETIAS

You’ll be able to apply for the ETIAS online quickly and easily. This will be the only way to apply. Postal applications will not be accepted.

To apply for the ETIAS, you will need to have:

• A valid passport with at least three months of validity remaining on the date you arrive in the Schengen Area
• A debit or credit card to pay the application fee
• A current email address

Applications should take about 10 minutes to complete. You’ll have to share:

• Personal information (name, date and place of birth date, gender)
• Contact information
• Passport details
• Travel plans

Most applications will receive a response within minutes, although some may require up to 96 hours. Occasionally, additional documentation may be required, which could drag out the application process for up to four weeks. Still, most people should get a response via email quickly.

If your ETIAS application is approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email. If your ETIAS application is denied, you will receive a notification and explanation via email. You will then have the option to appeal the decision.

Once you receive your approval, the ETIAS travel authorization will be linked to your passport electronically. When you enter the Schengen Area, border control personnel will be able to see that you have a valid ETIAS.

How Long Is the ETIAS Valid?

Once you have been approved for the ETIAS, it will be good for three years or until your passport expires – whichever occurs first. You can use it to enter any Schengen country and move freely between them any time during that period.

The ETIAS is intended for short-term business travel or tourism, so your stay is limited to 90 days in a 180-day period. This is sometimes referred to as the 90/180 rule. Under the current visa-free regime, stays are restricted in the same way, so that isn’t going to change.

How Does the 90/180 Schengen Rule Work?

Some people get this confused, so I want to be clear about how the 90/180 rule works.

The 180-day period doesn’t begin on the day you enter the Schengen Area – it’s continuous. So, think back over the past 180 days. Were you in the Schengen Zone for more than 90 days within that period? If not, you’re good to go.

It’s also important to understand that it isn’t about being in Schengen for 90 consecutive days. The total is cumulative. That means you can’t reset the clock by leaving and then coming right back.

For example, you can’t spend 90 days in Germany and Austria and then pop into Croatia (which isn’t part of Schengen) for a week before crossing into Hungary. Hungary is part of the Schengen Area, so you’d be denied access because of the 90/180 rule.

So, if you’re planning an extended European trip, be careful not to overstay your ETIAS travel authorization. Consequences could include deportation and/or a fine. And if you are denied entry, you’ll have to buy a ticket to a non-Schengen country on the spot, which could be expensive. No thanks!

How Is the ETIAS Different From the Schengen Visa?

As I mentioned before, the ETIAS isn’t a visa; it’s a visa waiver. That means people who are approved for the ETIAS don’t have to obtain a visa to visit the Schengen Area.

So, what’s the practical difference between the ETAIS and a true Schengen visa? Well, a fair bit, when it comes to the application process and the price. Getting the ETIAS is much easier and cheaper. Check it out:

• Mode of Application: ETIAS applications can be completed online (and only online) within 10 minutes. That’s pretty painless. When applying for a Schengen visa, it’s a whole process. Applicants have to visit the embassy or consulate representing their destination country and complete an interview. We’re not talking about a quick 10 minutes here.
• Documentation Requirements: To apply for the ETIAS, the only document you need is a valid passport with at least three months remaining. To apply for a Schengen visa, you’d need your passport, two photos, a travel insurance policy, proof of accommodation, and more.
• Processing Time: Most ETIAS applications will be processed within minutes. Schengen visa applications can take up to 15 days, which means applicants have to plan further in advance.
• Cost: The ETIAS is expected to cost €7 for adults aged 18 and up and be free for kids under 18. The Schengen visa costs €60 for adults, €35 for kids aged 6-12, and are free for kids under 6. While the cost of obtaining a Schengen visa could be significant, especially for family, the ETIAS’ €7 price tag is negligible.

The Bottom Line: How Will the ETIAS Affect My Travel Plans?

Beginning in the first half of 2025, Americans will need to register for travel to European countries within the Schengen Area. The application process will be easy, cheap, and fast. It seems that most people with a valid U.S. passport will be approved within minutes.

Because the ETIAS will be linked to your passport electronically, there won’t be any extra paperwork to worry about once you arrive. The 90/180 rule for visiting Schengen will carry over to the ETIAS, so no big change there, either.

The truth is, with the exception of spending about 10 minutes on the online application and about 8 bucks, getting the ETIAS isn’t going to cause most people any inconvenience worth talking about. It certainly won’t be on the same level as applying for a visa. And hey, improved security is rarely a bad thing.

What do you think about the coming ETIAS visa waiver? Will it affect your travel plans? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Do I Need a Visa for Europe? appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Is the New York Pass worth it? Read our New York Pass review to learn if this sightseeing pass is a good fit for your NYC travel plans.

FLASH SALE: Get up to $170 OFF the New York Pass! Sale ends August 18, 2024. Follow the link for details.

The Big Apple. The Empire City. The City of Dreams. There is no place like New York!

Over 65 million people visit New York City every year, making it one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It’s also one of the most expensive.

To keep your NYC trip affordable, you need to save money by any means possible. Enter one of my favorite sightseeing passes, the New York Pass.

If you’ve never used a sightseeing pass before, you’re in for a treat! City sightseeing passes are a convenient way to help you save time and money. Honestly, buying a good sightseeing pass is some of the best money we spend on a trip.

Like it’s sister passes, the London Pass and the Paris Pass, the New York Pass can save you a bundle. With free entry to sights like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center, the pass includes many of the places you’d be visiting anyway.

Of course, no pass is right for everybody. So, let’s see if the New York Pass is worth it for you!

New York Pass Review: How It Works

When it comes to city sightseeing passes, the New York Pass ranks at the top of the value scale. Quite frankly, the New York Pass may be the best sightseeing pass I’ve reviewed – and from an attractions pass connoisseur like me, that’s saying something!

But, don’t just take my word for it. Here’s how it works:

The New York Pass includes entry to over 100 of New York City’s top attractions and tours. It is activated upon the first use, and your unlimited use of the pass remains valid for the entire length of purchase. Passes come in a variety of lengths, with 10 days being the longest option available.

To use the pass, simply present it at the gate of the included attraction and walk right in for free. No cash or tickets are needed. (Please note that some attractions require reservations in advance. Information can be found on the New York Pass website or app.)

Although you can only visit each attraction once, you may visit an unlimited amount of attractions that are included on the pass. Since “Day 1” starts when the pass is activated, it’s best to start using it early in the morning. That way, you get a full day’s worth of sightseeing on your first day.

Keep in mind that the length of the pass is calculated in consecutive days. Therefore, it’s best to use it several days in a row.

Top Attractions on the New York Pass

The New York Pass provides entry to over 100 of the city’s best attractions and tours, including:

• Empire State Building Observatory: $51.17
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: $33.00
• Statue of Liberty Ferry and Ellis Island Museum: $25.00
• Top of the Rock Observation Deck: $59.88
• Edge: $50.08
• Madame Tussauds & MARVEL Universe 4D: $47.89
• Museum of Modern Art: $30.00
• New York Yankees Game Tickets: $66.20
• Yankee Stadium Tours: $41.10
• Madison Square Garden Tour Experience: $46.00
• Harlem Gospel Tour by Inside Out Tours: $55.00
• Broadway and Times Square Tour: $39.00
• Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour: $36.00
• Greenwich Village Walking Tour: $39.00
• SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy Walking Tour: $39.00
• Big Bus 1-Day Downtown & Uptown Hop-on Hop-off Tour: $80.00
• NYC Bus Tour of Bronx, Brooklyn, & Queens: $89.00
• Best of NYC Cruise by Circle Line: $52.00
• Food on Foot Tours: $59.00
• Central Park Bicycle Tour: $63.18
• Luna Park at Coney Island: $74.00
• Catacombs by Candlelight Tour: $37.00
• …and many more (find all attractions here)

(*Attractions current as of May 03, 2024)

Editor’s Note: Some attractions may require reservations, have limited operating ours, or have limited capacity.

Remember, these are just a few of the 100+ attractions included on the New York Pass. As you can see by their regular entrance fees, they aren’t cheap. Luckily, entry for each is covered through the New York Pass.

New York Pass Pricing

So, how much does the New York Pass cost? I’m glad you asked! Here is the regular price of the New York Pass broken down down by pass length:

Per Day Cost Analysis

As you can see, the New York Pass provides a huge amount of value for sightseeing in New York. By checking out just a few attractions a day, you are sure to get your money’s worth. The longer passes build in even more value, allowing you to slow down and see the city at your own pace.

For example, the 5-day pass costs just $88.80 per day. Many attractions charge $30-$50 or more for entry, with some attractions costing as much as $80 (or more) at the gate. So, the price of the pass can easily be covered by visiting 2-3 included attractions or tours per day.

The 10-day pass costs only $56.90 per day. So, enjoying 1-2 attractions or tours per day will provide you with your money’s worth, plus some.

To extract even more value, try to buy the pass when it is on sale. The additional savings lowers the “per day cost” of the pass even more, increasing the value and saving you gobs of money! Follow the link below to find the latest sale.

Save BIG in the Big Apple – Save money in NYC with the New York Pass! Visit just 2-3 attractions a day and you could easily save well over $100 per person on regular admission costs. Save more with New York Pass here.

Top Reasons to Get the New York Pass

Save Money

As we just discussed, the New York Pass is a great way to save money on sightseeing. By visiting just a few sights a day, you can save hundreds of dollars on the price of your trip.

Generally speaking, the more sightseeing you plan to do, the more you’ll save. If you really go for it, the longer passes provide even more bang for your buck. With a 10-day pass, you could even skip a couple of days of sightseeing and still save money – depending on which attractions you decide to visit.

Hot Tip: Combine the pass with one of the best travel credit cards to save money on flights and hotels too!

Fast Track Entry

Savvy travelers know their time is just as important as their money. The last thing you want is to spend thousands on a trip to New York, then waste the majority of your time standing in line.

With the New York Pass, you’ll skip past the lines at several of New York’s busiest attractions. Avoid the ticket lines, show your pass at the entrance, and literally save hours of sightseeing time.

Honestly, fast track entry is invaluable, and I always look for ways to get it when we travel.

Guided Tours

One of my favorite things about the New York Pass is that it includes more than 40 guided tours. Although tours are becoming more common on sightseeing passes, it is still pretty unique to offer this many.

In my own travels, I’ve found tours by local guides to be an excellent way to experience various sights. A good tour guide really brings the sight to life, making loads of information easily accessible through the use of storytelling.

Please note that the most popular tours included on the pass do fill up, and several guided tours require a reservations. Simply follow the instructions for each attraction on the New York Pass website to book a reservation.

Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour

New York City is massive. Taking a bus tour is a great way to cover a lot of ground quickly! With the Big Bus HOHO Tour, you get access to the both the Uptown and Downtown loops for one day. You’ll drive by some of New York’s most famous sights while listening in on stories about the city’s history.

Ride the bus for the entire tour, or hop off at an attraction and use your New York Pass to enter. It’s your choice! (Note: Tickets for the Big Bus HOHO Tour can NOT be issued on the bus. You must visit a Big Bus agent in front of the M&M Store in Times Square to book your time slot.)

Other Benefits of the Pass

• Mobile Ticket on Free App – Like most things these days, you can use your mobile phone as your ticket. Simply download the free Go City app and scan it at each attraction. The app also provides info on included attractions, helps you create an itinerary, and syncs with your calendar. You can even check which attractions need reservations and book them. The majority of the features can also be used offline, which is handy when you’re out and about.
• Unlimited Access to Attractions – With the New York Pass, you can visit as many included attractions as you like. You’re only limited by your time!
• Free Guidebook – A free “guidebook” is essentially included with your New York Pass inside of the Go City app. Although it no longer comes as a paperback book, inside the app you’ll find descriptions, addresses, hours of operation, and other information for select New York attractions. It also includes some suggested itineraries which are super useful for planning your time in the city.
• Great Refund Policy – If your plans change, you have 365 days from the date of purchase to request a refund on non-activated passes.
• Good for 2 Years – You have 2 years from the date of purchase to use your New York Pass before they expire.

Save Big in New York – With the New York Pass, you can save HUGE money on admission to New York’s biggest attractions. Click here to get yours now.

Where the Pass Falls Short

I’ll be honest, it’s pretty hard to come up with a bunch of disadvantages to the New York Pass. I think it’s one of the best sightseeing passes available in any city, anywhere in the world. But there is one glaring omission I have to mention.

Unlike some of my other favorite sightseeing passes, like the Vatican & Rome Card, the New York Pass does not have an option for using the public transportation system.

Using the subway and bus system is one of the best ways to get around NYC. Sure, taxi rides are faster, but they can cost a fortune. While you can certainly purchase your own MetroCard here, adding a transportation option would be a nice addition to this pass.

Another disappointing miss is that the New York Pass does not include access to the pedestal or crown at the Statue of Liberty. Trust me, though – when it comes to the crown, you aren’t missing anything.

On my first visit to NYC, I spent about 4 hours climbing stairs inside the statue to reach the crown. It wasn’t worth it. In fact, the view is far better from the observation deck – although pedestal access is no longer included either.

With that said, if you’ve got your heart set visiting the crown or the pedestal, you’ll need join the waiting list and purchase your tickets separately.

Who Is the New York Pass Good For?

First-time Visitors – If this is your first time visiting New York City, investing in a New York Pass is a good idea. The pass allows you to see many of the Big Apple’s top attractions, and it helps you save a lot of money doing it. Also, don’t forget about the “Fast Track Entry” feature! This is a valuable time saver for anybody who is sightseeing in NYC.

Families and Groups – Anybody can save money in New York with the New York Pass. The savings are multiplied when traveling with your family or a small group. While a 3-day pass can easily save a single adult $100, a family of four could potentially save $400+ with the pass! That’s a lot of money, and it can make a huge difference on your NYC travel budget.

Visitors Planning on Lots of Sightseeing – Here’s the simple truth: The more you use the pass, the better value it becomes. So, if you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing, the New York Pass is really a no-brainer. By visiting 2 to 3 sights a day, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars, depending on the length of pass you buy.

Travelers With Extended Stays – Speaking of length, travelers with extended stays tend to benefit more from this sightseeing pass than those who will only be there for a weekend. While passes with a shorter duration are good, the real value of the pass starts kicking in with the 3-day passes or longer.

Those Who Aren’t Sure What to See – With so much to do and see in the Big Apple, planning your itinerary can feel overwhelming. Purchasing the New York Pass helps focus your travel plans on some of New York’s most important sights. The free app even syncs your itinerary with your calendar, guiding you as you plan your sightseeing across the city.

Who Is the New York Pass NOT Good For?

Visitors Not Interested in Sightseeing – If your New York plans don’t include visiting a lot of attractions, the New York Pass isn’t for you. The only way to get value from the pass is to use it frequently. So, if you only plan to visit one or two spots, skip this pass.

Those Who Need a Few Days Off – Remember, once the New York Pass is activated, it’s good for consecutive days only. With a 3-day pass and below, you can’t take day off from sightseeing and still get a good value from the pass. With that being said, the 5, 7, and 10 day passes could potentially allow you to take a day or two off and still get your money’s worth.

Travelers on a Very Tight Budget – If you’re on a super tight budget, this pass may not be right for you. There are plenty of free things to do in New York. It doesn’t cost a penny to wander through Times Square or Central Park. But, if you want to go into some of the sights instead of just walking by, a New York Pass could be a big money saver.

Tips for Using the New York Pass

Now that you know whether the New York Pass is right for you, here are a few tips for making the most of your sightseeing pass while you’re there.

• Purchase a 3+ Day Pass…On Sale – The 1 and 2-day passes are fine, but the real savings comes when you purchase a New York Pass for 3 days or more. The longer the pass, the less it costs per day. Additionally, you’ll be able to see more attractions, giving you more value per dollar spent. These passes frequently go on sale, so try and buy it then.
• Visit 2 to 3 Attractions Per Day – The more you use the pass, the better the value. By visiting 2 or 3 attractions each day, you can save hundreds of dollars per pass. You’re probably going to be hitting these sights anyway, so you might as well save while doing it, right? There are over 100 attractions listed, so you’ll never run out of things to do with your New York Pass.
• Start Early – Like most all-inclusive sightseeing passes I’ve used, the New York Pass is tracked using calendar days – NOT a 24-hour schedule. Starting early in the morning is an important part of making the most of your pass, but it’s especially important on Day 1. You don’t want to arrive in the afternoon, use your pass to see one sight, and essentially lose a whole day’s worth of value. Start your first day as early as possible to get the most bang for your buck.
• Plan Sightseeing for Consecutive Days – Once you activate your pass, it’s important to remember that the pass runs on consecutive days. Try and plan your activities so that you’re seeing all the included attractions during the span of your pass.
• Create a Plan Before You Get There – Look over the included attractions and have a plan for seeing what you want before you get there. Since New York is so big, it saves time to visit attractions located near each other on the same day. With that said, be a little flexible. While you’re there, you may find other attractions on the pass you want to visit. Keep an open mind and have fun!
• Book Tours Ahead of Time – One of my favorite things about the New York Pass is that it includes a variety of guided tours. This is a HUGE benefit that can enrich your experience and save you tons of money. Unfortunately, these tours fill up, so you’ll want to use the New York Pass website to reserve your spot ahead of time.

Where to Buy the New York Pass

Are you ready to save time and money sightseeing in NYC? You’re in luck!

The best way buy a New York Pass is to buy it online. This pass goes on sale constantly, but you’ll only be able to take advantage of those sales if you purchase it online. Buy your New York Pass here.

Once you purchase the pass, you can either download the app or print a paper copy at home. Personally, I like to do both. That way I have a backup if there is a technology failure.

The Bottom Line: Is the New York Pass Worth It?

So, is the New York Pass worth it? Absolutely.

In all honesty, I think this pass is one of the best sightseeing passes anywhere in the world! It includes convenient entry to over 100 of NYC’s most popular attractions, plus it saves you money doing it.

Of course, there’s the fast track entry, the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, and all the guided tours you’ll love. If you’re planning on sightseeing in New York, the New York Pass should definitely be on your phone or in your pocket!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our New York Pass review. Have a great time in the Big Apple and happy traveling!

Visit 100+ NYC Attractions – With the New York Pass, you’ll get entry to over 100 NYC attractions, and you can save big money while doing it! You’ll also get fast track entry at some of NYC’s busiest sights, so you can skip the line and save time. Visit just 2-3 sights a day, and you could save hundreds. Order now and save here!

The post New York Pass Review 2024: Is It Worth It or a Waste of Money? appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Need a new way to manage your money? Learn how to replace Quicken with one of these 12 awesome alternatives!

Once hailed as the best personal finance program on the market, Quicken has not aged well. Thankfully, there are several alternatives to Quicken that meet or exceed the performance of the outdated program – and some of them even do it for free. Here are the best Quicken alternatives for 2024!

Our Top Picks

Best Alternatives to Quicken in 2024

Here’s our list of the best replacements for Quicken in 2024! Follow the links below to jump ahead and learn more.

1. Personal Capital – Free financial tracking and planning tools
2. Tiller Money – Spreadsheet budgeting and reporting
3. PocketSmith – Budgeting and financial forecasting
4. YNAB – Zero-based budgeting
5. Everydollar – For followers of Dave Ramsey
6. CountAbout – Budgeting and financial reports
7. MoneyPatrol – Budgeting and financial tracking
8. GoodBudget – Envelope budgeting
9. Empower Finance – Budgeting, automatic savings, and bill reduction
10. Dollarbird – Calendar-based budgeting
11. Moneydance – Non-cloud solution

1. Personal Capital

• Best Uses: Financial Tracking and Planning
• Price: Free
• Top Features: Net Worth Tracking, Investment Fee Analyzer, Retirement Calculator, Investment Checkup Tool, Cash Flow Tracker
• Try Personal Capital for Free

What makes Personal Capital a good alternative to Quicken? For starters, it’s free. Plus, they offer a comprehensive collection of money tools in one convenient place, so we think that’s pretty awesome.

With Personal Capital, you can track your spending, net worth, and investments. You can also use it to check your investments for expensive fees and calculate whether you’re saving enough for retirement. Again, these tools are all 100% free and at your disposal after a simple sign up process.

So, how does it work?

In short, Personal Capital pulls data from all your accounts and delivers a complete financial picture that’s easy to understand. Just link Personal Capital to your bank, credit, and investment accounts. Then, the software imports your transactions and calculates how your spending aligns with your budget.

Why We Love It: Unlike some other Quicken alternatives, Personal Capital is more than just budgets. And, since it is free, it makes a great compliment to many of the other programs as well.

Personal Capital also offers powerful investment management tools. The user-friendly interface tracks your asset allocation, monitors your investment performance, and analyzes your fees.

The program even takes your retirement goals into account and estimates your retirement income/expenditures based on your financial data. And, of course, Personal Capital also calculates the value of your assets relative to your debt (i.e. your net worth).

Read our complete Personal Capital review to learn more.

What’s Not to Like: Some users may find this “budgeting” tool to be a bit too basic. When directly comparing Personal Capital vs. Quicken, Personal Capital also lacks the ability to directly manage your bills.

Don’t let that be a deal breaker, though.

You can always take advantage of Personal Capital’s tools while using another Quicken alternative for your day-to-day money management needs. Plus, these tools are free, so you’ve got nothing to lose!

2. Tiller Money

• Best Uses: Spreadsheet Budgeting and Expense Tracking
• Price: $6.58/month ($79/year)
• Top Features: Foundation Template, Customizable Templates and Categories, Automated Tracking, Basic Financial Reports
• Try Tiller Money: 30-Day Free Trial

Once again, Tiller Money is one of our top Quicken alternatives for 2024.

If you’re used to Quicken, you already know your way around a spreadsheet. Good news: Tiller Money offers a familiar spreadsheet environment with supercharged money management capabilities.

Tiller Money connects with more than 21,000 financial institutions to import and categorize data from your bank, credit card, mortgage, and brokerage accounts into Google Sheets or Excel.

The Foundation Template is the easiest way to get started. It’s a ready-to-go- spreadsheet package that helps you build monthly and yearly budgets based on customizable spending categories. It tracks your spending, financial standing, and balances in one place to give you a clear sense of your situation. You can also run financial reports that make it easy to compile your tax information each year.

For customers needing a more customized experience, Tiller add-ons and Tiller Money Labs offer additional spreadsheets to meet your unique needs. A zero-sum budget, debt snowball template, and net worth tracker are just a few of the more popular options. For the spreadsheet nerds among us, there is even an option to build your own spreadsheet budget.

Here’s a bonus that many money apps don’t include — tools specifically for freelancers and small business owners. These tools include things like quarterly tax estimation and business-expense tracking.

Why We Love It: Tiller Money harnesses the power of spreadsheets to offer a customizable financial management experience. It’s especially great for people who like to be a little more hands-on with their money.

Tiller Money is an ad-free subscription that packs a lot of value for only $6.58 a month ($79 per year). Like most paid financial tools, you can try it risk-free with a free 30-day trial. Students can also use it free for a whole year.

3. PocketSmith

• Best Uses: Budgeting and Financial Forecasting
• Price: Varies (Free, $9.95/month, $19.95/month)
• Top Features: Solid Budgeting Tools, “What If” Scenario Tester
• Try PocketSmith for Free

Want to get a better handle on your money? PocketSmith might be for you.

Like several of the best alternatives to Quicken, this program provides a strong option for budgeting. Where it really shines, however, is with its financial forecasting.

Instead of simply tracking what you’ve already spent, PocketSmith also helps you see what the future holds for your money. The “budget calendar” provides a daily look at your future income and expenses, all on an easy-to-read calendar so you can plan appropriately. Using your current info, you can even project your bank account balances as far out as 30 years into the future.

In our complete PocketSmith review, we mention that our favorite feature is the “what if” scenarios. This feature allows you to test different spending and saving decisions and see how they affect your future financial growth. Wondering how reducing your grocery spending will affect your savings rate? Want to take a $2,000 vacation next summer? Use the “what if” feature to understand both the short-term and long-term consequences.

As with most Quicken alternatives, PocketSmith utilizes live bank feeds to update your transactions automatically. Over 10,000 different financial institutions are supported, so it’s pretty likely that you’ll be able to connect your accounts.

Why We Like It: As we mentioned, Pocketsmith’s financial forecasting puts it a notch above many other Quicken alternatives. Additionally, it won’t cost you much to try it out.

The basic functions of PocketSmith can be used for free, however, you are limited to connecting just 2 accounts and 6-months of projections. The Premium version runs $9.95 per month ($7.50 per month if you pay for an annual subscription) and comes with 10 accounts and 10 year projections. Unlimited accounts and 30 year projections are available with the “Super” account which runs $19.95 per month ($14.16 per month if you pay annually).

4. YNAB

• Best Uses: Zero-based Budgeting
• Price: $8.25/month (billed annually)
• Top Features: Realistic Budgets, Automatic or Manual Transaction Imports
• Try YNAB: 34-Day Free Trial

You Need a Budget (YNAB) has long been considered one of the best budgeting apps available. Although it doesn’t offer a whole suite of money tools like Personal Capital, it focuses on two important things things – building a realistic budget and tracking your spending. Personally, I think that is great because it does them both very well.

I say a “realistic” budget because YNAB’s philosophy is that a budget is fluid. Therefore, they believe your budget should be adjusted frequently in response to whatever is going on in your life. That’s why YNAB makes it so easy to move money between spending categories to keep your budget balanced.

For example, if you’ve budgeted $300 for groceries but your transactions indicate that you’ve spent $340, YNAB will notify you that you’ve overspent. Then, they’ll prompt you to deduct that $40 from another category. This system is especially useful if your goal is to maintain a zero-based budget.

Why YBAB Is a Good Quicken Alternative: With YNAB, you have two choices: You can automatically import your transactions by connecting to your bank and credit providers, or you can enter your transactions manually. Obviously, automating things is easier, but some may appreciate the option to do things the old-fashioned way. Once it is there, the info is added to the budget template, and you’re good to go.

YNAB offers a free 34-day trial, so you can try a full month of budgeting with no commitment. After that, the cost is just $8.25/month when billed annually ($14.99/month if billed monthly). That means once a year, you’ll pay about $99 to use the app/software. Like some other programs, students can enjoy 12 months for free – which is a pretty cool benefit.

Also cool is that YNAB offers a 100% money-back guarantee. So, if you buy the app and decide it’s not helping you take control of your finances, YNAB will give you a full refund. I can’t argue with that!

5. EveryDollar

• Best Uses: Budgeting, Tracking Expenses
• Price: Free (Basic) or $129.99/year (Plus)
• Top Features: Customizable Categories, Dave Ramsey “Baby Steps”
• Try EveryDollar for Free

Next on our list of Quicken alternatives, we have EveryDollar. If you’re a Dave Ramsey fan, you may want to give his budgeting tool a try.

EveryDollar lets you budget your income into customizable spending categories, then enter your transactions and track your spending. The free version doesn’t link to your online accounts, so you enter your transactions manually. (If you want to automatically sync to your online accounts, you’ll need the paid version.) That’s not a deal breaker, but one thing I’ve noticed is that the app doesn’t seem to remember the category associated with a payee that’s previously been entered. Adding that would be a nice touch.

This is a super simple budgeting app that should meet the needs of someone who wants to get started with planning a budget and tracking their spending. The basic app is free, so there’s no risk involved in trying it out for a few months to see what you think.

For those who want automatic transaction uploads directly from their bank, the app does offer a premium version (EveryDollar Plus)…but it is a hefty $129.99.

6. CountAbout

• Best Uses: Budgeting and Financial Reports
• Price: $9.99/year (Basic) or $39.99/year (Premium)
• Top Features: iOS and Android App, Customizable Budget, Financial Reports, Automatically Track Transactions, Invoicing
• Try CountAbout: 15-Day Free Trial

CountAbout is another web-based alternative to Quicken. This program actually supports importing data from both Quicken and Mint, which is nice if you’re making a switch.

When you use CountAbout on a computer, there’s no app to install; you simply log in to their website. They do offer a mobile app for iOS and Android, but not all the features are available through the app.

Why We Love CountAbout as a Quicken Replacement: Like most of these programs, you can use CountAbout to create a fully customizable budget. Then, simply sync it to your bank account to automatically import your transactions and track your spending. Pretty sweet right? But, that’s not all it does.

With CountAbout, you can also run financial reports at any time throughout the year. The program also offers invoicing capability for small business owners as well as the ability to attach receipts. So, it is a pretty powerful alternative to Quicken and can replace much of the old program’s functionality – even beyond budgeting.

CountAbout offers two membership options: basic for $9.99 a year or premium for $39.99 a year. The only difference between the two is that the basic membership does not support syncing with online bank accounts. That means if you opt for the basic membership, your transactions will not be automatically downloaded. Your options are to enter transactions manually or import QIF files from your bank if they make those available.

You can even try CountAbout before committing. Simply sign up and take advantage of the 15-day free trial on their premium membership.

7. MoneyPatrol

• Best Uses: Budgeting and Financial Tracking
• Price: $7.00/month
• Top Features: Automatic Expense Tracking, Customizable Spending Categories, Financial Reports, Fraud Alerts
• Try MoneyPatrol: 15-Day Free Trial

MoneyPatrol is a money management tool that excels at financial tracking. It also offers some solid budgeting help.

The app itself connects to more than 15,000 financial institutions and automatically imports financial data from your bank, credit card, mortgage, student loan, and investment accounts. It displays a summary of your overall financial picture on your dashboard, which is especially useful for people who have accounts at more than one bank. 

Then, MoneyPatrol sorts your bank and credit card transactions into customizable spending categories, labeling them by merchant. It produces a slew of charts, graphs, and reports to help you understand exactly how, when, and where you’re spending your money. The budgeting function allows you to plan a monthly budget for each category and tracks how your spending aligns with those budgets.

MoneyPatrol also provides a comprehensive alert and notification system. You’ll get text or email notifications whenever money moves out of your account. MoneyPatrol also monitors your spending history for patterns and irregularities, using that data to remind you of upcoming bills and alert you to potentially fraudulent transactions.

A MoneyPatrol subscription will run you $84 per year, which works out to $7 per month. They also offer a 15-day trial before you buy.

8. GoodBudget

• Best Uses: Budgeting
• Price: Free or $7/month (Plus)
• Top Features: Envelope Budgeting, Manual Transaction Imports, Debt Tracking
• Try GoodBudget for Free

GoodBudget is a simple budgeting app that helps you plan and track your spending through a digital version of the envelope budgeting method.

If you’re unfamiliar with the envelope method, this is a zero-sum style of budgeting where you use an envelope for each spending category. First, you’ll plan how much you’ll spend on each category (usually throughout the month). Then, you allocate cash for those expenses in each category’s designated envelope.

Throughout the month, you’ll take money from a designated envelope each time you need to spend in that category. If you run out of money in an envelope, you can’t spend any more on that category… unless you borrow the money from another envelope (which will reduce your spending power in that category).

The free version of GoodBudget gives you twenty envelopes and allows you to manually add transactions from your bank or import them through bank activity files. You can also sync across two devices – which is great for using it on desktop and mobile. You can also use one sync to share a budget with your partner.

GoodBudget Plus costs $7 a month or $60 a year. This gives you access to unlimited envelopes and accounts. You can also use the app on five different devices.

Since you’re likely to have more than one account and may both want access on multiple devices, GoodBudget Plus is probably more practical for a couple who shares a budget. That being said, it’s great that this software also has a free option.

9. Empower Finance

• Best Uses: Budgeting, Auto Savings, Save on Bills
• Price: $6.00/month
• Top Features: AutoSave, Bill Negotiation, Personalized Savings Recommendations
• Try Empower Finance: 30-Day Free Trial

If you’re looking for a Quicken alternative that helps you budget, tracks your spending, and actively saves you money, Empower Finance is it. Oh, and it includes a bank account!

Like most money management apps, Empower works by connecting to your financial accounts and importing your transactions. You can build a daily, weekly, or monthly budget with custom categories and track how your spending compares.

But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. While most apps help you save by making you more mindful of your spending, Empower actually finds you savings opportunities.

Its AutoSave feature helps you meet your weekly savings goals by analyzing your income and spending patterns to discover surplus cash. Empower transfers that excess money into a separate account up to four times a week — cha-ching!

Empower Finance also takes stock of your regular bill payments and presents you with lower-cost alternatives. It will even work with your current service providers to negotiate you a better deal. Lost track of your subscriptions? Empower rounds them up and cancels the ones you don’t want. That’s pretty incredible.

If you need further convincing, Empower Finance includes an interest-bearing checking account and access to a human money coach via live chat.  

Why We Love It: Empower Finance harnesses the power of financial tracking to make personalized recommendations that save you real money. You can try Empower Finance for free for 30 days. After that, you get access to all its features for just $6 per month.

10. Dollarbird

• Best Uses: Budgeting
• Price: Free or $4.99/month (Pro)
• Top Features: Calendar-based Budgeting, Available for Android and iOS
• Try Dollarbird for Free

Dollarbird is another simple, no-frills budgeting app that makes for a good alternative to Quicken. This app is unique in that it’s calendar-based rather than category-based. What this means is that Dollarbird focuses on tracking your income and spending by day, rather than by category

When you open the app, you’ll see a calendar. From there, you have the option of adding transactions (income or spending) for each day. Although you do categorize your transactions, the app displays your net spending per day rather than a running category total.

At this time, Dollarbird does not support syncing with your online accounts. This means all your transactions must be entered manually. So, if you’re looking to go Quicken free, this may not appeal to you.

However, you can schedule recurring transactions so you’re not constantly required to enter your regular fixed expenses. If you’re paid a regular salary, you can do the same with your paychecks.

The free version of Dollarbird gives you access to one calendar – perfect if you’re doing a simple solo budget.

The paid Pro version allows up to 20 calendars and can be accessed by three people. Again, the paid option might be more practical for couples. You can opt to pay $4.99 monthly or $39.99 for the year.

11. Moneydance

• Best Uses: Budgeting, Expense Tracking
• Price: $49.99
• Top Features: Not cloud-based, Quicken Imports, One-time Payment
• Try Moneydance for Free

Moneydance’s interface resembles a check register, where you see a record of all your transactions. Those transactions can be imported automatically by syncing with your online banking, or you can enter them manually. If you want to go completely Quicken free, by choosing the automated route, you can also manage bill payments through Moneydance.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a very good option for personal finance software without the ability to create a budget. Moneydance lets you create spending categories and track your expenditures. If you’re a visual person, you’ll appreciate the interactive graphing tool. You can also use Moneydance to track your investments and monitor stock performance.

If you’re technologically inclined (i.e. a tech nerd), you can actually develop extensions for Moneydance using an Extension Developer Kit they offer as a free download. But I won’t get into that today!

You can try Moneydance using their free trial, which works a bit differently than the other trials we’ve talked about. There’s no time limit on their trial, but you’re limited to 100 manually entered transactions. Still, that’s enough to decide if Moneydance is for you. After that, you can buy the full program for a one-time fee of $49.99. They also offer a 90-day money back guarantee when you purchase from their website.

Quicken Alternatives FAQs

Quicken Alternatives: Final Thoughts

With Quicken no longer the only financial tracking game in town, there are plenty of options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a simple budgeting program or a complete personal finance software package, there’s enough variety on this list to suit almost any need.

Although everybody has their preferences (us included), ultimately, the best financial tools are ones you’ll use consistently. So, why wait? Use one of the links above to download a free app or start a free trial to find out what program works for you.

How many of these money management tools have you tried? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post 11 Best Quicken Alternatives for 2024 (Paid & Free Replacements) appeared first on Club Thrifty.

The best Mint.com alternatives combine budgeting software, automatic expense tracking, and more. Find our top free and paid replacements here.

Mint.com is closing its doors.

A pioneer in its time, Mint was one of the few financial programs to offer free features like personal budgets, expense tracking, and bill management. Unfortunately, Mint’s functionality declined over recent years, and Intuit finally announced they would be shutting it down at the end of 2023.

If you’ve been using the program for years, you’ll need to find a replacement for Mint — and you’ll need to do it quickly. Check out our list of the 11 best Mint.com alternatives below!

Our Top Picks: Mint Alternatives

11 Best Alternatives to Mint

Intuit announced they are closing down Mint.com on January 01, 2024. Some of Mint’s features will be available on a different Intuit product, Credit Karma, but it’s safe to say that many features will be lost. Rather than waiting to find out, consider these established programs as a replacement for Mint instead.

1) Empower

Formerly known as Personal Capital, Empower’s free money tools are an excellent alternative to Mint. Here’s a quick list of some of their top features:

• Personal dashboard offering a snapshot of your most important financial metrics
• Excellent retirement calculator
• Top-notch investment fee analyzer
• Automatically tracks cashflow and investments
• Can be used alone or in combination with other programs
• Track several cryptocurrencies while protecting your wallet
• Price: Free

We’ve used Empower for years and still believe it’s the best free money app on the market. The retirement calculator and investment fee analyzer are awesome, plus the tools can help you track your cashflow and investments. Simply input a few pieces of data, and you’re good to go!

Empower is effective because it provides an excellent snapshot of your entire financial picture. Whether you’re interested in tracking your spending, monitoring your investments, or watching your net worth grow, Empower sews it all together in one convenient dashboard.

For us, Empower is a must have tool. Even better, it is completely free.

2) Tiller

If you dig spreadsheets, Tiller might be the Mint replacement you’re looking for. Right now, they’re even offering free webinars for former Mint customers who are making the switch!

Here’s what you can expect from Tiller:

• Powerful budgeting app that uses Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel
• Use premade budget templates or build your own
• Connects to more than 20,000 financial institutions
• Automatically imports transactions from your bank, credit card, brokerage, and mortgage accounts
• Auto-categorization feature helps sort transactions into categories
• Includes tools for freelancers and small business owners
• Everything is customizable
• No ads
• 30-day free trial
• Price: $6.58/month

So, how does Tiller work?

The “Foundation Template” is Tiller’s out-of-the-box solution to your budgeting and financial tracking needs. Create personalized budgets, track spending and balances, and get an “at-a-glance” view of your complete financial standing.

Those who enjoy building their own budget template can do so, while customers with specific goals will find what they need from Tiller Money Labs or add-ons. Targeted spreadsheets for tackling debt, starting a zero-sum budget, and tracking net worth are just some of the popular options available.

You can try Tiller free for the first 30 days. After that, it’s $79 per year, which works out to be less than $7 per month. And get this: Students get it free for a whole year.

3) Quicken

Of all the programs on this list, Quicken is the granddaddy of the bunch. Still, it may be the most complete Mint replacement and could be a great fit for you, depending on your needs.

Here are some of its top features:

• Desktop software
• Available for Windows or Mac
• Balance accounts
• Create a budget
• Tracks tax information
• Simplifi mobile app now available
• Price: Plans range from $47.88-$119.88/year

Many people still find Quicken to be the most powerful personal finance software available. It’s a good spot to balance your accounts, keep track of your tax obligations, and more. You can also download this software to your computer, although they now back up your information in the cloud as well.

Unfortunately, many people have started searching for alternatives to Quicken, citing a variety of reasons they’re leaving the software giant. In fact, Intuit itself actually dropped Quicken before picking up the rights to Mint…so, there’s that.

Quicken finally joined the 21st century when they recently unveiled their Simplifi mobile app. That is great news, but Quicken is still primarily a desktop app. If that is what you’re looking for, Quicken could be a solid replacement for Mint!

4) PocketSmith

All of our favorite Mint alternatives bring a strong budgeting game, and PocketSmith is no different. Here are some reasons PocketSmith deserves your consideration:

• Excellent budgeting app
• Excels with financial forecasting
• “What If” scenario tester
• Track bills and expenses on calendar
• Easy to understand net worth calculations
• Free version available
• Price: Plans range from free to $39.95/month

This software’s strength lies in its financial forecasting.

PocketSmith will forecast your finances for the next 60 years based on your existing data and trends. One of my favorite features is the “what if” scenario tester. What would happen to your financial picture if you spent a year abroad or went back to school? This feature will show you.

PocketSmith also breaks down your net worth in clear, easy to understand language. Breaking it down into categories like “What You Own” and “What You Owe” is brilliant. It reminds you that, even if you own assets totaling $500,000, you are not worth that much if you are drowning in credit card debt.

There is a free version of PocketSmith, but it is fairly limited. The “Foundation Plan” is $14.95 a month (or $9.99/month when paid annually), and you can only pull from 6 connected banks and get a 10-year financial forecast. The “Flourish Plan” is the most popular. For $24.95 per month ($16.66/month when paid annually), you get 18 connected banks and 30 years of projections. If you want to get the whole shebang, including the 60-year forecast, be prepared to pay $39.95 a month (or $26.66/month when paid annually).

5) YNAB

You Need a Budget, also known as YNAB, has made some great improvements over the last few years — particularly when it comes to automation. Here are some of the program’s top features:

• Excellent budgeting software
• Encourages using a zero-based budget
• Enter transactions manually or automatically sync with accounts
• Focus on goal setting and monthly expense planning
• No ads or third-party popups
• 100% money-back guarantee
• 34-day free trial
• Price: $14.99/month or $8.25/month when billed annually

While you can still enter or correct transactions manually, this Mint alternative now offers bank synchronization and mobile app usage. This is a huge step forward and a sign that they are listening to what their customers want.

Since the program focuses on goal setting, saving for big expenses, and anticipating more expensive months, YNAB is a good choice for individuals who are trying to improve their money habits. This is also a good way to implement a zero-sum budget – i.e. a budget where every dollar has a job and no money is wasted.

Unlike Mint, YNAB has useful money resources and webinars that don’t have a hidden agenda. They also have two different payment options to fit your needs: The regular monthly price is $14.99, but you can reduce that to $8.25 a month ($99/year) if you choose to be billed annually.

If you aren’t satisfied with their software, YNAB also offers a 100% money-back guarantee. You can also try before you buy with their free 34-day trial.

6) EveryDollar

If you are a Dave Ramsey follower, then you will probably like using his budgeting app EveryDollar.

The free version of this program doesn’t come with all bells and whistles that many of the other apps provide. However, the software is pretty straightforward and a solid option for those needing a good budgeting app.

Unlike the other Mint alternatives, EveryDollar has a special feature dedicated to Ramsey’s famous “Baby Steps.” This is perfect for those who are new to budgeting, helping you stay on track with your financial goals by integrating them into your budget.

While EveryDollar is one of the best alternatives to Mint, if you want to sync the app with your bank accounts, you’ll need to purchase the Ramsey+ premium version. You try EveryDollar free for 14 days. After that, it costs $17.99/month (or $79.99/year) to subscribe.

7) CountAbout

Need more Mint alternatives to consider? CountAbout was created as a direct solution for users growing weary of both Mint and Quicken.

The web-based personal finance software allows users to import data from Quicken and Mint, as well as automatically sync transactions from your bank accounts. Also, consider these features:

• Works with both iOS and Android
• Import data from either Quicken or Mint
• Sync data from your financial accounts (Premium members only)
• Create and send invoices
• 100% money-back guarantee
• Price: Basic – $9.99/year; Premium – $39.99/year

CountAbout works with both iOS and Android platforms, allowing you to access your budget from anywhere with an internet connection. The basic membership costs just $9.99 a year, while a premium membership is $39.99 per year. (Keep in mind that a premium membership is required if you want to sync your financial accounts.)

Small business owners like that they can use the program to create and send invoices. It’s also important to note, while you can import information from your investment accounts, the app itself does not offer any investment or future financial planning tools or advice.

CountAbout is nice if you already have an established Mint or Quicken account but are fed up with using those platforms. They also offer a 100% money-back guarantee.

8) Moneydance

Moneydance is easily one of the best alternatives to Mint. It offers a clean interface offering similar functionality to Mint without any bloat or clumsiness.

The most appealing feature of Moneydance is that it has an open API, which means that – if you are a developer or tech savvy – you can develop extensions for your Moneydance platform using a free, downloadable Extension Developer’s Kit.

As an added bonus, you can budget, pay bills, and track investments with the app. Not only does Moneydance offer free bill pay, but you can also set bill reminders so that you never miss a payment. You can connect to all of your financial accounts and even import your information from some other programs.

Moneydance costs $65.00 to download, but you can try it free for your first 100 transactions. You can also subscribe for $9.00/month or $90/year.

9) Banktivity

Banktivity claims their users save an average of $500 a year and 40 hours of time. That’s definitely not something to shake a stick at.

Where Banktivity shines brightest is their bill pay options and debt management tools. While most online banks also have bill pay, one of Banktivity’s best features is that it allows users to pay bills from more than one bank account. Bills can also be integrated, so you don’t have to hunt down your monthly utility bills.

Unfortunately, Banktivity is only for Mac users, but it is a helpful tool for individuals who want to customize their budget. For instance, if you want to pay your mortgage from “Bank Account A” and your child’s tuition bill from “Bank Account B,” you can do that with Banktivity.

The software also allows users to get granular with their categories by using customizable tags. So, if you want to break down your vacation fund by food costs, transportation expenses, and activities, this feature is super useful.

Try Banktivity free for 30 days. After that, plans range from $49.99 to $99.99 per year when you pay annually.

10) MoneyPatrol

MoneyPatrol is an advanced personal finance monitoring, budgeting, and money management tool — making it a good alternative to Mint. Here is what you get:

• Create weekly and monthly budgets
• Automatically imports information from accounts
• Monitor bank accounts, credit cards, loans, etc.
• Offers bill reminders
• Includes financial reports
• 15-day free trial
• Price: Plans range from free to $6.99/month (billed annually)

Like other alternatives to Mint, MoneyPatrol offers the ability to connect your accounts directly to the program. From there, you can monitor your checking account, savings account, credit cards, loans, and more.

You can also create weekly and monthly budgets while monitoring the spending on your accounts. The program also allows you to run important financial reports, monitor your cash flow, get bill reminders, and more.

According to MoneyPatrol, their users are reporting an average positive impact of $5,000 per year. That’s a pretty good stash of cash going back into your pocket.

MoneyPatrol is free for the first 15 days. After that, it normally costs up to $6.66/month when billed annually.

11) Goodbudget

When it comes to great budgeting techniques, the envelope system has helped many people successfully get a handle on their finances. But, who in their right mind wants to carry around a set of envelopes with cash inside them? That’s where Goodbudget comes in.

Goodbudget is a digital version of the envelope system. It helps users create envelopes for monthly and future spending categories like Christmas shopping or family vacations.

The app’s free version provides access to 10 regular envelopes and 10 additional envelopes. With the free version, you can only access 1 account and 2 devices. The “Plus Plan” solves these nuances for just $8 per month or $70 per year.

This app is the tactile budget system some individuals need, especially if they love the idea of using an envelope system. Unfortunately, the apps biggest drawback is that it doesn’t offer bank synchronization. You can still upload bank statements manually, though.

Mint Alternatives FAQs

Best Mint Alternatives: Final Thoughts

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of the best Mint.com alternatives. Since many of these programs are free, we recommend trying several of them before deciding on the best fit.

By finding the app that suits your needs and personality, you’re more likely to use it consistently. And, the more you pay attention to your finances, the better off they’ll be.

Good luck and thanks for reading!

The post 11 Best Mint Alternatives for 2024 | Paid & Free Replacements appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Summary of Best Money Market Account Rates Today

Here’s a quick overview of the best money market account rates.

Disclosure: The offers that appear below are from companies from whom Club Thrifty receives compensation. This may affect the order and manner in which they appear. Rates are subject to change. Club Thrifty does not include or review all companies or available offers.

Bank	APY	Learn More
	4.75% APY $100 Minimum to Open	Learn More
	1.55% APY $100 Minimum to Open	Learn More
	0.25% APY $1,000 Minimum to Open	Learn More
Updated: November 11, 2024

What Are Money Market Accounts?

You’re probably more familiar with traditional savings and checking accounts, right? Well, money market accounts are essentially a hybrid of both.

A money market account is like a savings account that earns a high interest rate. However, it also comes with a debit card and check-writing capabilities.

Money market accounts often require a higher minimum balance or opening deposit, which could be a pitfall to those just beginning to save. However, some of them require just $100 to get started.

There are several great money market accounts available. To help you choose, we’ve created a list of the top ones to share with you along with their best features.

Best Money Market Accounts This Month – Our Picks

Without further ado, here’s our list of the top MMAs this month!

1) Quontic Bank Money Market Account

Current Rate: 4.75% APY

Quontic Bank (FDIC #57807) is an online bank that provides a full slate of personal banking options across the United States.

With the Quontic Bank Money Market Account, all balances now earn a very nice 4.75% APY. That’s a nice departure from the tiered balance structure this account previously applied.

Quontic Bank also offers mortgage loans, savings accounts, CDs, and some of the best checking accounts on the market. In fact, their High Interest Checking product currently earns 1.10% APY, which is outstanding at the moment. Learn more here.

If social responsibility is important to you, Quontic Bank may also be a great fit. They are in the 3% of banks that have the CDFI Certification. This is available to organizations who provide financial services to historically underserved communities.

2) CIT Bank Money Market

Current Rate: 1.55% APY

CIT Bank (FDIC #58978) provides some of the best online banking solutions you’ll find, and the CIT Bank Money Market Account is no exception. It offers a nice 1.55% APY and requires a $100 minimum opening deposit, which is outstanding.

Despite being an online bank, funds are super easy to access 24/7. This money market account also carries no monthly fees. With the CIT Bank mobile app, customers can easily deposit checks remotely and make transfers. They are even launching bill pay features soon.

Try out their savings account calculator to see estimated totals of how much you’ll earn with their money market account. Opening an account with CIT Bank could be the decision that jump-starts your savings. Check out our complete CIT Bank review to learn more, or open your account using the link below!

3) Axos Bank High Yield Money Market

Current Rate: 0.25% APY

Axos Bank (FDIC #35546) currently offers one of the top earning money market accounts on our list. It is also relatively easy to get started.

Their High Yield Money Market account earns a very solid 0.25% APY. There are no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance requirements. With that said, you will need to make a $1,000 deposit to open the account.

With the Axos Bank High Yield Money Market, accessing your funds is also a breeze. This account comes with check writing privileges and debit card access, making it simple to get to your money whenever you need it. Follow the link below to learn more!

Money Market Account vs High-Yield Savings Account

When it comes to your savings, which is better: a money market account or a high-yield savings account? Money market accounts usually offer a higher interest rate than traditional savings accounts. But both money market and high-yield savings accounts can earn high rates. Why choose one over the other?

It comes down to a matter of preference and needs. Do you want easy access to your funds at any time? If so, a money market account may make more sense. Money market accounts often come with a debit card and checks that can make it easier to get to your money on the go. Just like the best high-yield savings accounts, however, you are limited by federal rules to 6 transactions per month (excluding ATM and in-person withdrawals). Some banks charge a fee for going over your limit or will even close your account.

Both types of accounts are geared toward people wanting to save money without touching it too much. Money market accounts often require a higher minimum balance or opening deposit, so if you aren’t planning on a large deposit, a high-yield savings account could be better for you.

In the end, the differences between money market accounts and high-yield savings accounts often have to do with what your bank offers. For the best value, look for a bank that has an app you can use to transfer funds, incentives for saving, and a wide variety of accounts to meet your financial needs.

Additional reporting by Kevin Payne.

The post Best Money Market Accounts for November 2024 appeared first on Club Thrifty.

In this Florence City Pass review, we break down how the pass works, what it costs, and whether it’s the right choice for your travel plans. 

Ah, Florence. Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Home to iconic art and architecture, beautiful weather, and fine Italian food and wine. What’s not to love?

Well, maybe the cost. While it’s not the most expensive city in Italy, when you consider airfare, hotels, dining, and sightseeing, it’s not exactly the cheapest place to travel either.

Hopefully, you’re using travel rewards to cover some flight and accommodation costs. (If not, we need to talk!) But as any traveler knows, the expenses don’t stop once you arrive. In a city like Florence, skimping on sightseeing is not an option. Everywhere you look, there are world-famous museums, historic monuments, and beautiful churches.

Sightseeing passes are one of my favorite way to cut costs without cutting experiences. Today, I want to tell you about the Florence City Pass from TurboPass. Can it help you save money? Is it worth a buy? Let’s find out!

What Is the Florence City Pass?

The Florence City Pass from TurboPass is an all-inclusive sightseeing pass designed to save you money and time when you visit Florence. The pass is filled mostly with museums and tours. It’s available for one, two, or three consecutive calendar days.

Unlike most sightseeing passes, when you buy the Florence City Pass online, you have to choose your start date. If you go for the one-day pass, it will activate at 12:01 am that day and expire at midnight. The multi-day passes are valid until midnight on the last day.

The Florence City Pass includes timed entry to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, meaning you get to skip the ticket line at two of the most sought-after attractions in Italy. It also means, however, that you need to choose the date and preferred time of your visit when you buy the pass.

For all the other attractions, you can visit them any time during the life of your pass. Some of the tours require reservations, so make sure you have a look at the info that comes with the pass so you know what to expect.

Let’s check out the attractions to see if they pique your interest.

Attractions on the Florence City Pass

The following attractions are included in the cost of the Florence City Pass. I’ve included the regular adult admission prices for reference:

• Uffizi Gallery – €29
• Accademia Gallery – €16
• Leonardo da Vinci Museum – €8
• Jewish Museum and Synagogue – €6.50
• Walking Tour: Welcome to Florence – €35
• Casa Buonarroti Museum – €6.50
• Innocenti Museum – €7
• Shuttle Bus to Barberino Designer Outlet – €13
• National Archaeological Museum – €8
• Museum of Musical Instruments – (Inside Accademia Gallery)
• Franco Zeffirelli Museum – €12
• Museum of San Marco – €8
• Opificio delle Pietre Dure – €4
• Find the full list here

These attractions are discounted with the pass. That means you still have to pay admission out of pocket, but it will be at a reduced rate:

• Chianti Half Day Wine Tour – 20% off
• Day Trip: Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, & Wine Tasting – 20% off
• Day Trip: Siena, San Gimignano, and Pisa with Lunch – 20% off
• The Best of Cinque Terre & Porto Venere – 35% off
• Guided E-Bike Tour – 20% off
• …and more

*Prices current as of August 09, 2023. Some attractions may require reservations. Additionally, some attractions may have limited capacity and/or limited operating hours.

Florence City Pass Pricing

OK, so now that you know what’s included in the Florence City Pass, let’s take a look at pricing to see if it’s a good deal.

To be honest, I couldn’t believe it when I saw these prices. It’s standard for multi-day passes to yield better value than a 1-day pass, but this is unreal! The 2-day pass only costs €10 more than the 1-day pass, and the 3-day pass only costs another €5 above that.

Put another way, with the 1-day pass, you pay €77.90 per day compared to €30.97 per day with the 3-day pass.

What’s the key take away? The 3-day pass is by far the best value. In fact, I wouldn’t bother with the 1-day pass at all (more on that later).

But, is the Florence City Pass even a good deal? Let’s crunch some numbers to see how to save money with the 3-day pass.

Let’s say you take on the following itinerary:

Day 1

• Academia Gallery at opening time
• Innocenti Museum
• Welcome to Florence Walking Tour at 1:30
• Leonardo da Vinci Museum after the tour
• Total saved with pass = €66

Day 2

• Uffizi first thing in the morning
• Half-day Chianti Wine Tour
• Total saved with pass = €42.50

Day 3

• Cinque Terre Day Trip
• Total saved with the pass = €33.25

The total savings value of this itinerary is €141.75. The 3-day pass costs €92.90, so total savings would be €48.85. With that said, you’ll still be shelling out some extra money for the wine tour and the trip to Cinque Terre since the pass simply nets you a discount on those tours.

So, what did we learn? You can see from looking at the daily totals that at €77.90, the 1-day pass is a bad deal. You’d have to cram a lot into a day to get €77.90 worth of attractions. I just don’t see it happening. The 2-day pass can save you a bit, but the 3-day pass is easily the best value.

Save Money in Florence – Save on sightseeing expenses with the Florence City Pass! Visit the city’s most iconic attractions, enjoy skip the ticket lines, and save on the price of regular admission! Get yours here.

Top Reasons to Get the Florence City Pass

The Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery

Florence is home to more than 70 museums, but the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery are the most renowned of the lot.

The Uffizi is a huge, grand collection of varying art styles ranging from the 12^th to 18^th centuries. Considered one of the best Renaissance collections in the world, it features masterpieces from Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raphael, and more. You could easily spend a full day at the Uffizi and not see everything.

The Accademia Gallery is a much smaller collection with one very important draw: the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo. You can’t visit Florence and skip it.

These two museums are easily the biggest draws of the pass. At €29 and €16, respectively, reserved admission is somewhat expensive – but the pass covers it in full.

Fast-Track Entry

The Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery draw crowds of people from all over the world, especially in the summer. You know what that means – enormous lines.

I love museums, and there’s no way I’d skip the Uffizi or the Accademia Gallery, but I hate the idea of wasting precious vacation time in a ticket line.

One of the best features of the Florence City Pass is fast-track entry to those two flagship attractions. Your pass includes a timed entry, so you can skip the line.

Save Money

Saving time is awesome, but most people buy sightseeing passes to save money. Granted, you’re not going to save a ton with the Florence City Pass, but if you’re smart about it, you may be able to shave off 30% (or more) of your costs.

If you’re in town for a few days, the 3-day pass is your best bet for maxing out value. That means more money to splurge on Italian food and wine (or whatever your priorities happen to be).

Other Benefits of the Florence City Pass

• Welcome to Florence Walking Tour – Most the tours included on the Florence City Pass are discounted but not free. The exception is the Welcome to Florence Walking Tour, which is the first one I’d recommend, anyway. The guided tour is an hour, showing you the city’s most iconic sights while imparting their rich history. I love a good guided tour!
• Day Trips – If you buy the three-day pass and are looking to branch out beyond Florence for a day, one of the day trips might fit the bill. For example, you’ll get a 35% discount on the Cinque Terre tour which translates into €33.25 in savings. It lasts almost 14 hours and includes visits to three charming villages and two boat rides.
• Free Shuttle to Barberino Designer Outlet – If you were hoping to spend a couple of hours getting your shopping on, the Florence City Pass includes a shuttle ride to the Barberino Designer Outlet. Walking and public transit is the easiest way to get around Florence for most tourist attractions, but short of renting a car, the shuttle bus is probably the fastest way to get to the outlet. It’s also comfortable, with AC and Wifi.

Save Time in Florence – Don’t waste time waiting in line in Florence. Grab the Florence City Pass and skip the ticket lines at Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery! Get your pass here.

Where the Pass Falls Short

The Florence City Pass from TurboPass can save you time and money while visiting Florence, and that’s a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, though, there are a couple of serious drawbacks you’ll want to consider.

Lack of Flexibility

The main one is the lack of flexibility. When you buy the pass, you have to specify its start date. That doesn’t seem like a big deal, but what if your trip is delayed? Could you potentially lose a day of sightseeing?

TurboPass says a change of date is treated as a cancellation and subject to a €30 fee. Having to pay that fee would greatly diminish the value of the pass. In the case of the 1-day pass, it would make it impossible to get your money’s worth. So, unless you have travel insurance, you may be out the money. This is a major drawback relative to most other sightseeing passes that let you activate the pass when you get to your first destination.

And that isn’t the only issue with flexibility. Because the pass offers timed entry to Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery, you need to choose your dates and times when you book your pass. This reduces your ability to go with the flow once you’re in Florence. On the other hand, timed entry will save you from wasting valuable time in a ticket queue, so you need to weigh the pros and cons.

Limited Savings

Determining the value of the Florence City Pass isn’t a straightforward task. They list all the included attractions, but you have to click on each one to find out their regular admission cost.

When you do, you discover that some of them, like the Casa Martelli, are free to everyone, all the time! I’m not sure how TurboPass justifies listing that as an included attraction.

At other attractions, like the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum, the Florence City Pass gets you discounted, not free, admission. For all the tours other than the walking tour, you only get a discount, meaning you’ll still have to pay some costs out of pocket.

This isn’t to say the savings aren’t significant, but if you’re expecting your pass to cover all your costs, you’ll be disappointed.

In general, the Florence City pass doesn’t offer huge savings opportunities. I think most people’s savings would top out roughly 30%, which is less than most all-inclusive passes.

Who Should Consider the Florence City Pass?

First-time Visitors – Anyone visiting Florence for the first time will want to check out the major museums and maybe a couple of tours. If you plan carefully, the Florence City Pass can save you time and money.

Power Sightseers – To be honest, it isn’t all that easy to get great value from the Florence City Pass. The people who will are the ones excited about cramming a ton into a day.

Travelers Staying for at Least Three Days – As I mentioned before, the three-day pass is by far the best deal. People who will be in Florence for at least three days will benefit most from the pass.

Who Should Skip the Pass?

Anyone Who Doesn’t Want to Pay Anything Extra – The Florence City Pass offers a discount on five tours and two museums. If you want to do either, you’ll have to pay the balance out of pocket. If you were hoping to pay one set fee for the pass and then put your wallet away, you’re out of luck.

Travelers Not Interested in Museums – The bulk of the attractions on the Florence City Pass are museums, so if you’re not interested in visiting at least a couple, this is probably not the pass for you.

Travelers Who Like to Take it Slow – The Florence City Pass isn’t a good fit for someone who likes to sightsee at a relaxed pace or take breaks in between. If you want to get your money’s worth, you better be ready to hit the ground running.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Florence City Pass

• Be Aware of Closures – It’s important to familiarize yourself with the attractions’ hours so you can plan your days accordingly. Most of the museums are closed on Mondays, so if you’ll be using your pass on a Monday, that’s a good time to do a day trip or two half-day tours. Additionally, the walking and bike tours only run once a day, so if either is on your agenda, you need to plan around that.
• Skip the 1-Day Pass – I’ve done the math, and here’s my conclusion: Very few people will get their money’s worth from the 1-day Florence City Pass. The two biggest draws, the Accademia Gallery and Uffizi, only cost €45 on their own. You can get through the Accademia Gallery pretty fast, but the Uffizi is huge. To really appreciate it, you’re looking at a half-day. You wouldn’t have time to do a half-day tour, so the most you could reasonably do would be another museum (maximum cost = €10) or maybe the walking tour (€35). Either way, regular admission would be a maximum of about €80 – which means you’d likely lose money with the pass.
• Choose the Expensive Attractions – If you take a look at what’s included on the Florence City Pass, many have low admission prices. You’re not going to save a ton of money by visiting a bunch of €8 museums. To get value, you need to make sure the regular prices add up to more than you paid for the pass. And to do that, you’ll have to go with some pricier options. The Accademia Gallery and Uffizi are givens, totaling €45. If you buy a 3-day pass, taking a day trip, a half-day tour, and visiting a few more museums should easily save you €45-€50+ per person.
• Visit Three Attractions Per Day – If you want to save money with the Florence City Pass, you need to visit multiple attractions each day (except if you’re doing a day trip). Three is a good number to shoot for, although it’ll depend on your choices.

How to Buy the Florence City Pass

There’s only one good way to get the Florence City Pass, and you can buy it online here. You can pay with Visa or Mastercard, of course, but PayPal, wire transfer, and Sofort banking are options, as well.

Unlike most sightseeing passes, you have to select a start date when you buy the Florence City Pass. If you’ll be visiting the Uffizi and the Accademia Gallery, you also have to select the date and preferred time, since it’s a timed entry ticket.

Bottom Line: Is the Florence City Pass a Good Buy?

I’ll be frank: I don’t recommend the one-day Florence City Pass. Most people won’t get their money’s worth because there aren’t many high-value attractions to choose from.

With the two and three-day passes (especially the three-day), it’s easier to get some decent value. If you’re comfortable choosing your dates in advance, these versions of the Florence City Pass can save you some money. They can also save you time at two very busy attractions.

The savings you get with the Florence City Pass aren’t as impressive as what some passes for other cities offer, but if you ask me, a little extra money in your pocket is better than none.

Save Time and Money in Florence – See Florence for less! Visit some of the city’s best attractions, plus save time and money doing it. Learn more here.

The post Florence City Pass Review: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Club Thrifty.

In this Southern California CityPASS review, we explain how the pass works, explore what is included, and help you decide if it’s a good fit for your travel plans. Enjoy!

Got plans to visit Southern California? Along with tons of fun in the sun, SoCal is home to some of the best family-friendly theme parks in the world.

Unfortunately, all those world-famous attractions cost a pretty penny. A trip to Southern California’s theme parks can take a major toll on your wallet, especially if you pay full price at the gate!

Thankfully, there may be a solution. The Southern California CityPASS can help you save money on some of the area’s biggest and best attractions! As with any sightseeing pass, however, the SoCal CityPASS isn’t a good fit for every traveler. So, let’s take a look at what the pass offers and decide whether it would be a good deal for you!

Southern California CityPASS Review: How It Works

If you’ve used a sightseeing pass before, it’s important to know that the the Southern California CityPASS doesn’t work like most other passes. In fact, it isn’t really a pass at all. The SoCal CityPASS functions more like its sister pass – the Orlando CityPASS – in that it resells tickets to area attractions at a discount.

Here’s the good news: You can still save money at five of SoCal’s largest family-friendly theme parks. You’ll still save over the prices you would have paid at the gate, which could make it a good deal for your family.

Simply use the “pass” to purchase tickets for the attractions you’d like to visit. Choose from five different attractions, select the type of tickets you want, and save money doing it.

The Southern California CityPASS allows you to purchase individual tickets to the following family-friendly theme parks at a discount:

• Disneyland Resort
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• SeaWorld San Diego
• LEGOLAND California Resort
• San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

*Current as of August 09, 2023

Southern California CityPASS Pricing

If you’ve been researching prices, you already know that theme park hopping in SoCal isn’t cheap. So, how much does the Southern California CityPASS cost? And how much will it save you?

Unfortunately, that totally depends.

Because of the way the SoCal CityPASS is set up, the amount you save depends on which attractions you choose. It also depends on the type of ticket you select, how many days you want entry to the park, and more. So, the amount you’ll save varies wildly depending on what you choose.

After running a few scenarios with the SoCal CityPASS, here’s what we can tell you: You can save about $23 per adult on a 3-Day Park Hopper Ticket to Disneyland and about $31 per adult for a “Length of Stay” ticket to Sea World. That’s clearly nothing to shake a stick at, but it doesn’t provide nearly as much value as the more traditional sightseeing passes in other areas of the world.

Save Money in SoCal – Save money at five of the most popular parks in SoCal with the Southern California CityPASS. See how much you can save here.

Southern California CityPASS Attractions

Let’s take a closer look at the attractions included on the Southern California CityPASS to help you decide if it’s a good buy for your trip.

Disneyland Resort

I don’t want to generalize, but if you’re visiting SoCal with kids, Disneyland is probably a given. Dubbed “the happiest place on earth,” Disneyland can entertain the whole family for days.

With the Southern California CityPASS, you get discounted admission on variety of 2, 3, 4, and 5-day tickets. You also get access to both Disneyland Park and/or Disney California Adventure Park. These are actually two separate, unique parks with their own “lands” and themes. Don’t worry though, they are basically across the street from each other. So, if you’re staying nearby, you’ll be close to both.

Disneyland Park is the larger of the two and is the original theme park. It’s home to Disney Classics like the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Space Mountain, and It’s a Small World.

Disney California Adventure Park is a newer addition and features seven of its own lands, including the popular Cars Land. They’re both family-friendly, although Disney California Adventure Park has a higher proportion of rides designed for thrill seekers.

With the multi-day tickets, you can spend two to five days going back and forth between the two Disney parks however you choose. When purchasing your tickets, you have the option of getting either Park Hopper or one park per day passes. You can also select the Genie+ option, allowing you to save time in line by reserving “arrival windows” to the Lightning Lane of select attractions.

Finally, when you purchase your Disneyland tickets through the Southern California CityPASS, you get to skip the ticket line at the entrance of the park. If you’ve been to Disney before, you know that’s a huge perk, because those lines are usually long.

SeaWorld San Diego

You might assume SeaWorld is only an aquatic animal exhibit. That’s part of it, for sure, but it’s also a full-size theme park complete with rides and shows as well as marine animals.

You’ll see killer whales, interact with dolphins, and marvel at sharks, sea lions, and more. But you’ll also get to enjoy sixteen custom rides. Check out family-friendly offerings like Abby’s Sea Star Spin and thrill seeker treats like the new Emperor dive coaster (if you’re brave enough). Your family can spend a whole day enjoying all SeaWorld San Diego has to offer.

LEGOLAND California

LEGOLAND California features more than 60 Lego-themed rides, attractions, and shows that will be sure to keep your kiddos engaged all day long. Kids or adults (no judgement) who are into Legos may also want to bring along a minifigure. There are trading stations around the park where you can trade in your minifigure for a new one. Pretty cool.

Note that LEGOLAND targets kids aged 2-12, so there aren’t a lot of thrill rides. That doesn’t mean adults won’t enjoy the rides and shows, though. Even if you aren’t into Legos, the exhibits are pretty impressive. There are a ton of delicious food options, too (Granny’s Apple Fries come highly recommended). So, grab some snacks and enjoy watching your kids have a blast. You’ll probably find yourself having fun, too.

Universal Studios Hollywood

The Southern California CityPASS also offers tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal’s world famous “Studio Tour” is a blast for all ages. The tour allows visiotrs to go behind the scenes and explore a real Hollywood film set. Of course, the park also boasts movie-themed rides from your favorite flicks – including franchises like Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Fast & Furious, and more.

San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

Animal lovers will enjoy either of the San Diego Zoo options. At the world-famous San Diego Zoo, visitors can get up close and personal with more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals. Stroll past the tigers, kangaroos, and polar bears, or get a bird’s eye view of the zoo from the Skyfari Aerial Tram.

The Safari Park is an 1,800 acre reserve where animals are allowed to roam free. Enjoy the lounging elephants, antelope, giraffes as you make your way through the habitat by truck, tram, electric cart, or zipline. It’s like a choose your own adventure!

Other Benefits of the Southern California CityPASS

• Savings – Although you may not get as much savings as a traditional pass, the Southern California CityPASS can still save you money compared to prices at the gate!
• Choose your own attractions – One of the best things about this “pass” is that you aren’t paying for things you don’t want. The SoCal CityPASS allows you to choose only the attractions you plan to visit.
• Fast track entry – Theme parks are awesome, but the lines aren’t. The Southern California CityPASS is your ticket into the included parks, so you can skip lining up to purchase tickets. That means more time to enjoy your day.

Save Money on SoCal’s Top Theme Parks – Save at the best theme parks in Southern California with the Southern California CityPASS! Get started here.

Where the Pass Falls Short

I have to be brutally honest here: I’m not a big fan of the Southern California CityPASS.

The SoCal CityPASS used to be an all-inclusive style pass – which I tend to love. Frankly, it was one of the best passes available anywhere in the world. The current format lacks the convenience of having all of your tickets on one pass while significantly decreasing the amount of savings available.

I very much prefer the all-inclusive style found on other CityPASS products like the Seattle CityPASS and Chicago CityPASS.

Additionally, the pass does not offer a lot of things to do in L.A. With the exception of Universal Studios, all of the attractions on the pass are located outside of Los Angeles – some significantly so. (Most of the attractions are located in Orange and San Diego counties.) So, if you’re looking for a pass with more options in L.A., the Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass by Go City may be a better fit.

With all of that said, I still love saving money. If you’re a theme park junkie who is headed to Southern California, the SoCal CityPASS does save you a few bucks.

Who Should Get the Southern California CityPASS?

Families – The attractions on the SoCal CityPASS are all very family-friendly spots. Both kids and adults will love Disney and SeaWorld, while LEGOLAND is more kid-centric.

Theme park junkies – The Southern California CityPASS offers discount tickets to area theme parks. So, if you’re looking to spend four or five days on the theme park circuit, you can probably find some cheap tickets here.

Disney fans – If you love Disney, this is good option because it includes access to both Disney parks at a discount. If you’ve never been to Disney, let me tell you, you can easily spend three days there. If you’ve been there before and loved it, you know how long you need and can decide accordingly.

Visitors to San Diego – If San Diego will be your main hub during your trip, the SoCal CityPASS is a nice fit. Most of the attractions are located in either San Diego County or Orange County.

Who Should Skip the Southern California CityPASS

People who don’t like theme parks – This pass offers discounted tickets to Southern California theme parks. So, if theme parks aren’t your jam, the Southern California CityPASS isn’t for you.

Travelers who want an all-inclusive pass – The format of this “pass” means it really isn’t a pass at all. Effectively, you’re just buying discount tickets through a ticket reseller. If you’re looking for something a bit more all inclusive, check out our suggestion below.

Visitors focusing on Los Angeles – The pass bills itself as a “Southern California” pass. If most of your trip will be spent in L.A., however, this probably isn’t the pass for you. Most of the SoCal CityPASS attractions are located in Orange and San Diego counties. If you’re looking for a sightseeing pass with more L.A. options, check out Go City’s Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass instead.

How to Buy the Southern California CityPASS

Buying tickets through the Southern California CityPASS is a breeze – grab them online here. You’ll get an email immediately and can download and print your e-tickets from home.

Is the Southern California CityPASS Worth It?

So, is the Southern California CityPASS a good deal? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.

Unfortunately, this pass has become a discount ticket reseller rather than a traditional pass. That isn’t necessarily bad in itself. However, if you’re looking for a true all-inclusive pass, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Although simplicity may be its greatest weakness, it is also where this “pass” shines. If you simply want to choose which attractions you visit and buy tickets at a discounted price, using the Southern California CityPASS website might be a good option for you. With this format, you’re not paying for attractions you won’t use, and you can still save money.

The attractions offered through the pass generally appeal to families who are game to spend several days enjoying the SoCal theme park scene. If that describes you, then you may be able to find a good deal. If you’re not gung-ho for theme parks, don’t bother checking it out.

Thanks so much for reading and enjoy your trip to Southern California! Until next time, happy traveling!

Visit SoCal’s Top Theme Parks for Less – Save money on the best attractions in SoCal! Get started with the Southern California CityPASS here.

The post Southern California CityPASS Review 2024: Is It Worth It? appeared first on Club Thrifty.

In this Toronto CityPASS review, we explain how the pass works, what’s included, and how much you can save.

If you’re visiting Canada’s largest city, you won’t be disappointed. Toronto is a vibrant, multicultural city with impressive sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife, art, and shopping scenes.

If you’re on a budget, there are lots of interesting neighborhoods, markets, and parks you can explore for free. Like in any big city, however, the most sought-after sightseeing experiences (like the view from the CN Tower) come with a hefty price tag.

Luckily, you don’t have to pay the gate price for many of the top tourist attractions. The Toronto CityPASS can save you up to 42% on your sightseeing adventures.

Interested in learning more? You’re in the right place.

Toronto CityPASS: How It Works

The Toronto CityPASS provides access to five of Toronto’s top six attractions for one low price. All passes include single-entry to the CN Tower, plus you get to choose from four of the remaining five attractions for your other options.

When compared to paying regular admission prices, the Toronto CityPASS will help you save money. In fact, you can save up to 42% off the regular admission prices. You also save time because in most cases, you don’t have to line up to buy tickets – you already have them!

The best way to get the pass is to buy it online before you get to Toronto. After that, you can download tickets to keep on your smartphone or print paper copies.

Whether you go the paper or digital route, all you have to do is present the appropriate ticket at your first attraction. The staff scans it and your Toronto CityPASS is officially activated. You then have nine consecutive days to visit the five attractions you select.

Attractions on the Toronto CityPASS

The Toronto CityPASS includes six total attractions. Here are the options and their regular adult admission prices:

Included on all passes:

• CN Tower: $45.00 CAD

Choose up to four of the following five attractions:

• Casa Loma: $35.40 CAD
• Royal Ontario Museum: $23.01 CAD
• Toronto Zoo: $37.53 CAD
• Ontario Science Centre: $19.47 CAD
• City Cruises Toronto: $29.90 CAD

(Editor’s Note: Prices are listed in Canadian dollars and are current as of August 07, 2023. Some attractions may require reservations and/or have limited operating hours at this time.)

How Much Does the Toronto CityPASS Cost?

You know what the pass comes with, but to figure out if it’s a good deal, you need to see the price tag. Again, we’re talking Canadian dollars.

Some quick math shows that if you visit all five attractions and choose the most expensive options, you can save $71.59 CAD (42%) per adult on admission costs. (That is roughly $53.50 USD per adult at the time of publishing!) While a 42% savings doesn’t compare to cards like the London Pass, I certainly wouldn’t pass it up!

Save Big in Toronto – Get the Toronto CityPASS and save up to 42% on some of the city’s best attractions! Learn more here.

Toronto CityPASS Attractions Guide

CN Tower

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the iconic CN Tower is where you should head for an unbeatable city view. Completed in 1975 and opened to the public in 1976, the tower was once the tallest free-standing structure in the world. It ranks as the is the 10th tallest today.

The Toronto CityPASS hooks you up with the “Tower Experience.” You get access to two observation levels that take you up to 1,136 feet. At 1,122 feet, brave a look down through the Glass Floor and head onto the outdoor SkyTerrace. (Editor’s Note: As of August 2023, the Terrace Level has partially reopened to visitors but is still undergoing renovations.)

Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a straight-up castle. It looks like a historic site you’d find somewhere in Western Europe but was actually built as a private residence in 1911.

Today, it serves as a major tourist draw and a frequent film and TV set. When you visit Casa Loma, you get to experience Edwardian era architecture and décor, hidden passages and tunnels, a vintage car exhibit, and five acres of exquisite gardens (May through September).

Royal Ontario Museum

Widely regarded as one of the best museums in Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum is renowned for its natural history and world cultures collections.

The dinosaur exhibits are a sight to behold, and the immersive bat cave is a must for kids and adults alike. Ancient Egyptian artifacts, Chinese temple art, and Roman sculptures are just a sample of the worldly treasures you’ll encounter at the ROM.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is the largest in Canada and is home to over 5,000 animals. A few highlights:

• A polar bear family in the 10-acre Tundra Trek
• An African rainforest exhibit housing a baby hippo, a baby gorilla, and Aldabra tortoises (among others)
• Endangered Amur tigers
• Discovery Zone featuring a Kid’s Zoo and a 2-acre water play area
• Wildlife Health Centre to catch a glimpse of behind-the-scenes care of the animals
• Animal keeper talks

With your Toronto CityPASS, you can also get discounts on several upgrades – like a ride on the Conservation Carousel or swinging through the Gorilla Climb Ropes Course.

Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre is fun for all ages. The Space Hall features meteorites from Mars, black holes, and cosmic rays. Immersive shows in the planetarium let you explore the galaxy from the comfort of your seat.

AstraZeneca Human Edge is an interactive exhibit that shows how amazing and capable the human body can be. The Living Earth takes you on a wild journey that includes keeping watch for poison dart frogs in the rainforest, touching a tornado, and crawling through a cave. KidSpark lets kids under 8 learn science through hands-on play.

City Cruises Toronto

Enjoy a view of Toronto from the water with City Cruises Toronto. This 60-minute cruise boards along the lively Toronto Harbourfront Centre – a revitalized area of Toronto which is known for hosting live music, art fairs, festivals, and more.

Once onboard, you’ll enjoy sailing past some of Toronto’s most famous sights. Enjoy views of the CN Tower, Rogers Center, HTO Park, Sugar beach, and more as you sail around Toronto’s inner harbor. Live commentary with stories about Toronto’s sights and history is also provided.

Other Benefits of the Toronto CityPASS

Skip the Line – The biggest downside to sightseeing (besides the expense) is waiting around in long lines. The Toronto CityPASS saves you time and money by letting you skip the ticket line at most of the attractions.

No Need to Rush – One of the nice things about the Toronto CityPASS is that it’s valid for nine days, meaning there’s no need to rush. You can spread out your sightseeing and enjoy all five attractions at your leisure.

Mobile Tickets – I like that the Toronto CityPASS offers mobile tickets. When purchasing online, your tickets will be emailed to you. You can then store and use them on your smartphone for ultimate convenience or print them off if you prefer a hard copy.

Varied Selection – The Toronto CityPASS is small but mighty, packing a lot of variety into its six attractions. You’ve got a landmark tower, a major museum, a castle, a zoo, a science center, and a cruise. It’s a well-rounded sample of what Toronto has to offer.

Save Time With the Toronto CityPASS – Get the Toronto CityPASS and fast-track your way into the best sights in town! Just skip that line and go right in. Get your Toronto CityPASS here.

Where the Pass Falls Short

The Toronto CityPASS offers allows you to visit some of Toronto’s major tourist attractions for 42% less than you’d pay at the gate. If that sounds like a good deal, that is because it is.

However, there are some drawbacks worth mentioning.

If you’re used to all-inclusive passes like the New York Pass, you might be disappointed with the Toronto CityPASS for a few reasons.

For one thing, it’s far from comprehensive. I mean, no pass includes absolutely everything, but some of the best all-inclusive sightseeing passes come pretty close. The New York Pass includes over 100 attractions. Obviously, Toronto isn’t NYC, but it certainly has more than 6 attractions worth checking out.

The pass would benefit from something for sports fans – maybe a tour of the Rogers Centre? With only six attractions, there isn’t room for everything, but swapping out the Science Centre for something sports-related would diversify the selection.

A closely related point is that the 42% in savings you’ll get with the Toronto CityPASS pales compared to the 55% you can get with passes in some other cities. But hey, it’s still saves you quite a bit – especially if you’re going with more than one adult!

That said, at the time of writing, I am not aware of any all-inclusive sightseeing pass available for Toronto. It looks like this is as good as it gets.

Who Should Consider the Toronto CityPASS

• First-time Visitors – If you’re headed to Toronto for the first time, chances are these attractions are on your wish list. Why not do them for less?
• Anyone Looking for a Little of Everything – As I mentioned before, the Toronto CityPASS offers a varied selection, giving travelers a diverse experience.
• Travelers Who Will Visit All Five Attractions – If you’re interested in all of the included attractions, the Toronto CityPASS should be an easy decision. You’ll get to skip the ticket lines and save 42%!

Who Should Skip the Toronto CityPASS

• Sports Fans – Although the Toronto CityPass’ selection is fairly eclectic, there’s nothing on the menu for sports fans.
• Repeat Visitors – This may not apply across the board, but if you’ve been to Toronto a few times, you’ve likely already done all of the attractions on this pass – maybe more than once. The Royal Ontario Museum always has new exhibits worth seeing, but you probably don’t need to do the CN Tower and Casa Loma multiple times.
• Travelers Who Aren’t Interested in Paid Sightseeing – If you don’t really have a sightseeing agenda, you can skip the Toronto CityPASS and save your money. If your budget is really tight, the same thing goes. Focus on free or low-cost experiences instead.

Tips for Using the Pass

Visit All Five Attractions – This should be obvious, but if you want to get the best value from the Toronto CityPASS, you need to visit all five attractions. It’s still worth it if you’ll visit four, but visiting three may or may not save you anything, depending on your choices.

Choose the Mot Expensive Options – The Ontario Science Centre is the least expensive option on the list. So, if you want to save the full 42%, you should skip the Science Centre. With that said, it is still a great option – it just won’t allow you to save the most money.

Buy Your Pass Ahead of Time – You can buy the Toronto CityPASS at any of the attractions but I recommend buying it online so you don’t get stuck waiting in a long line.

How to Buy the Toronto CityPASS

If you’re ready to grab your Toronto CityPASS, you can buy it online here.

After purchasing the pass, you’ll receive an email with your tickets. From there, use your mobile phone to present your tickets at each attraction. If you’d rather have a hard copy, you can also print your tickets out and carry them with you.

Either way, simply scan your tickets at your first attraction to activate your pass. You’ll then have nine days to visit all five attractions!

Toronto CityPASS Review: Can It Save You Money?

In a word, yes.

If you’re interested in visiting at least four of the included attractions, the Toronto CityPASS is a smart buy that will save you money. Maximum savings comes when you use the pass for the five most expensive attractions.

Although you won’t save as much as you do with passes in other cities, you’ll still save up to 42% over the regular gate prices. Since the Toronto CityPASS is the only game in town, I’ll take it.

Save Time and Money with the Toronto CityPASS! Save up to 42% on your sightseeing costs and skip the ticket lines at the busiest attractions! Just show your pass at the gate, and use the extra time to get more out of your day. Grab your Toronto CityPASS here.

The post Toronto CityPASS Review: Can It Help You Save Money? appeared first on Club Thrifty.

Did you know you can get paid to take surveys? It’s true! While taking surveys won’t make you rich, sharing your opinions can be a great way to earn extra money from home.

Here is the “problem” though: There are dozens of paid survey sites to choose from. It’s hard to tell what is legit and what isn’t.

Today, I’ll review one of the simpler survey sites, LifePoints, and help you decide if it’s worth your time and energy.

What Is LifePoints?

LifePoints is an online platform that rewards you for completing surveys and other activities – like mini-polls, product testing, and behavior tracking. They have over 5 million members from over 40 countries and have paid out over $22 million to their members over the last year alone!

LifePoints is operated by Lightspeed, a company owned by the Kantar Group – who just happens to be the largest global consumer research and analysis firm in the world. Founded as National Family Opinion, the group ran its first research consumer research study in 1946. These days, LifePoints serves as a hub for market research and gives consumers the opportunity to influence the future of products and services by sharing their opinions.

It works like this:

• Company X wants to know something about consumer preferences
• They hire Lightspeed to design a survey and collect and analyze the data
• The survey is rolled out to LifePoints members who fit the target audience
• Members who qualify can complete the survey to earn LifePoints
• Members redeem their LifePoints for gift cards, PayPal credit, or charitable donations

Reward rates vary by survey. Some surveys might pay 60 LifePoints while others pay 350.

So, how much are LifePoints worth? Typically, each LifePoint is worth a little less than a penny – but it depends on how you redeem them. Redemption values fall between 0.83 and 0.91 cents each. In simpler terms, you can usually redeem 550 LifePoints for a $5 gift card or 1,200 points to redeem $10 through Paypal.

LifePoints expire 3 years after you earn them, or after 12 months of no account activity. So, if you take a hiatus from LifePoints, make sure you cash in your points before 12 months elapse.

Is LifePoints Legit?

Yes, LifePoints is a legitimate online rewards platform for anyone over the age of 18. If you successfully complete surveys, you’ll get the promised points. And once you’ve accumulated enough points, the rewards are real.

Take Surveys and Get Paid – Get paid real money for taking surveys when you create a free account with LifePoints! Get started on mobile | Get started on desktop

How to Make Money with LifePoints

Taking Surveys

There are a few ways to earn LifePoints, but online surveys are the bread and butter of the site. You can access available surveys when you log in to the LifePoints site—they’re on the home page. LifePoints will also send out survey invitations by email each month.

As I mentioned before, the reward rate varies by survey. I had offers as low as 60 points and as high as 350. Longer surveys generally award more points.

Most surveys begin with a series of demographic and basic behavioral questions designed to determine whether you fit the target audience. If you do, you proceed to the rest of the survey. If you don’t, you’re screened out and directed to the end.

Signing Up

You’ll earn 10 LifePoints for registering and validating your email address and another 10 for answering a few questions about your household to match you to survey opportunities.

Product Testing

From time to time, LifePoints may mail members products to test at home and subsequently review. This can be a fun way to get hands-on experience with a new product while earning rewards.

Recording Behaviors

LifePoints may email members behavior diaries, asking them to keep track of how often they do certain things. This info is used to inform product or service development.

For example, during a survey, I was offered 1,000 LifePoints to record all transactions made with a credit card for a month.

Getting Paid

When you’ve accumulated enough LifePoints, you can redeem them for your choice of:

• PayPal credit
• Electronic gift card
• Charitable donation

How many points are enough? For a $5 Amazon gift card, you need 550 points. The smallest PayPal credit you can claim is $10, and that costs 1,200 points. (*Please note that the value of LifePoints are subject to change at any time.)

If you want to get the best value for your LifePoints, redeeming for a gift card or a charitable donation of at least $5 is the way to go. When you redeem this way, LifePoints are worth about 0.9 cents each.

If you prefer the versatility of cash, you can redeem for a PayPal credit for slightly less value: 0.83 cents per point. Note that the email address you used to register with LifePoints must match your PayPal email. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to add the LifePoints email to your PayPal account.

Whether you redeem for a gift card or PayPal credit, it’ll take up to 10 business days to receive it.

Advantages of LifePoints

You Know How Long the Surveys Take and How Much You’ll Earn – Survey topics aren’t revealed beforehand but the estimated time to complete and the rewards rate are. This is important because you know going in how much of a time commitment you’re making and what the payoff will be. If you only have a few minutes to spare, you can zero in on the 5-minute surveys while leaving the 30-minute biggies for another time.

Earn Rewards Fast – I like that you can cash in your LifePoints for a gift card with as little as 550 points. Realistically, you could earn that within the first week.

Flexible Redemption Options – When it comes time to cash in your LifePoints, you can choose between several popular gift cards (Amazon, Groupon, iTunes, and more), a PayPal credit, or a charitable donation. This variety means there’s something for everyone.

Opportunity to Influence Product and Service Development – This may not be important to you, but some people like the idea of helping inform product and service development.

Disadvantages of LifePoints

It Might be Hard to Qualify – The purpose of the surveys is to support market research, and sometimes the companies hosting them are looking for input from a specific group of people. The first few questions typically assess whether you belong to that group. If you don’t, you get screened out and don’t get the LifePoints. If this happens several times in a row, it can get frustrating.

I attempted a bunch of surveys and only qualified for two out of the lot. In one case, I was screened out after spending about five minutes answering questions—that’s annoying! The good news is, you usually get two LifePoints just for trying, although this isn’t always the case.

Limited Ways to Earn – Some other paid survey sites, like SwagBucks, offer a ton of ways to earn points. So, if surveys aren’t your thing, you can still earn rewards for shopping online, watching videos, etc. This isn’t the case with LifePoints. It’s mainly surveys with the occasional opportunity for product testing or behavior tracking.

It Takes Awhile to Receive Rewards – Although you can earn enough points to get a reward pretty fast, it takes up to 10 business days to receive gift cards or PayPal credit once you redeem.

No Mobile App – It seems LifePoints used to have a mobile app, but it has since been discontinued in favor of the website. That’s unfortunate because many people prefer using an app to launching a webpage on their mobile phone. Here’s the good news: LifePoints surveys are optimized for mobile phones; I didn’t experience any issues taking surveys on my iPhone.

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Who is LifePoints Best For?

• People Who Enjoy Sharing Their Opinion – Since LifePoints is primarily a survey rewards platform, it’s best for people who don’t mind taking surveys and sharing their views.
• People Looking to Earn a Little Extra Money – If you’re keen to earn a few extra dollars here and there, paid surveys are a simple, no-commitment way to do it.
• Anyone Who Doesn’t Have Time for a Side Hustle – I’ll be honest: I don’t think taking surveys for money is the most effective use of time for someone who wants to grow their wealth. But guess what – not everyone who needs extra money has time to invest in a side hustle or a part-time job. LifePoints can fit into even the busiest of lifestyles—even just five minutes here and there will eventually add up.

Who Should Avoid LifePoints?

• Impatient People – If you lack patience, you might find yourself getting annoyed if you have to attempt multiple surveys before qualifying. It might be best to skip LifePoints and opt for a platform like MyPoints that rewards other online activities like watching videos and browsing.
• People Expecting Big Money – Paid survey sites are a good way to make a few extra dollars, but you have a 0% chance of getting rich from them. People wanting to earn serious cash should invest their time building a lucrative side hustle instead of taking online surveys.
• Anyone Who Doesn’t Enjoy Sharing Their Opinions – LifePoints is primarily surveys, and to a lesser extent, product testing and behavior tracking. If you don’t enjoy sharing your views and opinions, it isn’t right for you.

The Verdict: Is LifePoints Worth Your Time?

To decide if LifePoints is a good fit for you, answer one primary question: Do you enjoy taking surveys?

Unlike some other paid survey sites, LifePoints doesn’t reward its members for watching videos, gaming, or shopping online. To benefit from it, you have to be willing to share your opinion through surveys. It can sometimes be hard to qualify, so you need to be patient, too.

The other thing to consider is how much free time you have and how serious you are about earning extra money. If you have short bursts of free time and want to earn a few extra dollars, taking surveys can fill the gaps.

People with longer stretches of free time who want to earn some serious cash could make more money pursuing a side hustle, a second job, or through passive income opportunities.

Have you tried LifePoints? Share your experiences with us below!

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