A beginner’s guide to the NerdWallet app
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The NerdWallet app simplifies money management by bringing all your accounts, cards, and loans into one place. With everything connected, we’ll provide tips and insights to help you make smart money decisions.
The topics we’ll cover:
Create your free account
You can create an account on nerdwallet.com or on the app — your login credentials will be the same for both. If you already have an account, simply log in and it will take you straight to your dashboard.
Link your credit and primary spending accounts
After your account is created, your first and most important step is getting your TransUnion credit score and your primary spending and saving accounts connected. This process is quick, simple, and secure — and required for monitoring changes to your credit, tracking your cash flow, and providing priceless insights into all your money.
You’ll get a step-by-step walkthrough to connect these right after your account is created. Start with connecting to TransUnion:
Follow the prompts to enter your information — all of your personal details are securely encrypted and never shared with anyone for any reason.
You may need to answer a few questions, based on details we see in your credit history, to verify your identity.
Once your credit is connected, you’ll connect your primary spending and savings accounts through our secure third-party linking service, Plaid.
Most banks, cards, and credit unions can be accessed and linked with Plaid. Follow the prompts to search for and select a financial institution.
Once your financial institution is selected, you’ll securely log in with the same credentials you would use on its site or app.
Link the rest of your cards, banks, loans, and investments
Connecting your spending, savings, and debts with NerdWallet is simple and secure. For the most accurate insights and the big picture of your money, you’ll want to connect all of your money accounts:
Tap the “Link account” banner just below your info on the app home screen.
Select your financial institution from the list, or search for it if you don’t see it there.
Securely log in with your financial institution credentials.
Repeat this process for all of your accounts.
Now that you’re all connected, it’s time to make the most of your money
Monitor your credit and review your credit report
Your TransUnion credit score is always displayed alongside your net worth and cash flow on the app home screen.
Tap the “Credit score” tile on your home screen or the icon in the bottom navigation bar to get more detail, including information on what might have led to score changes and context about your score.
Tap on the “Credit simulator” button to see how various actions could affect your score.
Scroll down and tap on “Credit factors” for detailed info on the things influencing your score and how to manage them.
You can also review the latest details from your full credit report anytime you want. Here’s how:
Tap the “Credit score” tile on your home screen or the icon on the bottom navigation bar.
Scroll down to find and tap “View full credit report.”
See an error on your credit report? Report it to TransUnion by tapping on the “File a dispute” button at bottom.
Track your spending trends and find ways to save
Once you’ve linked all of your accounts, you’ll be able to review all of your spending trends across every account for a more holistic look into your spending habits.
From your app home screen, tap the “Cash flow” tile or the icon in the bottom navigation bar.
To see your most recent expenses, tap “Cash out” and filter by category for more insights. You can also use the "Top categories" and "Top places" views to see where you’re spending most and where you can save.
The "Upcoming bills" tile will also help you understand your cash flow.
Understand how your budget stacks up
Under cash flow, you’ll also see how this month’s spending compares with last month, and see a breakdown of how your spending fits the 50/30/20 budget.
You can view up to six months of your budget trends. The 50/30/20 model is a useful way to balance financial goals. Under it, 50% of your after-tax income goes to needs such as housing, food and utilities, and minimum payments on debt. That leaves 30% for wants and 20% to put toward savings and debt paydown beyond minimums.
See how far your money has come with net worth history
The net worth history tool allows you to review the changes in your net worth over time. Select a time frame to review the change in your cash, debts, or investments — or the total change of all your accounts combined.
Tap on the “Net worth” tile on the home screen or the icon in the bottom navigation bar.
Select a time frame to review from below the graph.
Select a category from the choices at the top of the graph.
Press on the graph and scrub left and right to see your changes over time.
Ready to make your next money move? Check out the Marketplace
Click on the Marketplace icon in the bottom navigation bar. Browse by category to see options for your needs, such as a new credit card; home, car or personal loan; insurance coverage; and financial services such as banking and brokerages.
Not sure what’s right for you? Read reviews and informative articles from NerdWallet’s Content team, which operates with editorial independence.
Also, learn more about NerdWallet+, a paid membership program where you can earn rewards for your smart financial choices.
