Best Personal Finance Apps in India for NRIs

One of the biggest challenges I faced when I was living abroad was keeping track of my finances in India.

Multiple bank accounts, mutual fund investments scattered across different platforms, credit card bills to pay, and no clear picture of where my money was going. Sound familiar?

After years of trial and error – and countless hours spent in our community calls discussing this exact issue – I’ve put together this guide to the best personal finance apps that actually work for NRIs.

Because let me tell you, not every app that works great for resident Indians will work for us.

What You’ll Find in This Guide

• Investment apps that accept NRI KYC (the ones that actually work)
• Expense tracking and budgeting tools
• UPI payment apps for NRIs (yes, it’s finally possible!)
• Credit card management apps
• My personal recommendations based on your specific needs

Why NRIs Need Different Apps

Here’s the thing most people don’t tell you: many popular Indian finance apps simply don’t support NRI accounts. I learned this the hard way when I tried signing up for several platforms and got rejected at the KYC stage.

The reasons vary – some apps don’t want to deal with FATCA compliance (especially if you’re US-based), others haven’t built NRI-specific features, and some just haven’t figured out how to verify international phone numbers.

But the good news? Things have changed dramatically in 2024-2025. There are now several excellent options that work specifically for our community.

Best Investment Apps for NRIs

1. INDmoney – The All-in-One Super App

If I had to recommend just one app for NRIs who want to invest in India, it would be INDmoney. They’ve built a dedicated NRI version of their app that actually works, and their team seems to genuinely understand our pain points.

Key Features:

• Invest in 5,000+ Indian stocks and 1,500+ mutual funds
• Also offers US stock investing (diversify both ways!)
• Net worth tracking across all your investments
• Free demat account with zero AMC
• Track dividends and capital gains on a calendar view

What I Like: The interface is clean and intuitive. I particularly love the net worth dashboard that shows all my investments in one place – stocks, mutual funds, fixed deposits, everything. The tax optimization tools are helpful around ITR filing time.

What to Watch Out For: Some users have reported occasional glitches with their credit card bill payment feature. Also, if you’re in the US or Canada, certain features may be restricted due to FATCA compliance.

Best For: NRIs who want a single platform for all investments (Indian + US) with good portfolio tracking.

2. Zerodha (Kite + Coin) – For Serious Investors

Zerodha is India’s largest broker, and they do support NRI accounts – though with some limitations. If you’re planning to do serious stock trading alongside mutual fund investments, Zerodha’s ecosystem is hard to beat.

Key Features:

• Kite: Advanced trading platform with excellent charting
• Coin: Zero-commission direct mutual funds
• Console: Detailed portfolio analytics
• Both PIS and Non-PIS accounts available

The Catch: NRI account opening requires offline documentation – you’ll need to submit physical forms. Also, if you’re based in the US or Canada, you currently cannot invest in mutual funds through their Coin platform (though this is expected to change).

Fees:

• Account opening: Rs. 500
• Equity delivery: 0.5% or Rs. 200 max (PIS), Rs. 100 max (Non-PIS)
• Mutual funds: Zero commission

Best For: Active traders who want professional-grade tools and don’t mind the slightly complex onboarding process.

3. Kuvera – Pure Mutual Fund Investing

Kuvera is 100% free and laser-focused on mutual fund investing. If you’re not interested in stock trading and just want a simple, transparent way to invest in direct mutual funds, Kuvera is excellent.

Key Features:

• Completely free – no charges, no hidden fees, ever
• Goal-based investing with progress tracking
• Tax harvesting features to minimize your tax liability
• Family accounts to manage investments for parents, spouse
• Tradesmart feature to switch from regular to direct plans

NRI Requirements: You’ll need a valid Indian mobile number, NRI KYC status in the centralized database, and an NRE or NRO account. Unfortunately, US and Canada-based NRIs cannot invest through Kuvera due to FATCA restrictions.

Recent Update: Kuvera was acquired by CRED in February 2024, which may bring additional features and integrations in the future.

Best For: NRIs who want simple, free mutual fund investing without the complexity of trading platforms.

4. SBNRI – Built Specifically for NRIs

SBNRI is one of the few platforms built from the ground up specifically for NRIs. They understand our unique challenges because that’s all they focus on.

Key Features:

• NRI-focused mutual fund investments
• NRE/NRO account opening assistance
• Tax advisory and repatriation support
• GIFT City investments (invest in USD, potentially tax-free)
• 24/7 support with domain experts
• Portfolio analyzer that categorizes your funds

What Sets Them Apart: Their “SBNRI Ask” feature provides 24/7 access to domain experts on NRI-specific topics – banking, investments, taxation, repatriation. They also send weekly portfolio updates via WhatsApp, which is convenient.

The Downside: They currently only offer regular mutual funds (not direct plans), which means slightly higher expense ratios. They argue this comes with ongoing advisory support, but if you’re fee-conscious, this matters.

Best For: NRIs who want hand-holding, comprehensive NRI services beyond just investing, and don’t mind paying slightly higher fees for advisory support.

5. iNRI – The YC-Backed Newcomer

iNRI is a relatively new platform backed by Y Combinator, built by IIT-IIM alumni who experienced NRI financial challenges firsthand. They’re positioning themselves as the “Personal CFO for global Indians.”

Key Features:

• AI-powered smart investing tool for personalized portfolios
• Completely digital onboarding (5 minutes)
• Cross-border tax compliance support (India + US)
• NRI tax filing services
• SEC-registered investment advisor (for US NRIs)

What I Like: The onboarding is genuinely fast and seamless. Their smart investing tool asks about your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and goals, then suggests a personalized fund basket. They’re also SEC-registered, which matters if you’re a US-based NRI concerned about compliance.

Best For: US-based NRIs who want compliance-first investing with cross-border tax support.

A Note on Groww

I know many of you have asked about Groww since it’s so popular among resident Indians. Unfortunately, Groww has discontinued its NRI services as of 2024.

They cited challenges with SEBI’s new KYC requirements (specifically around Aadhaar validation for NRIs) and the complexity of maintaining NRI accounts.

If you had existing investments with Groww NRI, you’ll need to manage them through MF Central or MFU Online, or transfer to another platform.

Quick Comparison: Investment Apps

App	Stocks	Mutual Funds	US/Canada OK?	Cost
INDmoney	Yes	Yes (Direct)	Limited	Free + Rs.20/trade
Zerodha	Yes	Yes (Direct)	No (MF)	Rs.500 + 0.5%
Kuvera	Yes	Yes (Direct)	No	100% Free
SBNRI	No	Yes (Regular)	Yes	Free (MF fees)
iNRI	No	Yes	Yes	Free + advisory

UPI Payment Apps for NRIs

This is where things have gotten exciting in 2024-2025. The RBI and NPCI have finally enabled UPI for NRIs with international mobile numbers. No more scrambling for an Indian SIM card every time you visit!

PhonePe – Leading the NRI UPI Revolution

PhonePe was among the first to roll out NRI support properly. You can now link your NRE/NRO account with your international mobile number and use UPI just like any resident Indian.

Supported Countries: USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, France, Malaysia

What You Can Do:

• Send money to any UPI ID or bank account in India
• Pay bills (electricity, mobile, broadband, etc.)
• Shop on Indian e-commerce sites
• Pay at any merchant in India that accepts UPI
• Transfer between your NRE and NRO accounts

Google Pay & Paytm

Both Google Pay (India) and Paytm also support NRI UPI, though the rollout has been more gradual. Google Pay currently supports NRIs from USA, Singapore, and a few other countries. Paytm’s support is expanding.

Pro Tip: Download the India-specific version of Google Pay, not the global version. They’re different apps.

Bank Apps: ICICI iMobile, IDFC First, and Others

If you bank with ICICI, their iMobile Pay app was one of the first to support UPI with international numbers for NRIs across 10 countries. IDFC First Bank has also rolled out similar support for NRIs from 12 countries.

My recommendation: Start with your own bank’s app if they support NRI UPI, since onboarding is usually smoother. If not, PhonePe is your best bet. Check if your bank – SBI, HDFC, Axis, or others – has added NRI UPI support, as this is rolling out across banks in 2025.

Credit Card Management: CRED

If you have Indian credit cards (which many NRIs maintain for building credit history or making payments during visits), CRED is worth considering.

What CRED Does:

• Consolidates all your credit cards in one place
• Tracks payment due dates and sends reminders
• Shows your CIBIL score for free
• Rewards you with CRED coins for paying bills
• Partners with brands for exclusive discounts

The Reality Check: The rewards aren’t as generous as CRED’s marketing suggests. Most users get small cashbacks (Rs. 10-20) from the scratch cards. But for the convenience of tracking all your Indian credit cards in one place and never missing a payment, it’s useful. Note: CRED requires a credit score of 750+ to join.

Expense Tracking and Budgeting Apps

For expense tracking specifically, here are options that work for NRIs:

ET Money

ET Money (now owned by 360 One Wealth) offers more than just investments – it has robust expense tracking features that read your SMS transactions and categorize spending automatically. Over 1 crore investors use it.

Key Features:

• Automated expense tracking from SMS
• Bill payment reminders
• Weekly and monthly spending reports
• Direct mutual fund investments
• Portfolio tracking across investments

Caveat: Some features are now behind their paid “Genius” subscription. The free version has become more limited in recent updates.

Money View

Money View is an SMS-based expense tracker that provides real-time visibility into your finances. It reads your bank transaction messages and automatically categorizes spending.

Best For: NRIs who maintain Indian bank accounts and want automatic expense categorization without manual entry.

Wallet

Wallet lets you sync bank accounts for automatic transaction tracking. It’s particularly useful if you want to share certain expense categories with family members.

My Recommendations by Use Case

If you want one app that does everything: INDmoney. It’s the closest thing to a super-app for NRI finances.

If you’re a serious stock trader: Zerodha (Kite). The trading tools are unmatched, though onboarding takes effort.

If you just want mutual funds: Kuvera. 100% free, clean interface, goal-based investing.

If you’re US-based and worried about compliance: iNRI. SEC-registered, cross-border tax support.

If you want NRI-specific hand-holding: SBNRI. Advisory support, banking assistance, tax help – all in one place.

For UPI payments: PhonePe or your bank’s app if supported.

For credit card management: CRED (if you have a 750+ credit score).

Important Things to Keep in Mind

1. Complete Your NRI KYC First: Most platforms require NRI KYC status in the centralized database. Get this done before trying to open accounts.
2. Check Country Restrictions: If you’re in the US or Canada, FATCA compliance limits your options. Always verify before signing up.
3. NRE vs NRO Matters: Understand which account type you’re linking. NRE accounts offer full repatriation; NRO accounts have limits. Learn about NRI accounts.
4. Tax Implications: Mutual fund gains in India are subject to TDS for NRIs. You may need to file ITR to claim refunds. Many of these apps help with tax statements.
5. Keep Your Indian Mobile Number Active: Even with international number support, having an active Indian number makes many processes smoother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can NRIs use regular Indian finance apps?

Most apps designed for resident Indians don’t support NRI accounts. Always check for NRI-specific features before signing up.

Do I need to be physically present in India to open these accounts?

For most apps listed here, no. INDmoney, Kuvera, SBNRI, and iNRI allow completely remote onboarding. Zerodha may require documents to be couriered.

Can US NRIs invest in Indian mutual funds?

Yes, but your options are limited due to FATCA. Platforms like iNRI and SBNRI support US NRIs. Most AMCs restrict US/Canada investors, so work with platforms that have figured out compliance.

What happens to my investments when I return to India?

You’ll need to update your residential status with the platform and convert your NRI accounts to resident accounts. Most platforms have a process for this – SBNRI specifically offers support for NRI to resident transitions. Check our return to India checklist.

Is UPI really working for NRIs now?

Yes! As of 2024-2025, NRIs from 12 countries can use UPI with international numbers. PhonePe, Google Pay, and several bank apps support this. You need an NRE or NRO account with a supported bank.

Final Thoughts

Managing finances across two countries will always have some complexity – that’s just the nature of being an NRI. But these apps have made things significantly easier than even a few years ago. The key is finding the right combination that works for your specific situation.

In our WhatsApp community, we regularly discuss which apps are working well and share updates when things change. Finance apps update their policies frequently, so staying connected with other NRIs helps you stay informed.

Start with one app, get comfortable with it, and then add others as needed. Trying to set up everything at once can be overwhelming. And remember – the best app is the one you’ll actually use consistently.

If you’re planning your move back or just want to better manage your India finances, join our WhatsApp community at https://backtoindia.com/groups – 20,000+ NRIs helping each other with real, lived experience. It’s free and volunteer-run.

Good luck with your financial journey!

– Mani