Get Started

Quickstart

Install, create an account, log a transaction, and set a budget.

Spend Sense

Your first day

Free to start

🔐

Create account

30 seconds

📝

Log a transaction

2 taps

📊

Set a budget

30 seconds

Info

Spend Sense is currently in TestFlight Beta. This guide describes the current beta experience. Join the waitlist to request early access.

Before you begin

Requirement	Details
Device	iPhone running iOS 15.0 or later
Storage	45 MB installed; your data is stored in an encrypted local database on your device
Internet	Not required for core budgeting and tracking. Used for updates and optional features.
Account	Free email + password account, created in the app
Permissions	Camera (for receipt scanning), Face ID / Touch ID (optional)

Get started in 5 steps

Request TestFlight Beta access and install

Join the waitlist to request a TestFlight Beta invite. Once approved, install Spend Sense through Apple's TestFlight app — the public App Store listing is not live yet.

Create your account

Enter an email and password to create your free Spend Sense account. Your financial data is encrypted — we never sell it to advertisers, data brokers, or third parties.

Complete the onboarding flow

You'll be greeted with a short setup wizard:

Choose your default currency (30+ currencies supported)
Pick a monthly budget start date (1st of month, or your payday)
Optionally enable Face ID / Touch ID for app lock

You can change all of these later in Settings.

Log your first transaction

Tap the large + button at the bottom of the screen. Enter an amount, pick a category, and optionally add a note. Tap Save. That's it — your first transaction is recorded in your encrypted local database.

Set a monthly budget

Navigate to the Budget tab. Tap Set Budget and enter your monthly income and spending limits per category. Spend Sense will automatically track your progress as you log transactions throughout the month.

Best Practice

Recommended first week: Log every purchase manually for 7 days, no matter how small. This gives the analytics engine accurate baselines for spending insights.

What can I do next?

Set up categories →

Create custom budget categories

Explore analytics →

View spending charts by category and time period

Create a savings goal →

Set a target amount and track progress with a visual ring

Understand your privacy →

How your financial data is stored and encrypted

Common first-day questions

Do I need to connect my bank account?

No. Today, Spend Sense is manual-entry and camera-based — no bank connection required to use the app. Bank connection support is planned for a future update.

What happens to my data if I delete the app?

Your data is stored in an encrypted local database on your device using AES-256 encryption. Deleting the app permanently removes that data — export a CSV anytime in Settings → Export.

Can I use Spend Sense on multiple iPhones?

Your data is stored in an encrypted local database on your device using AES-256 encryption. A CSV export is available anytime in Settings → Export. Cloud sync across devices is in active development and coming in a future update.

Was this page helpful?

Yes, thanks!Needs improvement

Budgeting