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Getting Started
Getting started with Expensly takes less than a minute. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, open it, and you're ready to go — no sign-up required.
- Download Expensly from your app store
- Open the app — you'll land on the home screen
- Tap the
+ button to add your first transaction
- Choose a category, enter the amount, and save
Tip: Set up your budget categories first to get the most out of the analytics features from day one.
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Adding Transactions
Tap the + button on the home screen to add a new transaction. You can log both expenses and income.
- Amount — Enter the transaction amount
- Category — Select from preset categories or create your own
- Date — Defaults to today, but you can backdate entries
- Note — Add an optional description for context
- Type — Switch between expense and income
Tip: Log expenses as they happen for the most accurate tracking. It only takes a few seconds.
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Categories
Expensly comes with common preset categories like Food & Drink, Transport, Shopping, Entertainment, Bills, and more. You can customize them to fit your lifestyle.
- Edit categories — Go to Settings > Categories to rename, reorder, or delete
- Custom categories — Create categories that match your spending patterns
- Category icons — Each category has a unique icon and color for quick recognition
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Budgets
Set monthly spending limits for each category to stay on track. Expensly shows your progress with visual progress bars so you always know where you stand.
- Go to the Budgets tab
- Tap a category to set a monthly limit
- Enter your budget amount and save
- Watch the progress bar fill as you spend
The progress bar changes color as you approach your limit — green when you're well within budget, yellow as you get closer, and red when you've exceeded it.
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Analytics
The Analytics screen gives you a visual breakdown of your spending. See where your money goes with interactive donut charts and category breakdowns.
- Donut chart — Visual spending distribution by category
- Category list — Ranked spending breakdown with percentages
- Time periods — View weekly, monthly, or yearly summaries
- Trends — Compare spending across different periods
Tip: Check your analytics weekly to catch spending patterns early and adjust your habits before the month ends.
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Privacy Mode
Privacy Mode instantly hides all balances and amounts when someone might be looking at your screen. Toggle it on from the home screen to replace all numbers with asterisks.
- Tap the eye icon on the home screen to toggle
- All amounts are replaced with
****
- Category names and dates remain visible
- Tap again to reveal your data
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PIN Lock
Add an extra layer of security with a PIN code. When enabled, you'll need to enter your PIN every time you open Expensly.
- Go to Settings > Security
- Enable PIN Lock
- Set a 4-digit PIN
- Confirm your PIN
Important: Remember your PIN. Since all data is stored locally, there is no way to reset your PIN remotely.
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Data & Backup
All your data is stored locally on your device. Expensly doesn't use cloud storage or require an internet connection.
- iOS — Your data is included in iCloud backups if enabled on your device
- Android — Your data is included in Google backups if enabled
- Export — Export your transactions as CSV from Settings > Export Data
- Uninstalling — Deleting the app permanently removes all data
Tip: Periodically export your data as CSV for a personal backup you can open in any spreadsheet app.