An expense tracker built for India — how to start
Rupees, UPI, salary day, EMIs and SIPs — set up the way money actually moves in India, in about ten minutes.
Your first 10 minutes
- Add your accounts and today’s balanceHome›+ Add account
Bank, cash and credit cards.
- Tell it your salary and pay dayProfile›Salary
So it can say what is safe to spend until then.
- Add your bills and EMIsHome›Bills
Rent, SIPs, card dues — reminded before they are due.
- Check Safe to Spend each morningHome›Safe to Spend
What you can spend today after everything that is coming.
Pick this, not that
Good to know
“How much did I spend on food this month?” — Spendly AI answers from your own numbers.
What came in, what went out, what changed and one thing to watch.
💡 Free for tracking by hand, with no card needed.
Create your account →Ways to track expenses, compared
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Notebook | Thinking about every rupee | Missed entries; no totals |
| Spreadsheet | Full control, custom reports | Typing every UPI payment by hand |
| Expense app (manual) | Categories, budgets and reminders | Needs a daily habit |
| Automatic from bank alerts | UPI and card payments added for you | Cash still needs a quick log |
What to track — and what not to count twice
- Every payment from bank accounts, cards and cash.
- Income: salary, freelance, interest — by the month it belongs to.
- Not as spending: moving money between your own accounts, paying the credit card bill (the swipes were the spending), SIPs and investments.
Bills and EMIs before they are due, so the balance is not mistaken for spending money — that is Safe to Spend.
Make it automatic
Most of the typing disappears when your bank’s alerts are read for you — how automatic expense tracking works and how UPI payments are captured.
Spendly works this out every morning from your real accounts, bills, EMIs and pay day — and shows it per day.
See my Safe to Spend →Questions
What is the best expense tracker app in India?
One that understands UPI, salary cycles, EMIs and SIPs, and does not ask for your bank login. Spendly is built for exactly that, and tracking by hand is free.
Is it safe to use an expense tracker with my bank data?
Spendly never asks for netbanking passwords or PINs. Balances are what you enter, and automatic tracking reads only bank alert messages, read-only.
Can I track cash spending too?
Yes. Add a Cash account and log cash in two taps; ATM withdrawals move money from bank to cash instead of counting as spending.
Does it work for students?
Yes. Pick the student profile and it focuses on pocket money, part-time income and staying within budget.