UPI Guide
The best ways to track UPI spending
UPI is fast and everywhere, which is exactly why it's easy to lose track of. There are two broad approaches: let an app read your SMS, or capture UPI spends by scanning screenshots.
Here's the trade-off, and where Balance fits.
Free · No ads · Made in India · Android (iOS coming soon)
How we chose
Rather than rank on brand, it's more useful to judge these apps on what actually affects daily use:
- How UPI spends get captured (SMS vs scanning vs manual)
- Privacy of the approach
- Whether cash is captured too
- Cost
Apps worth considering
Each of these fits a different kind of user — there's no single winner for everyone:
- Balance — scans UPI screenshots; no SMS access; captures cash too; free
- SMS-based India apps — auto-capture UPI alerts but read your whole inbox
- Manual-only apps — private, but slower without scanning
Where Balance fits
Balance captures UPI spends by scanning the payment screenshot — fast, but without reading your SMS or linking a bank. It also logs cash, which SMS parsing can't see.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way to track UPI expenses privately?
Scanning UPI payment screenshots, as Balance does, captures the spend without needing SMS access or a bank connection — keeping your inbox and accounts private.
Does Balance connect to my bank?
No. Balance never asks for a bank login, net-banking credentials, or SMS access. You add transactions yourself — by scanning a receipt or UPI screenshot, or entering them manually — so nothing sensitive is exposed.
Is Balance really free?
Yes. Balance is free to use with no ads and no mandatory subscription. Core expense tracking, categories, analytics, receipt scanning and CSV export are all included at no cost.
Keep exploring
Start understanding your money with Balance.
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