SMS Optional
An expense tracker that works without SMS permission
Some finance apps are built entirely around reading your SMS. Balance isn't: every feature works without it.
If you do want automatic tracking, SMS capture is there as an opt-in. It runs on your phone, reads only bank transaction alerts, and never uploads your messages.
Free · No ads · 140+ currencies · Android (iOS coming soon)
Balance - Expense Tracker by Clarzen on Google Play
Tracking without SMS access
Skip the SMS permission and you still get the whole app: scan a receipt or payment screenshot and the OCR fills in merchant, amount and date, or add a spend in a couple of taps. Analytics, budgets, bills, subscriptions and Roast Mode all work the same.
Manual capture also catches what SMS never will: cash, split bills and payments from accounts that don't send alerts.
If you turn SMS capture on, here's exactly what happens
- Balance asks for SMS permission only when you enable automatic capture or import past SMS
- Messages are read on your phone; the full text never reaches our servers
- Only bank transaction alerts are used, and personal messages, OTPs and promotions are ignored
- From each alert Balance keeps the amount, merchant, date, bank and last digits of the account
- Turn it off in the app or revoke the permission anytime; your other data stays put
Frequently asked questions
Does Balance need SMS permission to work?
No. Every feature works without it. You can capture expenses by scanning receipts or payment screenshots, or by adding them manually. SMS capture is an optional extra on Android.
Does Balance read my SMS?
Only if you turn on automatic capture (Android). Balance then reads bank transaction alerts on your phone and ignores personal messages, OTPs and promotions. The full message text never leaves your device; only the amount, merchant, date and account are saved. You can turn it off anytime, and the app works fully without it.
How does it detect subscriptions without reading SMS?
Subscription radar looks for recurring patterns in the expenses you log, however they were captured, and flags debits that repeat monthly, quarterly or yearly.
Keep exploring
Track every expense. Ask anything.
Free to download, no ads, no bank login. Get Balance on Google Play and start tracking in minutes.
