Asked, answered.
Can't find it here? Write to support@controlexpense.com. A person reads every message.
The basics
How much does ControlExpense cost?
5 days free, then Basic at US$1 a month or Pro at US$2 a month, shown in your own currency on Google Play. See what each plan includes.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a quick one: type your email and choose a password, or continue with Google. It keeps your plan with you when you change phones. After signing in once, ControlExpense works offline.
Which currencies does ControlExpense support?
You pick a home currency when you start (ControlExpense suggests one from your phone's region): 50 are built in, including USD, EUR, GBP, AED, SAR, INR, JPY, SGD, CAD and AUD. You can change it in Settings → Currency. Entries keep the currency they were made in.
Is ControlExpense available on iPhone?
Not yet. ControlExpense is on Android first. Join the iPhone waitlist and we'll email you once, when it launches.
Which languages does the app speak?
The app is in English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil) and Indonesian. Voice entry understands far more: with the optional offline model, 99 languages.
Bank SMS
Why does ControlExpense ask to read my SMS?
To log the transactions your bank texts you about, so you don't have to type them. ControlExpense shows what it reads and why before Android asks, and you can say no; everything else still works.
Does my SMS text leave my phone?
No. Messages are parsed on the phone and only the amount, account, payment method and merchant are kept. Message text is never uploaded, synced or included in crash reports.
Which banks work?
Auto-capture understands alerts from Indian banks, credit cards, UPI apps and wallets. Outside India, log by voice, by typing a note, or with the keypad; it takes seconds.
ControlExpense logged something wrong. What now?
Tap the entry to fix it; ControlExpense learns your correction for next time. Anything it isn't sure about goes to the Review inbox instead of your totals.
Will ControlExpense ever ask for my bank password or OTP?
Never. ControlExpense doesn't connect to your bank, can't move money, and will never ask for passwords, PINs or OTPs. If something claiming to be ControlExpense asks, it isn't us.
Sync, backup, deletion
How does sync work?
With Pro, each change is encrypted on your phone and uploaded as a scrambled record. Your other phones download and decrypt it. Our server never has the key.
What if I lose my phone?
If you use sync: sign in on the new phone and approve it from another phone, or enter your recovery key. Without sync: restore your backup file. Without either, the data can't be recovered.
How do I delete my data?
In the app: Settings → Delete account. On the web: delete your account. To remove data on the phone, uninstall the app.
Does voice entry need internet?
Not with the optional offline model (57 MB, Android 13+). Without it, your phone's own speech service is used, which works offline when its language pack is installed.