Frequently asked questions

What is Expentify and how is it different from traditional expense trackers?

Expentify is a personal bookkeeping app built on double-entry accounting. Unlike simple single-entry apps that only log itemized expense receipts, Expentify balances your liquid cash, bank checking vaults, debt liabilities, and cost centers into a real-time trial balance and personal balance sheet. Every cent in your ecosystem is mathematically reconciled.

  • Track cash, bank accounts and shared goals in one place.
  • Every entry is recorded on both sides, so your balance sheet always balances.
  • Run the optional Gemini AI audit to review your spending and spot repeated charges.

How do I sign in and back up my financial ledgers?

You can sign in using your Google account or email/password via the profile icon in the top right corner. Once signed in, your wallets, transactions and settings are saved to your account (Google Firebase), so they're backed up and available on your other devices.

  • Click the profile avatar 👤 in the top header.
  • Enter your credentials or click 'Sign in with Google'.
  • Your data is saved to your account and appears wherever you sign in.

How do I wipe sample data and reset all wallet balances to zero?

If you want to clear sample transactions and start with fresh, zero-balance account ledgers, use 'Wipe & Start Fresh' in Settings.

  • Navigate to the Setup / Settings (⚙️) tab.
  • Scroll down to the reset buttons.
  • Tap 'Wipe & Start Fresh' and confirm.
  • All transactions are removed and every balance starts again at zero.

How does Double-Entry Bookkeeping work in Expentify?

Double-entry bookkeeping is the fundamental accounting framework where every transaction affects at least two accounts with equal debits and credits (Assets = Liabilities + Equity). When you spend $40 on Groceries from your Checking Wallet, Groceries Expense increases by $40 (Debit) while Checking Account Asset decreases by $40 (Credit).

  • Debit (+): Increases Expense category cost centers or Asset inflows.
  • Credit (-): Decreases Asset source wallets or increases Liabilities.
  • Balance Equation: Total Assets = Total Liabilities + Owner's Net Worth.

What should I do if my trial balance shows an imbalance or negative wallet?

A negative wallet balance indicates that recorded cash outflows exceeded your recorded starting balance. To fix this, update your starting wallet balance under the Wallets tab or log a Cash In / Income entry (e.g. Salary or Client Payment).

  • Go to the 'Wallets' tab and select the affected checking or cash account.
  • Tap 'Edit Wallet' to adjust the initial starting balance to match your actual bank statement.
  • Or go to '+' Add Transaction, select 'Income' type, and enter the salary deposit.

Which currencies does Expentify support?

Expentify natively supports global currencies (USD $, EUR €, GBP £, PKR ₨, INR ₹, CAD $, AUD $, JPY ¥, AED, SAR, etc.). You choose one currency for your ledger, and all wallets and reports are shown in it. Converting between currencies isn't supported yet, so record foreign-currency amounts in your chosen currency.

  • Open Settings (⚙️).
  • Choose your currency.
  • All balances and reports switch to that currency symbol.

What wallet account types are supported?

Expentify has three wallet types: Personal (everyday cash and bank accounts), Business (side income and work expenses, kept separate) and Joint (money you share with someone). Card balances and loans are tracked as liability accounts in the ledger.

How does the Google Gemini AI Auditor assist my personal finances?

When you run it, the Gemini AI audit reads your wallets and transactions and writes a short review: where your money went, repeated charges worth checking, and ideas for saving. It runs only when you ask, and its suggestions are not financial advice.

  • Points out repeated or recurring charges.
  • Summarises spending by category.
  • Suggests where you could cut back.

Is my personal data sent securely to the AI model?

When you run an audit, your wallets and transactions are sent over an encrypted connection to our server, which passes them to Google's Gemini API to write the review. You need to be signed in to use it. We don't sell your data or share it with advertisers.

How do I track debts in Expentify?

Record each card or loan as its own liability account, so every debt keeps its own balance. Expentify doesn't calculate a payoff plan for you, but with separate balances you can compare the two common methods:

  • 🔥 Debt Avalanche: pay off the highest interest rate first. This usually costs the least interest overall.
  • ❄️ Debt Snowball: pay off the smallest balance first, for quick wins that keep you motivated.
  • 📖 Our guide 'Snowball vs. Avalanche' walks through both with real numbers.

How do I collaborate on shared family or partner budgets?

Joint Spaces let you track a shared goal or pot, such as a trip, rent or a family fund, with a target amount and the name of the person you share it with. A joint space is saved in your own account; the other person doesn't see it in their app. Use Remind to send them a progress update on WhatsApp.

  • Open the 'Wallets' tab and find Joint Spaces.
  • Create a joint space with a name, target amount and the other person's name.
  • Tap 'Remind' to share the current progress on WhatsApp.

How do I sync Expentify with Google Sheets?

In Settings (⚙️), connect your Google account under 'Google Sheets Live Sync'. Expentify creates a spreadsheet in your Google Drive and writes your transactions journal, balances, trial balance and cashbook into it. With auto-sync on, the sheet updates as you add or change entries. Edits made in the sheet are not copied back.

  • Open Settings (⚙️) and scroll to 'Google Sheets Live Sync'.
  • Tap 'Authorize Google Sheets Connection' and allow access.
  • Turn on 'Continuous Auto-Sync', or tap 'Force Full Sync' to update the sheet now.

How does WhatsApp statement sharing work?

On the Home tab, tap 'WhatsApp Export'. Expentify writes a short text summary of your day's balances and spending and opens WhatsApp with it, ready to send to family or a partner.

Why does Expentify display banner advertisements?

Ads from Google (AdSense on the website, AdMob in the Android app) keep Expentify free, with no paywalls or subscriptions.