Customer Reviews (500)

obikenobe • 2025-03-17T07:08:15-07:00

There is no way to silence the app. When I mark a bill as complete, it ALWAYS makes a loud sound, distracting others around me, despite what my phone’s volume settings are at which for me my phone volume is always silent. I was going to me kind and give this a two-star review, but i’ll give it a one-star review don’t other short comings with the app, such as cancelling a payment reminder AND preserving payment history.

Ddrose1 • 2025-03-12T07:37:50-07:00

Love the app it works great. The only thing I would add to the app would be to put a feature that subtracts your payment from your incoming income,

manny m123 • 2025-02-19T11:33:38-07:00

Been with Chronicle from the beginning of time you launched! Cant live with out it. I love the quick email response time and mindful updates you keep dropping! Thanks Mike!!!

Summary of Key Insights

Chronicle - Bill Organizer is generally well-received, particularly for its simplicity and ease of use in tracking and managing bills. Users appreciate its straightforward approach, especially compared to more complex budgeting apps. However, several pain points emerge consistently across reviews, including syncing issues, notification problems, and limitations in customization. The app's transition to a subscription model has also been a source of frustration for some long-time users. While many praise the responsive developer, recurring technical glitches and feature requests indicate areas for improvement. The overall sentiment is positive, but resolving persistent issues and adding frequently requested features could significantly enhance user satisfaction.

  • Overall Rating: The app has a high number of 5-star reviews, but a significant number of 1-star reviews highlight serious issues for some users.
  • Key Strengths: Simplicity, ease of use, helpful reminders, and a responsive developer.
  • Key Weaknesses: Syncing problems between devices, notification issues, limited customization, and the subscription model.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with recurring negative feedback related to specific issues.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5 Stars: 53.4% (267/500)
    • 4 Stars: 12.8% (64/500)
    • 3 Stars: 9.6% (48/500)
    • 2 Stars: 7.6% (38/500)
    • 1 Star: 16.6% (83/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span from the app's early versions to recent updates as of July 4, 2024.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral based on language used.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently used words and phrases to pinpoint common themes and issues.
    • Feature Request Identification: Compiling a list of features users explicitly requested in their reviews.
    • Issue Frequency Analysis: Determining the prevalence of reported bugs and problems.

Key User Pain Points

  • Syncing Issues (High Priority): Many users report problems syncing data between iOS devices and the Mac app, leading to data loss or inconsistencies. This is a recurring and severe issue.
  • Notification Problems (High Priority): Notifications not working reliably is a major issue. Users report missed notifications, delayed notifications, or notifications appearing randomly.
  • Subscription Model Frustration (Medium Priority): Long-time users express dissatisfaction with the transition to a subscription model, especially when features they previously had are now locked behind a paywall.
  • Bugs and Crashes (Medium Priority): Some users experience crashes, especially after updates.
  • Sound cannot be muted (Medium Priority): The loud sound when marking a bill as complete is disruptive for some users.
  • Inability to delete bills (Low Priority): Some users report difficulties deleting bills, even after archiving them.
  • Income Logging Issues (Low Priority): Some users find it difficult to log income correctly, with the app sometimes miscategorizing it as a bill.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Bank Account Integration (High Priority): Users want the ability to connect bank accounts for automatic bill detection and payment tracking, similar to Mint or Rocket Money.
  • Improved Reporting and Analysis (Medium Priority): Users desire more robust reporting features, such as total spending per category, customizable date ranges, and export options (e.g., CSV, Excel).
  • Customization Options (Medium Priority): Users want more customization options, such as custom categories, icons, and color-coding.
  • Web Version (Medium Priority): A web version for access on non-Apple devices.
  • Partial Payments (Low Priority): The ability to log partial payments and track remaining balances.
  • Calculator Function (Low Priority): A calculator within the app to total multiple bills.
  • Account Number and Phone Number Storage (Low Priority): Fields for storing account numbers and contact information for billers.
  • Android Version (Low Priority): An Android version of the app.
  • Duplication of Entries (Low Priority): The ability to duplicate existing bill entries for faster setup.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Simplicity and Ease of Use: Users consistently praise the app's straightforward design and ease of use, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Helpful Reminders: The app's reminder system is effective in preventing missed payments and improving credit scores.
  • Responsive Developer: Many users appreciate the developer's responsiveness to feedback and quick resolution of issues.
  • Clean Interface: The clean and organized interface is visually appealing and easy to navigate.
  • Cross-Platform Functionality: Users value the ability to sync data between iOS devices and the Mac app.
  • No Bank Linking: Some users appreciate that the app does not require linking to bank accounts, prioritizing privacy.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Fix Syncing Issues: Thoroughly investigate and resolve the persistent syncing problems between devices. Implement robust error handling and clear communication to users when sync fails.
    • Address Notification Problems: Ensure reliable and timely notifications for all users. Provide troubleshooting steps and clear settings for customizing notification preferences.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Re-evaluate Subscription Model: Consider offering a one-time purchase option or grandfathering in long-time users who previously paid for the app.
    • Implement Bank Account Integration: Add optional bank account integration for automatic bill detection and payment tracking. Clearly communicate the security measures in place to protect user data.
    • Enhance Reporting and Analysis: Develop more robust reporting features, including customizable date ranges, spending categories, and export options.
    • Improve Customization Options: Allow users to create custom categories, upload their own icons, and customize color schemes.
    • Address the inability to silence the app: Add an option to mute the sound when marking a bill as complete.
  • Low Priority:
    • Add Web Version: Develop a web version for access on non-Apple devices.
    • Implement Partial Payment Tracking: Enable users to log partial payments and track remaining balances.
    • Add Calculator Function: Integrate a calculator within the app to total multiple bills.
    • Develop Android Version: Consider developing an Android version of the app to reach a wider audience.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Privacy-Focused Bill Management Platform: A bill management app that prioritizes user privacy by avoiding bank linking and offering end-to-end encryption.
  • AI-Powered Bill Negotiation Service: An app that uses AI to analyze bills and negotiate lower rates with service providers.
  • Gamified Bill Payment App: An app that rewards users for paying bills on time with points, badges, or other incentives.
  • Bill Management for Small Businesses: A bill management app specifically designed for small businesses, with features for tracking expenses, generating reports, and managing invoices.

Trends and Observations

  • Long-Term Users' Loyalty: Many users have been using Chronicle for years and are highly satisfied with its core functionality.
  • Frustration with Subscription Model: The transition to a subscription model has alienated some long-time users who feel that they are being forced to pay for features they previously had.
  • Importance of Reliability: Users heavily rely on the app to accurately track bills and provide timely reminders. Any issues with syncing, notifications, or data loss can significantly impact their trust in the app.
  • Desire for More Automation: Users are increasingly looking for ways to automate bill payment and tracking, such as through bank account integration and automatic bill detection.

Conclusion

Chronicle - Bill Organizer is a valuable tool for managing bills, praised for its simplicity and ease of use. However, persistent technical issues, especially syncing and notification problems, significantly detract from the user experience. Addressing these issues should be the top priority. Furthermore, carefully consider user feedback on the subscription model and explore options for offering more flexibility. By resolving these pain points and adding frequently requested features, Chronicle can solidify its position as a leading bill management app.

  • Overall Recommendation: Focus on fixing existing issues and adding key features before aggressively pursuing new users. Prioritize stability and reliability to maintain the trust of long-term users. Re-evaluate the subscription model to address user concerns.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chronicle-bill-organizer/id572561420?uo=2