Customer Reviews (500)

JayKay in MMU • 2024-03-02T05:38:58-07:00

Useful and convenient program for tracking expenses for multiple accounts and categories - and for designated time periods. Easy to use. Use program to keep track of our key living expenses. Being able to quickly pull up data by category and time period is very useful. Many thanks for a wonderful program. JFK, Sarasota, Florida 02/25/24

Crossfitter2 • 2024-02-02T10:54:33-07:00

I would make some entries from my computer and sometimes from my phone. Everything seemed to be syncing between the two, but at the end of the 2023 year I noticed that some changes I made in Category Names in one platform did not change in the other! I had to do a side by side comparison and change the items that didn’t sync. And I just realized some items didn’t sync for 2022 as well! Time to resubmit my 2022 taxes.

Never Subscriptions • 2024-01-30T18:54:35-07:00

Old version- no longer supported. Crashes after every entry on iOS 17.

Summary of Key Insights

XpenseTracker is a long-standing expense and mileage tracking app with generally positive user sentiment, particularly regarding its ease of use, customization options, and feature set. However, recent reviews indicate significant stability issues, especially crashes on saving expenses, and concerns about the shift to a subscription model. While many long-term users praise its functionality and responsive developer support, the app suffers from issues related to recent updates and the introduction of paid add-ons, leading to user frustration and prompting some to seek alternatives. The overall rating is high (mostly 5-star reviews), but the recent negative reviews raise concerns about the app's current state. The app boasts a comprehensive set of features but must address the recent instability to retain users.

Overall Rating: High (based on the provided score distribution), but trending downward.

Score Distribution:

  • 5-star: 72.8% (364/500)
  • 4-star: 10.2% (51/500)
  • 3-star: 3.8% (19/500)
  • 2-star: 2.6% (13/500)
  • 1-star: 10.6% (53/500)

Key Strengths:

  • Ease of use and intuitive interface.
  • Comprehensive feature set, including mileage tracking, receipt capture, and customizable categories.
  • Excellent customer support from the developer.
  • Flexible reporting and export options (CSV, PDF, QuickBooks).

Key Weaknesses:

  • Recent instability and frequent crashes, especially when saving expenses.
  • Concerns about the shift to a subscription model and the perceived "greed" of the developers.
  • Issues with syncing data across devices.
  • Problems with the automatic mileage tracking feature (inconsistent tracking).
  • Annoying pop-ups advertising add-on services.
  • Limited OCR capabilities.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span from older dates up to February 2024, with a concentration of recent reviews focusing on issues with the latest version.
  • Analysis Methods: A combination of sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral) and keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned issues, features, and sentiments). Manual review of individual comments to understand the context and nuances of user feedback.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Crashing: The most prevalent issue is the app crashing when saving expenses, rendering it unusable for many users, especially after recent updates.
  • Subscription Model: Users who previously paid for the app are unhappy about being forced into a subscription model for continued use.
  • Syncing Issues: Several users report problems with syncing data across multiple devices (iPhone and iPad), leading to discrepancies and data loss.
  • Mileage Tracking Inconsistencies: The automatic mileage tracking feature is unreliable, with users reporting missed trips, incomplete tracking, and the need for manual input.
  • Annoying Pop-ups: Frequent pop-ups advertising add-on services are irritating users.
  • Limited OCR: The Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is limited and often inaccurate, requiring manual entry of receipt information.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved OCR: Users want a more reliable and accurate OCR feature to automatically extract data from receipts.
  • Seamless Syncing: Users desire reliable and automatic syncing of data across all devices.
  • Per Diem Tracking: Enhanced per diem functionality that compares expenses to per diem amounts and alerts users when they exceed their limits.
  • Direct Import from Wallet/Bank: Automatic data import from iPhone Wallet and direct bank connections.
  • Editable Selections for Expense Types: Users want to customize expense categories and subcategories more comprehensively.
  • Split Expenses Across Categories: The ability to split a single expense across multiple categories.
  • Option to Always Track Mileage: The ability for the app to always log mileage, with an option to approve later.
  • PDF Import: Import PDF receipts from email.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app easy to use and intuitive, especially for basic expense tracking.
  • Customization: The app offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to tailor categories, fields, and reports to their specific needs.
  • Photo Receipt Capture: The ability to take photos of receipts and attach them to expenses is a highly valued feature.
  • Reporting and Export Options: Users appreciate the various reporting and export options, including CSV, PDF, and QuickBooks formats.
  • Customer Support: The developer is praised for being responsive and helpful in resolving issues.
  • Mileage Tracking: While inconsistent, the mileage tracking feature is useful for those who need to track business or personal mileage.
  • Offline Functionality: Ability to use the app without an internet connection.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Crashing Issues: Immediately address the app crashing issues, particularly when saving expenses. This is the most critical problem and is causing significant user frustration.
  • Address Subscription Model Concerns: Consider offering a one-time purchase option for users who prefer it, or provide a clear explanation of the benefits of the subscription model.
  • Improve Syncing Functionality: Resolve the syncing issues across devices to ensure data consistency and prevent data loss.
  • Enhance Stability and Reliability of Mileage Tracking: Fix the inconsistencies in the automatic mileage tracking feature to ensure accurate and reliable tracking.

Medium Priority:

  • Reduce Pop-up Frequency: Decrease the frequency of pop-ups advertising add-on services.
  • Improve OCR Accuracy: Enhance the accuracy of the OCR feature to reduce manual data entry.
  • Address Performance Issues: Optimize the app for speed and efficiency, especially when handling large amounts of data.
  • Refine User Interface: Continue to refine the user interface to make it even more intuitive and user-friendly.

Low Priority:

  • Implement Requested Features: Gradually implement the most frequently requested features, such as per diem tracking, direct import from Wallet/Bank, and customizable expense types.
  • Create Tutorial Videos: Provide tutorial videos to guide new users through the app's features and functionalities.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Expense Tracking: Develop an app that uses AI to automatically categorize expenses, extract data from receipts, and generate reports.
  • Real-Time Mileage Tracking with Geofencing: Create an app that automatically tracks mileage in real-time using geofencing technology, allowing users to set up zones for automatic tracking.
  • Expense Management Platform for Small Businesses: Develop a comprehensive expense management platform for small businesses, integrating with accounting software and offering features such as employee expense tracking, approval workflows, and automated reimbursement.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Increase: There's a noticeable increase in negative sentiment due to recent app updates and the introduction of the subscription model.
  • Long-Term User Loyalty: Many users have been using the app for several years and are generally satisfied with its functionality.
  • Importance of Customer Support: The responsive customer support is a significant factor in user satisfaction.
  • Need for Ongoing Maintenance: The app requires ongoing maintenance and updates to address bugs and keep up with iOS changes.

Conclusion

XpenseTracker is a powerful and versatile expense and mileage tracking app with a strong foundation and a loyal user base. However, recent issues related to stability, pricing, and functionality are negatively impacting user sentiment. By addressing the prioritized action recommendations, the developers can restore user confidence, retain existing users, and attract new ones. The long-term success of XpenseTracker depends on maintaining its core strengths while addressing the emerging weaknesses.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize stability and address user concerns about the subscription model. Focus on improving the core features and provide excellent customer support to maintain a competitive edge.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/xpensetracker/id290874373?uo=2