Customer Reviews (500)

Maven306 • 2025-03-14T20:22:30-07:00

This is the first paid app and it was worth it and it helps with all recurring bills.

nsb820 • 2025-03-08T08:30:25-07:00

I paid for this app because it checks all the boxes I need: due dates, recurring payments, multiple accounts, etc. I would like to be able to sync/ update over wifi and use it on my iPad as well because I use my iPad a lot. I tried and it was more of a hassle than help, so I continue to use it on my phone. I would also like to see updates with settings for appearances to make it more pleasing to the eyes. But overall, good app.

justmeqt • 2025-02-28T09:05:18-07:00

2020 update—Can’t fo without it! I won’t try any other app. This is the best! This app is not only good for keeping track of monthly bills but you can also use it to keep track of total balance amounts due on accounts that have balloon payment deadlines! I have not tried any others. Have used this one for YEARS. It’s not a bother that there are end dates, just add another end date when needed. Great App!

Summary of Key Insights

Bills Monitor Pro is generally well-received, particularly for its simplicity and effectiveness in tracking and reminding users about bill payments. A significant portion of users have been using the app for several years and express strong loyalty. However, recent updates, particularly version 8.0, have introduced significant user dissatisfaction, with many users reporting issues with notifications, user interface, and functionality. The app's core strength lies in its straightforward approach to bill tracking, but the analysis reveals a critical need to address recent update-related problems and consider feature enhancements requested by long-term users. The overall sentiment is positive, but recent negative reviews threaten to erode this if not addressed promptly.

  • Overall Rating: High (dominated by 5-star reviews, but trending downward due to recent updates).
  • Key Strengths: Simplicity, effectiveness in bill tracking and reminders, customizable categories, recurring bill support.
  • Key Weaknesses: Recent updates causing UI/UX issues, notification problems, lack of automatic sync across devices, limited income tracking, and some complaints about customer support.
  • Sentiment: Predominantly positive, but increasingly negative due to recent updates.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star: 79.4%, 4-star: 8%, 3-star: 3.8%, 2-star: 2.2%, 1-star: 6.6%.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span several years, with a focus on recent reviews commenting on version 8.0.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual review and categorization of user feedback, sentiment analysis (positive, negative, neutral), keyword extraction to identify common themes, and frequency analysis of feature requests and pain points. Emphasis was given to changes in sentiment related to the latest update (version 8.0).

Key User Pain Points

  • Update Issues (High Severity): A significant number of recent reviews express strong dissatisfaction with the latest update (version 8.0), citing:
    • Notification Problems: Failure to receive reminders, stuck notifications, incorrect notification counts.
    • UI/UX Issues: Cluttered interface, difficult-to-read text, unintuitive navigation, harder to edit bills.
    • Functionality Issues: Bills shifting dates, inability to edit amounts, unpaid bills still showing as due, and loss of lifetime membership for some users.
  • Lack of Automatic Sync (Medium Severity): Many users desire automatic syncing across multiple devices (iPhone, iPad). The current manual backup and restore process is seen as cumbersome.
  • Limited Customization (Low Severity): Some users want more customization options, such as colorful layouts and more flexible recurring bill options (e.g., "repeat until forever").
  • Customer Support (Variable Severity): A few reviews mention poor or unhelpful customer support, especially regarding subscription issues.
  • Occasional Syncing Issues (Medium Severity): Some users have experienced bills shifting over a day.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Automatic Sync Across Devices: This is the most frequently requested feature.
  • Income Tracking: Users want the ability to track income in addition to expenses to get a complete financial picture.
  • "Repeat Until Forever" Option: For recurring bills without a defined end date.
  • Balance Tracking: Some users want the ability to track the remaining balance on accounts, particularly credit cards.
  • Family Sharing/Multi-User Support: Allowing multiple users (e.g., family members) to access and manage the same data.
  • More Flexible Recurring Options: Such as recurring on a specific day of the week each month (e.g., "3rd Wednesday of the month").
  • Website Link for Accounts: A section to add a link to the account website.
  • Ability to Edit Bills More Easily: Streamline the process of changing bill amounts or other details.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Simplicity and Ease of Use: Many users praise the app's straightforward design and ease of use.
  • Effectiveness in Bill Tracking: The app is highly effective at reminding users to pay bills on time and keeping track of payment history.
  • Customizable Categories: Users appreciate the ability to create their own bill categories.
  • Recurring Bill Support: The app's support for recurring bills is a valuable feature.
  • No Account Linking: Users appreciate that the app does not require linking to bank accounts, enhancing security.
  • Calendar View: The calendar view is a popular feature for visualizing upcoming bills.
  • Reporting Function: The reporting function, particularly the pie chart, is appreciated for understanding spending patterns.
  • Backup and Restore Functionality: Users value the backup and restore options (iCloud, Dropbox, Wifi).

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority (Address Immediately):

  1. Fix Update-Related Issues (Version 8.0):
    • Notifications: Resolve notification problems (missing reminders, incorrect counts, stuck notifications).
    • UI/UX: Revert or improve the UI/UX based on user feedback. Address issues with cluttered interface, difficult-to-read text, and unintuitive navigation.
    • Functionality: Fix bills shifting dates, inability to edit amounts, unpaid bills still showing as due.
    • Address "Lifetime" Membership Issues: Clarify subscription model and honor previous "lifetime" purchases.
  2. Improve Customer Support: Respond to user inquiries promptly and provide helpful solutions, especially regarding subscription and update-related issues.

Medium Priority (Address Within Next Quarter):

  1. Implement Automatic Sync Across Devices: This is a highly requested feature that would significantly improve user experience.
  2. Enhance Recurring Bill Options: Add a "Repeat Until Forever" option and more flexible recurring schedules (e.g., recurring on a specific day of the week each month).
  3. Improve Editing of Bills: Streamline the process of editing bill amounts and other details.

Low Priority (Address in Future Releases):

  1. Add Income Tracking: Allow users to track income in addition to expenses.
  2. Add Balance Tracking: Enable users to track remaining balances on accounts.
  3. Offer More Customization Options: Provide more options for customizing the app's appearance (e.g., colorful layouts).

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Subscription Management Service with Family Sharing: A service that allows families to easily manage and share subscription information, payment details, and spending habits.
  • AI-Powered Bill Negotiation: An AI-powered service that automatically negotiates lower rates on recurring bills.
  • Bill Payment Platform with Integrated Investment Tools: A platform that seamlessly integrates bill payment with investment tools, allowing users to automatically invest a portion of their savings.
  • Mobile App for Budgeting with a Focus on Simplicity: Develop a budgeting app that prioritizes ease of use and avoids complex features, targeting users who are overwhelmed by traditional budgeting tools.

Trends and Observations

  • Recent Negative Sentiment: A clear trend of negative sentiment emerged after the release of version 8.0, indicating a critical need for immediate action.
  • Long-Term User Loyalty: Many users have been using the app for several years, demonstrating strong loyalty and highlighting the app's core value proposition.
  • Focus on Simplicity: Users consistently praise the app's simplicity and ease of use, suggesting that this should be a key focus in future development.
  • Manual Payment Preference: Many users prefer to manually pay their bills and use the app primarily for tracking and reminders, indicating a desire for control and security.

Conclusion

Bills Monitor Pro is a valuable tool for managing and tracking bills, particularly appreciated for its simplicity and effectiveness. However, recent updates have introduced significant issues that need to be addressed urgently. Prioritizing the resolution of these problems, along with implementing highly requested features like automatic sync, will be crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and preventing further erosion of positive sentiment. The app's core strength lies in its straightforward approach, and future development should focus on enhancing this core value while addressing user pain points. Overall, it's recommended to revert or significantly revise the latest update (version 8.0) and focus on stability and user-requested features in subsequent releases.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bills-monitor-pro/id468993411?uo=2