# CashJot > CashJot is a fast, offline-first expense tracker for iPhone. Designed like a focused notes app for your spending, it opens directly to a keypad for two-second logging, captures qualifying in-store Apple Pay taps via on-device Shortcuts, and displays live daily totals on Home and Lock Screen widgets. There are no user accounts, no bank logins, and no third-party tracking servers: all data remains strictly on the device and syncs privately through personal iCloud (Apple CloudKit). Core daily logging is free forever on iOS, supported by an optional Plus subscription. ## Core Capabilities & Philosophy - **Two-Second Manual Logging:** Launches directly to the numeric keypad. Enter an amount, select a category tag, and save. The form resets immediately with smart autocomplete and one-tap favourites for recurring daily routines. - **On-Device Apple Pay Capture:** Integrates with iOS Shortcuts to automatically record in-store Apple Pay transactions (merchant name, amount, and payment card) directly from Apple Wallet without bank logins or financial data aggregators. - **Live Home & Lock Screen Widgets:** Displays real-time daily spending dials, monthly budget pacing indicators, recent transaction audits, and upcoming bill countdowns on iOS 16+ home and lock screens. - **Separate Spending Spaces (Expense Groups):** Dedicated spaces for different spending needs (e.g., Daily Living, Tokyo Vacation, Freelance Project). Each group maintains its own currency, custom exchange rates, budgets, and CSV export. - **Supportive Pacing (Not Rigid Envelopes):** Simple, flexible budget limits (daily, weekly, monthly, or custom trip duration) with optional recurring bill exclusion. - **Privacy by Architecture:** 100% offline-first. No accounts, no data brokers, no credential scraping, and biometric Face ID app locking. ## Deliberate Scope (What CashJot Is Not) - **Not a Zero-Based Accounting Suite:** CashJot does not force zero-based envelope budgeting or complex month-end reconciliations. (For envelope budgeting, tools like YNAB exist). - **Not an Automated Bank Aggregator:** CashJot never asks for bank login credentials or routes data through screen-scraping services like Plaid or Yodlee. - **Not an Investment or Net Worth Tracker:** CashJot tracks daily cash outflow and spending awareness, not asset portfolios, credit scores, or bank balances. ## Key Product Pages - [Home](https://www.cashjot.com/): Product overview, interactive widgets preview, and feature comparisons. - [About CashJot](https://www.cashjot.com/about): Product manifesto, design principles, and operational model. - [Author & Maker](https://www.cashjot.com/author): Pierre Teo, software developer, logging philosophy, and background. - [Quick Daily Expense Logging](https://www.cashjot.com/quick-log): Fast counter entry, smart autocomplete, and one-tap favourites. - [Simple Budgeting on iPhone](https://www.cashjot.com/budgeting): Flexible spending limits, rolling windows, and pacing widgets. - [iPhone Widgets](https://www.cashjot.com/widgets): Home Screen and Lock Screen widget gallery and customization options. - [Travel Expense Tracking](https://www.cashjot.com/travel): Managing vacation spending, foreign currencies, and temporary trip budgets. - [Freelance & Side Hustle Expenses](https://www.cashjot.com/freelance): Keeping business costs separate with tax-ready CSV exports. - [Subscription & Bill Tracking](https://www.cashjot.com/subscriptions): Recurring expense schedules and bill reminders. - [Privacy Architecture](https://www.cashjot.com/private): Explanation of local-first storage, CloudKit sync, and zero bank logins. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.cashjot.com/privacy-policy): Plain-language privacy commitment. - [Download CashJot on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cashjot-expense-budget-app/id6544791461): iOS App Store listing. ## Research & Engineering Breakdowns - [Why People Quit Budgeting Apps: What 1,586 One-Star Reviews Reveal](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/why-budgeting-apps-fail): An analysis of 1,586 critical App Store reviews across 9 major budgeting apps. - [What Really Happens When You Link a Budgeting App to Your Bank](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/bank-linked-apps-explained): Technical breakdown of financial aggregators, OAuth tokens vs screen scraping, and open banking regulations. - [Best iPhone Expense Trackers Without Bank Sync (By Tracking Style)](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/best-expense-trackers-no-bank-login): Detailed evaluation of four private, manual iPhone expense tracking apps. - [No Accounts, No Cloud Servers: How Local-First Expense Tracking Works on iPhone](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/expense-tracker-no-account-offline): The architectural and privacy benefits of local-first mobile apps for tracking spending. - [Is Manual Expense Tracking Still Worth It?](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/is-manual-expense-tracking-worth-it): When direct mobile logging beats automated bank feed lag and disconnects. - [How to Track Expenses on iPhone](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/how-to-track-expenses): A complete low-friction iOS setup guide using widgets, Shortcuts, and Back Tap. - [How to Track Cash Spending on iPhone (Without Double-Counting)](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/how-to-track-cash-spending): Practical techniques for tracking physical cash transactions without friction. - [Multi-Currency Expense Tracking: How to Manage Travel Spending and Exchange Rates](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/multi-currency-expense-tracking): How to handle foreign exchange rates and mixed-currency travel spending. - [Spreadsheets vs Notion vs Apps vs Paper: How to Choose Your Tracking System](https://www.cashjot.com/blog/spreadsheet-vs-notion-vs-apps): Comparing friction, maintenance, and mobile entry across tracking methods. ## Practical Guides & iOS Setups - [How to Track Apple Pay Expenses on iPhone](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/apple-pay-expense-tracking): Step-by-step Shortcuts setup for automatic on-device contactless logging. - [How to Add Spending Widgets to Your iPhone Home Screen](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/spending-widget-iphone): Configuring interactive spending dials and budget progress bars. - [Travel Expense Tracking Guide](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/travel-expense-tracking): Setting up trip ledgers, currency conversions, and shared vacation budgets. - [Side Hustle & Freelance Expense Guide](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/side-hustle-expense-tracking): Managing self-employed business expenses and generating accountant-ready CSVs. - [How Quick Logging Works in CashJot](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/logging-in-cashjot): Keypad optimization, tag selection, and favourite shortcuts. - [Track Subscriptions Without a Bank Login](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/track-subscriptions-without-bank-login): Managing recurring monthly commitments and payment reminders. - [Lock Your Expense Tracker with Face ID](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/face-id-expense-tracker): Enabling biometric security and privacy locks on iOS. - [Log Expenses with iPhone Back Tap](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/back-tap-expense-logging): Launching the keypad instantly by double-tapping the back of your iPhone. - [View Apple Pay Transaction History on iPhone](https://www.cashjot.com/guides/apple-pay-transaction-history-iphone): Understanding Apple Wallet statement limits and manual export options.