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How to track expenses on iPhone without linking your bank

By Law of Large · Updated

Add one account for each bank account, card and cash wallet you spend from, then log every purchase in PocketBook AI right when you pay. Entering transactions yourself needs no bank login, includes cash and avoids the duplicate or missing imports that bank sync can produce. Review the charts once a week.

We make PocketBook AI. This guide explains its workflow and limitations; paid features are noted below.

Get PocketBook AI on the App Store

Before you begin

You need an iPhone with iOS 18.5 or later and an Apple or Google account to sign in. PocketBook AI stores your transactions, accounts and categories on the app’s server so they stay in sync. Decide on six to eight broad categories before you start, because a long list slows down every entry.

Step by step

  1. Sign in and choose your currency

    Install PocketBook AI, sign in with Apple or Google and choose the currency you track in. Pick the one you spend in most.

  2. Add the accounts you pay from

    Create one account for each bank account and card you spend from, and one for cash. PocketBook AI shows them in one place with a total balance. Unlimited accounts are part of the optional PocketBook Pro subscription.

  3. Set up your categories

    Start with broad categories such as rent, bills, groceries, eating out, transport and entertainment, and add your own where you need them. Keep income in its own categories, such as salary, side income and refunds.

  4. Log each purchase when you pay

    Enter the amount, pick the category and the account it came from. It takes a few taps. Log cash purchases on the spot, because they leave no trail you can rebuild later. An ATM withdrawal is not spending in itself; the purchases you make with the cash are.

  5. Review the week

    Open the charts and switch between day, week, month and year. Look for the category that grew the most and choose one change for the coming week. PocketAI can summarize your recent spending and suggest where to save. Unlimited PocketAI is part of PocketBook Pro.

Why people skip bank sync

Bank connections can drop and stop updating until you reconnect, and imports can count a pending and a posted charge twice or miss a transaction entirely. In 1,588 critical App Store reviews of 16 budgeting and expense apps that we read in November 2026, connection problems were one of the most frequent complaints next to price.

Entering purchases yourself also covers cash, which a bank feed cannot see, and it never asks for your bank login. The cost is a few seconds per purchase.

When bank sync fits better

If you make many card payments a day across several accounts and never use cash, an app that imports from your bank can save time, provided its connection to your bank is reliable. PocketBook AI is built around quick logging that you control.

Questions that come up

Does PocketBook AI need my bank login?

No. You can log every income and expense yourself, so no bank connection is required. You sign in to the app with Apple or Google.

Can I track cash and credit cards together?

Yes. Keep bank accounts, credit cards and cash as separate accounts in PocketBook AI and see the total balance in one place. Unlimited accounts are part of PocketBook Pro.

Is PocketBook AI free?

The app is free to download. PocketBook Pro is an optional subscription that adds unlimited PocketAI and unlimited accounts. Check the App Store for current pricing in your region.

Check the app details

See PocketBook AI features and compatibility, or visit the official PocketBook AI website. The App Store listing has current availability, pricing and in-app purchases. Screens and options can vary with the app version.

More answers on the official PocketBook AI website:

Prepared from the app’s published information and implementation. Images are official App Store assets, not a claim of an independently recorded test.

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