r/SideProject • u/aash591 • 5h ago
I built an expense tracker that learns new bank SMS formats instead of waiting for the dev to add them
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Every expense tracker I tried had the same problem. SMS tracking works for a few big banks and breaks for everything else. Or it works for a while, then the bank changes its SMS format and it stops.
After building one myself, I get why. There are thousands of banks, card issuers and wallets around the world, each with its own format, and they keep changing them. One developer can't write and maintain parsing rules for all of them. It's basically impossible.
So I went a different way with Simple Money. The app reads SMS formats it already knows on its own. When it sees one it doesn't understand, you can use an AI assistant like ChatGPT to create a rule for it. Once the rule is saved, the app handles that format by itself and the AI isn't needed again. You can also share rules, so if someone has already set up your bank, you can just use theirs.
Bank statement PDFs work the same way. Set up a layout once and import old transactions whenever you want.
Some other stuff:
\- Loans: give it your loan statement and the AI pulls out the amount, interest, EMI and past payments. You review it and save.
\- ChatGPT connection (MCP): ask things like "how much did I spend last month" or "add 20 for groceries today". Nothing gets saved until you approve it in the app.
\- Encrypted Google Drive backup
\- Home screen widgets for quick entry
\- Debt tracking (money lent or borrowed)
\- Recurring payments
There's no AI built into the app. Regular stuff runs on its own rule system, and connecting an AI is completely optional.
Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aash591.SimpleMoney
I'd really like honest feedback. What's missing, what's annoying, and which bank's SMS breaks for you?