Sign-in Details
This page describes how to access Spend Sutra's full functionality for review — it corresponds to the "App access" section of the Google Play Console listing.
All core functionality is available without signing in
Spend Sutra does not require account creation or sign-in to use any of its primary features: SMS/email-based transaction detection, categorization, budgeting, search, exports, and settings are all available immediately after completing the on-device onboarding flow. There is no login wall anywhere in the app.
How to review the app
- Install and open the app. You'll be guided through onboarding: granting SMS permission (Android) and/or connecting an email account, then setting a monthly budget.
- Onboarding can be completed without any external test data — the app works against whatever SMS or email is already present on the review device, or the reviewer can add a transaction manually from the Transactions tab to see the full UI without needing real bank messages.
- Once onboarding finishes, every tab (Dashboard, Transactions, Budget, Chat, Settings) is fully accessible with no further authentication.
Optional Google Sign-In (Android)
Settings includes an optional "Backups" section where a reviewer can sign in with any Google account to test the encrypted cloud backup feature. This is entirely optional and does not gate any other part of the app — declining or skipping it during onboarding has no effect on functionality. No specific test account is required; any Google account can be used to exercise this flow.
Optional email account connection
Connecting an email account (Settings → Backups, or during onboarding) requires an email address and an app-specific password from that provider. This is optional and only needed to test IMAP-based transaction detection as an alternative or supplement to SMS. If a reviewer would like a specific test mailbox for this, they're welcome to reach out at the contact below and one can be provided.
Contact for review support
If anything about accessing app functionality is unclear during review, please contact sethigoldy@gmail.com and we'll respond promptly.