You've downloaded SubSorted. The app is open. Now what?
Adding your first subscription takes less than a minute, and there are several ways to do it. This guide walks through each method so you can pick whichever feels most natural to you.
Before you start
You don't need to create an account, sign in, or connect anything. SubSorted works immediately after download. Your data stays on your device, and nothing is sent anywhere.
Think of one subscription you're currently paying for — Netflix, Spotify, your gym, a magazine — and we'll add that one first. You can always add more later.
Four ways to add a subscription
SubSorted gives you multiple ways to add subscriptions because different situations call for different approaches. Here's each method, step by step.
Manual entry
The most straightforward option. Tap the add button, start typing the name of a service, and SubSorted will suggest matches from its directory. Select one and the name and category are filled in automatically.
From there, you just need to add:
- 1 The price — how much you pay per cycle
- 2 The billing cycle — monthly, yearly, weekly, or a custom interval
- 3 The next renewal date — when the next payment is due
Review the details, tap save, and your subscription is added. The whole process takes about 20 seconds for a known service.
Scan a receipt or screenshot
Got a receipt from a subscription payment? Or a screenshot of a confirmation email? SubSorted can extract the details for you.
- 1 Tap the add button, then choose "Scan"
- 2 Take a photo of the receipt, or select an existing image from your gallery
- 3 SubSorted reads the image and extracts the service name, amount, and date
- 4 Review the draft — edit anything that looks off — then save
OCR isn't perfect, and we're upfront about that. You might need to correct a character or adjust a date. That's why SubSorted always shows you a draft first — nothing is saved until you've confirmed it.
Voice note
Sometimes the quickest way to capture something is to say it out loud. SubSorted's voice input lets you describe a subscription in natural language.
- 1 Tap the add button, then choose "Voice"
- 2 Say something like: "Spotify, nine ninety-nine a month, renews on the twentieth"
- 3 SubSorted creates a draft from what it heard
- 4 Review and confirm, just like any other method
Voice input works best when you include the service name, amount, and renewal timing. But if you only say the name and price, SubSorted will fill in what it can and leave the rest for you to complete.
Share from another app
If you receive a subscription confirmation by email, you can share it directly to SubSorted using your phone's share sheet.
- 1 Open the email or message containing the subscription details
- 2 Tap the share button and select SubSorted
- 3 SubSorted extracts the relevant details and creates a draft
- 4 Review, adjust if needed, and save
This is particularly handy when a new subscription confirmation arrives in your inbox. Share it straight to SubSorted while it's fresh, rather than trying to remember later.
The draft-first approach
You might have noticed a pattern: every method creates a draft before saving. This is deliberate.
Whether you typed, scanned, spoke, or shared, SubSorted always shows you what it's about to save and asks you to confirm. We think this is important for two reasons:
- Accuracy matters — A subscription tracker is only useful if the information in it is correct. Automated extraction can get things wrong, especially amounts and dates. The review step catches errors before they become misleading reminders.
- You should feel in control — This is your data about your money. Nothing should be recorded without your explicit say-so. If something doesn't look right, you can edit it or discard it entirely.
If you're unsure about a renewal date or exact amount, add your best guess. You can always edit the subscription later. Having an approximate reminder is better than having no reminder at all.
What happens next
Once your first subscription is saved, it appears on your home screen with the next renewal date clearly displayed. SubSorted will send you a reminder before the renewal — giving you time to decide whether to keep the service or cancel it.
From here, you can:
- Add more subscriptions — Most people have somewhere between 5 and 15. Adding all of them takes about 10 minutes.
- Adjust reminder timing — Choose how many days before a renewal you want to be reminded. The default works well for most people, but you can customise it.
- Mark subscriptions as trials — If you're on a free trial, SubSorted will remind you before the trial ends so you can decide before being charged.
Tips for getting the most out of SubSorted
Start with the obvious ones
Don't try to add every subscription in one sitting. Start with the five or six you know about — streaming, phone, gym — and add others as you remember them or spot them on your bank statement.
Check your bank statement once
A quick scan through the last two months of your bank statement will catch any recurring payments you might have forgotten. This doesn't need to be thorough — just look for amounts that appear twice.
Use the method that fits the moment
There's no "right" way to add a subscription. If you're at home with a receipt in hand, scan it. If you're on the bus and just remembered one, use voice input. If you're doing a proper audit, type them in manually. Each method is designed for a different context.
Try adding one subscription right now using manual entry. Pick the one you pay the most for. Once you see how it appears on your home screen with the renewal date, the value of SubSorted becomes immediately clear.
You're all set
That's all there is to it. No setup wizard, no configuration, no learning curve. Add a subscription, review it, save it. SubSorted handles the reminders from there.
The goal is to get your first subscription added in under two minutes. If you've followed along, you're probably there already.