The latest articles on DEV Community by Sohail Manzoor (@sohail_manzoor_1297ab0256). https://dev.to/sohail_manzoor_1297ab0256 https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3825966%2F34a25ba8-efbe-4d56-bc8d-319018d3d249.jpg https://dev.to/sohail_manzoor_1297ab0256 en Sohail Manzoor Sun, 15 Mar 2026 22:27:05 +0000 https://dev.to/sohail_manzoor_1297ab0256/i-built-a-free-android-app-to-track-subscriptions-heres-what-i-learned-4p69 https://dev.to/sohail_manzoor_1297ab0256/i-built-a-free-android-app-to-track-subscriptions-heres-what-i-learned-4p69 <h2> The Problem Nobody Talks About </h2> <p>Did you know the average person has 12+ active subscriptions — but only remembers 6? I discovered this problem personally when a surprise £14.99 charge hit my bank account for a service I'd completely forgotten about.</p> <p>That moment pushed me to build <strong>SubTrack</strong> — a completely free, no-ads Android app for tracking subscriptions and recurring payments.</p> <h2> What SubTrack Does </h2> <ul> <li>Track unlimited subscriptions in one place</li> <li>Set renewal reminders before you get charged</li> <li>View monthly/yearly spending insights</li> <li>Works 100% offline — your data never leaves your device</li> <li>Smart savings recommendations</li> </ul> <h2> Why I Built It </h2> <p>Every existing app either charged a subscription (ironic), had intrusive ads, or required an account/cloud sync. I wanted something truly private and free.</p> <p>SubTrack stores everything locally on your device. No account needed. No data sent to any server.</p> <h2> Tech Stack </h2> <p>Built with Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and Room database. The offline-first architecture means it's fast and always available, even without internet.</p> <h2> Key Lessons From Building It </h2> <p><strong>1. Users want simplicity over features</strong><br> I started with 20+ planned features. The MVP with 5 core features got better reception than everything combined.</p> <p><strong>2. Privacy is a feature</strong><br> The #1 feedback I got was "I love that it doesn't require an account." Don't underestimate privacy-conscious users.</p> <p><strong>3. ASO matters more than you think</strong><br> Spending time on the Play Store listing — screenshots, description keywords — drove more organic installs than any promotion.</p> <h2> Get the App </h2> <p>If you're interested in checking it out or leaving feedback:</p> <p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.enbcreative.apps.subtrack" rel="noopener noreferrer">SubTrack on Google Play</a></p> <p>Would love to hear from fellow Android devs — what was your hardest challenge building your first real-world app?</p> android kotlin productivity