Why people stop logging, and how Oslo avoids it
Expense tracking almost never breaks because of the formula. It breaks because logging every coffee takes a minute, and by day three that minute is gone. That's why in Oslo the thing you repeat most is the shortest: the amount and the category.
Everything else is already filled in. The date is today, the account is the last one you paid with and the note is optional. You save and land back on Today with your new entry in view.
Paid by card in instalments? Pick how many, from 2 to 48, and each instalment counts in its own month and its own category. That way one big purchase doesn't swallow a single month.
Hormi and the expenses you don't see
Hormi, Oslo's ant, looks after the small expenses. In one of the morning tips, “Hormi got caught”, Oslo puts it plainly: “Small expenses love to hide. Log them and they have nowhere to go.”
One coffee goes unnoticed; twenty in a month don't. When you log the small stuff, its column on Today grows where you can see it. You don't have to give up what you enjoy: just give it a budget and watch how it's going.
Find any expense, even from months ago
Your history keeps everything you logged, day by day, with what came in minus what went out each day. Filter by type, account or category, and search by note, category, account or amount.
Made a mistake? Open the entry and edit or delete it. If you deleted it by accident, undo it.
What you can use without paying
Without paying you get logging, Today, your history, your streak, phone reminders and as many budgets as you like. Also up to 3 accounts, on top of your cash and your emergency fund, which take no slot; 3 goals, 3 debts, 3 bills and 3 people in “Who owes you”.
The Personal plan lifts those limits and adds the assistant, which you ask about your money in a chat, plus your own categories, summaries, reports and emails about your week.
Frequently asked questions
Is Oslo a free expense tracker app?
Yes, the essentials are free: unlimited logging, seeing on Today where your month goes, your history, your streak and as many budgets as you like. The Free plan goes up to 3 accounts, not counting your cash or your emergency fund, 3 goals, 3 debts, 3 bills and 3 people in “Who owes you”. You don't need a card to use it.
How long does it take to log an expense?
A few seconds. Tap the (+) in the middle of the bar, type the amount and pick the category. The date is already today and the account is the last one you paid with, so most of the time there's nothing else to touch. The note is optional, and you can log even without signal.
Do I have to link my bank?
No. Oslo doesn't ask for your bank password or connect to your bank. You log what you spend, in cash, by card or from any account, which is why cash counts too, the money your bank never sees.
Can I set a budget for each category?
Yes, and on the Free plan there's no limit on them. Each budget is for one category and is measured by month. On Today you see that category's column with its budget marked, and in My notifications, inside the app, Oslo tells you when it gets close to its limit and when it goes over.
What if I don't spend anything one day?
Tap “I didn’t spend today” and that day counts for your streak, just like a day you log. It gets celebrated, because not spending is an achievement too, and you don't have to make up an entry to keep your streak.
