SubTracker: Manage Your Subscriptions Better

SubTracker is a user-friendly mobile application designed to help individuals manage, track, and organize their monthly subscription payments. It addresses the common issue of forgotten subscriptions and unexpected charges by providing a centralized platform for users to monitor their expenses and make informed financial decisions.

In today’s digital age, people subscribe to various services ranging from streaming platforms and software tools to fitness programs and news subscriptions. While these subscriptions offer convenience and access to numerous services, they can also become difficult to manage. Many users struggle with keeping track of their recurring payments, leading to forgotten subscriptions, missed payment dates, and unexpected charges.

This problem is compounded by the increasing number of subscriptions that individuals manage. According to research carried out by: https://www.crresearch.com/blog/subscription-service-statistics-and-costs/ Consumers not only lose track of how much they spend on monthly subscriptions, but they also lose track of how many services they subscribe to and use.

As the number of subscriptions grows, managing them becomes increasingly complex. Several existing solutions, such as Google Pay, Truebill, and Subly, attempt to address this issue. As part of my research, I analyzed these applications and websites, identifying their strengths and weaknesses.

As the above analysis shows, users are not fully satisfied with their current options and are looking for a solution that can efficiently simplify subscription management. They seek a clear overview of their subscriptions, timely reminders, and the ability to make informed decisions about their spending.

Based on our research which was taken from White paper research and online forums I designed Subtracker for a diverse range of users made up of GenZ, Millennials & GenX between the ages of (20- 45) years made up of Young professionals, Families, Freelancers, and Small Business owners a who manage multiple subscriptions and seek a streamlined way to handle them.

User interviews with 10 participants based on our personas helped us gain insights into the current process of our users. These insights include:

The majority (6) of the individuals I interviewed used either a paper system or relied on Alert Notifications from their banks when said subscription had been renewed.

The remaining 4 individuals used some sort of online system. 3 used notion templates to track their subscription, while one used Google’s Payments & Subscription method.

I noticed that the people who used the manual method were subscribed to a small number of services. A range of 5–9 subscriptions.

The individuals who used some sort of online system were subscribed to a lot more services. A range of 10–20 subscriptions. They also used it to track other things like Utility payments, Groceries budget, etc.

A further analysis of the current solutions: (Paper Journals, Notion templates or spreadsheets, Google Pay) used by customers provided insights highlighting issues associated with the current process. Some of these problems include:

The manual process of regularly reviewing and updating the subs-list when using Paper Journals, Notion templates, or spreadsheets can be time-consuming and stressful. This can lead to relevant information being wrongly written.

Forgetting to set reminders for each subs.

Forgetting to cancel subscriptions that are no longer in use or important. (eg. Free trials).

With apps such as Google Pay, subscriptions are limited to apps that can be found on the Google Play Store.

In situations where people used paper journals, there was a major possibility of misplacing said journal.

Based on my understanding of the user pains and needs and competitors’s strengths and weaknesses I ideated several features to improve the current process

Based on issues encountered based on the current user flow of users, areas we aimed to improve include:

This feature ensures that all subscriptions linked to payment cards are automatically updated in the app. Whenever you add or change a subscription, the app will instantly reflect these updates, keeping your subscription information accurate and up-to-date without any manual effort

Creating budgets helps users manage their finances effectively. This feature allows users to set spending limits and track their subscription expenses, ensuring they stay within their budget and have better control over their money.

Users can manage their numerous subscriptions by creating categories. This feature allows them to group their subscriptions, making it easier to track and organize expenses.

Users get timely alerts before their subscription renewal dates, helping them avoid unexpected charges and manage their finances better.

Users can create different profiles or folders for various subscriptions. For example, they can have a profile for personal subscriptions and a folder for business subscriptions, keeping them separate and better organized.

The study aimed to evaluate how effectively SubTracker assists users in managing their subscriptions, focusing on its usability, efficiency, and user satisfaction. We engaged 10 participants from key user groups, including young professionals, families, budget-conscious individuals, and freelancers/small business owners. Participants were asked to complete tasks such as adding new subscriptions, categorizing them, setting budgets, canceling subscriptions, and viewing renewal reminders. The goal was to identify any user pain points and gather valuable feedback to improve the overall experience.

60% of users did not find the folder icon Located in the top left corner of the home page intuitive

40% of users (10 users) did not properly understand the copy written in the Subscription reminder page of the app

The study revealed that SubTracker is an effective and user-friendly tool for managing subscriptions. Most participants completed the tasks with minimal issues. However, as shown above, improvements were made according to insights obtained from the study. Overall, users appreciated the app’s ability to simplify subscription management, provide timely reminders, and offer a clear overview of expenses. These insights will guide the refinement of SubTracker to better meet user needs

When SubTracker cannot automatically detect a new subscription, users can manually update their subscription details within the app. This involves entering the service name, cost, billing cycle, payment method, and renewal date. The manual update process is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that users can still effectively manage all their subscriptions, including niche or newly launched services.

We believe SubTracker will have a positive impact on our users by:

Time Savings: By automating the tracking and renewal of subscriptions, SubTracker saves users time and effort, eliminating the need for manual management.

Prioritized Spending: SubTracker allows users to prioritize essential subscriptions, ensuring that critical services are renewed first and helping users stay within their budget.

Peace of Mind: With reminders and notifications, SubTracker ensures that users never miss a renewal date, providing peace of mind and reducing the stress associated with managing multiple subscriptions

During this project, I developed my design process and learned that every project presents its own unique challenges. I came to understand that product design is a collaborative process that involves a cycle of feedback and iteration to refine and improve the design.

Through this experience, I gained the confidence to approach any problem with logical reasoning and an appreciation for the various considerations that go into creating a successful and usable design.