Kharchapatra Android App Now Live on Google Play

The web dashboard has carried Kharchapatra since the beta opened. As of this week, there's a second front door: the Android app is live on Google Play, and it's the same account, same data, same categories — just in your pocket instead of a browser tab.

Why a phone app, specifically

A browser tab is fine for a Sunday-night monthly review. It's a bad fit for the moment that actually generates most of your transaction data: standing at a counter, phone already in hand, trying to remember what you paid before it slips your mind by the time you're home. The app exists to close that gap — capture it in ten seconds where it happens, and let the analytics and the monthly review live wherever's convenient later.

Everything that works on the web dashboard works here too: statement imports (CSV, PDF, Excel from any Nepali bank or wallet), auto-categorisation in English and Nepali, multi-account net worth, budgets that nudge at 80%, savings goals, EMI and recurring tracking, and a Bikram Sambat calendar throughout.

What's specific to the phone

A few things only make sense as a phone app, and they've been the focus of the builds leading up to this release:

Offline reading. Budgets, goals, recurring rules, statements, and your transaction list are cached on-device, so a dead spot on your commute doesn't mean a blank screen.
Biometric app lock, on by default. Face or fingerprint unlock guards the app on any device that supports it, without you needing to find the setting first.
Encrypted local database. Your transaction data is encrypted at rest on the device, not just in transit to the server.
Screenshot and screen-recording protection. The app blocks both while open, the same way a banking app would.
A home-screen widget. Check your balance and recent spend without opening the app at all.
CSV export, so your data is never locked into the app alone.

None of this is exotic. It's the baseline a finance app on your phone should meet, and it's what took the builds since the last public update to get right.

What's next

The web dashboard is still ahead on a few fronts (richer Bikram Sambat UI, deeper analytics), and those are converging across both surfaces rather than staying web-only. If you hit something on Android that feels rough, tell us about it; a beta with real usage is how the gaps get found.

If you're on iPhone: there's no committed date for iOS yet, but the web dashboard already covers the full feature set, so you're not waiting on anything to get started.

Either way, the pitch hasn't changed since the first post on this blog: real money in रुपैयाँ, real dates in BS, real categories in नेपाली, now with a home-screen icon.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I download the Kharchapatra Android app?

From Google Play: search for Kharchapatra or open the listing directly at play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kharchapatra.app. It installs like any other Play Store app, and the same account works on both the app and the web dashboard at web.kharchapatra.com.

Is the Android app free?

Yes. It's free during the public beta, the same terms as the web dashboard. Account creation, statement imports, budgets, goals, EMI and recurring tracking, and the tax helper all work without a card. Pricing for advanced features will be announced separately, and personal use of the core tracker is intended to remain free.

Does the Android app sync with the web dashboard?

Yes, in real time and conflict-aware. Add a transaction on your phone at the till, and it shows up on the web dashboard by the time you open your laptop. Edits made offline on either side queue up and merge cleanly once a connection is back, rather than overwriting each other.

What security features protect my data on the phone?

The local database is encrypted at rest, biometric app lock is on by default on devices that support it, and screenshots and screen recording are blocked while the app is open. None of this replaces good habits — lock your phone, keep your OS updated — but it means a lost or borrowed phone doesn't hand over your transaction history along with it.

Does the app work without an internet connection?

For reading, yes. Budgets, goals, recurring rules, statements, and your transaction list are all cached locally, so you can check where you stand on a bus with no signal. New transactions you add offline are queued and sync automatically once you're back online, falling back gracefully rather than showing a blank screen or an error.

Is there an iOS version?

Not yet. Kharchapatra is Android-only for now; iOS isn't ruled out, but there's no committed date. If you're on iPhone, the web dashboard at web.kharchapatra.com covers the full feature set in the meantime.