Skip to content

Mobile App (iOS)

Install and run TrackMyRupee on your iPhone as a native app using Capacitor, which wraps the live web app.

What the mobile app is

The iOS app is a Capacitor shell that loads https://trackmyrupee.com. It uses your real account and real data in real time. It is not a separate offline app and requires an internet connection. Building it requires a Mac with Xcode.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following installed on your Mac:

  • macOS with the latest stable Xcode (download from the Mac App Store)
  • Node.js (version 18 or later) and npm from nodejs.org
  • CocoaPods: run sudo gem install cocoapods in your terminal
  • The repository cloned locally: git clone <repository-url> && cd django-finance-tracker

2. Syncing Capacitor

Navigate to the mobile/ directory and sync the Capacitor bridge. This copies the necessary plugins and configuration into the iOS project.

cd mobile
npm install
npm run ios:sync

3. Opening in Xcode

Run the following command to open the project in Xcode automatically:

npm run ios:open

Alternatively, open mobile/ios/App/App.xcworkspace manually in Xcode. Always open the .xcworkspace file, not the .xcodeproj file.

4. Selecting Your Signing Team

  1. In Xcode, click the App target in the left panel.
  2. Go to Signing and Capabilities.
  3. Under Team, select your Apple ID. A free personal team is sufficient for personal use.
  4. If Xcode shows a bundle ID conflict, change the Bundle Identifier to something unique such as com.yourname.trackmyrupee.

5. Building and Running

  • Build only: Press Cmd + B
  • Run on a connected iPhone: Select your device in the top bar and press Cmd + R
  • Archive for distribution: Go to Product → Archive, then use Distribute App in the Organizer

First launch on iPhone: Untrusted Developer

When you install via a free Personal Team, iOS shows an "Untrusted Developer" error on first open. To fix it, go to Settings → General → VPN and Device Management → [your Apple ID] → Trust. Make sure your iPhone has an active internet connection during this step because it contacts Apple's servers to verify the certificate.

6. Free vs. Paid Development

Feature Free (Personal Team) Paid ($99/year Apple Developer Program)
Cost Free $99 USD per year
Run on your own iPhone Yes Yes
App expires on device Every 7 days No
App Store distribution No Yes
TestFlight beta No Yes
Push notifications No Yes
Maximum active apps on device 3 Unlimited

For personal use on your own phone, the free option is sufficient.

7. Troubleshooting

CocoaPods errors

cd mobile/ios/App
pod install

"Communication with Apple failed" in Signing and Capabilities

  1. Make sure your physical iPhone (not a simulator) is selected as the run destination in Xcode's top bar.
  2. Change the Bundle Identifier to a unique value (see step 4 above).
  3. Disable any VPN because VPNs can block Apple's signing servers.
  4. Go to Xcode → Settings → Accounts and confirm your Apple ID is listed with a valid Development certificate.

App will not verify on iPhone

  1. Ensure the iPhone has Wi-Fi or cellular data (not just a local network without internet access).
  2. Temporarily disable VPN, AdGuard, or custom DNS settings.
  3. Go to Settings → General → Date and Time → Set Automatically and make sure it is enabled.
  4. Delete the app from your iPhone, restart the phone, and re-run from Xcode.

Real-world use case

Ananya builds the app once on her Mac, signs it with her free Apple ID, and installs it on her iPhone. She re-runs it from Xcode every 7 days, which takes about 30 seconds, to renew the certificate. The app opens as a full-screen experience with the bottom navigation bar, identical to the browser version but without the browser chrome.