Frequently asked questions
About Porul
Section titled “About Porul”What is Porul?
Section titled “What is Porul?”A private money diary for iPhone and Android. You log spending, and Porul shows your Daily Life Cost, your Need / Want / Oops pattern, a surplus-based budget, loan calculations and goal projections. See Why Porul.
What does “Porul” mean?
Section titled “What does “Porul” mean?”It is a Tamil word (பொருள்) meaning both wealth and meaning.
Is Porul financial advice?
Section titled “Is Porul financial advice?”No. Porul is a calculator. It shows numbers based on what you enter, and it never recommends what you should do. For advice about your situation, talk to a qualified professional.
Do I need to know Tamil, or live in India?
Section titled “Do I need to know Tamil, or live in India?”No. Porul works for anyone, in any currency. The Thirukkural quote on the home screen is a small cultural touch, not a requirement.
Privacy and data
Section titled “Privacy and data”Do I have to connect my bank account?
Section titled “Do I have to connect my bank account?”No. You log entries yourself. Porul never asks for bank details.
Where is my data stored?
Section titled “Where is my data stored?”On your phone. Porul has no server that holds your finances. See Backup and privacy.
Does Porul work offline?
Section titled “Does Porul work offline?”Yes. Logging, budgeting, loans and goals all work without a connection. You need the internet only for optional backups and for subscription checks with the App Store or Google Play.
Does it show ads or track me?
Section titled “Does it show ads or track me?”No ads. For the full policy, see the Privacy Policy.
How do I back up my data?
Section titled “How do I back up my data?”In Settings, Backup & Sync, choose Google Drive, iCloud (iPhone) or a local folder. Backups then run automatically after you make changes.
Can I use Porul on two devices at once?
Section titled “Can I use Porul on two devices at once?”Porul doesn’t sync live between devices. You can move your data to a new phone by restoring a backup. See Backup and privacy.
Can I export my data?
Section titled “Can I export my data?”Yes. Export any filtered view of your transactions as CSV or PDF from the Transactions screen.
How do I delete my data?
Section titled “How do I delete my data?”Your data is on your device, so deleting the app removes it. Backups stored in your own Drive, iCloud or folder are yours to delete there.
Using Porul
Section titled “Using Porul”What are Need, Want and Oops?
Section titled “What are Need, Want and Oops?”Three tags you choose for each expense: Need (essential), Want (chosen) and Oops (unplanned or regretted). They are your own judgement, and Porul never changes them. See Kakeibo.
What is Kakeibo?
Section titled “What is Kakeibo?”A Japanese household-ledger method (家計簿) that focuses on reflecting on spending, not just recording it.
What is the “surplus envelope”?
Section titled “What is the “surplus envelope”?”Your income minus your fixed bills is your surplus. It goes down only when you actually spend, repay a loan or save towards a goal, and planned amounts are just guides. See Budget.
What is Daily Life Cost?
Section titled “What is Daily Life Cost?”What one day of your life costs you, from your fixed bills spread over the year plus your average logged spending. See Daily Life Cost.
Can I use my own currency and number format?
Section titled “Can I use my own currency and number format?”Yes. Choose your currency symbol and grouping in Settings, Financial Preferences.
Can I turn off categories?
Section titled “Can I turn off categories?”Yes. Turn on Go Categoryless in Settings and Porul skips the category step for income and savings.
The calculators
Section titled “The calculators”How does the hidden-charge check work?
Section titled “How does the hidden-charge check work?”Porul works out the fair EMI from your loan amount, rate and tenure. If the EMI your bank quoted is higher, the difference means charges are folded into the instalment, and Porul shows that hidden cost. See Loans.
Will Porul’s EMI match my bank’s exactly?
Section titled “Will Porul’s EMI match my bank’s exactly?”It uses the standard formula with the nominal annual rate. Banks may round differently or use their own conventions, so small differences are normal.
Are the goal projections guaranteed?
Section titled “Are the goal projections guaranteed?”No. They are estimates from the return and contributions you enter. Real returns vary. See Goals.
Are the web calculators the same as the app?
Section titled “Are the web calculators the same as the app?”The calculators on myporul.com are free tools for quick checks. The app adds saved loans and goals, your budget and your diary.
Pricing and subscriptions
Section titled “Pricing and subscriptions”Is Porul free?
Section titled “Is Porul free?”Daily tracking is free. Porul Premium adds Budget, Loans, Goals and Analytics. See Pricing.
Is there a free trial?
Section titled “Is there a free trial?”Yes, a 7-day free trial on your first subscription.
How do I cancel?
Section titled “How do I cancel?”Through your App Store or Google Play subscription settings. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid being charged.
I reinstalled the app. How do I get Premium back?
Section titled “I reinstalled the app. How do I get Premium back?”Open the Premium screen and tap Restore Purchases.
What happens to my data if I stop subscribing?
Section titled “What happens to my data if I stop subscribing?”It stays on your phone. Only the Plan and Analytics screens are locked until you subscribe again.
Still stuck?
Section titled “Still stuck?”Email us at connect@myporul.com.