Duely vs Bobby: Complete Subscription Tracker Comparison 2026

Introduction

Both Duely and Bobby are privacy-first subscription tracker apps that share a common philosophy: help you manage your recurring expenses without asking you to link your bank account or hand over sensitive financial data. But they take very different approaches to solving the subscription management problem.

If you're trying to decide between them, this guide breaks down exactly how they compare—and which one is right for your needs. We'll look at features, pricing, platform availability, and real-world use cases to help you make the choice with confidence.

Quick Overview: What Are These Apps?

Bobby

Bobby is an iOS-exclusive subscription tracker that launched in 2017. It has built a loyal user base with a minimalist, beautifully designed interface that makes tracking subscriptions feel effortless. Bobby focuses on simplicity: add your subscriptions, get reminders before charges hit, and see your total spending. It's available as a one-time purchase on the App Store (typically $1.99-$2.99 depending on regional pricing) or sometimes as a free version with in-app purchases.

Duely

Duely is a newer subscription tracker available on both iOS and Android. It started with subscription tracking but expanded to include 50+ expense categories—turning it into a comprehensive expense tracker, not just a subscription manager. Duely includes AI email parsing, price hike alerts, multi-category tracking, and offers both a free plan and a paid subscription model ($4.99/month or $29.99/year or $99.99 lifetime).

Side-by-Side Feature Comparison

Where Bobby Wins

If you're an iOS-exclusive user, Bobby has several real advantages:

• Cheaper upfront cost: A one-time purchase of $1.99-$2.99 is significantly cheaper than Duely's subscription pricing. If you only want to track subscriptions and don't care about new features, Bobby's model means you'll never pay more.
• Beautiful, minimal design: Bobby's interface is genuinely gorgeous. The app feels lightweight and focused. If design is a priority, Bobby wins here—it's won several design awards and has a devoted following who appreciate its aesthetic.
• Established track record: Bobby has been around since 2017 and has a 4.7+ star rating with tens of thousands of reviews. There's comfort in using a mature, well-reviewed product.
• No subscription fatigue: Pay once, own it forever. You never have to think about renewing a subscription or worrying about price increases.

Where Duely Wins

Duely offers a different value proposition that appeals to different users:

• Android support: This is huge if you're not on iOS. Bobby simply isn't an option for Android users, period. Duely gives Android users a privacy-first subscription tracking option.
• AI email parsing: Forward your subscription confirmation emails to Duely, and the AI automatically extracts the subscription details and adds them to your tracker. This saves hours of manual entry. Bobby doesn't have this feature.
• 50+ life categories: Duely goes beyond subscriptions. Track gym memberships, hobby expenses, insurance, utilities, memberships, hourly services, and more. It's a comprehensive expense tracker, not just a subscription app.
• Price hike alerts: Duely learns your subscription prices and alerts you when a service increases its charges. Bobby doesn't monitor for price increases—you might wake up one day to find a service charged you 50% more without warning.
• Email reminders + digests: Get notifications via push, email, or a weekly/monthly digest summarizing your spending. Bobby only supports push notifications.
• Free trial flexibility: The free plan includes 3 items, which is enough to test the app and track your most important subscriptions before committing.

Pricing: A Closer Look

Bobby: One-time purchase of $1.99-$2.99 (regional variation). This is genuinely affordable. If you just want a simple subscription reminder app and never want to think about it again, Bobby is the cheapest option.

Duely: Multiple pricing tiers:

• Free: Up to 3 items
• $4.99/month or $29.99/year: Unlimited items, all features
• $99.99 lifetime: Pay once, unlock all features forever (like Bobby's model but with all Duely features)

If you plan to track more than 3 expenses and want AI email parsing and price hike alerts, the annual Duely plan ($29.99/year) is about $2.50/month when averaged out. It's more expensive than Bobby's one-time fee, but you get substantially more features.

Real-World Use Cases: Who Should Choose Which?

Choose Bobby If:

• You use iOS exclusively
• You only track 5 or fewer subscriptions
• You want to pay once and never think about it again
• You prefer a minimal, beautiful interface over feature richness
• You don't need price hike alerts or email integration

Choose Duely If:

• You use Android (or need cross-platform support)
• You track more than subscriptions (gym memberships, utilities, hobbies, etc.)
• You want AI to automatically add subscriptions from emails
• You value price hike alerts to catch unexpected increases
• You want email reminders and monthly digest summaries
• You track expenses in multiple currencies
• You're willing to pay a subscription for more features

The Verdict

Final Thoughts

Both apps solve the core problem: tracking subscriptions without requiring bank access. Bobby excels at doing one thing beautifully—iOS subscription tracking at an incredible price. Duely aims broader, offering cross-platform support, AI automation, and full expense tracking beyond just subscriptions.

If you're torn, take advantage of Duely's free plan to track your 3 most important expenses and see if the extra features justify the cost. Or if you're iOS-only and want simplicity, Bobby's unbeatable price and beautiful design make it hard to pass up.