At a glance
| TrialBell | Bobby | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iPhone (iOS 17+) | iPhone (runs on Apple-silicon Macs) |
| Bank connection | None | None |
| Entry | Manual, 130 templates | Manual, large icon library |
| Renewal reminders | Yes | Yes |
| Free-trial cancel-by + final-day alert | Yes | Not a focus |
| Built-in cancellation links | 42 built in | No |
| Spending insights | Yes | Basic totals |
| iCloud backup | Yes (Pro) | Optional iCloud |
| Home Screen widgets / Face ID / CSV | Yes (Pro) | Limited |
| Price | Free to 3; Pro $19.99 once | Free with limit; unlocks from ~$0.99 once |
Bobby details from its App Store listing and independent reviews (CNBC Select), July 2026. "Basic totals" reflects Bobby's simpler summary vs TrialBell's insights view.
What they share
Both apps take the same honest stance: no bank login, no account, your data on your device. Both are manual — you add subscriptions yourself — and both charge once rather than running a subscription of their own, which is the whole point for a lot of people in this category. If you've been burned by trackers that want full bank access or their own monthly fee, either app respects that.
Bobby has been around for years and is genuinely nice to use: a clean list, a big library of service icons, light and dark themes, and a few customization touches. If that's all you need, it's hard to fault.
Where they differ
The gap shows up the moment a free trial is involved.
- Cancel-by focus. TrialBell is designed around the last day you can cancel before a charge, and adds a final-day safety alert. Bobby's reminders are oriented to renewal dates in general; it isn't built specifically for the free-trial "cancel before it converts" moment.
- Cancellation links. When a TrialBell reminder fires, you're one tap from the right cancel page — 42 services are wired in. Bobby doesn't bundle cancellation links, so you go find the page yourself.
- Insights & extras. TrialBell includes a spending-insights view, and Pro adds Home Screen widgets, Face ID lock and CSV export. Bobby keeps things deliberately simple.
None of this makes Bobby "bad" — it makes it minimal. The question is whether you want a tidy list (Bobby) or a tool built to stop trial charges (TrialBell).
Pricing
This is Bobby's clearest advantage. Bobby is free with a limit, and its unlocks are inexpensive one-time in-app purchases — from about $0.99, roughly $1.99–$2.99 for the all-in-one pack. TrialBell is free for up to 3 subscriptions, and Pro is a one-time $19.99 Lifetime unlock.
So if price is the deciding factor and you just want a list, Bobby wins outright. TrialBell asks for more, once, in exchange for the free-trial machinery, cancellation links and Pro extras. Both avoid the thing everyone hates: a recurring fee to track your recurring fees.
Who each app is best for
You want the cheapest, most minimal list
You mainly track ongoing subscriptions, you love a clean minimalist design, and you want to spend as little as possible, once.
Your problem is free trials and surprise charges
You sign up for trials, you want to be warned before they convert, you want the cancel page one tap away, and you'd like insights, widgets and iCloud backup.
Verdict
- Best on price and minimalism
- Bobby — free with a limit, unlocks from about $0.99, beautifully simple.
- Best for free trials and not getting charged
- TrialBell — cancel-by dates, final-day alert, 42 cancellation links, insights.
- Both agree on
- No bank connection, no account, pay once — the right defaults for a subscription tracker.
Built for the trials you forget
TrialBell reminds you before a trial converts and opens the cancel page in one tap — private, on your iPhone. Free for 3 subscriptions; Pro is a one-time $19.99.
Frequently asked
Is TrialBell better than Bobby?
For catching free trials before they charge — with cancel-by alerts and built-in cancellation links — yes. For the cheapest, most minimal subscription list, Bobby is excellent. Pick based on whether trials are your pain point.
Does Bobby have free-trial reminders?
Bobby reminds you about renewals, but it isn't built specifically around the free-trial cancel-by moment, and it doesn't bundle cancellation links. TrialBell is designed for exactly that case.
Do either connect to my bank?
No — both are manual, no bank connection, data on your iPhone. That's a shared strength.
Sources
- Bobby — Track subscriptions, Apple App Store listing (in-app purchases, platform), accessed July 2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/bobby-track-subscriptions/id1059152023
- “The best subscription trackers of 2026,” CNBC Select: cnbc.com/select/best-subscription-trackers
- TrialBell app (features, pricing, template and cancellation-link counts), July 2026.
Not affiliated with Bobby or its developer. Referenced for comparison only. Facts verified 24 July 2026; confirm current pricing and features on the App Store.