Setting Up WhatsApp
Open Settings → WhatsApp, verify your number with the one-time code, and you're done. From that point on, message the same BudgeFlow number on WhatsApp and the parser is identical to SMS — with longer replies and richer formatting where useful.
Everything the SMS Parser Does
All standard text commands work on WhatsApp: logging ("12.50 chipotle lunch"), income ("+2000 salary"), snapshots (BAL, SUMMARY, BUDGET, TODAY, WEEK, MONTH), corrections ("no, groceries"), envelope/account transfers, lists, CRUD, goals, bills, debts, IOUs, splits, REPORT, and WRAPPED. The exhaustive list with examples lives in the SMS commands explainer.
IOUs and Bill Splits on WhatsApp
IOU commands behave the same on WhatsApp as on SMS. Use names exactly the way you'd say them:
- i owe alex 25 for movies — open IOU you owe
- alex owes me 40 for dinner — mirror
- paid alex 25 — settle FIFO
- alex paid me 25 — settle the other direction
- split 200 with alex, priya for dinner — divide evenly; `between`, `among`, and `with` are interchangeable
- balances — net position with everyone
- how much do i owe alex? — per-contact balance
What's on the Roadmap
These WhatsApp-specific shortcuts are not live yet — they're being built and aren't reliable to use today:
- Photo-receipt OCR (snap a receipt and have it auto-logged)
- Scheduled reminders (remind 8pm bills)
- FX conversion (convert 50 eur to usd)
- Deductible mileage (mileage 14 client visit)
- Net-worth one-liner (net worth)
Until they ship, log the underlying expenses with the standard SMS commands and use the dashboard for net worth, FX, mileage, and reminder setup.
Related resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.Do I pay per WhatsApp message?
No. WhatsApp messages don't count against your SMS segment quota. Pro and Business plans include WhatsApp at no extra per-message cost.
Q2.Can I use WhatsApp instead of SMS entirely?
Yes. Once verified, you can disable SMS in Settings if you prefer to keep everything in WhatsApp.
Q3.Can I send a photo of a receipt on WhatsApp today?
Not yet. Photo-receipt OCR over WhatsApp is on the roadmap but isn't live. In the meantime, forward receipts to receipts@in.budgeflow.com — email OCR works today.
Q4.Does WhatsApp support the STOP keyword?
Yes. STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, and QUIT all unsubscribe; START, UNSTOP, and YES opt back in. You can also disable WhatsApp from Settings.
Start today
Budget by text — free for 14 days
No app to download. Set up your envelopes in 10 minutes. Log your first expense with a text.