Getting Started with Sentinel: Your Complete Guide to Subscription Tracking

Welcome to Sentinel! If you're tired of losing track of your subscriptions and want to take control of your recurring payments, you're in the right place.

Why Track Your Subscriptions?

The average person has 12-15 active subscriptions and spends over $273 per month on recurring services. Many people don't even realize how much they're spending until they add it all up.

Common issues we see:

• Forgetting about free trials that auto-renew
• Paying for services you no longer use
• Getting surprised by annual renewals
• Losing track of price increases
• Managing multiple payment methods

That's where Sentinel comes in.

What is Sentinel?

Sentinel is an AI-powered subscription tracker for iOS and macOS that helps you:

✅ Track all subscriptions in one place
✅ Get renewal reminders before you're charged
✅ Analyze spending patterns with AI insights
✅ Find opportunities to save money
✅ Manage payment methods across services

Setting Up Sentinel

Step 1: Download the App

Download Sentinel from the App Store:

• iOS: iPhone and iPad (iOS 16+)
• macOS: Mac computers (macOS 13+)

Step 2: Create Your Account

Open the app and sign up with:

• Apple ID (recommended)
• Email address
• Google account

Your data is encrypted and synced securely across all your devices.

Step 3: Add Your First Subscription

There are three ways to add subscriptions:

Manual Entry:

1. Tap the "+" button
2. Enter subscription details (name, cost, billing cycle)
3. Set a renewal reminder
4. Save

Email Scanning (AI Feature):

1. Connect your email
2. Sentinel scans for subscription receipts
3. Review detected subscriptions
4. Confirm to add them

Quick Add from Library:

1. Browse popular subscriptions
2. Tap to add
3. Customize details
4. Done!

Step 4: Organize Your Subscriptions

Group subscriptions by category:

• Entertainment (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
• Productivity (Microsoft 365, Adobe CC)
• Fitness & Health
• News & Education
• Cloud Storage
• And more...

Key Features Explained

📊 Dashboard Overview

Your dashboard shows:

• Total monthly cost across all subscriptions
• Upcoming renewals for the next 30 days
• Spending trends over time
• Category breakdown of expenses

🔔 Smart Reminders

Never miss a renewal:

• Get notified 3 days before renewal
• Option for 7, 14, or 30-day advance notice
• Reminders for annual subscriptions
• Trial expiration alerts

🤖 AI Insights

Sentinel's AI analyzes your subscriptions to:

• Identify unused or underused services
• Suggest better pricing plans
• Find duplicate subscriptions
• Recommend alternatives to save money
• Track price increases

📈 Spending Analytics

Understand your subscription spending:

• Monthly, quarterly, and yearly views
• Category-wise breakdown
• Trend analysis
• Export reports for budgeting

💳 Payment Method Tracking

Keep track of which card or payment method is used for each subscription to:

• Avoid payment failures
• Update expired cards
• Monitor for fraudulent charges
• Manage virtual cards

Pro Tips for Managing Subscriptions

1. Audit Regularly

Set a monthly reminder to review your subscriptions:

• Are you still using each service?
• Can you downgrade to a cheaper plan?
• Are there better alternatives?

2. Use Annual Plans Wisely

Annual plans save 15-20% but only if you'll use the service all year. Use Sentinel to track which annual subscriptions are worth it.

3. Set Spending Limits

Use Sentinel's budget feature to set monthly limits:

• Get alerts when approaching your limit
• Identify which categories need trimming
• Make informed decisions about new subscriptions

4. Take Advantage of Free Trials

With Sentinel's trial tracking:

• Sign up for trials without worry
• Get reminded before they convert to paid
• Evaluate services risk-free

5. Share Family Plans

Many services offer family plans that are cheaper per person:

• Spotify Family: 6 users for $16.99
• Apple One Family: Save $8/month
• YouTube Premium Family: $22.99 for 6

Track shared plans in Sentinel and split costs fairly.

Common Questions

Is my data secure?

Yes! Sentinel uses:

• End-to-end encryption
• Secure iCloud sync
• No data selling
• Optional biometric lock

Can I use Sentinel offline?

Absolutely! Your subscription data is stored locally and syncs when you're online.

Does Sentinel access my bank account?

No. You manually enter subscription information or allow email scanning. We never access your financial accounts.

Can I export my data?

Yes! Export your subscription list and spending reports as:

• CSV for spreadsheets
• PDF for records
• JSON for backup

Next Steps

Now that you've set up Sentinel, here's what to do next:

1. Add all your subscriptions (aim for complete tracking)
2. Set up reminders for upcoming renewals
3. Review AI insights for saving opportunities
4. Check your dashboard weekly to stay aware
5. Share with family if using shared plans

Get More Value from Sentinel

Explore Premium Features

Upgrade to Sentinel Pro for:

• Unlimited subscriptions (free: up to 10)
• Advanced AI insights
• Custom categories
• Priority support
• Family sharing (up to 6 members)

Join the Community

Connect with other Sentinel users:

• Share tips and tricks
• Discover new ways to save
• Get support from the community
• Suggest features

Stay Updated

Follow us for tips and updates:

• Blog: New posts every week
• Twitter: @sentinelapp
• Newsletter: Monthly savings tips

Conclusion

Taking control of your subscriptions doesn't have to be complicated. With Sentinel, you can:

✅ See all subscriptions in one place
✅ Never miss a renewal
✅ Save money with AI insights
✅ Make informed decisions

Ready to start saving? Download Sentinel today and take the first step toward smarter subscription management.

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Have questions? Check out our FAQ or contact us at support@www.sentinel.digital

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