How to Use Insights in PocketGuard
Insights is the analytics tab in PocketGuard. Instead of just one fixed chart, you can build your own report – you choose the time period, what you want to measure, and how to break it down.
Right now, Insights runs on Trends mode, with more report types coming in our updates.
How do I build a report in Insights?
- Go to the Insights tab
- Pick a time period using the date selector at the top
- Choose what to measure under Type
- Choose how to break it down under View by
- Your report builds automatically based on what you select
What does Trends mode show me?
Trends shows how a number moves over time. It’s built for questions like ” Is my spending going up or down?” or “How much am I bringing in each month?” You can track expenses, paychecks, or credit transactions (any incoming money that isn’t a paycheck), broken down by categories, budgets, bills, merchants, or hashtags.
How do I set the time period?
Tap the date selector at the top of the Insights tab. You’ll find these presets:
- Last 7 days
- This month (default)
- Previous month
- Previous 3 months
- Previous 6 months
- Year to date
- Previous year
- Custom range
If none of those fit, tap Custom range and pick a start and end date yourself. Whatever you select stays in place until you change it again.
What is View by?
View by controls how your data is grouped inside the report. In Trends mode, you can break data down into Categories, Budgets, Bills, Merchants, or Hashtags. You can also choose more than one at a time.
What chart types can I use?
Trends gives you two chart types: Bar, the default, which is great for comparing amounts, and Line, which is better for watching figures move over time. You can switch between them anytime without losing your setup.
What is Granularity?
Granularity controls how your chart’s timeline is grouped — Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, or All Time. The options available depend on the date range you’ve picked. A 7-day range, for example, only offers Daily and All Time.
Can I compare two time periods?
Yes. In Trends mode, turn on period comparison to put your selected range next to another period of the same length — like this month versus last month. Both periods show up on the same chart with their own labels.
Can I filter what shows up in my report?
Yes. You can filter by account (pick one or several), and choose whether to include or exclude pending and hidden transactions.
Can I drill into a chart for more detail?
Yes. Tap a chart element or a legend item and you’ll move into a more specific breakdown, all the way down to the individual transactions behind the numbers.
Will my report settings be saved?
Yes. The last report you built comes back the next time you open Insights, even if you closed the app completely.
What happens if I pick a dimension I haven’t set up yet?
You’ll see a short prompt to set it up. Choosing Budgets when you don’t have any, for example, shows a quick message with a button to create your first one. The rest of your report still builds normally around it.
Insights isn’t showing any data. What should I do?
Insights is built from your transaction history. If you haven’t connected an account yet, you’ll see a prompt to connect one or import transactions manually. If an account is already connected and data still isn’t showing up, try refreshing your accounts and reopening the tab.
We’re still developing Insights, Comparisons mode, a full table view, and more breakdown options are coming in future updates. If you have questions or run into anything odd, reach out at support@pocketguard.com.
