No app store, no 200 MB download: why Subgrove is a PWA

Subgrove doesn't live in an app store. You open it in your browser, tap "Add to Home Screen", and it behaves like a native app — icon, full-screen launch, offline support, push notifications. That's a Progressive Web App (PWA), and it's a deliberate choice.

What you get in practice

Instant install, tiny footprint. No 200 MB download, no waiting for app-store review cycles to get you bug fixes. The app updates itself the next time you open it.

It works offline. Your subscription list lives on your device as well as on our servers. On a plane, in a parking garage, on the subway — open Subgrove and your dashboard is there. Add or edit subscriptions offline and they sync automatically when you're back online.

Push notifications on your phone. Renewal reminders arrive as normal notifications. On Android and desktop this works out of the box. On iPhone, Apple requires the app to be installed to your home screen first (iOS 16.4 or later) — a one-time, ten-second step.

One codebase, every device. Phone, tablet, laptop — same app, same data, always in sync.

How to install Subgrove

iPhone / iPad (Safari):

1. Open Subgrove in Safari
2. Tap the Share button
3. Tap Add to Home Screen
4. Open it from your home screen and enable notifications in the dashboard

Android (Chrome):

1. Open Subgrove in Chrome
2. Tap the Install banner (or menu → Add to Home screen)
3. Enable notifications when prompted

Desktop (Chrome / Edge):

1. Click the install icon at the right end of the address bar
2. Subgrove opens in its own window, and reminders arrive as system notifications

The honest trade-off

Native apps still win for heavy graphics and deep OS integration. A subscription tracker needs neither. It needs to be fast, always available, and able to tap you on the shoulder before money leaves your account — all things the web platform now does well.

That's the whole pitch: start free, install in ten seconds, and let your phone remember your renewals so you don't have to.