Studio note: what's new in Tako 1.1
Tako 1.1 is the first major update to our subscription tracker, released on the App Store in October 2026. It dresses the whole app in the new Deep Ocean design, cuts setup to half a minute, lets you settle reminders from within the notification and brings redesigned widgets. It also adds iCloud backup, a choice of app icons and a five-chapter year in review.
In this note we set out what changed and the decision behind each change. Tako has been on the App Store since July 2026, in 11 languages from day one.
What did we notice after 1.0?
The core of the first release was right: gather subscriptions into one list, remind people before renewals, combine currencies into a single total. But there was friction in two places.
The first was setup. People opened the app to an empty list and typed in each subscription by hand. That empty list asked for effort before it had shown any value.
The second was the reminder. When a notification arrived, you had to open the app, find the subscription and mark it. The reminder came at the right moment; acting on it took three steps.
Most of 1.1 answers those two observations.
What’s in Tako 1.1?
Here is the release, in the order of the App Store release notes:
| Change | What it does | Why we did it |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Ocean design | Every screen moves to a dark, calm ocean palette | Money is a tense subject; we wanted the interface to speak more quietly |
| Faster setup | Pick your services, enter prices, start | To remove the empty-list moment |
| Popular services by country | Step-by-step adding, 470+ services with logos | So people choose instead of type |
| Actionable notifications | Mark as paid, snooze or open the cancel guide | To bring a reminder down to a single tap |
| New widgets and Control Center | Upcoming payments with service logos | To see what’s due without opening the app |
| iCloud backup | Data protected by Apple’s own backup | So nothing is lost when you change phones |
| Savings goals | Personal goals with colours and icons | To link a cancelled subscription to something you’re saving for |
| Choice of app icon | Including iOS dark and tinted options | So the app sits well on anyone’s Home Screen |
| Five-chapter year in review | A shareable card for the year | To see a year of subscriptions at a glance |
| Remove Ads | A refreshed one-time purchase | To keep the app going without a paid subscription |
We also fixed reminder wording, snoozed reminders and the budget screen, and added a short in-app guide on how to use Tako, under Settings.
How did we get setup down to half a minute?
The way to shorten setup was to let people choose rather than type. The app now puts forward the services that are common in the device’s region. You tap the ones you use, enter the price, and the list is ready.
For that we took the service library past 470 entries and matched each one with its own logo. The logo is the same in the list, the widget and the notification, so people recognise a subscription before reading its name.
Why did acting from the notification matter?
In a subscription app, the reminder is the product. A renewal reminder has three possible answers: I’ve paid, remind me later, or I want to cancel. In 1.1, all three can be done from within the notification.
The cancel guide is a separate decision. Tako can’t cancel a subscription on your behalf — that happens in the service’s own account. But finding the cancellation page is often the hardest step, and the guide points you to it.
Why is Remove Ads a one-time purchase?
You shouldn’t have to pay for another subscription to manage your subscriptions. That sentence shaped Tako’s business model from the start.
Every feature is free. A small ad banner keeps Tako going, and anyone who wishes can remove it for good with a single one-time purchase; we refreshed that purchase screen in 1.1. Ads carry a cost of their own, and we are open about their effect on the app’s privacy declaration in our note on why Tako has no account. The store rules behind purchases are covered in in-app purchases and subscriptions.
What did this release teach us?
Preparing 1.1 sharpened the order we recommend for an update:
- Find the friction first. The starting point is where people get stuck.
- Use the iOS parts people already know. Widgets, Control Center and iCloud backup are places users already understand.
- Keep the data on the device. None of the new features needed an account or a server. We explain the approach in what is a local-first app.
- Write the review notes separately. We named every new feature in the App Store review notes; why the App Store rejects apps shows why that matters.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to do anything to move to Tako 1.1?
No. The update arrives through the App Store and your subscription list stays on your device as it was. If you’d like the new widgets, you may need to add them to your Home Screen again.
Is Tako paid?
Downloading it and every feature are free. There is a small ad banner, which a one-time purchase removes for good. No subscriptions are sold inside the app.
Will my data move if I change phones?
The iCloud backup that arrived in 1.1 protects your data through Apple’s own backup infrastructure, and CSV export is available too. Both are meant to keep your data in your hands.
Which languages does Tako support?
Eleven: English, Turkish, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Japanese and Korean.
If you’re thinking about a calm iOS app that keeps its data on the device, see how we work on our mobile app development page or get in touch.
