iOS 18.4 adds a new way to track your spending — but I think Apple can go even further

A close up image of the Apple Wallet app
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

For years, whenever someone's asked me what I'd like to see added to the iOS software on my iPhone, I've always had an answer at the ready — I want a subscriptions manager. And for a brief moment, when I took a look at the features added in the iOS 18.4 update released as a beta recently, I though Apple had finally listened to my request.

In the initial iOS 18.4 beta release, the Wallet app added a new menu that included a Subscriptions & Payments option. While not the standalone subscription manager I've been clamoring for, this addition to Wallet sounded like the same general idea — a one-stop place for seeing what you're subscribed to, when those subscriptions renew and a method for cancelling subscriptions with a tap.

Alas, upon closer examination, this isn't quite what Apple's adding to the Wallet app. But that doesn't necessarily mean the feature couldn't be expanded to match my vision. Because in this age of subscription-based services, we need a way to stay on top of our monthly payments.

Subscription management — what I want

Before we dive into what iOS 18.4 now offers and what I want to see Apple expand that to in the future, let's acknowledge that there's already a way to track the subscriptions you've signed up for via the App Store. The problem is, it's not necessarily the easiest place to find, especially if you're not certain where to look.

Finding your subscriptions in the App Store App on your iPhone

(Image credit: Future)

You've got two ways to get to your App Store subscriptions. From the App Store, tap on the picture of yourself in the upper right corner of the app. That will take you to your iTunes user account, where Subscriptions is listed among the menu items.

Apple Account screen in the Settings app showing subscriptions

(Image credit: Future)

Similarly, if you're in Settings, tap the Apple Account section with your picture in it at the very top of the screen. You'll once again get information about your Apple Account that will include a tappable Subscriptions section.

Whether you access it from the App Store or from Settings, the Subscription screen will look the same. It lists your active subscriptions along with their renewal data — tapping any subscription brings up the option to cancel it. Inactive subscriptions also appear, with the option of renewing those.

That's a pretty good basis for a subscription manager, but I think Apple's offering could do more. For starters, the Subscriptions page only shows the services I've signed up for — the ones my wife signed up are in another section entirely — in the shared subscriptions area of the Family section of Settings. A good manager would put all those charges in one place.

I'd also like to see in-app purchases accounted for, as they can be recurring payments, too. And while Apple's current approach subscription lists what I'm paying for each individual service each month, I'd like to see a grand total, which would help with budgeting options.

Subscription management — what iOS 18.4 adds

Apple Wallet preauthorized payments screen

(Image credit: Future)

To that mix, iOS 18.4 brings another place to check on subscriptions, with that new menu in the Wallet app. However, while you might think app subscriptions would be included in the things tracked by the app, that's not actually the case.

Instead, this Wallet addition focuses more on preauthorized payments. "Merchants you authorize to charge your Apple Pay payment method for subscriptions, auto reloads, billing charges and more will appear here," is how Apple puts it in the description on that screen. My guess would be that if you use Apple Pay for things like refilling your commuter card or a gym membership, those payments will show up in this part of the Wallet app.

Payment menu wording in different versions of the iOS 18.4 beta

The Subscriptions & Payments menu item in the first iOS 18.4 beta (left) is now called Preauthorized Payments in the latest version (right). (Image credit: Future)

Apple seems to have realized that using the word "subscriptions" in this Wallet addition might cause some confusion. As of the most recent iOS 18.4 the menu item has been changed to "preauthorized payments." That makes it more clear what this part of the Wallet app tracks, but it doesn't change the fact that you're still tracking recurring payments in multiple areas instead of one.

I think the ability to track and manage recurring payments in the Wallet app is a great addition fully in the spirit of giving you greater insight into your spending — an increasing focus of the Wallet app in recent years. But I also believe Apple should streamline things and bring all its different payment tracking features under one roof.

That probably won't happen any time soon. At the very least, we'll need to see if the addition of payment tracking in Wallet is a feature that users wind up embracing. But if they do, I think the clamor to bolster the spending tracking capabilities on your iPhone will grow. And that gets me one step to my dream iOS feature.

More from Tom's Guide

Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
How to cancel subscriptions on your iPhone
iPhone paying for something using Apple Pay at a card reader
I’ve finally used Apple Wallet for mobile payments — here’s what I learned
iOS 18 logo show on iPhone.
11 iOS 18.2 features to try on your iPhone first — that aren't Apple Intelligence
iPhone 16 family
Apple’s iPhone subscription plan may have been scrapped before it even launched — what we know
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
iOS 18.4 has dropped — 5 new iPhone features to try first
Priority Notifications appearing on an iPhone lock screen
iOS 18.4 has one killer upgrade that will make your life easier — here's how to set it up
Latest in iPhones
A close up image of the Apple Wallet app
iOS 18.4 adds a new way to track your spending — but I think Apple can go even further
iPhone 17 Air render
New leaked iPhone 17 dummy units show off super-thin iPhone 17 Air with this surprising design tweak
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Ultra just tipped to replace Pro Max in new leak — with these key upgrades
RCS messaging on an iPhone
Forget green bubbles — iPhones will soon get encrypted RCS messaging to Androids
iOS 18 logo show on iPhone.
My favorite iOS 18.4 feature is ambient music — here's how to activate it
iPhone 17 Pro render
iPhone 17 Pro Max leak claims it’s ready for production — and seems to confirm its new design
Latest in Opinion
A close up image of the Apple Wallet app
iOS 18.4 adds a new way to track your spending — but I think Apple can go even further
A person plugging a coaxial cable into the wall
I finally added internet to my kitchen and all it took was my old cable TV wiring — here’s how
Apple Intelligence on an iPhone screen
Apple analysts sound alarm on Siri delay — here’s why
samsung galaxy s25 edge mockup at galaxy unpacked
Galaxy S25 Edge is overhyped — I want Samsung to make this phone thinner instead
iOS 18 logo show on iPhone.
My favorite iOS 18.4 feature is ambient music — here's how to activate it
The Creator poster
Prime Video is about to lose one of my favorite sci-fi movies of the past 5 years — stream it before it’s too late