Mobile app for pensioners

Keep your pension and daily spending clear on one screen

A money management app built around large text and plain wording

Kemivi shows what comes in, what goes out and which bills are due, so you can plan each month without spreadsheets or small print.

  • Large, readable text and simple menus
  • Reminders for rent, energy and council tax
  • Your data stays private on your device
Ask about the app
Older man in Manchester checking his monthly budget on a tablet at a kitchen table
About Kemivi

A money app built around the way pensioners actually manage their finances

Kemivi started in Manchester in 2023. The idea came from a simple observation: most budgeting apps are designed for people who are paid monthly, check their phone fifty times a day and are comfortable with tiny text and hidden menus. Many retired people live differently. Income arrives from several places, such as a State Pension, a workplace pension or a small annuity, and it rarely lands on the same date. Bills follow their own pattern, and a lot of people would rather read a clear page than tap through five screens.

So we began with a small group and a basic question: what would a finance app look like if it were made for a person aged 65 or over? The answer shaped everything. Large readable type, plain wording instead of banking jargon, and a layout where each screen does one thing. You can record your pension payments, list your regular outgoings, set aside money for the winter heating bill and see what is left for the rest of the month.

Our mission is straightforward. We want people in retirement to feel in control of their own money, without needing a relative to explain the screen or a spreadsheet to keep track of it. Our vision is a calm, dependable tool that you open for a few minutes, understand at once and close again.

Three values guide our work. First, clarity: if a word or a figure can be explained in ordinary language, we explain it that way. Second, privacy: we do not sell personal data, and the app only asks for information it needs to do its job. Third, patience: we know that some users are new to smartphones, so we answer questions properly and do not rush anyone.

Since 2023 we have worked with 312 clients and completed 446 jobs, which includes app setup sessions, budget reviews and follow-up support. Of those clients, 78 returned for a second job, usually after a change such as a new pension payment or a house move. We usually reply to a request within 4 hours during opening times, and we serve 7 areas across Greater Manchester.

Kemivi does not give regulated financial advice or recommend investments. We build tools for tracking and planning, and we are open about where that ends.

Kemivi team members discussing the app at a desk Kemivi staff helping a client set up the budgeting app
2023
Year we started in Manchester
8
People on the Kemivi team
312
Clients helped so far
4 hrs
Typical reply time to a request

Meet some of the team

Here are two of the eight people you may speak to when you contact us.

Helen

Client Support Lead

Helen answers incoming requests and walks new users through their first week with the app, at whatever pace suits them.

Arjun

Product Designer

Arjun designs the screens and tests each change with retired users, checking that text size, wording and buttons are easy to follow.

Why Kemivi

What makes this app easier to live with in retirement

Many finance apps are built for people who check their phone twenty times a day. Ours is built for people who want a clear answer in a few taps. Here is how we designed it, and why.

Large, readable text

Every screen uses a minimum text size that is comfortable without glasses, and you can raise it further in two taps. Buttons are wide and well spaced, so a slightly unsteady finger does not press the wrong thing.

Pension income in one place

You can enter your State Pension, any workplace or private pensions, and other regular income. The app then shows what arrives each month and on which date, so you always know what to expect before bills are due.

Bill reminders that make sense

Set up council tax, energy, water and TV licence once. The app sends a plain reminder a few days before each payment is due, with the amount shown in pounds, so nothing catches you off guard at the end of the month.

Simple spending overview

Instead of complicated charts, you see a short list: housing, food, health, travel, family. Each line shows how much you spent this month against what you planned. It takes about ten seconds to read.

Privacy kept in mind

We never ask for your bank password or card PIN. Information you type in is protected with encryption on your device and in transit, and we do not sell personal data to advertisers or third parties.

Scam awareness tips

A short tips section explains common tricks, such as fake bank calls, doorstep offers and unexpected text messages asking for payment. The advice is written in everyday language, with clear steps on what to do and who to contact.

Share with someone you trust

If you want a son, daughter or friend to help, you can give them view-only access to your summary. They can see upcoming bills, but they cannot move money or change anything. You can remove access whenever you like.

A real person to ask

If something is unclear, call us on +44 161 917 5588 or email [email protected]. Our typical reply time to a request is 4 hours on working days, and you will be speaking with someone based in Manchester, not a script.

Savings goals at your own pace

Planning a grandchild's birthday, a boiler service or a trip to see family? Create a goal, set a target amount, and watch a simple progress bar fill as you put money aside. There is no pressure and no deadline you cannot change.

Clear monthly summary

At the end of each month, you receive a one-page summary: money in, money out, and what is left. You can print it or save it as a PDF, which is useful when you need to discuss your finances with a family member or an adviser.

Built with older users, not just for them

Since 2023, our team of 8 has tested each new feature with retired customers before release. We have worked with 312 clients so far, and 78 of them came back for further help, which tells us the app is being used and found useful.

Client reviews

What our users say about the app

We asked people who use Kemivi in Manchester to describe their experience in their own words. Some are delighted, some have small reservations, and we have kept both.

★★★★★5/5

I used to keep my pension, the council tax bill and the gas payments on three separate scraps of paper. The app now shows them in one list with the due dates beside each. My daughter set it up with me in about twenty minutes and I have managed since.

MH

Margaret Holloway

Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester

★★★★★4/5

Clear and sensible. I would like the largest text size to be a bit bigger on the monthly summary screen, as I still need my glasses for the small figures.

DW

Dennis Whitaker

Cheetham Hill, Manchester

★★★★★5/5

Replied to my first question within a few hours, and the person on the phone did not rush me. When my husband died I had to take over the household budget for the first time in forty years. The spending categories helped me see where the money was really going, and I found two subscriptions I had forgotten about. That alone paid for my peace of mind.

PA

Patricia Ashworth

Withington, Manchester

★★★★★3/5

The reminders for bills work well and I like that nothing is sold to me. However, linking my second bank account took three attempts and a phone call before it behaved. Once it was done, it has been fine.

GP

Graham Pickering

Prestwich, Manchester

★★★★★5/5

Simple enough for me, and I am not good with phones.

EB

Eileen Bradshaw

Salford Quays, Manchester

★★★★★4/5

I track the state pension, a small occupational pension and the rent each month. The budget view is easy to follow and I check it every Sunday. My one reservation is that I could not export a yearly summary for my accountant without asking the team to help, though they did send it the same afternoon.

RM

Raymond McAllister

Didsbury, Manchester

★★★★★3/5

Good idea and a kind team. The savings goal feature suits me, as I am putting money aside for a new boiler. But the first week was confusing because the welcome screens use a few words I did not know, such as “sync” and “widget”. I would like plainer wording there. After a call with Kemivi it all made sense.

SF

Sheila Fairbrother

Levenshulme, Manchester

★★★★★5/5

I was worried about scams after a text message pretended to be from my bank. The team explained how the app stores data and showed me which settings keep my details private. It never asks for my full card number. I felt looked after, not talked down to, and I have since helped two neighbours install it.

TO

Thomas Okonkwo

Moss Side, Manchester

Reviews reflect individual experiences and are shared with the permission of each person. Kemivi is a budgeting tool and does not give regulated financial advice.

Kemivi in four numbers

People often ask how long we have been doing this and how quickly they will hear back. Here are the plain answers, taken from our own records since the company started in 2023.

Hours to reply

We answer each request within 4 hours, on the phone or by email, during our opening hours.

Years of work

Kemivi has been running since 2023 from our office on Cheetham Hill Road in Manchester.

Services offered

Seven separate services, from setting up the app to help with everyday budgeting questions.

Clients served

The total number of people we have helped since 2023, counted across all our services.

What we offer

Seven ways Kemivi helps you manage your money

Many people ask us what exactly they are paying for. Below is each service in plain terms, with the price and what to expect. Everything is set up with you in person or by phone, at your own pace, and a member of our Manchester team replies to requests within about 4 hours.

Guided App Setup

We install the Kemivi app on your phone or tablet and go through each screen with you. Text size is increased, the home screen is simplified, and your pension, savings and regular bills are entered together. You leave with a printed one-page guide in large type, so you can look up any step later without needing to ring anyone for help.

£45 one-off About 90 minutes

Monthly Budget Builder

Together we list what comes in each month, such as State Pension, workplace pension and any interest, and what goes out. The app then splits the money into clear groups: housing, food, travel, health and leisure. You see at a glance how much is left after the essentials, and we adjust the limits whenever your circumstances change.

£30 per session One session, free follow-up call

Bill Reminder Service

Missed payments are a common worry, so we set up reminders for council tax, energy, water, phone and insurance. Each alert arrives a few days before the due date, in a large readable message. You decide whether it appears as a notification, a text message or both, and we test it with you before we finish.

£20 one-off Up to 12 bills included

Scam Awareness Check

We show you the most common tricks aimed at pensioners: fake bank calls, cloned delivery texts and false investment offers. Then we switch on the app's security features, including a passcode, fingerprint sign-in and spending alerts. Kemivi will never ask for your PIN or full password, and we explain how to spot anyone who does.

£25 per person Around 60 minutes

Savings Goal Planning

Whether you are putting money aside for a boiler repair, a family visit or a holiday, we help you set a realistic target and a monthly amount. The app tracks progress with a simple bar chart. We do not recommend investments or financial products; this service is about organising your own money clearly and calmly.

£35 per session Up to 5 goals set

Family Viewing Access

Some clients want a son, daughter or trusted friend to see their summary without handling their money. We set up a view-only link that shows balances and upcoming bills but cannot move funds or change settings. You choose who sees it, and you can switch the access off at any time directly from your own phone.

£25 one-off View-only, cancel anytime

Ongoing Support Plan

Once you are set up, questions still come up: a new bank card, an app update, a change in your pension payment. With this plan you can phone or visit our Cheetham Hill Road office during opening hours and talk to someone who already knows your setup. We also run a short review every three months to keep your budget and reminders accurate and up to date.

£12 per month Monthly rolling, cancel with 7 days' notice

Not sure which service suits you? Describe your situation in a short message or call us on +44 161 917 5588, and we will suggest a sensible starting point. Kemivi provides budgeting tools and guidance only and does not give regulated financial advice.

Ask us a question
Questions and answers

Common questions about the Kemivi app

Many of the people we speak to are using a banking or budgeting app for the first time. Below are the questions we hear most often, answered in plain terms.

Kemivi helps you see where your money goes each month. You enter your regular income, such as the State Pension, a workplace pension or an annuity, and then your outgoings: council tax, energy bills, food, prescriptions and so on. The app shows what is left after each payment and sorts spending into simple categories. It also reminds you before a bill is due. It does not move money for you and it does not give investment advice. Think of it as a clear notebook that does the adding up.

No. The app was designed with larger text, high-contrast screens and a small number of buttons on each page. If you can send a text message or look at photos on a phone, you can use it. New users also get a short walkthrough on first opening, and you can repeat it whenever you like. If you would rather talk to someone, our team answers calls and emails during opening hours, and we aim to reply to any request within about 4 hours on working days.

Your figures are protected by a PIN or by your phone's fingerprint or face unlock, and the data is encrypted when it is stored and when it is sent. We do not sell your information to third parties, and we do not show you advertising based on your finances. You can delete your account and all stored entries from the settings page at any time. Full details of what we collect and why are set out in our privacy policy, which we have written to be read by ordinary people rather than lawyers.

No. You can use Kemivi by typing in your own income and bills by hand, so you never have to share your online banking password. This is the option most of our users choose. Entering a figure takes a few seconds, and many bills repeat every month, so you only set them up once. Please be careful with any app or caller that asks for your banking password. A genuine service will not ask you to read out your full PIN or password, and we will never ask for them either.

The core features, which are tracking income and bills, monthly summaries and payment reminders, are available without charge. Any paid extras, such as shared access for a family member, are shown clearly with the price in pounds before you choose them. Nothing is added to your phone bill or taken from your account without you confirming it first. If you are ever unsure what a charge relates to, write to [email protected] and we will explain it line by line.

Yes, if you want them to. You can invite a son, daughter or trusted friend to view your summary pages. You decide what they see, and you can remove their access whenever you choose. Many people start this way: a relative helps with the first setup over a cup of tea, and after that the person using the app carries on alone. We recommend choosing someone you know well and keeping the invitation limited to viewing, not editing.

It can help you spot them, though it is not a fraud-prevention service. Because the app shows your regular payments in one list, a subscription you forgot about or a charge that looks higher than usual tends to stand out. You can mark any entry for review and make a note to check it with your bank. If you believe money has been taken without your permission, contact your bank straight away using the number on your card, and consider reporting it through the official UK fraud reporting service.

Kemivi runs on current and recent versions of both Android and iOS, on phones and tablets. A tablet is often easier for people who prefer a bigger screen, since the text and buttons scale up accordingly. The app needs an internet connection to save and back up your entries, but you can look at your latest summary without one. If your device is quite old and the app will not install, tell us the model and we will let you know whether an alternative is possible.

No. Kemivi is a record-keeping and planning tool, not an advice service. It will show you how much you spend and when bills fall due, but it will not tell you which pension to take, where to invest or how to reduce tax. For questions like those, speak to a regulated adviser or to a free, impartial guidance service. The app can export a monthly summary that you can print or send, which makes those conversations quicker because your figures are already in order.

You can reach us by phone on +44 161 917 5588 or by email at [email protected]. Our office at 186 Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, is staffed Monday to Friday from 09:30 to 18:30 and on Saturday from 11:00 to 13:00. We are closed on Sundays. Email requests normally get a reply within about 4 hours during opening times. When you contact us, tell us what you saw on the screen, and if you can, which phone you are using. That lets us give you a useful answer the first time.

Cannot find your question here?

Call +44 161 917 5588 or write to [email protected].

Autumn offer

Two months of Kemivi Plus free, with a guided setup call

If you have been meaning to get your pension, bills and savings into one clear place before winter heating costs arrive, this is a sensible time to start. New users who sign up this autumn get the first two months of Kemivi Plus at no charge. A member of our Manchester team will also phone you to set up your accounts, reminders and spending categories step by step, at your own pace. Nothing is hidden: you can cancel from the app at any point, and your data stays yours.

  • Two months of Kemivi Plus with no payment taken
  • One 40-minute setup call, usually booked within 4 hours of your request
  • Large-print bill reminders for energy, council tax and water
  • No card details needed to begin, and cancel whenever you like
Claim my two free months
Offer valid until:
19 November 2026

Requests received by this date qualify. Setup calls run Monday to Friday, 09:30 to 18:30, and on Saturday from 11:00 to 13:00.

Kemivi Monthly Note

Get one clear money tip in your inbox each month

Many people ask us how to keep track of a pension, utility bills and savings without a spreadsheet. Our monthly email answers one such question at a time, in plain words and short paragraphs.

  • Step-by-step guides for using the Kemivi app on your phone
  • Reminders about common scams aimed at pensioners
  • Announcements when we add or change an app feature

One email a month, nothing more. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every message.

Contact Kemivi

Ask us a question, or book a calm walkthrough of the app

Not sure whether the app suits your situation? Write to us, call, or come to the office in Manchester. We usually reply within 4 hours on working days, and nobody will push you to sign up for anything.

Send us a message

Tell us what you would like to manage: a monthly budget, pension payments, bills, or something else. A member of our team of 8 will read your message and answer in plain language.

We use your details only to answer your enquiry. You can read more in our privacy policy.

Where to reach us

Prefer to talk to a person? Use whichever way is easiest for you.

Address

186 Cheetham Hill Road
Manchester, M38 6JB

Business hours
  • Monday to Friday: 09:30-18:30
  • Saturday: 11:00-13:00
  • Sunday: closed
How to find us: we are on Cheetham Hill Road, in the north of Manchester, and the office is a short walk from the local bus stops along the road. Open the location in Google Maps