Srinagar, Dec 27: In an era where every tap is tracked, a young engineer from Kashmir chose silence – building a finance app that works without the cloud, the internet, or prying eyes.
Ikhlaq Yousuf Malik, 25, from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, has launched Analytica, an offline-only personal finance app that lets individuals and small businesses track expenses, assets, net worth, and ledgers while keeping all data securely on the user’s own device.
He developed the offline personal finance application for users who want to manage money without cloud storage or data tracking.
Malik, a 2021 B Tech graduate of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), launched Analytica, an all-in-one finance app that works entirely without an internet connection.
The app allows users to track expenses, income, assets, net worth, and business ledgers, with all data stored locally on the user’s device.
“Most finance apps today rely heavily on cloud storage and data collection,” Malik said. “With Analytica, the focus is on privacy. The app works completely offline, and all data stays on the user’s device.”
Malik, who hails from the Yaripora area of Kulgam, currently works as a software development engineer (SDE-2) at one of India’s leading UPI payment platforms in Bengaluru.
He said the idea grew out of his dissatisfaction with existing finance apps.
“I tried several popular options, but most were too complex, pushed loans aggressively, required excessive permissions, or depended on constant internet access,” he said. “That never felt right to me.”
According to Malik, Analytica functions as a daily expense and budget tracker, a net-worth and asset management tool covering cash, bank accounts, investments, and property, and a digital ledger similar to traditional Khatabook systems used by small shop owners and freelancers.
“Small businesses and freelancers often need a simple way to manage accounts without fear of data misuse,” he said. “This app is meant to provide financial clarity without sharing information online.”
Unlike many mainstream finance platforms, Analytica does not offer cloud synchronisation and does not collect or track user data, positioning it as a privacy-first alternative in a market dominated by online financial services.
“People should not have to compromise their privacy to manage their money,” Malik said.
He said the app was initially developed for personal use and was not conceived as a startup or commercial product.
“A few months ago, I decided to build something for myself – a small, offline-first app where I could track my expenses, assets, and net worth with full control over my data,” Malik said.
As he continued refining the app’s design and data structure, friends encouraged him to release it publicly.
“I realised the problems I was solving for myself were problems many others faced as well,” Malik said.
He said this was not his first independent project.
Malik has been building applications since 2018 across domains including healthcare technology, drone systems, e-commerce, and fintech.
“Due to family responsibilities, I had to pause my independent work for a while and move to Bengaluru for a full-time role,” he said. “Even then, alongside a demanding job, I continued working on side projects and mentoring others.”
Malik said several other privacy-focused tools he had developed were nearing release and would be launched gradually.
“This app reflects my overall journey,” he said. “It is guided by a belief that technology should empower users without compromising trust, transparency, or privacy.”
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Gowhar Yaqoob, a software developer, said that he had evaluated the app and found it to be user-friendly and respectful of maintaining privacy.
“It is good for small businesses,” he said.