Simple App Free Trial Auto-Charges — How It Works and How to Avoid It

Simple's free trial is not really free — it is a delayed payment. If you are considering trying Simple or have already started a trial and want to understand what happens next, this article explains the exact mechanics of Simple's trial, when and how much you will be charged, how to cancel before the charge hits, and whether a dedicated fasting app is worth the cost in the first place.

How Does Simple's Free Trial Work?

Here is the exact sequence:

1. Download and quiz. You download Simple and complete a health and goals quiz (5-10 minutes).
2. Trial offer. After the quiz, Simple presents your "personalized plan" and offers a free trial — typically 7 days.
3. Payment authorization. To start the trial, you must authorize payment through the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). This is where you enter or confirm your payment method.
4. Trial period. For 7 days, you have full access to Simple's features without being charged.
5. Auto-conversion. On day 8, your trial automatically converts to a paid subscription and your payment method is charged.

The critical detail that catches most people: There is no confirmation step between the trial ending and the charge occurring. No email, no push notification, no "your trial is ending tomorrow" alert. The conversion is silent and automatic.

When Exactly Does Simple Charge You?

The charge timing depends on your platform:

Platform	When the Charge Occurs
iOS (App Store)	Exactly 7 days after trial activation, typically within the same hour you originally subscribed
Android (Google Play)	Exactly 7 days after trial activation

Example: If you started your trial on a Monday at 3:00 PM, you will be charged the following Monday at approximately 3:00 PM.

The charge amount depends on which plan you were enrolled in during the trial:

Plan	First Charge After Trial
Monthly	$14.99-$29.99
Quarterly	$29.99-$49.99
Semi-annual	$39.99-$59.99
Annual	$49.99-$79.99

Important: The plan you are enrolled in may not be the one you expected. During the trial offer, Simple sometimes highlights the per-day cost ("less than $1/day!") while the actual billing amount and frequency are shown in smaller text. Check your App Store or Google Play subscription details to see exactly which plan you are on.

How to Avoid Being Charged by Simple

You have two options, and both are completely safe.

Option 1: Cancel the Trial Immediately (Recommended)

This is the safest approach. On both iOS and Android, cancelling a trial does not end your access. You keep full access to Simple until the trial period expires. The only thing that changes is that the auto-renewal is turned off, so you will not be charged when the trial ends.

Cancel on iOS:

1. Open Settings > tap your name (Apple ID) > Subscriptions.
2. Find Simple.
3. Tap Cancel Subscription.
4. Confirm.

You will retain access to Simple for the remaining trial days.

Cancel on Android:

1. Open Google Play Store > tap your profile icon > Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.
2. Find Simple.
3. Tap Cancel subscription.
4. Confirm.

Same result — you keep the trial but the auto-charge is disabled.

Option 2: Set a Calendar Reminder

If you want to evaluate Simple before deciding:

1. Set a calendar alert for 2 days before your trial ends (day 5 of 7).
2. On that day, decide whether to keep the subscription.
3. If you want to cancel, follow the steps above.

The 2-day buffer gives you time in case you forget on the exact day.

How Does Simple's Pricing Compare to Alternatives?

Here is a straightforward pricing comparison of Simple against other apps that cover fasting, calorie tracking, or both:

App	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Fasting Timer	Calorie Tracking	AI Features	Ads
Simple	$14.99-$29.99	$49.99-$79.99	Yes	Basic	Basic	No (upsells)
Nutrola	€2.50	€30	No (use with Zero)	Advanced — AI photo, voice, verified DB	Photo AI, voice logging	None
Zero	Free	Free	Yes — excellent	None	None	Minimal
Fastic	Free / $12.49	Free / $64.99	Yes	Basic	None	Yes (free tier)
MyFitnessPal	Free / $19.99	Free / $79.99	No	Good — large crowdsourced DB	Photo AI (premium)	Yes (free tier)
Lose It!	Free / $3.33	Free / $39.99	No	Good	Photo AI (premium)	Yes (free tier)
Cronometer	Free / $5.99	Free / $49.99	No	Excellent — verified, detailed micronutrients	None	Minimal

Key takeaway: Simple is one of the most expensive options in this category, and its calorie tracking is among the most basic. You can get better fasting features for free (Zero) and better calorie tracking for less (Nutrola at €2.50/month or Cronometer's free tier).

Are Dedicated Fasting Apps Worth the Money?

This is the question worth answering before choosing any Simple alternative. Dedicated fasting apps have multiplied in recent years, but their core value proposition is limited.

What a Fasting App Does

1. Counts down your fasting window. This is the primary function.
2. Logs your fasting history. Shows streaks, consistency, total fasting hours.
3. Provides fasting schedule presets. 16:8, 18:6, 20:4, OMAD, 5:2, etc.
4. Offers educational content. Articles about autophagy, metabolic health, and fasting science.

What a Fasting App Cannot Do

• Track the quality of your meals. Fasting apps time your eating window but do not analyze what you eat during it.
• Count calories or macros. Most fasting apps have limited or no calorie tracking.
• Help with portion control. They do not know how much you are eating.
• Adjust recommendations based on your diet. They track timing, not nutrition.

The Core Problem With Fasting-Only Apps

Research on intermittent fasting consistently shows that its benefits are primarily driven by calorie reduction, not meal timing alone. A 2020 meta-analysis published in the Annual Review of Nutrition found that intermittent fasting produces weight loss comparable to standard calorie restriction — not because of metabolic magic, but because restricting eating windows naturally reduces calorie intake.

This means the real tool you need is one that tracks what and how much you eat — not just when. A fasting timer is a convenience feature, not a core health tool. Paying $15-$30/month for a timer when free alternatives exist (and when calorie tracking provides more meaningful data) is a poor allocation of your health budget.

A Better Approach: Calorie Tracking + Free Fasting Timer

Instead of paying for Simple, consider:

Nutrola (€2.50/month) + Zero (Free)

• Nutrola handles the hard part — tracking what you eat with AI photo logging, voice logging, and a verified database. This gives you the data that actually drives results.
• Zero handles the easy part — timing your fasting window. It is free and fully functional.

Total cost: €2.50/month instead of Simple's $14.99-$29.99/month. You get better calorie tracking and equivalent fasting features.

What Does Nutrola Offer That Simple Does Not?

Since calorie tracking is where the real value lies for most people pursuing health goals, here is what Nutrola provides:

• AI photo logging. Photograph your meal and Nutrola identifies the food and provides nutritional data. No scrolling through databases.
• Voice logging. Describe your meal in natural language — "two scrambled eggs, a piece of toast with butter, and a coffee with oat milk" — and it is logged instantly.
• 100% nutritionist-verified database. Every food entry is verified by nutrition professionals. No crowdsourced data with inconsistent accuracy.
• Recipe import from social media. Paste a TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube recipe link and get a complete nutritional breakdown.
• Barcode scanner. Scan packaged foods for instant, accurate logging.
• No ads on any plan. No upsells. No quiz-to-paywall funnels. No countdown timers.
• €2.50/month on iOS and Android. One price. Full features. Transparent billing.

Simple's calorie tracking, by comparison, is a secondary feature with a basic food database and manual-entry logging. You are paying primarily for a fasting timer — which is available free elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Simple charge me if I delete the app during the trial?

No, deleting the app does not trigger a charge. But it also does not cancel the trial. You will still be charged when the trial expires unless you cancel through your device's subscription settings. Always cancel the subscription, not just the app.

Can I restart a Simple free trial?

Typically, no. Apple and Google track trial usage per Apple ID or Google account. You cannot get a second free trial on the same account. Creating a new account to get another trial violates terms of service.

What happens to my data if I cancel Simple?

Your fasting logs and any tracking data remain in your account for a period after cancellation. However, you lose access to premium features immediately after the current billing period or trial period ends.

Is Simple's calorie tracking accurate?

Simple's calorie tracking uses a standard food database. It is functional for basic logging but lacks the depth of dedicated calorie tracking apps. It does not offer AI photo recognition, voice logging, or a verified database. For serious calorie tracking, a dedicated nutrition app is significantly more accurate and faster.

Can I use Simple completely for free?

Simple's free tier is extremely limited. You can see the app interface and basic content, but the fasting timer, calorie tracking, and personalized features require a subscription. Zero is a better free fasting option.

Is intermittent fasting effective without calorie tracking?

Intermittent fasting can work without explicit calorie tracking because restricting eating windows naturally limits intake for many people. However, research shows that tracking what you eat in addition to when you eat produces more consistent and predictable results. If you are serious about your health goals, calorie tracking provides the data and accountability that fasting timing alone does not.

Summary: What to Do Right Now

If you are currently in a Simple free trial:

1. Cancel the trial immediately through Settings (iOS) or Google Play (Android). You keep access until the trial ends.
2. Evaluate whether a fasting timer is worth $15-$30/month when Zero provides the same function for free.
3. Consider whether calorie tracking is what you actually need — and if so, look at Nutrola (€2.50/month) or Cronometer for better value.

If Simple already charged you:

1. Cancel the subscription through your device settings.
2. Request a refund through reportaproblem.apple.com (iOS) or play.google.com order history (Android).
3. Switch to alternatives that provide better features at a lower or free price.

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The best fasting app is one that helps you understand your nutrition, not just your schedule. A free fasting timer paired with an affordable calorie tracker will serve your goals better — and cost less — than a premium fasting app with basic nutrition features bolted on.