Acti: Your Automated Travel Journal That Remembers Where You've Been (And More)

Hey Indie Hackers!

I'm excited to share Acti with you - an iOS app that automatically tracks and documents the places you visit, creating a beautiful visual journal of your life.

You can check out Acti here: http://getacti.app/appstore

The Journey

I started working on Acti back in 2021, but development really picked up steam in 2023. Like many side projects, it began as a solution to my own problem: I wanted a simple way to record places I'd visited directly in my iOS calendar so I could remember where I'd been.

But as I used my own app, I kept thinking "what if..." and the feature set naturally evolved:

1. First, I built a dedicated timeline inside Acti to view visits without needing to open the iOS calendar

2. Then I added the ability to comment on individual visits

3. Later came daily ratings (1-5 stars) and day notes to capture the overall experience

4. Most recently, I integrated photo capabilities to attach one main image to each visit

5. I also added Health app integration to collect workout data alongside location information

As a tech enthusiast working with SwiftUI, I simply couldn't stop enhancing the app as new ideas and possibilities presented themselves.

More Than Just Travel

While I've categorized Acti as a travel app in the App Store (after much deliberation), it's really designed for both travel and everyday life. I personally use it for everything from documenting international trips to tracking doctor visits and walks with my baby daughter. It's become my personal life journal that captures all the places that matter.

Privacy-First Approach

One thing I'm particularly proud of is Acti's privacy-first design. The app doesn't require registration and doesn't have a central server - all your data is stored locally on your device. This makes Acti exactly as safe as if you manually added all your visits, comments, and photos to your notes app, but far more effective and organized.

The Main Challenge

The biggest challenge I've faced is convincing users to provide permanent access to location services. Without this permission, iOS doesn't allow apps to track visits effectively. While Apple's system works great and is energy-efficient, the API is tricky - you must first request temporary location access and then ask for permanent access.

I've experimented with numerous approaches to the onboarding flow, trying to find the perfect balance between explaining the app's value proposition and requesting the necessary permissions.

Business Model

Acti follows a freemium model. All core functionality - including visit tracking, photo uploads, and basic features - is completely free. Premium features are available through subscription for users who want more advanced capabilities.

What's Next

I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if you're interested in location-based apps or personal journaling tools. Any feedback on the concept or suggestions for features would be greatly appreciated!

You can check out Acti here: http://getacti.app/appstore

Use code INDIEHACKERS for a free month of premium access if you want to give it a try.

Thanks for reading!