Onboarding and Activation
From "what is this" to the first calm view, by the bank path or the private path.
Onboarding and Activation
The one-time linear chain from "what is this" to the first calm view, by the bank path or the private path. No tab bar the whole way.
Recommendations
- Path Choice gives both paths equal weight, neither preselected (D2).
- The manual fallback persists on Connect Bank and its error state (dead-end fix).
- Guided Reveal is one screen, three steps (count, categories, total with action), D1.
- A person can leave with a partial list and it is saved (dead-end fix).
- All copy is a specific first draft, marked ? draft copy.
Nodes 1.1 to 1.5
1.1 Welcome / Value Intro
- PHeadline: "See what you are paying for. Calmly."
- PSample calm preview before any ask (H1)
- PCTA: "Show me how it works"
- STrust line: "No bank connection needed to start."
- SReturning-user sign in [?]
1.2 Activation Path Choice
- PPrompt: "How do you want to start?"
- POption A: Connect your bank, read-only
- POption B: Add them yourself, 400+ presets (equal weight, D2)
- S"Either way, you land on the same calm view."
1.3 Connect Bank
- PTrust statement: read-only, we can never move money, via Plaid (M2)
- P"Choose your bank" → Plaid Link
- PPersistent fallback: "Add them yourself instead"
- SRegion note: US first [? EU deferred]
1.4 Add Subscription
- PPreset search: "Search 400+ services"
- PPrefilled, editable form (name, amount, frequency, next date, category)
- P"Add subscription" then "Add another"
- S"Can't find it? Add it manually."
- S"3 added so far. Your list is saved."
1.5 Guided Reveal
- PStep 1 count: "You are subscribed to 14 things."
- PStep 2 categories with logos
- PStep 3 total paired with action: "That is $247 a month. Here are 2 you might not use."
- PAction: "Review these 2" / "See my list"
- SJudgment-free tone throughout
Cross-checked against Flow A and B
| State | Reads like | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| 1.3 loading | "Syncing your bank. This takes a few seconds." | Plaid succeeded, pulling charges |
| 1.3.1 error (Dialog) | "We could not connect to your bank. This is usually temporary." Try again / Add them yourself instead | Connection failure (fallback persists) |
| 1.3 empty | "We connected, but did not find recurring charges yet." | Clean connect, zero detected |
| 1.4 error (preset) | "We could not load the service list. You can still add by hand." | Preset library unavailable |
| 1.4 partial-saved | "Your list is saved. Add more any time." | Person leaves mid-entry |
| 1.5 low-count | Reveal adapts copy for 1 to 2 items | Very small list [? min count for aha] |
Mockups
Tendd shows every subscription in one calm view.
No bank connection needed to start.
Fast, read-onlyAdd them yourself
Private, 400+ services
Equal weight, neither preselected.
We read your recurring charges, read-only. We can never move your money. Powered by Plaid.
Choose your bankAdd them yourself insteadThis is usually temporary.
Try againAdd them yourself insteadYou are subscribed to 14 things. Here are 2 you might not be using.
Review these 2See my listSEO, Accessibility, Mobile
SEO. Welcome (1.1) is the only public, indexable node. Everything from 1.2 on is private. See seo.html.
Accessibility. One clear primary action per screen; focus moves to the new H1; the error dialog traps focus, Escape maps to the safe fallback.
Mobile. No structural delta: single-column, full-screen, one action at a time on every breakpoint. Guided Reveal stays gradual at every width.
Locked (draft, 2026-07-03) / Open
Locked. Chain order, equal-weight Path Choice, persistent fallback, one-screen gradual reveal, saved partial list, draft copy.
Still [?]. Auth model for no-account trial; minimum count for the reveal aha; real SEO volumes.