If you’ve ever found yourself digging through crumpled paper in your car or wallet, searching for that one rogue receipt from three weeks (or three months) ago… you’re not alone.
Keeping track of receipts is a crucial part of running a business, but it’s also one of the most annoying. The good news? There are a few mobile apps designed to make receipt tracking simple, stress-free, and even kind of satisfying (yes, really).
Here are some popular apps to help you stay on top of those pesky little slips:
1. Hubdoc
Perfect for: Business owners using cloud accounting software like Xero (Hubdoc is included in Xero subscriptions) or QuickBooks Online.
Snap a photo or email your receipt, and Hubdoc extracts the key info and saves it in one secure place. Bonus? It syncs with your accounting system.
Find out more: https://www.hubdoc.com/
2. Expensify
Perfect for: Tracking personal and business expenses, especially if you travel a lot.
Just take a photo, and Expensify will scan & identify the details. You can even categorise expenses and create reports directly in the app. Expensify integrates with a variety of software, including accounting systems (like QuickBooks Online & Xero) and travel software (such as Kayak Business & TravelPerk).
Find out more: https://use.expensify.com/
3. Dext (formerly Receipt Bank)
Perfect for: Small businesses with recurring purchases and lots of receipts.
Dext pulls info from your receipts, invoices, and bank statements and integrates seamlessly with your accounting software.
Find out more: https://dext.com/en
4. Crunchr
Perfect for: Small businesses who like simplicity and affordability.
Crunchr is Australian-based and up to date with Australian tax requirements. Their tagline is “Makes managing receipts easy, at normal people prices.”, and they sure deliver!
Find out more: https://www.crunchr.com.au/
5. Shoeboxed
Perfect for: Those who like things tidy and organised.
Shoeboxed scans, categorises, and securely stores receipts. You can even mail your physical receipts in an envelope, and they’ll digitise them for you.
Find out more: https://www.shoeboxed.com/
6. Other Mobile Apps included with your chosen Accounting System (such as QuickBooks, Reckon & MYOB)
Perfect for: Business owners who have a cloud-based accounting system already, and are happy to use the tool provided with the accounting software.
Each of the cloud-based accounting software companies now have their own app or program to enable users to upload copies of their receipts directly to the software, and attach them to the specific transactions. These apps, while they can be slightly clunky (and generally don’t do well at extracting information from the receipts), are ideal for tech-savvy and budget-conscious business owners.
Find out more: Search for your accounting software in the App Store or Play Store of your smartphone.
7. Microsoft OneNote/OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive (DIY method)
Perfect for: Budget-conscious business owners.
While not designed specifically for receipts, you can still snap photos and store them in organized folders. It’s not fancy, but it works. This is also a highly-recommended back-up system for receipts that have been uploaded to your accounting software (just in case the unthinkable happens).
Which One Is Right for You?
The best app depends on your business, your workflow, the number of receipts you deal with, what your accounting system looks like and your budget. Many of the paid options also offer free trials, so don’t be afraid to test a few and see what sticks.
Need Help Figuring It All Out?
That’s exactly what we cover inside the Boss of Your Books membership—a low-cost, supportive space for Australian small business owners who are doing their own bookkeeping. Each month, we host a virtual co-working Zoom session where you can bring your questions, get unstuck, and feel a little less alone in the process.
Whether you’re struggling to set up receipt tracking, categorize expenses, or just get into a regular bookkeeping rhythm, we’ve got your back.
Join us and become the Boss of Your Books.
(And say goodbye to the shoebox full of fading receipts!)
