Whether you're managing your small business' finances or filing taxes, it's necessary to know where your money is being spent. But receipts from your purchases are likely to get lost in a sea of documents and miscellaneous papers.
If you struggle to keep track of your receipts, a receipt scanner can come in handy. Some receipt scanners include online tools that allow you to access your receipts from anywhere, so receipts will be consolidated and you can access them whenever you need them.
There are different types of receipt scanners (e.g. desktop and portable) and receipt scanning apps, and I've compiled a list of the best tools to manage your receipts.
Ready to find a receipt scanner to help you get organized? Let's begin.
1. Expensify
Best for: An all-around app
Expensify is a cloud-based app for both iOS and Android. It's a receipt management tool that connects with Expensify tools for expense reporting. You can use your smartphone camera to take a photo of the receipt, the app will automatically pull out the charges. From there, you can associate the charge with an expense report.
Keep in mind that sometimes the receipt scanner is unable to perfectly capture the details of your receipt. Be sure to double check the expenses to make sure the receipt charges are added accurately.
2. Receipts by Wave
Best for: Freelancers and small business owners
Receipts by Wave is a receipt tracking app that can be used by small businesses to stay on top of their receipts. It syncs with their cloud-based expense reporting software that can be accessed both on mobile and from your computer. One main perk of this tool is that you can use it for free -- making this receipt scanner option ideal for small businesses and freelancers just starting out.
Your data can sync with the Wave Accounting app so you can stay on top of your spending. You can also export the data to a variety of accounting tools, such as QuickBooks and Excel, if need be.
3. NeatDesk
Best for: Bulk scanning
Turn paper documents into digital without going through your computer. This device from Neat reads and extracts information from whatever you scan. And at 24 pages per minute -- it'll read your documents faster than you can.
It can scan up to 50 pages at once and extracts important information for organized digital filing.
4. NeatReceipts
Best for: Team collaboration
If you need to share your expenses with a team of people or have them reviewed by your manager, this app is for you. Its mobile app is available for iOS and Android users, and your scans are synced across devices.
Use the tool to snap a photo of your receipt, and it's able to recognize the text and gather the details of your receipt. From there, you can create expense reports and even itemized lists.
5. Evernote Scannable
Best for: iOS users
Apps: iOS
If you're an iPhone or iPad user, this app is for you. You can take a photo of your receipts and they'll be added to your Evernote account. After taking a photo for your receipt, you have the ability to preview the scan, discard, and retake the photo if the first image isn't clear enough.
The receipts will be saved to Evernote's cloud-based app, and can be accessed online from anywhere.
6. Shoeboxed
Best for: Tax season
The Shoeboxed app allows you to scan receipts and keep track of your mileage for tax reporting purposes. It also gives you the ability to specify which expenses are deductible -- making it the ideal tool for tax time.
Create expense reports directly within the app and send them to your colleagues or tax preparer right from your phone.
7. Veryfi Core
Best for: Data privacy
If you deal with sensitive customer data, such as medical information, this tool is HIPAA compliant. Veryfi Core gives you the ability to automate data entry of receipts and expenses. It also automates tax coding or categorization.
Your data can be accessed from anywhere, and you can collaborate with your team from anywhere at any time.
8. Smart Receipts
Best for: Custom reports
Once you've scanned your receipts into Smart Receipts, you can create customizable PDF, CSV, and ZIP reports. It also comes with 20 different default data types (e.g. dates, price, receipt categories, payment methods, and more.)
Another unique feature of Smart Receipts is its white labeling services. With these services, your company can create a customized expense reporting app for your users or customers.
9. Vupoint ST470
Best for: An on-the-go, portable scanner
One of the best features of this scanner is its 2-in-1 capability and portability. It functions as a desktop scanner, but it also has a detachable wand you can use to scan. This wand is the perfect size to take with you on the go, and it even comes with its own carrying case.
While the Vupoint ST470 doesn't give you the ability to connect to cloud services, it does have a micro SD card you can save your receipts to for on-the-go access.
10. Fujitsu ScanSnap IX500
Best for: A portable scanner that connects with cloud-based apps
This is a desktop receipt scanner, but it's small enough to travel with. There's also a wireless option, and your receipts can be uploaded into PDF, Excel, and JPEG formats.
Your data is searchable once it's uploaded. Additionally, it can be integrated with cloud-based tools, like QuickBooks, making it easier to manage your accounting.
11. Epson Workforce DS-30
Best for: A multi-purpose portable scanner
The Epson Workforce DS-30 is a lightweight, portable scanner that allows you to scan receipts and other documents. It has auto-size detection to determine if you're scanning a small receipt or a full-size document.
It works with Windows and Mac computers via USB. All of the text from your scans is searchable, and the files can be uploaded to your computer and cloud-based tools for easy access.
12. ABUKAI Expenses
Best for: Expense reports on the go
Manage your expenses without much effort? Sounds good to me. Save your receipts with just two steps. First, take a picture of your receipt. Second, submit the receipt to save it to your phone.
The app handles processing your receipt and filing it in the expense report you've already set up, and reports are sent to the email address of your choosing.
13. Clear Scanner
Best for: Expense reports on the go
This one is unique in that it has built-in OCR capability meaning receipt text shows up clearly transcribed and imported. Save your receipts as PDFs or JPEGs and attach to your expense reports when ready.
Clear Scanner syncs with Google Drive, Evernote, and Dropbox, so whatever expense report software you're using, you can be sure Clear Scanner will integrate nicely.
A receipt scanner can help you go paperless and declutter your office space. Are you interested in learning more about entrepreneurship? Read about how to become an entrepreneur next.
