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Best Business Expense Tracker Apps 2024

Updated: Jun 11, 2024
Meaghan Senn Photo
Written by: Meaghan Senn
Written by: Meaghan Senn Writer

Meaghan Senn is a writer from North Carolina with experience in B2B, technology and digital marketing topics. Throughout her career, Meaghan has worked with B2B, software and digital marketing businesses.
Katie Gray Photo
Edited by: Katie Gray
Edited by: Katie Gray Editor

Katie Gray is a Chicago-based editor. She started her career writing and editing content about home services before transitioning to home improvement products. She has spent the last year and a half working at a software company, managing content about CRM, project management and other business topics.

Tracking business expenses is a crucial part of maintaining organized finances so that you can allocate your funds properly and be ready for tax season. An expense tracker app can help with this. It scans receipts, logs business trips, categorizes transactions, reimburses employees and more. 

To help you choose an expense tracker for your business, we at the MarketWatch Guides team have gathered information on nine providers. We have researched, tested and rated each provider. Keep reading for our findings.

More Articles
Best Accounting Software Best Receipt Scanner Apps Best Online Bookkeeping Services Best Mileage Tracker Apps Best Business Expense Tracker Apps

Why Trust Us?

Our team has done the work for you. Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated accounting software.
18
Companies Reviewed
50
Hours Spent Testing Our team personally reviewed every Accounting software product. We enrolled in trial memberships, attended demos, collected and compared data on costs, user experience, reporting and more.
200
Experts Surveyed We’ve conducted multiple Accounting software surveys to collect data on what real customers care about, such as custom features, user experience, and customer support.

Top Business Expense Tracker Apps

Provider Our Rating Superlative Starting Price Visit Site
4.7
Best integration with other accounting software $5 per user per month Visit Site
4.7
Best use of AI integration Contact for pricing Visit Site
4.4
Best in-house integration $0 per month Visit Site
4.4
Best for medium-to-large enterprises Contact for pricing Visit Site
4.3
Best for tracking employee use $9 per user per month Visit Site
4.0
Best for ease of use $30 per month Visit Site
4.0
Best for small businesses $23 per month Visit Site
3.8
Best for invoicing $19 per month Visit Site
3.8
Best for freelancers $0 per month Visit Site
Provider Our Rating Superlative Starting Price Visit Site
4.7
Best integration with other accounting software $5 per user per month Visit Site
4.7
Best use of AI integration Contact for pricing Visit Site
4.4
Best in-house integration $0 per month Visit Site
4.4
Best for medium-to-large enterprises Contact for pricing Visit Site
4.3
Best for tracking employee use $9 per user per month Visit Site
4.0
Best for ease of use $30 per month Visit Site
4.0
Best for small businesses $23 per month Visit Site
3.8
Best for invoicing $19 per month Visit Site
3.8
Best for freelancers $0 per month Visit Site
Expensify Best integration with other accounting softwares
4.7
Our Take

Expensify is an expense management platform. Seeing as it only deals with expenses, it integrates with all-in-one software, including QuickBooks and Xero, so that you can get your other accounting tasks done as well. It also integrates with HR software, such as TriNet Zenefits and Gusto, for employee management.

Expensify has several unique expense management features. It keeps track of business trips with unlimited receipt scans and automatic distance tracking. You can create cards with spend limits for traveling employees to use. Or, you can instruct employees to use their personal card and reimburse them later through direct deposit.

Pros and Cons
Pros Has a built-in payment processor for paying bills and reimbursing employees Helps with employee business trips with receipt scanning and distance tracking Integrates with financial and HR software Cons Must pay on an annual basis Can get expensive with per-user pricing Offers fewer plans than many competitors
Clyr Best use of AI integration
4.7
Our Take

Clyr is our pick for innovation because of the way it leverages advanced AI technology. Once you scan receipts, it uses this technology to group them into categories and tie them to transactions in the system. 

Clyr doesn’t offer pre-built plans. Instead, it focuses on creating a custom solution based on your industry. Some industries it commonly works with include construction, property management, legal, nonprofit and event production. To get started, you must provide information about you and your business and talk to a sales representative.

Pros and Cons
Pros Uses AI to organize expenses Integrates with other business software Provides custom solutions by industry Cons Has limited information on the website about the app’s capabilities Doesn’t offer transparent pricing
Zoho Expense Best in-house integration
4.4
Our Take

Zoho Expense focuses on expense management, but Zoho has other products to help with additional areas of your business. Seeing as they come from the same provider, integration is seamless, so you can create an all-in-one business management system.

Zoho Expense has several advanced expense tracking features. Depending on the plan you choose, you may have access to cash advances, purchase and travel requests and multi-currency expenses. Unlimited users start with the first paid plan, and unlimited receipt scans start with the plan after that.

Pros and Cons
Pros Offers a free plan Integrates with other Zoho products and third-party apps Tracks multi-currency expenses Cons Has a three-user limit in the free plan Offers only email support with the free plan Has a three-user minimum for the paid plans Can get expensive with per-user pricing
SAP Concur Expense Best for medium to large enterprises.
4.4
Our Take

Concur Expense is like a mix between Zoho Expense and Clyr. It offers custom solutions like Clyr, and it comes from a provider with other business products like Zoho Expense. Given this mix, SAP Concur works well for large companies that want to build a comprehensive, custom accounting solution.

In terms of the Expense product specifically, it can capture receipts, build reports and create travel policies, to name a few features. Its main goal is to help with spend management so that you can see where every dollar is going.

Pros and Cons
Pros Creates expense policies and carries out reimbursements Integrates with other SAP Concur products and third-party apps Provides custom solutions Cons Has limited information on the website about the app’s capabilities Doesn’t offer transparent pricing Need to pair Concur Expense with Concur Travel and Concur Invoice for full expense management
Rydoo Best for tracking employee use
4.3
Our Take

Rydoo is a comprehensive expense management solution. Many of its features center around employee expenses. For example, employees can track their business trips in the app by logging hours driven and uploading meal, gas and hotel receipts.

From the employer side, you can create expense policies that define what and how much employees can expense. Once you set the rates, Rydoo can reimburse employees automatically. There is also bank account and credit card reconciliation as well as custom reporting.

Pros and Cons
Pros Creates expense policies and carries out reimbursements Integrates with financial software Tracks multi-currency expenses Cons Can’t get most custom features in the entry-level plan Can get expensive with per-user pricing Doesn’t have online pricing for the two top-tier plans
QuickBooks Online Best ease of use
4.0
Our Take

QuickBooks Online is an all-in-one accounting solution that helps with bookkeeping, bill pay, receipt capture, mileage tracking, financial reporting and more. Even with its various capabilities, we found both the online platform and mobile app to be easy to navigate.

In terms of expense management, QuickBooks Online pulls in transactions from manual entries, trip logs, receipt captures, bank statements, credit card statements and any other sources. It then organizes these items by tax category and expense type. It also links them to any expenses you already have in the system.

Pros and Cons
Pros Helps with other aspects of business accounting Can integrate with bank accounts and credit cards for transaction history Has a built-in payment processor for paying bills and reimbursing employees Cons Costs more than many of the competitors May be too comprehensive for small businesses that only need help with expense management Has strict user limits, especially in the bottom three plans
Shoeboxed Best for small businesses
4.0
Our Take

Shoeboxed is first and foremost a document storage platform, organizing an unlimited number of files. This makes it useful for small businesses that want to upgrade from storing files on their computer or in Google Drive. 

Shoeboxed has a few features to help with expense management. For receipt capture, you can use the mobile app to take pictures of receipts. Shoeboxed extracts key details from the picture, storing them alongside the photo in a dashboard. The dashboard also has a Gmail integration so that any receipts you receive via email import automatically. Shoeboxed’s mileage tracking capability is less extensive, but it still logs miles automatically in the mobile app using the GPS technology in your phone.

Pros and Cons
Pros Offers unlimited users and files in all plans Extracts key details from receipts Syncs with Gmail for automatic receipt transfer Cons Has only an iOS app Offers a limited number of receipt scans per year Doesn’t have advanced accounting features that larger businesses may want Offers limited integrations
FreshBooks Best for invoicing
3.8
Our Take

FreshBooks is another accounting software like QuickBooks Online that offers expense tracking alongside other financial management features. It excels at billing with multiple ways to pay and receive payments from clients, vendors, customers, contractors and employees.

FreshBooks offers receipt capture and mileage tracking like the remaining providers in our review. It also creates invoices, accepts online payments, sends payment reminders, connects to bank accounts and more.

Pros and Cons
Pros Helps with other aspects of business accounting Connects to bank accounts and credit cards for card payments and bank transfers Creates custom invoices, proposals and estimates Cons Costs extra for additional users Doesn’t have an employee reimbursement feature Doesn’t offer receipt capture in the entry-level plan Costs more than many of the competitors May be too comprehensive for small businesses that only need help with expense management
Everlance Best for freelancers
3.8
Our Take

Everlance offers plans for both self-employed individuals and small companies. We like the individual plans for freelancers because they offer basic expense management features at an affordable price. Freelancers can use the mobile app to log miles and scan receipts. From there, Everlance adds them to the platform and organizes them into categories.

One of Everlance’s standout features is its deduction finder, which reads an expense and generates a list of potential tax deductions for it. This feature can be particularly useful for freelancers who file their own taxes and need help making the most out of tax benefits.

Pros and Cons
Pros Offers a free plan Has plans specifically for freelancers Use the dedication finder tool to maximize tax deductions Cons Doesn’t offer automatic mileage tracking in the free plan Doesn’t have advanced accounting features that larger businesses may want Uses per-user pricing for the company plans, which can get expensive Offers limited integrations

What Is an Expense Tracking App?

An expense tracking app is a tool that streamlines the process of recording and organizing business expenses. It pulls expenses from receipts, bank accounts, credit card statements and other sources, giving you a comprehensive overview of your finances. Often, it pulls this data automatically, which means you can avoid manual entry and the time commitment and potential errors that come with it.

There are two types of expense trackers: comprehensive accounting platforms and dedicated expense management apps. The former helps with expense management alongside other accounting and bookkeeping tasks. The latter focuses solely on expenses. A dedicated app is usually enough for independent contractors and small businesses, but mid-to-large-sized businesses might want a comprehensive platform to help with other areas of financial management.

How Much Do Expense Tracking Apps Cost?

The cost of expense tracking apps varies depending on the provider and plan. Many providers offer free trials, though some also have free plans. The plans usually follow a monthly subscription structure. These plans either come with user limits, or they have unlimited users with a monthly fee per user.

Below, you can see the pricing for the providers in this review:

ProviderStarting CostFree Trial
Expensify$5 per user per month✅
ClyrContact for pricing✅
Zoho Expense $0 per month✅
SAP Concur ExpenseContact for pricing✅
Rydoo$9 per user per month✅
QuickBooks Online$30 per month✅
Shoeboxed$23 per month ✅
FreshBooks$19 per month✅
Everlance$0 per month✅

How To Choose a Business Expense Tracking Software

In addition to type and price, there are other factors to consider as you choose an expense tracker. During our research and rating process, we also looked at features, compliance, integrations, user experience and customer reviews.

Features

If you opt for a comprehensive accounting solution, it may have additional features, but these are the features we recommend you look for when it comes to expense management:

  • Receipt scanning: Using a mobile app, you take photos of your receipts to store them digitally.
  • Mileage tracking: Mileage tracking uses the same mobile app to log the miles you drive for business purposes.
  • Credit card and bank account reconciliation: This feature connects your bank accounts and credit cards to your expense management platform. That way, you can cross-reference which transactions you have logged to ensure you haven’t missed any.
  • Transaction categorization: As you add expenses, this feature categorizes them to keep them organized and allocated to the right funds.
  • Employee reimbursement: Many expense trackers help you create your reimbursement policy. As employees submit their expenses, the tracker automatically approves and reimburses them according to the terms of the policy.
  • Reporting and analytics: Reporting gives you insights into your spending patterns so that you can make informed financial decisions moving forward.

Compliance

All expense tracking software must comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which mandates guidelines for financial reporting and transparency for businesses. The guidelines vary by industry, but there are a few that apply across the board, including the one that requires expense data to be stored for a minimum of seven years.

Integrations

If you use accounting software, look for an expense tracker that integrates with it. With this type of integration, you can transfer financial data between the two platforms without using manual entry. If you use HR software or other solutions to run your business, you can check for integrations with them as well.

Customer Reviews

Reviews offer firsthand accounts of an app’s functionality and performance from real users. Giving you an idea of users’ overall satisfaction with the product, you can determine if it suits your needs.

Ease of Use

The design of the interface can make all the difference in how easy it is to set up and use the expense tracking app. A user-friendly design streamlines implementation, allowing you to start tracking expenses promptly without encountering technical hurdles. While customer reviews can give you a general idea of user experience, we recommend signing up for a free trial or free plan to test the platform yourself as well.

The Bottom Line

Expense tracking apps can make it easier to record and manage business expenses. There are several apps on the market to consider. We recommend QuickBooks Online and FreshBooks if you want expense management alongside other accounting and bookkeeping features. 

For a dedicated expense tracker, there is Clyr, Concur Expense, Everlance, Shoeboxed, Rydoo, Zoho Expense and Expensify. Everlance and Shoeboxed have basic features for independent contractors and small businesses. Clyr and Concur Expense build custom plans based on your specific needs. Expensify and Zoho Expense have extensive integrations, and Rydoo specializes in tracking and reimbursing employee expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Expense Tracker Apps

Small businesses can track expenses through various methods, including spreadsheets, accounting software and expense tracking apps.

The IRS typically requires receipts for business expenses, but the guidelines may vary based on the type of expense.

All expenses pertaining to the operation of a business should be tracked.

Yes, expense tracking is usually included in accounting software packages.

Some expense tracking apps, such as Zoho Expense and Everlance, have free plans. If they don’t offer a free version, they usually have a free trial.

Methodology

We at the MarketWatch Guides team spent over 100 hours researching and testing 15 accounting software providers. We looked at all-in-one tools, such as QuickBooks, as well as specific tools for mileage tracking and expense management. 

We conducted a survey in 2024 of 200 professionals who were currently using accounting software or had used accounting software within the past year. We analyzed the results of this survey to determine the following rating criteria:

  • Reputation and Reviews (15%)
  • Features (63%)
  • Pricing (10%)
  • User Experience (7%)
  • Customer Support (5%)

Visit the full accounting methodology page for more details on our rating system.

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.

Meaghan Senn Writer

Meaghan Senn is a writer from North Carolina with experience in B2B, technology and digital marketing topics. Throughout her career, Meaghan has worked with B2B, software and digital marketing businesses.

Katie Gray Editor

Katie Gray is a Chicago-based editor. She started her career writing and editing content about home services before transitioning to home improvement products. She has spent the last year and a half working at a software company, managing content about CRM, project management and other business topics.