

- New! AI-powered tools in every plan
- PCMag's best accounting software
- Seamless transition from books to taxes
- Integrates with Mailchimp, payroll & more
- Get 50% off for 3 months


- Intuitive and easy to use
- Supports multiple billing models
- Includes invoicing, HR, and eCommerce


- Automated payroll tax filings
- Simple switchover + flat fee
- Designed to meet growing businesses' needs


- Get 70% off for 3 months
- Designed for small businesses
- Cloud-hosted solution
- Get 50% off for 3 months
- 3M+ customers globally
- Easily sync bank and financial information


- Increases productivity by 40% or more
- Boost efficiency up to 90% by automating tasks
- Trusted by over 24,500 businesses
- Free B2B payment platform
- Pay by card to maximize cash flow
- Seamless accounting software sync
- 24/7 customer support
- Seamless integration: QuickBooks, NetSuite & more
- No commitment, get a free demo


- Ideal for small business growth
- Comprehensive business management solution
- All-in-one CRM and financial software


- New! AI-powered tools in every plan
- PCMag's best accounting software
- Seamless transition from books to taxes
- Integrates with Mailchimp, payroll & more
- Get 50% off for 3 months
What is an expense tracker, and why does it matter?
An expense tracker is a digital tool, typically an app or web-based platform, that logs and categorizes spending. Whether you're a freelancer tracking deductible purchases, a manager monitoring team travel, or a finance officer in a large enterprise, expense tracking helps you understand where money goes and stay financially compliant. These tools often integrate with accounting platforms to automate reporting, tax prep, and reimbursement workflows.
How do expense tracking apps work?
Modern expense tracker apps connect to bank accounts, scan receipts via mobile camera, and categorize spending in real-time. Many offer AI-based suggestions, approval workflows, and mileage tracking - useful whether you're self-employed or overseeing multiple departments.
Who uses expense trackers?
Expense tracking is relevant for:
Freelancers and gig workers: using a self-employed expense tracker app to prep for tax season
Startup teams: managing shared costs and keeping budgets transparent
Corporate finance teams: overseeing travel, procurement, and reimbursements
Anyone tracking business expenses manually or digitally
How do expense trackers help small businesses and self-employed professionals?
For small businesses and self-employed individuals, an expense tracker simplifies day-to-day finances by automating receipt logging, mileage tracking, and purchase categorization. This saves time, improves accuracy, and ensures tax-deductible expenses are properly recorded - making filing easier and helping avoid costly errors.
What features should the best expense tracker include?
Look for tools that offer:
Receipt capture via photo or email import
Bank feed integration to auto-track purchases
Mileage logging for travel-related deductions
Custom categories for granular insights
Multi-user access and permissions
Mobile apps for on-the-go tracking
Cloud sync and backups
Export options for reports or CSVs
What are the most common ways to track business expenses?
Expense tracker apps (e.g., app-connected platforms with automation)
Manual spreadsheets (e.g., a business expense spreadsheet for basic tracking)
Bank summaries with labeled transactions
Hybrid approaches combining paper, email, and digital logs
Why choose a dedicated expense tracking platform?
Using a dedicated platform for expense tracking offers far more than spreadsheets or manual methods. These tools combine automation, mobile access, and real-time insights - saving time and reducing errors. With features like bank syncing, receipt scanning, and integrated reporting, platforms help users stay organized, audit-ready, and focused on growing their business instead of chasing down receipts.
How does expense tracking integrate with accounting software?
Most modern tools integrate directly with platforms for:
Real-time syncing with general ledgers
Auto-filling tax forms
Reimbursement approvals
Invoice matching and fraud detection
What are the benefits of using a digital expense tracker?
Accuracy: Reduces manual errors
Speed: Cuts down on data entry time
Visibility: Real-time dashboards show spending trends
Compliance: Easier audit trails and tax filings
Scalability: Grows with your needs - whether you're solo or scaling globally
How tracking expenses can help you grow
Tracking expenses isn’t just about compliance; it’s about growth. By using the best expense tracking tools, businesses gain insights into spending patterns, identify savings opportunities, and plan for the future with confidence.
What should you avoid when tracking expenses?
Mixing personal and business spending in one account
Lack of categorization, making reports unclear
Forgetting to log cash transactions
Ignoring small purchases that add up over time
Relying only on spreadsheets for dynamic team needs
Key takeaways
Expense tracking is essential for individuals and teams of any size, helping maintain financial clarity and control. While spreadsheets can work, apps now offer more automation and accuracy, making them the preferred choice. Features such as mobile access, bank synchronization, and cloud backups have become must-haves for modern users. Self employed professionals gain value from tax-ready reports that grow with their business, while larger enterprises benefit from multi-user access and policy controls. The best approach is to start small, then scale your expense tracking tools as your financial needs evolve.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1Intelligent OCR-backed receipt processing
- Best For - Best online accounting software overall
- Price range - From $12.50 / month
- Free trial or free version - Free 30-day trial
Intelligent OCR-backed receipt processingRead QuickBooks ReviewQuickbooks is a comprehensive accounting system designed for small businesses through to organizations at the advanced scales of staging.
The tool includes OCR-backed expense receipt tracking, invoice issuing, and for an add-on users can add the payroll functionality. Not all features are available on the mobile apps, but users can even use these, in conjunction with hardware, to process payments.
QuickBooks Pros & Cons
PROS
Apps for iOS and AndroidProject profitability trackingEasy hour billing with integrationsCONS
No free tierNot all features available on mobile - 2Powerful, customizable, extensible ERM.
- Best For - Enterprises and global companies
- Price range - $999+
- Free trial or free version - No (Demos available)
Powerful, customizable, extensible ERM.Read Oracle NetSuite ReviewNetSuite is hard to beat in terms of power and customizability, although it comes with a steep learning curve. The user support is also quite limited for basic subscribers, another reason why smaller businesses may find the experience too labor-intensive. The suite, however, is extensive enough to replace a variety of other operational and logistical applications (like CRM and HR), which can ultimately reduce the overall cost, both in terms of labor and money.
NetSuite is an excellent solution for enterprises and global companies that need to manage large operations with many moving parts and which have the human and financial resources to use NetSuite’s powerful platform to build the perfect ERM solution.
Oracle NetSuite Pros & Cons
PROS
Highly customizableExtremely powerful budgeting, forecasting and reportingAll-in-one solution (HR, project management, inventory, etc.)CONS
Complex to set-up and operateCan be very costly - 3Streamlined payroll and benefits management
- Best For - Best accounting software with HR
- Price range - From $6 / month
- Free trial or free version - Free 30-day trial
Streamlined payroll and benefits managementRead Gusto ReviewGusto is one of the best payroll services for small businesses of today, and it’s also a good choice for freelancers and contractors. Providing automatic tax filing, a list of HR benefits, including health, dental, vision, college funds, 401k, and the ability to run unlimited payrolls, Gusto is a cost-effective way for businesses to streamline their monthly accounts.
It’s also nice that Gusto integrates with a lot of other applications, including accounting programs like QuickBooks Online, Xero, and FreshBooks. You can also sync your time tracking apps (like Time Tracker or Homebase) and expense management tools like Expensify to have an all-inclusive database for your accounts.
Gusto Pros & Cons
PROS
All-in-one platform for payroll, benefits, and HRAccess to financial benefits (401k, HSA, FSA, 529)Access to tools designed to help with hiring and managing teamsCONS
No PEO optionOnly manual processing for mandated deductions