Receipt Scanning Apps: Australian Comparison 2026
Comparing the top receipt scanning apps for Australian landlords, contractors, and small businesses. We tested ReceiptClaimer, Dext, Expensify, and Hubdoc to find the best value for ATO compliance.
Contents
1. Why Digital Receipt Scanning?
Paper receipts fade, get lost, and are a nightmare to organize at tax time. The ATO accepts digital records, and scanning receipts has three major benefits:
- ATO Compliance: Digital records meet ATO requirements if stored for 5 years and show all transaction details
- Time Savings: Average 15+ hours saved at tax time by having receipts automatically categorized
- Higher Deductions: Organized records help you claim every legitimate deduction (average $2,000+ extra recovered)
💡 ATO Requirement
The Australian Taxation Office requires you to keep records for 5 years. Digital copies are acceptable as long as they clearly show: date, supplier, amount, GST (if applicable), and description of purchase.(ATO source)
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2. Feature Comparison Matrix
We tested each app for 3 months across 200+ receipts. Here's how they compare:
| Feature | ReceiptClaimer | Dext | Expensify | Hubdoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $19 AUD | $35-50 AUD | $5-20 USD | $20 AUD |
| Australian Tax Categories | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ US-only | ⚠️ Limited |
| GST Tracking | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Automatic | ❌ Manual | ✅ Automatic |
| Rental Property Tracking | ✅ Built-in | ⚠️ Workarounds | ❌ No | ⚠️ Tags only |
| Email Receipt Forwarding | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile App Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Accountant Sharing | ✅ Free | ✅ Paid addon | ✅ Team plans | ✅ Xero users |
| Free Tier | Free tier | ❌ No | 25 scans/month | ❌ No |
| Best For | Landlords | Accountants | US businesses | Xero users |
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3. ReceiptClaimer (Best for Australian Landlords)
🏆 Our Recommendation
Best value for Australian landlords and property investors. Purpose-built for Australian tax compliance with multi-property tracking at the lowest price point.
Pros:
- Australian-Specific: Pre-configured with ATO tax categories for landlords, contractors, and small businesses
- Multi-Property Tracking: Track expenses across unlimited rental properties separately (crucial for depreciation schedules)
- Best Price: $19/month for unlimited receipts (competitors charge $35-50/month)
- Free Tier: Free plan available with monthly limits (great for casual users)
- Smart Categorization: AI learns your patterns and auto-categorizes receipts (95%+ accuracy after 20 receipts)
- Email Forwarding: Forward receipts from online purchases to your unique email address
- GST Tracking: Automatically calculates GST-inclusive amounts for BAS reporting
- Accountant Access: Share your receipts with your accountant for free (no extra seat charges)
Cons:
- Newer Product: Less brand recognition than Dext or Expensify
- Limited Integrations: Currently doesn't integrate with Xero/MYOB (exports to CSV/PDF)
- Mobile App: Good but not as polished as Dext's premium app
Pricing:
- Free: Limited receipts, 1 property, basic categorization
- Pro ($19/month): Unlimited receipts, unlimited properties, smart categorization, email forwarding, accountant access, priority support
💰 Example ROI:
Landlord with 2 rental properties spending $19/month ($228/year):
- Saves 15+ hours at tax time (worth $750 at $50/hour)
- Recovers $2,000 in previously missed deductions
- Avoids $500 in accountant fees for receipt organization
- Total value: $3,250 vs $228 cost = 14x ROI
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4. Dext (Enterprise Option)
Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) is the market leader for accountants and established businesses. Premium features come at a premium price.
Pros:
- Best-in-Class OCR: Industry-leading accuracy (98%+) for receipt data extraction
- Premium Mobile App: Slickest interface with batch scanning and offline mode
- Xero/MYOB Integration: Real-time sync with accounting software
- Bank Feeds: Automatically pulls transactions from bank accounts
- Invoice Management: Full AP/AR capabilities for businesses
- Accountant Network: Thousands of Australian accountants already use Dext
Cons:
- Expensive: $35-50/month for individual plans (2-3x more than alternatives)
- Overkill for Landlords: Many features (AP/AR, team workflows) unnecessary for property investors
- No Free Tier: Must pay to try (14-day trial available)
- Property Tracking: Requires manual workarounds (tags, custom categories)
Pricing:
- Prepare: $35/month - Basic receipt capture
- Precision: $50/month - Full features + integrations
- Business: Custom pricing for teams
Best for: Accountants managing multiple clients, established businesses with complex AP/AR needs, or users who need Xero/MYOB integration and have budget for premium features.
5. Expensify (US-Focused)
Expensify is a US-based expense management platform with 10+ million users globally. However, it's not optimized for Australian tax compliance.
Pros:
- Cheap Entry: Free tier with 25 scans/month, paid plans from $5 USD/month
- Mature Platform: 15+ years of development, very stable
- Mileage Tracking: GPS-based mileage tracking (though uses US IRS rates)
- Corporate Cards: Integration with Visa/Amex for automatic imports
Cons:
- US-Centric Categories: Default categories are IRS-based, not ATO-compliant
- No GST Support: Manual entry required for GST tracking (major pain point)
- No Australian Bank Integrations: Can't connect CommBank, NAB, Westpac, etc.
- USD Pricing: Exchange rates make it more expensive than listed price
- Landlord Features: Zero support for rental property expense tracking
Pricing:
- Free: 25 SmartScans/month (limited features)
- Track: $5 USD/month (~$8 AUD) - Basic tracking
- Submit: $10 USD/month (~$15 AUD) - Approval workflows
- Control: $18 USD/month (~$27 AUD) - Corporate features
Best for: US-based businesses or Australians with US clients who need US-specific reporting. Not recommended for Australian landlords or businesses focused on ATO compliance.
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6. Hubdoc (Xero Integration)
Hubdoc is owned by Xero and designed as the official document management solution for Xero users. Tight integration but limited standalone value.
Pros:
- Xero Native: Seamless one-click sync with Xero accounting software
- Bank Statement Fetching: Automatically retrieves bank/credit card statements
- Reasonable Price: $20/month AUD for unlimited documents
- Multi-Entity: Can separate documents by company/entity
Cons:
- Requires Xero: Limited value if you're not a Xero subscriber ($39+/month)
- Basic Categorization: Relies on Xero for categories (no smart learning)
- Property Tracking: Only supports tags (not true multi-property separation)
- Mobile App: Functional but dated interface
- No Free Tier: Must subscribe to both Hubdoc + Xero ($59+/month combined)
Pricing:
- Standard: $20 AUD/month - Unlimited documents
- Note: Requires active Xero subscription ($39-75/month)
Best for: Existing Xero users who want tighter integration. Not recommended as a standalone receipt scanning solution due to limited features and Xero dependency.
7. Our Verdict: Which App Should You Choose?
🏆 Best for Landlords & Property Investors:
ReceiptClaimer - Purpose-built for Australian landlords with multi-property tracking, ATO-compliant categories, and the lowest price ($19/month).
Try free →🏢 Best for Established Businesses:
Dext - Premium features, best-in-class OCR, and Xero/MYOB integration justify the $35-50/month cost for businesses with complex needs.
💼 Best for Xero Users:
Hubdoc - If you're already paying for Xero, the $20/month add-on makes sense for seamless integration.
⚠️ Skip for Australian Users:
Expensify - US-focused features don't align with Australian tax requirements. Lack of GST support and ATO categories makes it unsuitable for most Australian users.
💡 Quick Decision Matrix:
You're a landlord with 1-3 properties? → ReceiptClaimer (best value + landlord features)
You run an accounting practice? → Dext (premium features worth the cost)
You're already on Xero? → Hubdoc (native integration)
You have US clients/operations? → Expensify (only if you need US reporting)
You're a casual user? → ReceiptClaimer Free (no brainer)
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8. Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ATO accept digital receipts?
Yes. The ATO accepts digital copies of receipts as long as they're stored for 5 years and clearly show: date, supplier, amount, GST (if applicable), and description. Scanned receipts, photos, and email receipts all qualify.(ATO source)
Can I switch apps without losing my receipts?
Yes. All apps allow you to export receipts as PDF or CSV. Download your archive before canceling your old subscription, then upload to your new app. ReceiptClaimer offers free migration assistance if you're switching from Dext or Expensify.
What about free apps like CamScanner or Google Drive?
You can use free scanning apps, but you'll miss automated categorization, GST tracking, and ATO-compliant exports. Most users spend 10+ extra hours at tax time manually organizing receipts. A $19/month tool that saves 15 hours is worth $750+ in time value ($50/hour).
Do these apps share my financial data?
Reputable apps (all listed here) don't sell your data. Check each app's privacy policy. ReceiptClaimer is Australian-owned, stores data in Australian AWS servers, and complies with Australian Privacy Principles.
Can my accountant access my receipts?
Yes. All apps offer accountant access:
- ReceiptClaimer: Free accountant access (share link)
- Dext: Accountant access included (they may charge you)
- Expensify: Requires team plan
- Hubdoc: Built for accountant collaboration
Ready to Stop Losing Receipts?
Start with ReceiptClaimer's free tier and see if digital receipt tracking saves you time. Upgrade to Pro ($19/month) when you're ready for unlimited receipts and multi-property tracking.
Start Free →No credit card required • Free plan available • Upgrade anytime
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