How to scan receipts into an expense tracker on iPhone
Updated
Paper receipts are the most complete record of what you spent, and the one most likely to end up crumpled in a pocket. Scanning turns that paper into a logged expense in a few seconds. Here is how it works in Cashful, an expense tracker for iPhone, and how to keep it accurate.
From photo to expense in one step
In Cashful you tap the scan button next to the mic on the home screen and take a photo of the receipt, or pick one from your library. The receipt is read and the new-expense form opens already filled in:
- Total — the amount actually paid, including tax, in the receipt's currency.
- Date — read from the receipt, including day-first formats common in Europe.
- Category and account — matched to your own categories and accounts, not a fixed list.
- Items — the line items go into the note, so you can search them later.
What to check before saving
Receipts are messy: faded thermal paper, discounts, deposits, tips. The form is shown before anything is saved, and a five-second glance catches most issues:
- Did the total include a tip or deposit? Adjust the amount with the calculator keyboard if you want to track them separately.
- Was it paid by a different card? Switch the account in one tap.
- Is the category right for you? A pharmacy receipt can be Health or Beauty depending on how you budget.
Scan, speak or type
Scanning is best for long receipts with many items, like a weekly shop. For a single coffee, saying "Coffee 4.50, card" is faster. For a split bill, the calculator keyboard lets you type "86/3" straight into the amount. Keeping all three at hand is what makes daily tracking stick.
Privacy: where the photo goes
The photo you choose is sent, with your app language and the names of your categories and accounts, to Cashful's server, where an AI model (currently Google Gemini) reads it; the photo isn't stored, your balances and history stay on the device, and there is no sign-in or bank connection. Your expenses themselves are stored on your iPhone and, if you turn it on, in your own iCloud. Receipt scanning needs an internet connection.
Getting started with Cashful
Every new Cashful user gets 5 receipt scans and 10 voice entries to try, and manual entry is free without limits. Cashful Pro ($2.99/month or $29.99/year after a 7-day free trial) makes scanning and voice unlimited and adds full analytics, CSV and shared family Spaces. Download Cashful on the App Store, or see how to log expenses by voice.
Questions
Can an expense tracker read receipts automatically?
Yes. In Cashful you photograph a receipt and the total, date, category, account and line items are filled in. You review the form and save it.
What happens to the receipt photo?
For recognition, the photo you choose is sent together with your app language and the names of your categories and accounts; the photo isn't stored on our server, and no balances or history are uploaded. Your expenses are stored on your iPhone and, optionally, in your own iCloud.
Is receipt scanning free?
New users get 5 receipt scans and 10 voice entries to try. Manual entry is free and unlimited. Cashful Pro makes receipt scanning and voice input unlimited.