How to Use Expensify to Automate Your Expense Reports in 2026?

Keeping track of paper receipts is a big hassle.

Do you hate stuffing crumpled paper into your pockets? We all do.

If you lose those receipts, you actually lose your own money.

That stress adds up quickly. Tax time becomes a nightmare, and nobody wants that.

But there is an easier way to handle it.

Expensify automates the whole messy process for you. It scans receipts instantly.

Then it automatically builds your reports.

Stop wasting your valuable time on paperwork. Learn how to use Expensify right now.

Expensify

Save 83% of your time on paperwork. Small teams can save $37,859 by switching to Expensify. Join 15 million users and start your free trial today!

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Expensify Tutorial

Mastering Expensify is simple. You do not need technical skills.

We will guide you through the process.

First, download the mobile app. Next, snap a picture of any receipt.

SmartScan reads the numbers automatically.

Finally, submit your report for approval.

It really is that easy to manage your money.

How to Use Expense Management Feature

Managing your money should not be a full-time job.

With an expense management platform like Expensify, you can stop worrying about lost receipts.

This system helps you manage expenses without the stress of manual data entry.

You can keep your financial data organized and up to date with just a few taps.

Step 1: Capture Your Receipts with SmartScan Technology

The first step in Expensify is getting your receipts into the system.

You don’t need to type in prices or dates yourself.

• Open the app on your mobile device.
• Use the smart scan feature to take a photo of your paper receipt.
• If you have a digital receipt, forward it from your email or phone number directly to the app.
• The AI will read the receipt and fill in the details for you.

Step 2: Organize with Expense Categories and Mileage

Once your receipts are in, you need to tell the system what they are for.

This keeps your financial operations running smoothly and helps you identify spending trends later.

• Assign each item to a specific expense category, such as “Travel,” “Meals,” or “Office Supplies.
• Use the app to track mileage if you drive for work; it uses GPS to calculate distance automatically.
• Check that each entry complies with your company policies to avoid issues later.

Step 3: Use Approval Workflows and Syncing

The final part of the expense management process is getting your money back.

Expensify connects to your accounting software to make this fast.

• Submit your items into tailored reports that show exactly what you spent.
• The system uses approval workflows to send your report to the right manager.
• Once they approve expenses, the data syncs with your company’s books.
• You get paid back directly into your bank account.

How to Use Expensify Expense Reports

Creating reports is the best way for businesses and employees to stay organized.

This platform makes it easy to group your spending so you can get reimbursed quickly.

You can use your own device to handle everything while you are away from the office.

Step 1: Create a New Report Folder

The first step is creating a place for your receipts.

You want to keep things neat, so there are no errors when it is time for a manager to sign off on your money.

• Open the Expensify system and go to the reports tab.
• Click to create a new report and give it a clear name based on projects or the current date.
• You can access your past reports here as well if you need to check old data.
• If you use an Expensify card, your transactions will show up here automatically to streamline the process.

Step 2: Add Expenses and Check Rules

Now you need to put your receipts into the report.

You musensure thatre everythincomplies withws the rules your company has set.

This keeps everyone in compliance and protects the company’s funds.

• Pick the individual expenses or invoices you want to include.
• Move them into your new report folder.
• Look for any red flags from the system that show a mistake.
• Users can see if they spent too much in certain departments before they hit submit.

Step 3: Submit for Approval

Once your report looks good, it is time to send it away.

This functionality is what makes Expensify so helpful for users who want to save time.

• Review the final total to make sure it matches your actual spending.
• Hit the “Submit” button to send it to the right person.
• You can even find YouTube tutorials if you get stuck on a specific step.
• Once you establish this habit, you won’t have to worry about losing money again.

How to Use Expensify Bill Pay and Invoicing

Managing money coming in and going out is vital for any business.

Expensify helps you handle bills and send invoices without the stress of messy spreadsheets.

You can manage everything from one simple screen.

Step 1: Set Up Your Business Billing Profile

Before you send your first bill, you need to tell the system who you are. This ensures your documents look professional to your clients and vendors.

• Go to your settings and enter your legal business name and tax ID.
• Upload your company logo so it appears on every invoice you send.
• Link your business bank account so you can receive payments or pay vendors directly.

Step 2: Create and Send a Professional Invoice

Getting paid for your hard work should be the easy part. You can create an invoice in seconds and send it to your client’s inbox.

• Click on “New Invoice” and type in your client’s email address.
• Add line items for the work you did or the products you sold.
• Set a due date for the payment and hit the “Send” button.
• The system will track if the client has opened or paid the invoice yet.

Step 3: Pay Company Bills Electronically

Paying your own bills is just as simple as getting paid. You can keep all your outgoing money organized in one place.

• Forward any bills you receive to your unique Expensify email address.
• Review the bill details that the system automatically pulls from the document.
• Use the approval workflow to make sure the right person okays the spend.
• Click to pay the vendor via ACH or credit card without leaving the app.

Alternatives to Expensify

• Dext: This software focuses on automating data extraction from receipts and invoices. It saves time on manual data entry by digitizing your paperwork.
• Docyt: This platform is built on AI to automate bookkeeping and back-office tasks. Docyt aims to eliminate manual data entry and provide real-time financial insights, making it a powerful alternative for businesses that want a highly automated solution.
• Sage: A powerful platform that offers solutions for businesses of all sizes. It is a strong alternative, especially for companies with more complex financial needs.
• Xero: This is a popular cloud-based accounting platform. It’s an alternative for Atera’s bookkeeping features, offering tools for invoicing, bank reconciliation, and expense tracking.
• Easy Month End: This specialized software is designed specifically to simplify the financial close process. It integrates with other accounting platforms like QuickBooks and Xero to ensure a smooth and easy month end.
• Puzzle io: This is a modern accounting software built specifically for startups. It helps with financial reporting and automation, offering real-time insights and a focus on streamlining the books for a faster close.
• Sage: A well-known provider of business management software, Sage offers a range of accounting and financial solutions that can serve as an alternative to Atera’s financial management module.
• Synder: This software focuses on syncing your e-commerce and payment platforms with your accounting software. It’s a useful alternative for businesses that need to automate data flow from sales channels into their books.
• Easy Month End: This tool is designed specifically to streamline the month-end closing process. It’s a specialized alternative for businesses that want to improve and automate their financial reporting and reconciliation tasks.
• Docyt: An AI-powered bookkeeping platform, Docyt automates financial workflows. It is a direct competitor for Atera’s AI-driven bookkeeping features, offering real-time data and automated document management.
• RefreshMe: This is a personal financial management platform. While not a direct business alternative, it offers similar features like expense and invoice tracking.
• Wave: This is a popular free financial software. It’s a good choice for freelancers and small businesses for invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning.
• Quicken: A well-known tool for personal and small business finance. It helps with budgeting, spending tracking, and financial planning.
• Hubdoc: This software is a document management tool. It automatically fetches your financial documents and syncs them to your accounting software.
• QuickBooks: One of the most widely used accounting software programs. QuickBooks is a strong alternative that offers a full set of tools for financial management.
• AutoEntry: This tool automates data entry. It is a good alternative for the receipt and invoice capture features within Atera.
• FreshBooks: This program is great for invoicing and accounting. It is popular with freelancers and small businesses that need a simple way to track time and expenses.
• NetSuite: A powerful and complete cloud-based business management suite. NetSuite is an alternative for larger businesses that need more than just financial management.

Expensify Compared

• Expensify vs Puzzle: This software focuses on AI-powered financial planning for startups. Its counterpart is for personal finance.
• Expensify vs Dext: This is a business tool for capturing receipts and invoices. The other tool tracks personal expenses.
• Expensify vs Xero: This is popular online accounting software for small businesses. Its competitor is for personal use.
• Expensify vs Synder: This tool syncs e-commerce data with accounting software. Its alternative focuses on personal finance.
• Expensify vs Easy Month End: This is a business tool to streamline month-end tasks. Its competitor is for managing personal finances.
• Expensify vs Docyt: This uses AI for business bookkeeping and automation. The other uses AI as a personal finance assistant.
• Expensify vs Sage: This is a comprehensive business accounting suite. Its competitor is an easier-to-use tool for personal finance.
• Expensify vs Zoho Books: This is an online accounting tool for small businesses. Its competitor is for personal use.
• Expensify vs Wave: This provides free accounting software for small businesses. Its counterpart is designed for individuals.
• Expensify vs Hubdoc: This specializes in document capture for bookkeeping. Its competitor is a personal finance tool.
• Expensify vs QuickBooks: This is well-known accounting software for businesses. Its alternative is built for personal finance.
• Expensify vs AutoEntry: This is designed to automate data entry for business accounting. Its alternative is a personal finance tool.
• Expensify vs FreshBooks: This is accounting software for freelancers and small businesses. Its alternative is for personal finance.
• Expensify vs NetSuite: This is a powerful business management suite for large companies. Its competitor is a simple personal finance app.

Conclusion

Learning how to use Expensify is a smart move for your work life.

You can say goodbye to lost receipts and messy piles of paper.

The simple interface makes it easy for any individual to get started.

Just select the features you need, and the dashboard will show you your spending trends.

You can sync your bank accountdirectly witho the system.

This helps reduce mistakes and ensure total accuracy.

Your manager will love how fast you follow company policies.

Do not let the complexities of business travel slow you down anymore.

It only takes one tap to start. You can level up your workflow today.

Join the many people who focus on their work instead of paperwork.

Start by starting your first report right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Facts about Expensify

• Pick Your Account: When you sign up, you can choose between a personal account or your business account.
• The Dashboard: After you join, you get a main screen that shows your recent spending and reports that need work.
• Make it Yours: You can create your own spending categories and rules when you set up your account.
• Mistake Finder: The app automatically points out if you break a rule or enter the same receipt twice.
• Get Paid Back: You can send your reports through the app to get reimbursed for work costs.
• Approval Steps: Bosses can review and approve your spending before any money is paid out.
• Extra Security: You can also enable two-factor authentication to keep your account even safer.
• SmartScan: You can take a picture of a receipt, and the app “reads” it to find the date, store name, and price.
• Work Anywhere: The mobile app lets you do almost everything on your phone, even without an internet connection. connection
• Easy Sending: You can build and send whole reports right from your smartphone.
• Email Receipts: You can forward receipts from your email to the app, and it will process them for you.
• Travel Help: The app integrates with travel tools so you can book trips and easily track costs.
• Automatic Work: Expensify handles the hard parts, from scanning the paper to putting money in your bank.
• Right Person, Right Time: The system knows exactly which manager should see your report based on company rules.
• Rule Watcher: The app continuously checks your spending against your company’s rules to ensure everything is in order.
• Group Workspace: You can create a “Workspace” to keep your team’s expenses organized.
• Accounting Links: Expensify talks to tools like QuickBooks and Xero to keep the math correct.
• Pro Tip: For the best results, scan receipts as soon as you get them and use the same names for your categories.
• Card Links: Link your own credit card so your purchases appear in the app automatically.
• The Expensify Card: Using their special card can give you 2% back on your spending and even lower your monthly bill by half.
• Distance Tracker: The app uses GPS to see how far you drove for work and calculates how much money you should get back.
• Live Spending: You can watch how much money is being spent in real-time on your dashboard.
• Budgets: You can set a spending limit and receive a warning if you exceed it.
• Scheduled Submit: A feature that collects your receipts and automatically sends them to your boss on a set day.