Short answer
Shoeboxed suits people with boxes of paper to post off for scanning; plans started at $9 a month for 50 digital scans when we checked. NexaLink Scanner is the alternative if you capture receipts on your phone as you go: it reads them on the device, flags uncertain totals, and is free for 50 receipts with free CSV export.
Key takeaways
- Shoeboxed plans: Starter $9/mo, Pro $29/mo, Plus $79/mo, Paper Plus $179/mo (cheaper yearly).[1]
- The Magic Envelope mail-in scanning service is Shoeboxed's unique strength; QuickBooks Online and Xero integration start on Pro.[1]
- NexaLink Scanner has no mail-in service: it is a phone app that reads receipts on the device.
- If you have a backlog of paper, Shoeboxed's envelope may be worth one month; for ongoing capture, a phone app is cheaper.
What Shoeboxed offers
Shoeboxed combines a receipt app with a scanning service. Alongside digital uploads, its plans include a number of paper scans and Magic Envelopes — prepaid envelopes you fill with receipts and post, and Shoeboxed scans the contents.[1]
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Digital scans/month | QuickBooks / Xero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $9 | $97 | 50 | No[1] |
| Pro | $29 | $297 | 250 | Yes[1] |
| Plus | $79 | $797 | 1,000 | Yes[1] |
| Paper Plus | $179 | $1,997 | 5,000 | Yes[1] |
Do you need mail-in scanning?
Mail-in scanning is genuinely useful in one situation: a backlog. If you have a year of receipts in a carrier bag and a deadline, paying someone to scan them can be worth it.
For ongoing capture it is the slow route. Paper fades (thermal receipts especially), gets lost between the till and the envelope, and you only find out the total was unreadable weeks later. Capturing at the point of purchase — in the van, at the table, at the till — gives you a readable record while you can still ask for a reprint.
Shoeboxed vs NexaLink Scanner
| Shoeboxed | NexaLink Scanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Mail-in paper scanning | Yes — Magic Envelope[1] | No |
| Entry price | $9/month (Starter)[1] | Free (50 receipts); Pro $4.99/month |
| Accounting integration | QuickBooks Online and Xero from Pro[1] | Not live — Xero first (V1.1), QuickBooks Online next (V1.2); CSV free |
| Where receipts are processed | Shoeboxed's service | On your phone |
| Uncertain totals | Processed by the service | Flagged; you confirm before saving |
| Projects / jobs | Categories and folders | Projects and tags on Pro |
A workable combination for a backlog
- If the backlog is large, consider one month of a mail-in service for the old paper, then cancel.
- From today, capture new receipts in NexaLink Scanner the day you get them.
- Keep categories consistent across both so your accountant gets one picture — see how to organize receipts for a small business.
- If the backlog is small, skip the envelope and use NexaLink's batch mode on a Sunday afternoon.
Once a receipt is captured clearly and completely, many tax authorities accept the digital copy as the record — but rules differ by country. Read going paperless with receipts before you throw paper away.
Key facts about NexaLink Scanner
- What it is: NexaLink Scanner is a private receipt and expense organiser for iOS and Android, built for freelancers, sole traders, contractors and small businesses. It is not accounting software and does not file tax returns.
- How it reads receipts: text is read on the phone (on-device OCR) and capture works offline. Merchant, date, total and tax are filled in; any value it is unsure of is flagged, and a low-confidence total cannot be saved until you confirm it.
- Where data lives: receipts are stored on your phone and do not sync to the web. Data leaves only when you export it.
- Free plan: 50 receipts, on-device reading, search, 5 default categories and CSV export. CSV export is free on every plan, always.
- Pro: $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year — unlimited receipts, custom categories, projects and tags, a PDF expense report in the app, tax and multi-currency reports. Image ZIP export and Xero / QuickBooks import files are coming soon.
- Accounting connections (none live yet): Xero — First · V1.1 · QuickBooks Online — Next · V1.2 · FreeAgent — Planned · Sage Accounting — Planned · Zoho Books — Planned · TallyPrime — Import file first. CSV export works with any accounting tool today. Status as of 2026-11-10; see accounting integrations.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Shoeboxed cost?
When we checked, Starter was $9 a month (50 digital scans), Pro $29, Plus $79 and Paper Plus $179, with lower yearly prices.[1]
Does NexaLink Scanner have a mail-in service?
No. It is a phone app. You capture receipts with the camera; text is read on the device.
Which Shoeboxed plans connect to QuickBooks or Xero?
Shoeboxed lists QuickBooks Online and Xero on Pro and above, not on Starter.[1]
Can NexaLink Scanner handle a stack of old receipts?
Yes, batch mode is designed for a pile of receipts captured in one go. Each still gets checked for uncertain totals.
Is there a free Shoeboxed alternative?
NexaLink Scanner's Free plan covers 50 receipts with search, five categories and CSV export.
Can I throw away paper receipts after scanning?
Often yes, if the digital copy is complete and legible, but it depends on your country and situation. See our guide to going paperless with receipts.
Sources
- Shoeboxed — Pricing — checked on 2026-11-10