Short answer
Zoho Expense is a strong choice for small teams that need approvals, policies, mileage or corporate cards; its free plan covers 3 users with 20 autoscans each a month. NexaLink Scanner is the alternative for sole traders who want receipts read on their phone, organised by project, and exported free — with a Zoho Books connection planned.
Key takeaways
- Zoho Expense Free: up to 3 users, 20 autoscans per user per month. Standard $3 and Premium $5 per user per month billed annually.[1]
- Zoho Expense includes GPS mileage, approvals and corporate card management — team features NexaLink does not have.[1]
- NexaLink Scanner: Free 50 receipts; Pro $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr unlimited.
- Zoho Books users: NexaLink's Zoho Books connection is planned; CSV works today.
What Zoho Expense covers
Zoho Expense is part of Zoho's business suite. Its free plan handles up to three users with 20 autoscans per user each month, expense reports, GPS mileage and accounting integrations. Standard adds corporate card management, multiple expense policies, SSO and approvals; Premium adds advanced approvals, budgets and multi-entity management.[1]
| Plan | Price | Autoscans per user/month |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, up to 3 users | 20[1] |
| Standard | $3/user/month billed annually; $4 monthly | 200[1] |
| Premium | $5/user/month billed annually; $6 monthly | 1,000[1] |
Team expense management versus a solo record
Zoho Expense is shaped around people who spend company money and the people who approve it. If that is not you, the useful part is the scanning; the rest is configuration. The free plan's 20 autoscans per user is plenty for some freelancers and tight for anyone with daily purchases, such as a tradesperson buying materials.
NexaLink Scanner is built for the solo record: you capture, the phone reads, you confirm anything uncertain, and the receipt lands in a category and (on Pro) a project. Free has a total of 50 receipts rather than a monthly autoscan allowance, and Pro is unlimited.
- Expense management vs receipt organiser
- Expense-management software routes spending through policies, approvals and reimbursement. A receipt organiser keeps a complete, searchable, exportable record of what was spent. Sole traders usually need the second.
Zoho Expense vs NexaLink Scanner
| Zoho Expense | NexaLink Scanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Teams with approvers and policies[1] | Sole traders, freelancers, contractors |
| Free plan | 3 users, 20 autoscans/user/month[1] | 50 receipts, CSV export |
| Paid | Per user per month[1] | Per account: Pro $4.99/mo, Premium $7.99/mo |
| Mileage tracking | Yes, GPS[1] | No |
| Approvals / corporate cards | Standard and above[1] | No |
| Zoho Books | Same suite | Connection planned; CSV today |
| Where receipts are read | Zoho's service | On your phone |
If you use Zoho Books
Zoho Books users get a natural fit with Zoho Expense. If you prefer NexaLink's on-device capture, export CSV and import it into Zoho Books, or follow the Zoho Books page for the planned direct connection. Indian businesses using Zoho Books should also read GST receipts in India.
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
Is Zoho Expense free?
Zoho Expense has a free plan for up to three users with 20 autoscans per user per month.[1]
Does NexaLink Scanner track mileage like Zoho Expense?
No. NexaLink captures receipts. For mileage logs, use a dedicated mileage tracker or Zoho Expense.
Can NexaLink Scanner send receipts to Zoho Books?
Not yet; the Zoho Books connection is planned. Export a CSV today and import it.
Which is better for a sole trader?
If you need nothing but a clean record of receipts, NexaLink Scanner is simpler and keeps data on your phone. If you want mileage, approvals or a Zoho-suite workflow, Zoho Expense is the better fit.
How many receipts can I scan free?
NexaLink Free covers 50 receipts in total. Zoho Expense Free allows 20 autoscans per user per month.[1]
Is NexaLink Scanner multi-user?
No, it is a single-user app. Accountant sharing is part of Premium as it launches.
Sources
- Zoho Expense — Pricing (US) — checked on 2026-11-10