How to scan receipts to track spending automatically
4 min read · Updated 2026-07-15
Manually typing out every purchase is the fastest way to abandon a budget. Spenzo’s AI receipt scanner turns a photo into a categorised transaction in seconds. Here’s how.
What you’ll learn
- Open the scanner and snap a photo
- AI reads merchant, amount, date and category
- Review the confidence score and confirm
- Your transaction is logged and categorised
Why scan instead of type?
The biggest reason budgets fail isn’t bad math — it’s friction. If logging a coffee takes a minute of typing, you’ll stop doing it. Scanning removes that friction: a photo becomes a fully categorised expense in seconds.
It also improves accuracy. The AI reads the exact total and date from the receipt, so you’re not rounding or misremembering later.
What the AI reads
Point your camera at any receipt and Spenzo extracts the details that matter:
- Merchant — who you paid.
- Amount — the total on the receipt.
- Date — when the purchase happened.
- Category — a smart suggestion you can confirm or change.
Each scan comes with a confidence score, so you know when to give it a quick double-check.
Tips for the best results
Good scans start with a clear photo. Lay the receipt flat, get even lighting, and include the whole receipt in frame. Crumpled or faded receipts still usually work — just review the extracted amount before saving.
Once saved, the expense lands in your transactions and counts toward your budget and daily safe-to-spend immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Is receipt scanning free?
Receipt scanning is a Premium feature, included in your free 14-day trial so you can try it before subscribing.
What if the AI gets a detail wrong?
Every scan shows a confidence score and lets you edit any field before saving, so you’re always in control of what’s logged.