Receipt scanner app

A receipt scanner app for expense claims, tax records and reimbursements

Short answer: Scanly is a free receipt scanner app for Android. It recognises receipts as a document type, lets you find a receipt by the store name printed on it, and exports receipts as a PDF or ZIP for expense claims and tax records.

Paper receipts go missing quickly, and a reimbursement or a tax return usually needs the original paperwork. A receipt scanner app turns a crumpled slip into a dated, sorted file that you can find again in a few taps, without keeping a loose pile in a drawer.

Scanly is designed for this kind of document. It recognises receipts on the device, reads the text printed on the page so you can search by it, and keeps everything on your phone. It does not extract totals or connect to accounting software, so treat it as a filing tool rather than a bookkeeping one.

Install Scanly free on Google Play (Android 10+, no account, no ads)

How to file a receipt in Scanly

  1. Make a folder

    Create a folder for the month or trip first, so every receipt has a home from the start.

  2. Scan the receipt

    Capture it in a multi-page session, then crop it and choose a filter that keeps the printed text dark and readable.

  3. Find it later

    Search by the store name. Search works on the words printed on the page, so a supermarket or hardware chain name brings up its receipts.

  4. Export for your claim

    Export the document as a PDF or a ZIP of images, then share it or save it to Downloads/Scanly.

Capture a stack of receipts quickly

  • Use a multi-page session to scan several receipts in one go, and retake any single receipt that came out blurry.
  • Quality hints warn about a dark or blurry shot before you save it.
  • Magic Color, Grayscale or B&W can make the printed text stand out on a faded slip.
  • Import photos of receipts you already took, up to 50 at a time, from your gallery or Google Photos.

Find a receipt again

Search matches document names and the words printed on your pages, so typing a store name returns the receipts that show it. Documents sit in folders, and six sort options help you order the list.

Group receipts by month or trip

Create a folder for each month, client or trip, and keep each receipt in the folder it belongs to. If a statement or claim form lists receipts in a particular order, you can drag pages into that order before you export.

Send receipts for a claim or a return

  • Export a document as a PDF with page numbers, a set page size or auto-fit, and margins that suit the form you are filling in.
  • Export a ZIP of JPEG images when someone asks for image files rather than a PDF.
  • Add an open password to a PDF that contains personal or financial details.
  • Share through the Android share sheet, or save to Downloads/Scanly.

What the app does not do

Scanly does not total up amounts, extract tax fields, or connect to accounting or expense software. Read the amounts yourself, then enter them into the system your employer or accountant uses. Receipts stay on the phone unless you share them, and there is no cloud sync to back them up across devices.

Questions people ask

Can Scanly scan receipts for expense reports?
Yes. Scanly scans receipts to PDF, recognises receipts as a document type, and exports them for an expense claim or a reimbursement request.
Can I search my receipts by store name?
Yes. Search looks at document names and at the words printed on your pages, so a store name finds the receipts that show it.
Does Scanly add up totals or work with accounting software?
No. Scanly does not extract totals and does not connect to accounting or expense apps. It files and exports receipts, and you enter the amounts in your own system.
Are my receipts uploaded anywhere?
Scanning and text recognition happen on your phone. Receipts leave the device only when you export or share them.
Which file format should I send to my accountant?
Ask the person who needs them which format they accept. Scanly exports PDFs and ZIP files of JPEG images, so either can be sent once you know which one they want.

Last checked 2026-10-22. Markdown version