Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Zoho Expense

zoho.com

From $4/mo Free plan WebmacOSiOSAndroidAPIBrowser extension
Visit zoho.com
Spec score 8.6 #2 of 16 in Expense Report Software

What it is

Zoho Expense is travel and expense management software for capturing expenses, organizing reports, routing approvals, and managing spend. It is available on Android, iOS, and the web, with an API also listed. Receipt capture uses AI-powered OCR, and Standard supports itemized receipt capture in 38+ languages. That plan also includes corporate card management and real-time Visa and Mastercard feeds. Premium adds employee self-booking, global hotel and flight inventory, guest booking, and a built-in travel desk tool.

Listed integrations include QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Oracle, SAP, Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. Zoho says customer data is encrypted at rest and in transit and logically separated; its listed compliance standards include ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, SOC 2 Type II, and GDPR. The Free plan is free for up to three users, with 20 receipt scans per user each month. Standard starts at $3 per user/month billed annually and has a 200-scan monthly limit per user; Premium starts at $5 per user/month billed annually and has a 1,000-scan limit. A 14-day free trial does not require credit card information.

Spec sheet

What it does
Zoho Expense is a cloud travel and expense platform covering receipt capture, expense reports, approvals, cards, travel booking and reimbursement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Purpose
Zoho Expense is travel and expense management software for capturing expenses, organizing them into reports, routing approvals, and managing spend.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Intended users
The pricing page describes Free as for small businesses, Standard for growing businesses, Premium for enterprises, and Custom for large-scale enterprises operating worldwide.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Trial
Zoho Expense offers a 14-day free trial without requiring credit card information.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Integrations
The product page lists integrations including QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Oracle, SAP, Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Slack, and Microsoft Teams.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Mobile apps
The Android app supports receipt scanning, mileage GPS, card feeds, travel itineraries, approvals, analytics and offline expense entry.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Security
Zoho says its services encrypt customer data at rest and in transit and logically separate each customer's data.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Privacy
Zoho states that it has a no-ads and no-data-selling policy and supports GDPR controls including EU data hosting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Compliance
Zoho says it is SOC 2 Type II and SOC 1 Type II compliant and certified to ISO 27001, ISO 27017 and ISO 27018.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Support
The pricing page lists email support for Free, email and call support for Standard, and around-the-clock priority global support for Custom.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Headquarters
Chennai, IndiaRead 23 Sep 2026 · zoho.com
Founded
1996Read 23 Sep 2026 · zoho.com
Maker
Zoho's About Us page describes Zoho Corporation as a private company and its company history lists 1996 as an early milestone.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Accounting integrations
Official integrations include Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Xero, Sage Accounting, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics and NetSuite.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
API authentication
API examples use OAuth tokens and an organization ID header for requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Card management
Standard includes corporate card management and real-time card feeds for Visa and Mastercard.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Company founded
Zoho's corporate history begins with AdventNet Inc., founded in 1996 in New Jersey.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Company headquarters
LinkedIn lists Zoho headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company legal name
The product is operated by Zoho Corporation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists Zoho as having 10,001-plus employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Corporate cards
Zoho Expense imports real-time card feeds, applies spend controls, matches transactions and categorizes card expenses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Developer extensions
Zoho provides Sigma-based extension development for Zoho Expense.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Documentation
Help material is organized for admins, approvers and submitters and includes setup, billing, reporting, integrations and FAQs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Expense reports
Expenses can be organized into reports and routed through automated approval workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Extension capabilities
Extensions support custom fields, PDF and email templates, workflows, schedules, webhooks, widgets, connections, custom views and custom modules.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Hosting model
The product is delivered as an online service rather than software that customers self-host.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Licence
Zoho Expense is provided under Zoho service terms and is not distributed as open-source software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Limit: complexity
Reviewers mention a learning curve, complicated setup and interfaces that can feel cluttered or confusing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: OCR and syncing
Reviewers report occasional OCR errors, slow scanning and difficult or unreliable corporate-card synchronization.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Limit: reporting and integrations
TrustRadius reviewers identify reporting, dashboards and some banking integrations as areas needing improvement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Mileage
Mileage can be calculated with GPS and automatic IRS-compliant mileage tracking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Notable 2026 update
The Android app listing records an update on October 13, 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Other integrations
The product connects with Uber, Lyft, Bolt, Slack, Zoho Cliq, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Evernote, Amazon Business and VAT-reclaim services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Praise: automation and usability
Independent reviewers repeatedly praise automated receipt scanning, approval workflows, mobile submission, expense tracking and overall ease of use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Praise: value
Reviewers commonly describe Zoho Expense as more affordable than competitors and a strong value for small businesses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Public API
The REST API documents endpoints for expenses, receipts, reports, users, currencies, taxes, trips and reimbursement actions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Rating on Apple App Store
4.8 out of 5 from 8,100 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Capterra
4.6 out of 5 from 1,228 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
4.5 out of 5 from 1,542 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Gartner Peer Insights
4.5 out of 5 from 145 ratingsRead 15 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
Rating on GetApp
4.6 out of 5 from 1,228 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Google Play
4.7 out of 5 from 27,100 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on TrustRadius
8.9 out of 10 from 28 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Receipt capture
The pricing page says receipt capture uses AI-powered OCR, with itemized receipt capture in 38+ languages on Standard.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Receipt OCR
The service uses AI receipt capture and extracts expense data in more than 38 languages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Security controls
Zoho states that Expense encrypts data in transit and at rest and provides MFA, SSO, role-based access controls and continuous infrastructure monitoring.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Travel
Premium includes employee self-booking, global hotel and flight inventory, guest booking, and a built-in travel desk management tool.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Travel booking
The travel module offers online booking, 500-plus airlines, over 1.6 million hotels, guest and group booking, and 24/7 support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Usage limits
The Free plan allows up to 3 users and 20 receipt scans per user each month; monthly scan limits are 200 for Standard and 1,000 for Premium.Read 3 Oct 2026 · zoho.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Maximum 3 users · 5 GB receipt storage · 20 monthly receipt scans · basic audit trail · email support Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Standard $4 a month $4 per user/month billed monthly; $3 per user/month billed annually Itemized OCR in 38+ languages · corporate cards · multiple policies · cash advances · ACH payments · SSO Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Premium $6 a month $6 per user/month billed monthly; $5 per user/month billed annually Employee self-booking · global hotel and flight inventory · travel desk · GSA per diem · live mileage · multi-entity management · carbon tracking Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com
Custom Priced on request Minimum 100 users · dedicated account manager · priority global support · custom ERP and HRMS integrations · SFTP exports · IP whitelisting Read 15 Oct 2026 · zoho.com

Every Zoho Expense plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan supports up to three users.
  • OCR receipt capture includes itemized capture in 38+ languages on Standard.
  • Standard includes real-time Visa and Mastercard feeds.
  • 14-day trial requires no credit card.
  • Lists integrations with accounting and business tools.

Limits

  • Free plan allows 20 receipt scans per user monthly.
  • Standard limits scans to 200 per user monthly.
  • Premium limits scans to 1,000 per user monthly.
  • Custom plan pricing is by quote.

Who it suits

The Free plan is described for small businesses, Standard for growing businesses, Premium for enterprises, and Custom for large-scale enterprises operating worldwide. Teams that need travel booking tools can look to the Premium features.

Zoho Expense in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Zoho Expense is travel and expense management software for capturing employee spending, building reports, routing approvals and managing spend. It suits small businesses that need a low-cost starting point and growing teams that want card management alongside expense workflows. Its strongest case is the breadth from receipt capture to travel booking; its main constraint is that scan quotas, minimum seats and advanced features make the free and lower-cost tiers a narrower fit than the headline starting price suggests.

Key features

Receipt capture uses AI-powered OCR, and Standard supports itemized capture in more than 38 languages. The monthly allowance grows from 20 scans per user on Free to 200 on Standard and 1,000 on Premium. Free can cover light claim volumes, but teams processing receipts regularly may find the cap restrictive; Premium gives high-volume users substantially more room.

Standard adds corporate card management and real-time Visa and Mastercard feeds, bringing card activity into the expense workflow. That is a practical step up for growing teams, though it comes with a five-user minimum. Premium is the tier for organizations coordinating travel: it includes employee self-booking, global hotel and flight inventory, guest booking and a built-in travel desk management tool.

Integrations include QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, Oracle, SAP, Zoho Books, Zoho CRM, Slack and Microsoft Teams. Standard ERP and HRMS integrations are add-ons, so the base plan may not cover teams that need those connections. Zoho says customer data is encrypted at rest and in transit and logically separated by customer; its compliance standards include ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, SOC 2 Type II and GDPR.

The product supports mileage reimbursement, per diem and payout methods. Approval levels are customizable, giving teams room to shape routing around their process. Zoho offers Android, iOS, web and API platforms.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and allows up to three users, with 5 GB of receipt storage, 20 scans per user per month and email support. It is a sensible way for a very small business to start, but the seat and scan ceilings limit its usefulness as claims grow.

Standard costs $43 a month, with pricing of $ 4 per user/month billed monthly or $ 3 per user/month billed annually, and requires at least five users. It raises the scan allowance to 200 per user each month, adds card management and itemized multilingual capture, and includes email and call support. ERP and HRMS integrations are add-ons. This is the most relevant tier for growing businesses that need card feeds, but the five-seat minimum means it is not a natural upgrade for a team with only a few users.

Premium costs $65 a month, priced at $ 6 per user/month billed monthly or $ 5 per user/month billed annually, also with a five-user minimum. Its 1,000 monthly scans per user, advanced customization, multi-entity and country expense management, and travel booking tools make it better suited to enterprise needs than to a small team seeking only reimbursement workflows.

Custom pricing is by quote and starts at 100 users. It includes custom ERP and HRMS integrations and around-the-clock priority global support, fitting large-scale enterprises operating worldwide. The 14-day free trial requires no credit card details, so teams can assess the product before committing.

Platforms

Zoho Expense is available on Android, iOS and the web, with an API also offered. That combination covers mobile receipt workflows and browser-based administration, while the API gives organizations a route to connect their own systems.

Who it's for

Small businesses with up to three users and modest receipt volume can start on Free. Growing businesses needing card feeds and broader scan capacity should consider Standard, while organizations managing travel, customization or expenses across entities and countries have a stronger case for Premium. Custom is aimed at global enterprises with at least 100 users and a need for tailored integrations and priority support.

Zoho Expense is less compelling for a team that needs only a few paid seats: Standard and Premium both require five users. It is also a poor fit for frequent receipt processing on Free, where 20 scans per user each month can quickly become a ceiling.

Pros and cons

Pros: A no-card 14-day trial and a free tier give small teams a low-commitment way to begin.

Pros: Scan allowances rise substantially by plan, and Standard adds corporate card management with live Visa and Mastercard feeds.

Pros: Premium combines travel booking and expense management, which can suit businesses that want those workflows together.

Cons: Free is limited to three users and 20 scans per user per month, so it is best for low-volume use.

Cons: The five-user minimum on both paid tiers raises the entry cost for smaller teams.

Cons: ERP and HRMS integrations are add-ons on Standard, and Custom requires at least 100 users.

Alternatives

Expensify is worth considering when a team wants a free plan with receipt scanning, mileage tracking, expense reports, categories and tags, plus platforms including macOS and Windows.

Ramp AP is an alternative for smaller teams looking for a free finance-focused option with accounts payable features.

BILL Accounts Payable may suit buyers seeking a paid accounts payable and receivable subscription rather than an expense-management-centered product.

Brex is an option for teams looking for a free plan with up to two entities and one global entity, alongside a local card program.

Cegid Retail is another paid option.

Continia Expense Management is a paid expense-management alternative with a free trial.

Emburse Spend may fit teams comparing paid per-user plans that include ACH reimbursements.

Moss is another freemium spend-management option, with a free plan for up to three users and a debit-only wallet.

For more options, browse Expense Reimbursement Software, Restaurant Expense Management Software or Mileage Tracking Software.

Verdict

Zoho Expense is a strong choice for growing businesses that want receipt capture, approvals and card management in one workflow, and for larger organizations that can use its travel and multi-entity capabilities. Choose it for the plan-based progression from a free small-team tier to global support and travel tools. Look elsewhere if your team needs fewer than five paid seats, or if the Free scan allowance cannot keep pace with receipt volume.

Verdict

Zoho Expense brings expense reporting, approvals, and travel features together, with plan-specific scan limits and capabilities. The 14-day trial is available without payment details, while the Free plan is capped at three users.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Zoho ExpenseAll alternatives →