ExpenseIn vs Zoho Expense (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ExpenseIn if

• Fits if you run a UK business and want claims, cards and mileage in one place
• Works for finance teams that post expenses into Xero, QuickBooks or Sage

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to see a price before booking a demo, as none is published
• Not for you if you're outside the UK, since the site is built around UK data storage and HMRC rules
• Watch out: reimbursements carry extra charges that the plans page doesn't state
• Tight if you need SSO, multi-entity or card data feeds, which start at Advanced, or the API, which needs Complete
• Tight if you want to try before talking to sales, with no trial on the listing

Pick Zoho Expense if

• Fits if you're a team of 3 or fewer and want expense reports free
• Works for teams already on Zoho Books or other Zoho apps

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want supplier bills paid from the same tool
• Tight if anyone scans more than 20 receipts a month on the free plan
• Pricey if you book travel through it without Premium, at $9.99 a trip as an add-on
• Watch out: anyone who creates an expense or report is billed as a user
• Pricey if you want premium support, which starts at $490 a year, or ERP and HR links on Standard

ExpenseIn

• No prices are published: the Core, Advanced and Complete plans all say to book a demo.
• SSO, multi-entity, custom fields and corporate card data feeds start at Advanced; the REST API, receipt verification and carbon reporting need Complete.
• Reimbursements carry additional charges, which the plans page does not state.
• The site names UK data storage and HMRC compliance, so it is built around UK businesses.

Zoho Expense

• Anyone who creates an expense or report is billed as a user. The free plan stops at 3 users and 20 receipt scans per user a month.
• ERP and HR integrations are an add-on on Standard, travel self-booking as an add-on costs $9.99 a trip, and premium support starts at $490 a year.
• The Zoho Prepaid Mastercard is issued by Pathward, N.A. and is loaded from a funding account rather than a credit line.
• Travel booking, per diems, live budgets and multi-entity expenses need Premium.

ExpenseIn

Receipt scanning

A photo of a receipt in the mobile app is read for amount, date and other details, and the receipt is stored with the claim.

Mileage with Google Maps

The app uses Google Maps to work out distance and the reimbursement for a mileage claim, and the vendor lists carbon emission calculations.

Expense cards

Cards have built-in spending controls and card transactions appear in the app for matching with receipts. Advanced and Complete plans list cashback of 0.50% and 0.75%.

Policies and approvals

Policy rules are enforced automatically, with multi-stage approval, escalation and out-of-office cover. Receipt verification is on the Complete plan.

Reimbursements

Approved expenses can be paid out through ExpenseIn. The plans page notes that reimbursements carry additional charges.

Accounting and payroll integrations

The plans page lists Xero, QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Sage products, Microsoft Business Central and SFTP file delivery, plus a REST API on the Complete plan.

Zoho Expense

AI receipt scanning

Receipts are read in more than 38 languages and turned into itemized expenses, up to a monthly scan limit that rises with the plan.

Policies and approvals

Expense reports go through approval rules, and Zia AI flags possible fraud and alcohol on receipts from the Standard plan.

Mileage and per diem

Track drives by GPS on a phone or Apple Watch, and apply GSA per diem rates automatically on Premium.

Cards and reimbursements

Real-time Visa and Mastercard feeds, the Zoho Prepaid Mastercard, cash advances and direct ACH reimbursements to employees.

Travel booking

Premium adds employee self-booking of flights and hotels, guest booking and an in-house travel desk tool.

Zoho and accounting links

Exports to Zoho Books, QuickBooks Online, Xero and NetSuite, and works with Zoho People, Zoho CRM and Zoho Projects.

ExpenseIn

Pricing could not be confirmed. See expensein.com.

Zoho Expense

• Free$0

  Up to 3 users, 20 receipt scans per user a month, expense reports, GPS mileage, the Zoho Prepaid Mastercard and accounting integrations.

• Standard$3

  per user / month, billed annually ($4 billed monthly)

  200 scans per user a month, card feeds, multiple policies, cash advances, ACH reimbursements, SSO and Zia AI reporting and audit.

• Premium$5

  per user / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly)

  1,000 scans per user a month, travel self-booking, a travel desk, GSA per diems, live budgets and multi-entity expenses.

• EnterpriseCustom

  A spend platform combining travel, expenses, cards, procurement, accounts payable and payroll, quoted for large organizations.

ExpenseIn

No public discounts listed.

Zoho Expense

• Annual discount

  Save up to 25% with yearly billing

  Standard costs $3 per user a month billed yearly instead of $4 monthly, and Premium $5 instead of $6.

• Nonprofit

  Discounted pricing for nonprofits

  Zoho says Zoho Expense is available at discounted pricing for nonprofit organizations; the discount is not stated.