OCR Receipt Scanner: Turn Receipt Photos into Data
A photo of a receipt is proof, but you can't search it, total it or put it in a spreadsheet. ScanMyReceipt's receipt OCR reads the merchant, date, total, tax, payment method and line items from the photo, shows you what it found, and saves those details with the original image so the receipt becomes a record you can use.
Available now on iPhone. Android coming soon.
What our receipt OCR extracts
The OCR reads only what's printed on the receipt. If a field isn't there, it's left empty rather than guessed. The example values below show the kind of thing you'll see for a café receipt.
| Field | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant | Corner Café | The brand name from the header, without the street or store number |
| Address | 120 Main St, Springfield | When the store address is printed |
| Date and time | Mar 14, 2026 · 8:42 AM | Time only when it's printed |
| Total | $18.75 | The amount paid as printed; it isn't recalculated |
| Tax | $1.42 | Sales tax, VAT or GST; several tax lines are added into one amount |
| Currency | USD | Read from the symbol or code; left for you to confirm if it isn't clear |
| Payment method | Visa | Cash, card or other method when shown |
| Line items | Latte ×2 · $5.50 · $11.00 | Name, quantity, unit price and line total for each item |
| Extras | Tip $2.00 · Receipt #4471 | Tips, discounts, delivery or surcharges, plus store and receipt numbers |
| Category | Meals | A suggested category you can change |
Before and after
On the left, the receipt as you photograph it. On the right, the same receipt after OCR: the fields filled in, the line items listed and the image kept for reference.
How it works
1. Capture the receipt
Use the camera for paper receipts, including Multi mode for several in a row, or pick images from your gallery for screenshots of emailed receipts. The receipt saves on your phone straight away, even offline.
2. OCR reads the details
When you're online, the image is read and the fields above are filled in. Several tax lines are combined into one tax amount, and the total is kept exactly as printed.
3. Review, edit and organize
Check the date and total, fix anything that's off, and add tags or a note. Everything the OCR found becomes searchable in your receipt organizer library, down to individual line items.
When you need the data somewhere else, export your receipts to CSV, Excel, PDF or ZIP. For a deeper look at what happens between photo and data, read how receipt scanning works.
Getting accurate results from faded, crumpled or long receipts
No OCR reads every receipt perfectly, and we don't pretend otherwise. A few habits make a big difference:
- Scan early. Thermal paper fades with heat and time. A receipt scanned the day you get it reads far better than one found in a coat pocket months later.
- Flatten it. Smooth out creases and lay the receipt on a flat, dark surface so the edges stand out.
- Use even light. Avoid glare from overhead lights and shadows from your phone.
- Keep the top and bottom sharp. On long receipts, the merchant and date are at the top and the totals at the bottom. Make sure both are in frame and in focus.
- Check the two fields that matter most. The date and total drive your reports. A two-second check after each scan catches most problems.
Privacy: what happens to your receipt image
Receipt images are sent to Google Gemini only to extract the fields listed above. Your receipts, their details and images are stored in your account with Supabase and synced to your phone. Your data is kept until you delete your account in Settings. Full details are in the privacy policy.
On a computer? Get the app on your phone
ScanMyReceipt is an iPhone app (Android coming soon). Point your iPhone's camera at the code to open the App Store listing.
Send the link to my phoneOpens an email with the App Store link. Send it to yourself.
FAQ
What is receipt OCR?
OCR (optical character recognition) reads the text on a receipt image so the merchant, date, total and other details are filled in for you instead of typed by hand.
How accurate is the OCR?
It depends on the receipt. A clear, flat, well-lit photo of a printed receipt usually reads well; faded thermal paper, handwriting or heavy creases are harder. Every field can be edited, and the original image stays attached so you can always check it.
Does it work offline?
You can scan and save receipts offline, and your library and search work without a connection. Reading a new receipt needs a connection, so OCR runs once you're back online.
Can it read emailed or digital receipts?
Yes, as images. Save a screenshot of the emailed or in-app receipt and pick it from your gallery; the same OCR runs on it. PDF files can't be imported directly.
Does it read receipts in other languages and currencies?
It reads what's printed and doesn't assume a country or tax system. The currency is taken from the symbol or code on the receipt, and exports group totals by currency.
Does OCR replace keeping the receipt image?
No. The original image stays with the extracted data, so you have both the searchable record and the proof of purchase.
Related pages
Ready to stop losing receipts?
Scan it once. Find it whenever you need it.
Scan. Organize. Find. Export.
Available now on iPhone. Android coming soon.