Customer Reviews (138)

Dave ski15 • 2025-03-05T19:17:07-07:00

Had an accident where I was trying to login to the Windows app version on laptop. Had the wrong email address on account. Went to change the email account and noticed it said to login in. Ended up having to delete the “new login” account but ended up erasing every single backed up receipt and all data. Haven’t been able to recover with any email address I have and haven’t heard from anyone since.

Nick Dean2 • 2025-02-06T14:40:57-07:00

This app really helps keep me organized for taxes, as I am not awesome at keeping my receipts for business. My accountant also appreciates it

Lonephoto • 2024-12-24T17:02:04-07:00

I liked the app ok. Some things were annoying like you had to go back and edit the categories the receipts were being loaded into as it wouldnt let you adjust while creating. But the biggest problem was after I exported one document to test, it would “fail to download” every time after. I emailed customer service They replied and asked for a video or screenshots Which I sent and never heard from them again. Just look elsewhere, it doesnt work and they dont care.

Summary of Key Insights

Receipt Lens aims to simplify expense tracking by automating receipt scanning and data extraction. While many users appreciate its ease of use and accuracy when it works, significant issues exist around subscription costs, customer support responsiveness, and functionality bugs that negatively impact the user experience. The app struggles with complex receipts, return receipts, and consistent data recognition. The "free" aspect is misleading, leading to user frustration. There's a clear demand for more flexible export options, better categorization, and reliable customer support. Overall sentiment is mixed, with a significant portion of users expressing dissatisfaction, especially regarding the subscription model and lack of support.

  • Key Strengths: Ease of use (when it works), accurate data extraction on simple receipts (in some cases), helpful for tax preparation and organization, exporting to Excel is appreciated.
  • Key Weaknesses: Misleading "free" claim, high subscription cost, unreliable customer support, functionality bugs (export failures, image loading issues, inaccurate OCR, data loss), limited export options, inflexible categorization, inability to handle complex or return receipts, login problems.
  • Overall Sentiment: Mixed. Users are either very happy and find it useful, or extremely frustrated by bugs, cost, and lack of support.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • Overall Rating: ~3.7 stars (weighted average based on provided data)
    • Score Distribution: 5-star (52%), 4-star (12%), 3-star (6%), 2-star (5%), 1-star (25%)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 138 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews likely span several months to years, based on the version number (1.7.10) and the mentions of past tax years.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual review and thematic analysis of the provided reviews, focusing on identifying recurring themes, sentiment, and feature requests. Keyword extraction was used to identify frequently mentioned issues.

Key User Pain Points

  • Misleading "Free" Claim & High Subscription Cost: Many users felt deceived by the app's initial "free" claim, only to discover a mandatory and expensive subscription after a short trial period. This created significant negative sentiment.
  • Unresponsive Customer Support: A recurring complaint is the lack of response from customer support when users encounter issues. This exacerbates frustration and leaves users feeling abandoned.
  • Exporting Issues: Several users reported failures in exporting data, rendering the app useless for its primary function.
  • OCR Inaccuracies & Recognition Problems: The app struggles with accurately recognizing data on receipts, particularly with complex receipts, handwritten notes, or specific vendors (e.g., Home Depot). Some users also experienced issues with image loading.
  • Data Loss & Login Issues: A particularly severe pain point is the loss of all data due to login problems or account changes.
  • Inflexible Categorization: Users find the pre-defined categories limiting and want more customization options. The app also struggles with automatically assigning the correct category.
  • Lack of Functionality for Return Receipts: The app fails to handle return receipts properly, which significantly impacts the accuracy of expense tracking.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Export Options: Users want more control over export formats (e.g., customizable spreadsheets, QuickBooks integration) and the ability to export receipt images along with data. The ability to export by month or quarter was also requested.
  • Enhanced Categorization: Users desire more customizable categories, sub-folders, and improved automatic categorization accuracy.
  • Line Item Recognition: Users want the app to recognize individual line items on receipts, not just the total amount.
  • Improved Search Functionality: Users want to be able to search by keywords within notes added to receipts.
  • Negative Value Input for Returns: The ability to properly record return receipts with negative values.
  • Offline Access: Access to stored receipts even without an internet connection.
  • Ability to Move Folders: Users want to be able to reorganize folders after they are created.
  • Ability to Import Digital Images: Allow import of images already on the user's device, instead of only using the camera.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Ease of Use (When Functional): Many users praise the app's simple and intuitive interface when it's working correctly.
  • Accurate Data Extraction (Sometimes): Some users find the app accurate in extracting data from receipts, especially for simple receipts.
  • Helpful for Tax Preparation: Users appreciate the app's ability to organize receipts for tax purposes.
  • Excel Export: The ability to export data to Excel is a valued feature.
  • Time-Saving: When the app functions as intended, it saves users time compared to manual expense tracking.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Address "Free" Claim Misleading Advertising: Clearly communicate the subscription model upfront in the App Store description and during the onboarding process. Consider offering a genuinely free tier with limited functionality.
    • Improve Customer Support Responsiveness: Invest in a more responsive and effective customer support system. Address user inquiries promptly and provide helpful solutions.
    • Fix Exporting Issues: Thoroughly test and resolve the reported exporting failures. Ensure users can reliably export their data.
    • Enhance OCR Accuracy: Improve the OCR engine to handle more complex receipts, handwritten notes, and various vendor formats.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Implement Negative Value Input for Returns: Add the functionality to record return receipts with negative values.
    • Provide More Flexible Export Options: Offer customizable spreadsheet templates and integration with accounting software like QuickBooks.
    • Improve Categorization System: Allow users to create custom categories and sub-folders. Enhance the accuracy of automatic categorization.
    • Address Login and Data Loss Issues: Implement robust data backup and recovery mechanisms to prevent data loss. Improve the login process to avoid account access problems.
  • Low Priority:
    • Add Line Item Recognition: Explore the possibility of recognizing individual line items on receipts.
    • Implement Keyword Search in Notes: Allow users to search for receipts by keywords within notes.
    • Enable Folder Reorganization: Allow users to move and reorder folders.
    • Add the Ability to Import Digital Images: Allow import of images already on the user's device, instead of only using the camera.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Receipt Analysis with Line Item Recognition: Develop an app that goes beyond basic data extraction and uses AI to analyze receipt line items, categorize expenses automatically, and provide insights into spending patterns.
  • Subscription-Free Expense Tracker with Limited Scans: Offer a truly free expense tracking app with a limited number of scans per month, allowing users to upgrade to a paid plan for unlimited scans and advanced features.
  • Expense Tracker with Built-in Customer Support Chat: Integrate a real-time customer support chat directly into the app to provide immediate assistance to users.
  • Expense Tracker Focused on Specific Industries: Develop specialized expense tracking apps tailored to specific industries (e.g., trucking, freelancing) with features and categories relevant to their needs.
  • Decentralized Receipt Storage: Create an app that stores receipts on a blockchain to ensure data security and prevent data loss.

Trends and Observations

  • Subscription Fatigue: Users are increasingly wary of subscription-based apps, especially when the value proposition is not clear or the cost is perceived as too high.
  • Importance of Customer Support: Reliable and responsive customer support is crucial for user satisfaction, especially for apps that handle sensitive financial data.
  • Demand for Customization: Users want apps that can be tailored to their specific needs and workflows, with options for customization and flexibility.
  • Negative Reviews Focus on Functionality & Pricing: The negative reviews predominantly center around the app's misleading pricing and problems with basic functionality.

Conclusion

Receipt Lens has the potential to be a valuable tool for expense tracking, but it is currently hampered by issues with pricing, customer support, and functionality. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving user satisfaction and achieving long-term success. Prioritizing improvements to OCR accuracy, export options, and customer support will be key to retaining existing users and attracting new ones. The app should also clearly communicate its subscription model to avoid misleading users. By focusing on these areas, Receipt Lens can become a truly reliable and user-friendly expense tracking solution.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/receipt-lens-expense-tracker/id1424280764?uo=2