Expensify Collect alternatives
Killing $5-9/user/mo (~$60/yr) — here are 2 verified escapes, honest trade-offs included.
the answer medium migration
Paperless-ngx · Free / self-host free ⭐ 44.6K stars OCR every receipt/invoice into a searchable private archive.
you stop paying $5-9/user/mo → keep ~$60/yr
head-to-head
| Expensify Collect | Paperless-ngx | |
|---|---|---|
| price | $5-9/user/mo | Free / self-host free |
| self-hostable | no | yes |
| license | proprietary | GPL-3.0 |
| verified | — | 2026-08 |
| migration | — | medium effort |
free & open source (1)
Free / self-host free
OCR every receipt/invoice into a searchable private archive.
trade-offs: Not approval-workflow software
github →cheaper, but not open source (1)
Splitwise (groups) cheaper
Free tier
Shared-expense tracking that kills most receipt-chasing.
trade-offs: Not corporate-card integrated
faq
What is the best free alternative to Expensify Collect?
Paperless-ngx is the top free option — OCR every receipt/invoice into a searchable private archive.
How much can I save by switching from Expensify Collect?
Expensify Collect costs $5-9/user/mo, so switching to a free alternative saves roughly $60/year per seat.
Can Expensify Collect be self-hosted?
Yes — Paperless-ngx can be self-hosted for free.