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Software · head to head

Expensify vs Zeplin

Expensify logo

Expensify

Software

Expense management for receipts, bills & more

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zeplin logo

Zeplin

Software

Design handoff and developer collaboration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zeplin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Expensify minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet; Zeplin the free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • They diverge on capability: Expensify covers SmartScan receipts, Zeplin covers Design specs.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Expensify and Zeplin actually diverge.

Attributes where Expensify and Zeplin differ
AttributeExpensifyZeplin
Starting price$5/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20082014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Expensify

  • SmartScan receipts
  • Expense reports
  • Corporate cards
  • Reimbursements
  • Travel booking
  • Mileage tracking
  • Multi-currency
  • Real-time syncing

Only in Zeplin

  • Design specs
  • Asset export
  • Code snippets
  • Design tokens
  • Comments
  • Version control
  • Handoff workflow
  • Accessibility checks

Both cover

  • Slack
  • SOC2
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Expensify

  • Expense reportingnot Zeplin
  • Receipt managementnot Zeplin
  • Travel expensesnot Zeplin
  • Corporate card managementnot Zeplin
  • Reimbursementsnot Zeplin

Zeplin

  • Handing off design specs from Figma or Sketch to developersnot Expensify
  • Sharing screens, assets and style guides with an engineering teamnot Expensify
  • Reviewing and commenting on design versionsnot Expensify

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Expensify

  • Minimal offline expense entry capabilities hamper use in areas with unstable internet
  • OCR receipt data extraction requires manual review and correction for accuracy
  • Per-user pricing model increases costs for larger organizations

Zeplin

  • The free plan is limited to 1 project and 100 screens and works only in a personal workspace
  • Free plan AI reviews are capped at 3 per week
  • Role based permissions require the Advanced plan or higher
  • Single sign on, multi factor authentication, activity logs and invoiced billing are Enterprise only
  • Priority 24 hour support is Enterprise only
  • Basic plan caps screens at 1,000 per project and is priced per project rather than per seat
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Expensify

$5/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Expensify review.

Zeplin

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1 project
    • 1 workspace
    • Basic specs
  • Starter$19/month
    • Unlimited projects
    • Multiple workspaces
    • Advanced specs
  • Professional$49/month
    • Everything in Starter
    • Team collaboration
    • Admin controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Expensify if

  • You need smartscan receipts.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want expense reports.
Expensify review

Choose Zeplin if

  • You need design specs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want asset export.
Zeplin review

Questions people ask

Is Expensify or Zeplin better?
Neither clearly leads. Expensify starts at $5/month and Zeplin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Expensify or Zeplin?
Zeplin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5/month for Expensify and Free for Zeplin.
Does Expensify or Zeplin run on more platforms?
Expensify runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zeplin runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Zeplin for free?
Yes. Zeplin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Expensify starts at $5/month.
What is Expensify best used for?
Expensify is most often used for expense reporting, receipt management, travel expenses, corporate card management. Of those, expense reporting and receipt management are not what Zeplin is typically brought in for.
What can Expensify do that Zeplin cannot?
Expensify covers SmartScan receipts, Expense reports, Corporate cards, Reimbursements. Zeplin covers Design specs, Asset export, Code snippets, Design tokens. Both handle Slack, SOC2, GDPR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Expensify: How does Expensify capture receipts?

Expensify uses SmartScan technology with OCR to automatically extract data from receipt images, reducing manual data entry. Users can photograph receipts with their phone to quickly create expense entries.

Source
Expensify: What reimbursement methods does Expensify support?

Expensify supports ACH reimbursement via direct deposit after setting up a direct deposit account. Next-day reimbursement is available, or standard processing takes 3-5 business days.

Source
Expensify: How does Expensify offline mode work?

Expensify has limited offline capabilities. Users can capture receipts offline, but data syncs when internet connectivity is restored. Full functionality requires online access.

Source
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