ReceiptKitBest Mileage Tracker App for Gig Drivers: How to Choose
The best mileage tracker app is the one that gives you a log the IRS accepts: date, places, business purpose and miles for every trip. GPS apps save typing but need cleanup. Manual apps are simple and private but need a habit. Pick by how you work.
- The IRS cares about the log, not the app.
- GPS apps save typing but still need review.
- Manual logs are simple but need a daily habit.
- Choose an app that exports a clean PDF or Excel log.
What the IRS wants in your log
No app is “IRS approved”. What counts is the record. The IRS says to keep proof in a log, diary or similar record, and to write it at or near the time of the trip.
For car use, the IRS publication asks for the mileage of each business use, the total miles for the year, and the date and destination of each trip.
- Date of each business trip
- Destination (and where you started)
- Business purpose, like “delivery shift” or “client visit”
- Miles for the trip, plus your total miles for the year
GPS tracking or manual log?
Most mileage apps fall into two groups. GPS apps run in the background and record drives for you. Manual apps ask you to enter each trip yourself.
Neither is better for everyone. The right choice depends on how many trips you drive and how much you want to type.
- GPS apps: record drives automatically, so you review and label each one as business or personal. Background location tracking may use more battery, and you share your location with the app.
- Manual apps: you enter from, to, distance and reason. Nothing tracks your phone, but you have to log trips the same day or you'll forget.
6 things to check before you choose
- Does every trip show date, places, purpose and miles?
- Can you export the log as PDF or Excel for your accountant?
- Does it need an account or your location all day?
- Can you keep fuel, parking and toll receipts in the same place?
- Can you set the mileage rate, so it matches the IRS rate for your tax year?
- What does the free version include, and what costs money?
A quick example
Say you drive three business trips in a day. This is only an example: use the official IRS rate for your tax year.
| Trip 1 · Restaurant to apartment | 6.4 mi |
| Trip 2 · Restaurant to office | 3.1 mi |
| Trip 3 · Pickup, supply store | 8.5 mi |
| Total business miles | 18.0 mi |
How ReceiptKit handles mileage
ReceiptKit uses a manual log. You add each trip with from, to, distance and reason, and you can set a rate per mile. It does not track you by GPS.
You can export the log as PDF or Excel, and keep your fuel, parking and toll receipts in the same app. There's no account, and your data stays on your phone.
How ReceiptKit helps
ReceiptKit's mileage log is manual: add each trip with from, to, distance and reason, set your rate per mile, and export a PDF or Excel log. Your gas, parking and toll receipts live in the same app, with no account needed.
FAQ
Is there an IRS-approved mileage tracker app?
No. The IRS doesn't approve apps. It asks for adequate records of each trip, made at or near the time. Any app or paper log that captures the date, places, purpose and miles can serve as that record.
Do I need GPS to track mileage?
No. The IRS asks for a record of your mileage, not GPS data. A log you fill in as you go works, on paper or in an app.
Should I use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses?
You may choose one method or the other, with some rules about the first year. The IRS explains both in Topic no. 510 and Publication 463. A tax professional can help you decide.
Does ReceiptKit track my miles automatically?
No. ReceiptKit's mileage log is manual: you enter each trip yourself. It doesn't use GPS.
Sources
General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules differ by country and change over time. Check the official source or a tax professional for your situation.