iOS Shortcuts — auto-log expenses
The app supports URL parameters so iOS Shortcuts can log expenses for you.
Two recipes: a fully automatic one that logs every Apple Pay payment, and a voice-triggered one.
URL format:
https://YOUR-SITE/?add=amount¬e=text&cat=category&pm=card name&type=expense&auto=1
All parameters except add are optional. pm accepts cash, debit, or any of your credit card names (case-insensitive, partial matches work — "tesco" finds "Tesco credit card").
With auto=1 the transaction is saved instantly (no form, no tapping) — the category is guessed from the merchant name, amounts like "£12.50" are understood, and the same payment won't be logged twice within 5 minutes.
Recipe 1 — Fully automatic: log every Apple Pay payment 🪄
Uses the Wallet Transaction trigger (iOS 17+). Every time you pay by tapping your iPhone,
this app opens for a second, saves the expense with the right amount, merchant and card, and shows "✓ Logged". One-time setup:
- Open the Shortcuts app → Automation tab (bottom) → tap +.
- Choose Transaction from the list.
- Under Card or Pass, tick your cards (e.g. Monzo, Tesco, Zopa). If iOS only lets you pick one, repeat this recipe once per card.
- Select Run Immediately, then tap Next.
- Tap New Blank Automation, then Add Action, search for "Open URLs" and add it.
- Tap the pale URL word in the action and type:
https://YOUR-SITE/?auto=1&add=[Amount]¬e=[Merchant]&pm=[Card or Pass]
For each [blue part]: don't type it — tap Transaction in the variable bar just above the keyboard, then tap the inserted variable and pick Amount, Merchant, or Card or Pass.
- Tap Done. That's it — pay with Apple Pay and watch it appear in Recent activity.
Good to know: this catches Apple Pay payments made with this iPhone. Physical-card chip & PIN and Direct Debits aren't seen
(Direct Debits are covered by your Fixed bills auto-post). If your phone is locked when the automation fires, iOS runs it when you unlock.
Wrong category on something? Tap it in "View all" to delete and re-add.
Recipe 2 — "Hey Siri, log expense"
- Open the Shortcuts app on iPhone, tap +.
- Add action "Ask for Input", set Input Type to Number, prompt: "Amount?"
- Add another "Ask for Input", Input Type Text, prompt: "What for?"
- Add a "Text" action and paste this URL, replacing the Provided Input variables (long-press to pick the right one for each blank):
https://YOUR-SITE/?add=[Amount]¬e=[Text]
- Add an "Open URLs" action, pass the Text from the previous step.
- Name it "Log expense", enable "Use with Siri".
Now say "Hey Siri, log expense", speak the amount, then the note, and the Add screen opens pre-filled.
📷 Scan receipts
On the Add screen there's a "Scan receipt" button below the amount. Snap a photo of any receipt and the app extracts the total automatically. First scan takes a few seconds to download the OCR engine (~10 MB, cached after). Best on clear, flat receipts in good light. UK supermarket and restaurant receipts work well.
Install on your phone
iPhone (Safari): tap the Share button ⬆️, then Add to Home Screen.
Android (Chrome): tap the menu ⋮, then Add to Home screen or Install app.