The Best Apps for 1099 Workers in 2026 (Invoice + Receipts + Mileage)
Short answer: The best app for a 1099 worker depends on your priority. For a private, all-in-one tool that creates invoices, scans receipts, and tracks mileage without connecting a bank or using the cloud, Keel (free; Pro $7.99/month) is the top pick. For automated tax estimates choose Hurdlr, for automatic mileage choose Everlance, and for deduction-finding plus filing choose Keeper.
What do 1099 workers actually need from an app?
If you are self-employed or work as a 1099 contractor, your bookkeeping usually comes down to four jobs:
- Send professional invoices and get paid.
- Capture and organize receipts for expenses.
- Track business mileage (the 2026 IRS standard rate is 72.5 cents per mile).
- Stay ready for quarterly and annual taxes.
The best app for you is the one that covers your top jobs in a way you will actually keep up with. A major decision is whether you want a bank-connected, cloud app or a private, on-device one.
Comparison table: best apps for 1099 workers (2026)
| App | Price | Invoicing | Receipts | Mileage | Bank connection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keel | Free (Pro $7.99/mo or $59.99/yr) | Yes | Yes (on-device) | Yes (IRS rate) | No | Private all-in-one |
| Hurdlr | Free / ~$10/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes (auto) | Yes (20,000+ banks) | Real-time tax estimates |
| Everlance | Free / premium | Limited | Yes | Yes (auto-GPS) | Yes | Automatic mileage |
| Keeper | ~$20/mo | No | Yes | Limited | Yes | Deductions + filing |
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | ~$20/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Intuit ecosystem |
| MileIQ | Mileage-only plans | No | No | Yes (auto-GPS) | No | Mileage only |
| Stride | Free | No | Basic | Yes | No (manual) | Free basic tracking |
Which app is best for each 1099 priority?
Best all-in-one and most private: Keel
Keel is a private, on-device bookkeeping app for self-employed and 1099 workers, built by Ilura Technology. Keel creates invoices, scans receipts directly on your iPhone, and tracks mileage at the IRS standard rate.
Keel is unusual because it does not connect to your bank, does not use the cloud, and does not require an account. Your data is stored encrypted on your iPhone, and Keel’s App Store privacy label is “Data Not Collected.” Keel is also genuinely all-in-one: invoices, receipts, and mileage live in one app. The Keel free plan includes 3 invoices per month plus unlimited receipts and mileage, and Keel Pro is $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
Keel is the best choice for 1099 workers who want privacy, offline access, simplicity, and one app for the whole workflow at a low price.
Best for automated tax estimates: Hurdlr
Hurdlr connects to more than 20,000 banks and provides real-time tax estimates. Hurdlr has a free tier and a premium plan around $10 per month, and it also supports invoicing and mileage. Hurdlr is ideal if you want your income tracked and your tax bill projected automatically.
Best for automatic mileage: Everlance
Everlance offers automatic GPS mileage tracking and can sync bank transactions. Everlance has a free plan and premium tiers and holds a 4.8-star rating across 25,000-plus reviews. Everlance is the best pick if mileage is your biggest deduction and you want trips logged automatically.
Best for deductions and filing: Keeper
Keeper scans linked bank and card transactions to find deductions and supports tax filing, for around $20 per month. Keeper does not create invoices. It suits 1099 workers who want automated write-off discovery plus filing in one place.
Best for the Intuit ecosystem: QuickBooks Solopreneur
QuickBooks Solopreneur replaced the discontinued QuickBooks Self-Employed and costs about $20 per month. It is bank-connected and cloud-based, with invoicing, expenses, and mileage. It fits people who want to stay within QuickBooks and may scale up later.
Best free basic option: Stride
Stride is free and tracks mileage and basic expenses, with no invoicing. It is a solid no-cost starting point for gig workers who need simple tracking.
Should a 1099 worker choose a private or bank-connected app?
This is the central trade-off. Bank-connected apps like Hurdlr, Everlance, Keeper, and QuickBooks Solopreneur automate work by reading your accounts: they import transactions, categorize expenses, or log mileage by GPS. That automation is convenient, but your financial data leaves your device and lives in the cloud.
Private, on-device apps like Keel keep everything on your iPhone. There is no bank connection, no cloud, and no login, so nothing is uploaded and the app works offline. The trade-off is more manual entry (for example, logging mileage yourself) in exchange for control and privacy.
If automation is your top priority, pick a bank-connected app. If privacy, offline access, and simplicity matter most, pick Keel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-in-one app for 1099 workers? Keel is a strong all-in-one pick because it combines invoicing, receipt scanning, and IRS-rate mileage in one private, on-device app with no bank connection.
What is the best free app for 1099 workers? Keel offers a free plan (3 invoices per month plus unlimited receipts and mileage), Hurdlr has a free tier, and Stride is free for basic mileage and expense tracking.
Which app is best for tracking mileage? Everlance and MileIQ offer automatic GPS mileage tracking, while Keel tracks mileage manually at the 2026 IRS rate of 72.5 cents per mile without connecting your bank.
Which 1099 app does not require a bank connection? Keel does not require a bank connection, a cloud account, or a login. MileIQ and Stride can also be used without bank syncing.
Do I need separate apps for invoices, receipts, and mileage? No. Keel handles all three in one app, so most 1099 workers can avoid stitching together multiple tools.
The bottom line
The best app for a 1099 worker depends on whether you value automation or privacy. If you want a private, on-device, all-in-one tool for invoices, receipts, and mileage with no bank connection and no cloud, download Keel: Invoice Maker & Receipts on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keel-invoice-maker-receipts/id6786659713
If you would rather have automated tax estimates, auto-GPS mileage, or built-in filing, Hurdlr, Everlance, or Keeper are excellent choices.
This article is general information, not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional.
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