TripLog vs Everlance vs Stride: Which Mileage App Works Best with Beancount?

General
1

I’ve helped 20+ gig worker clients set up mileage tracking over the past two years. Here’s my honest comparison of the three apps I see most often, specifically from a Beancount integration perspective.

Quick Comparison

Feature TripLog Everlance Stride
Price $5-8/mo $8/mo Free
Auto-tracking Excellent Good Basic
CSV Export Full featured Good Limited
Custom fields Yes Limited No
Offline mode Yes Yes No
IRS reports Built-in Built-in Basic

TripLog: Best for Power Users

Pros:

  • Most customizable CSV export (you can choose exactly which columns)
  • Custom “purpose” categories that map perfectly to Beancount accounts
  • Odometer tracking for IRS compliance
  • Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero if you also use those

Cons:

  • $60-96/year depending on plan
  • Learning curve for all the features
  • Battery usage is higher than competitors

Best for: Full-time gig workers, consultants with complex needs, anyone wanting maximum control.

Everlance: Best Balance

Pros:

  • Clean, simple interface
  • Reliable auto-detection
  • Expense tracking included (not just mileage)
  • CSV export is straightforward

Cons:

  • $96/year (billed annually)
  • Less customization than TripLog
  • Can’t export custom report templates

Best for: People who want “set it and forget it” tracking with occasional export to Beancount.

Stride: Best Free Option

Pros:

  • Completely free
  • Simple swipe-to-classify trips
  • Basic CSV export works

Cons:

  • Limited export customization
  • No offline mode
  • Made by health insurance company (expect ads)
  • Fewer fields in export (no odometer readings)

Best for: Side hustlers with simple needs, casual gig workers, those who can’t justify a subscription.

My Recommendation for Beancount Users

  1. Just starting? Use Stride. It’s free, and the basic CSV is enough for simple tracking.
  2. Doing this seriously? TripLog pays for itself in tax savings if you track 5,000+ miles/year.
  3. Want simplicity? Everlance is the “Apple” of mileage apps - just works, minimal fuss.

I’ve built importers for all three. Happy to share if there’s interest!

2

I switched from TripLog to Everlance last year and have some thoughts:

Why I switched:

  • TripLog’s battery drain was real - my phone would be at 50% by noon
  • I don’t need all the advanced features
  • Everlance’s auto-detection is actually more reliable for me

Everlance CSV format for anyone curious:

Date,Start Time,End Time,Miles,Start Location,End Location,Category,Notes
2026-01-15,9:30 AM,10:15 AM,18.3,Home,Client HQ,Business,Weekly standup

Simpler than TripLog, but has everything I need for Beancount import.

The expense tracking is a bonus - I can photograph receipts for gas, parking, etc. and export them alongside mileage. One less app on my phone.

That said, if you’re doing heavy multi-purpose tracking (like Bob’s clients with Uber AND DoorDash AND consulting), TripLog’s custom categories are worth the extra complexity.

3

From an IRS compliance perspective, here’s what matters most:

What the IRS actually requires in a mileage log:

  1. Date of the trip
  2. Business purpose
  3. Starting location
  4. Destination
  5. Miles driven
  6. Odometer reading (start and end of year at minimum)

All three apps can capture #1-5 reliably. The difference is odometer readings.

TripLog wins here because it can track odometer readings per trip, which creates a bulletproof audit trail. If the IRS questions your mileage, you can show continuous odometer progression.

Everlance and Stride don’t track odometer, but you can supplement by:

  • Taking monthly photos of your odometer
  • Adding an annual entry in Beancount:
2026-01-01 custom "odometer" "45,230 miles"
2026-12-31 custom "odometer" "57,450 miles"  ; 12,220 total miles

If your total claimed business miles (from the app) plus reasonable personal driving roughly equals the odometer difference, you’re in good shape.

Bottom line: Any of these apps is 100x better than paper logs or “I’ll remember.” Pick one and use it consistently.

4

For beginners: just pick Stride and start tracking today.

I see too many people get paralyzed by analysis:

  • “Which app is best?”
  • “Should I wait for a sale on TripLog?”
  • “Let me research for another week…”

Meanwhile, they’re driving 100+ miles a week for DoorDash and not tracking any of it. At 72.5 cents/mile, that’s $72+ in missed deductions EVERY WEEK.

The best mileage app is the one you actually use.

My recommendation for newcomers:

  1. Download Stride right now (it’s free)
  2. Start tracking today
  3. Use it for 2-3 months
  4. If you outgrow it, upgrade to TripLog or Everlance
  5. Import your Stride history to the new app

Perfect is the enemy of good. A slightly imperfect mileage log is infinitely better than no log at all.