TripLog Mileage Tracker Review and Pricing 2021

TripLog is a software suite that offers mileage, expense, and time tracking to different companies regardless of their industry and size. TripLog prides itself on being an automatic mileage tracker that professionals in the healthcare, construction and information technology (IT) industries use. In this review, we’ll focus on one of TripLog’s software solutions, TripLog Mileage. We’ll also go through some of its core features and provide you some insights if it’s the best fit for your company.

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What We Recommend TripLog for

Being our overall best mileage tracker app, we recommend TripLog for its flexibility and expanded functionality. It is a flexible app because it offers solutions that can work for various industries and users. Apart from mileage tracking, the TripLog suite has separate apps for expense tracking, time tracking for employees, and scheduling. We like TripLog in general because it targets interdependent business processes into one software solution.

TripLog Is Especially Good for

• Individuals with less than 40 trips per month: The Lite plan of TripLog offers 40 free trips per month. Although it is only good for one user, self-employed individuals who need to include mileage expenses on their billings will enjoy the benefit of 40 free trips per month, which should be adequate for a freelancer who doesn’t drive daily.
• Those who want to review and plan their routes: Companies who deliver goods directly at their customer’s doorsteps will enjoy the route planning feature of TripLog. Since the app will give the driver the optimal route, you can avoid traffic jams and save on fuel expenses.
• Those who are looking for an app that includes expense tracking and scheduling: TripLog also offers other software solutions aside from TripLog Mileage. It has TripLog Expense, TripLog Timesheets, and TripLog Scheduling. Moreover, it also offers TripLog for Accountants that can integrate with QuickBooks for easier accounting of mileage expenses.

TripLog Is Not a Good Fit for

• Companies or individuals looking for an affordable mileage tracker: TripLog offers many great features but the price scaling and feature differences can be hard to maintain for small companies. Instead, MileIQ offers unlimited drives at a single pricing plan. Moreover, Office 365 subscribers get a MileIQ Unlimited for free.
• Companies or individuals who are currently using QuickBooks: If you’re already using QuickBooks, don’t waste its mileage tracking feature. QuickBooks is one of our best small business accounting software, and it can track your mileage via GPS, classify your trips, and generate detailed mileage reports.
• Self-employed or ride-share drivers: If TripLog’s 40 free trips aren’t enough, Hurdlr is the best alternative for ride-share drivers who go beyond 40 trips per month. The app tracks mileage and creates reports for tax purposes. Moreover, it can help you track estimated quarterly federal, state, and self-employment taxes in real-time.

TripLog Pros and Cons

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TripLog Pricing

TripLog has one free plan and three paid plans. As of writing, TripLog offers 16% off the monthly price if you pay annually. If all you’re looking for is an unlimited mileage tracker for 10 or fewer people, Premium is the right plan for you.

Optional Devices

TripLog offers devices for enhanced performance and user experience. A subscription is a prerequisite before buying these devices.

* Discounted offers are valid as of the writing of this guide. Visit the TripLog website for updated offers at the TripLog website for more information.

TripLog Features

TripLog offers features that can help your company track mileage and related costs, such as parking, tolls, and fuel expenses, efficiently. Let’s check out the core features of this mileage tracker.

Setting Up TripLog

If you’re a first-time user of TripLog, this app works on your smartphone. You have to download the app on the App Store for iOS or Play Store for Android.

TripLog offers a convenient solution for trip tracking. One of its features is MagicTrip. MagicTrip is available only for paid plans. This feature detects your device’s movement automatically to signal the app when to start or stop tracking. Before using this feature, here are some areas that need to be adjusted.

On the settings menu, you can Auto Start settings that’ll make your trip tracking easier. First, you have to enable Auto Start. Then, TripLog recommends choosing MagicTrip. But let’s go over each tracking option.

• MagicTrip: With MagicTrip, TripLog can track your driving in the background automatically. It starts tracking automatically within the first 2 minutes of driving and stops automatically if you’ve been idle for quite some time (see Timeout feature). MagicTrip also responds with your Speed Threshold and tracks automatically if you’re reaching these thresholds (see Speed Threshold below). An advantage of this method is that it is easy to set up and tracks in the background.
• Car Bluetooth: Through Bluetooth, you only need to connect your smartphone to the car’s Bluetooth. Tracking starts if you drive over the speed threshold while connected. An advantage of this method is that it only tracks when connected to Bluetooth.
• TripLog Drive: This device is a dedicated device from TripLog. It has a built-in GPS, and tracking doesn’t involve smartphone use. An advantage of this method is its zero battery and data consumption on your phone.
• TripLog Beacon: This device uses Bluetooth technology but boasts of its moderate battery consumption. Beacon starts tracking when driving over the speed threshold and while connected to the smartphone Bluetooth. An advantage of this method is it doesn’t use your car’s Bluetooth. You can still connect your vehicle’s Bluetooth to other devices without interrupting tracking.
• Plug-n-Go: If you have the habit of plugging in your smartphone while driving, the Plug-n-Go feature will also allow you to track while your device is charging. Unplug your phone and the tracking stops. An advantage of this method is its minimal battery consumption.
• OBD-II Scanners: It is a device that connects to your vehicle’s onboard diagnostics scanner (OBD) connecter and transfers data via Bluetooth.

Timeouts and Speed Thresholds

Other important adjustments to look for are the Timeout and Speed Threshold settings. The Speed Threshold feature dictates when the app should start tracking. By default, it’s set at 5 mph or  km/h. It means that the app will start tracking automatically if you reach a minimum speed of 5 mph.

The Timeout feature dictates when the app should stop tracking. For example, say you picked up a Starbucks takeout while on the way to work. If your Timeout is set at 15 minutes, the tracking won’t stop unless the car is idle for more than 15 minutes.

Tracking Responsiveness

 

MagicTrip utilizes GPS to track your driving distance. To improve the accuracy of tracking, you can choose More Responsive. It means that the app will have to use GPS more often to track your location. As a result, it’ll use more battery and data. The opposite is true for Less Responsive.

Adjusting responsiveness can help you accurately track nearby drives. For example, there’s a delivery that’s only two blocks away. Due to the relatively short distance, more responsive tracking yields more accurate tracking information.

Selecting a Vehicle

TripLog also allows you to add vehicles for efficient tracking. You can also set a default vehicle so that you don’t always have to choose when recording a trip. Since you can also use TripLog for personal purposes, you can add vehicles that you don’t use for work. Later on, we’ll show you how to reclassify trips to and from Business trips.

 

Mileage Tracking

Once you’ve adjusted your tracking preferences, you can now start tracking your mileage. The dashboard will be the first thing you’ll see if you click the Trips tab. From Settings, click Trips.

When adding a trip, you can manually enter your journey or track using GPS. If you’re using MagicTrip, you need not click Start GPS. Once the device detects your movement, it’ll automatically start tracking.

Manual and GPS Tracking

In manual tracking, you’ll need to enter the starting and endpoint of your journey. For Lite plan subscribers, manual tracking is the only option available. TripLog will compute the distance automatically. Aside from location, you also need to input the time. We don’t recommend using manual tracking because accuracy will always be an issue here. Use this only when you forgot to activate GPS Tracking before driving. However, try your best not to forget. Alternatively, if you’re forgetful, using MagicTrip is convenient.

Classifying Business and Personal Trips

 

In case TripLog classifies a personal trip as a business trip, you can reclassify the trip to personal by swiping left. Alternatively, you can right-click on the item and choose the appropriate category.

Expense Tracking

TripLog is one of our best mileage tracker apps because of its added expense tracking feature. Click Transactions to see all expenses. If you want to add an expense, click the plus sign at the bottom center of the screen.

You can add different kinds of expenses associated with your miles. We like this feature because it’s easier to relate and pinpoint expenses. For example, you can add a Meals and Entertainment expense if you met with a client. To record toll and parking, click on the trip and edit it. From there, you can add the cost of parking and toll.

Approval Management

Through the app, drivers can submit mileage and other expenses. However, what happens next? In this section, we’ll talk about approval management and how submitted expenses are processed.

 

Approving expenses happens at the Web Dashboard. Only account administrators and approvers can access this dashboard. This feature is available starting at Premium plans. To approve expenses, go to the Mileage tab to see the list of submitted expense reports from drivers.

 

The approver can either approve or reject an expense. Either way, the approver will have to leave a comment for the submitter.

Once approved, TripLog can generate a report for payroll. This report will be used as reimbursement documentation to be included in the submitter’s next paycheck. By clicking Schedule Pay All, reimbursements will be scheduled and the submitter will be notified.

Route Planning

Another admirable feature of TripLog is its route planning feature. This feature enables you or your company drivers to plan trips using the shortest routes. The route planning feature is integrated with Google Maps.

You can go to route planning via the TripLog app at the main navigation menu. With this feature, you can establish an optimal route that incorporates up to eight destinations. When planning routes, the app starts with your current location. Then, you can add up to eight stops. The app will create a round trip that brings you back to your point of origin automatically.

Users both on mobile and on the web can enjoy reporting features for mileage expense tracking. TripLog’s reporting feature can aid in taxes, especially if you’re claiming allowable expenses.

Reporting via Mobile App

Using the TripLog’s mobile app is the most convenient way to submit a report. Go to the Report tab and click the email icon at the bottom center.

Reporting via Web Dashboard

An advantage of the web dashboard for reporting, versus the mobile app, is its customizable reports. By default, TripLog has a default report template. However, you can modify these templates by removing or adding elements. Reports from TripLog are IRS-compliant, and you can submit them as supporting documents for your allowable deductions.

TripLog Alternatives

Bottom Line

TripLog Mileage is a great mileage tracking solution for companies who need to track mileage expenses for deliveries or official business trips. Its mobile app is useful and easy to use. Moreover, alternative tracking options like TripLog Drive and TripLog Beacon can provide more accurate mileage data when used. Aside from mileage, TripLog also offers other software solutions that can assist in interrelated business processes. If you’re planning to get a mileage tracker and time tracker, TripLog has solutions for you. There’s no need to look for other software brands.