Help Center
Everything you need to know about using Zifin.
Getting Started
Welcome to Zifin — a personal finance tracker that turns receipts and bank statements into organised spending data.
- Create an account at zifin.app and verify your email.
- Set up categories — go to Categories and create the spending buckets that matter to you (e.g. Groceries, Restaurants, Fuel, Utilities).
- Import your first data — scan a receipt or upload a bank statement CSV from your bank.
- Review the Dashboard — see a pie chart of spending by category, monthly trend, and budget progress.
Tip: Mobile access
Zifin works in your phone browser. On iPhone, tap Share → Add to Home Screen in Safari for an app-like experience.
Receipt Scanner
The receipt scanner uses AI (Azure Document Intelligence) to extract store name, date, individual items, and the total from a photo or PDF.
How to scan a receipt
- Tap Import → Scan Receipt.
- Upload a photo (JPEG, PNG, or iPhone HEIC) or PDF of the receipt.
- Wait a few seconds while AI reads the receipt.
- Review the extracted items — tap any row to edit the name, amount, or category.
- Tap Save to add all items as individual transactions.
Understanding the totals
- Captured — the total dollar amount Azure read directly from the receipt.
- Calculated — the sum of all extracted item amounts plus tax.
- If they differ, a Mismatch warning appears and the calculated total is saved (it's more accurate because it comes from itemised data).
When an item is missing
If the OCR couldn't read an item, you'll see a row labelled "Other Items" with the unaccounted amount. Tap it to rename the item and assign the correct category.
Creating a new category on the spot
- Tap the category dropdown on any item row.
- Select + Create new category…
- Tap the input field that appears, type the category name, then tap Add.
- The new category is immediately available for all items on this receipt.
Tips for better scans
- Lay the receipt flat and photograph it straight-on.
- Use good lighting — avoid shadows across the text.
- Include the full receipt in the frame (top to bottom).
- For long receipts, a second scan from closer up improves accuracy.
Supported file types
JPEG, PNG, HEIC (iPhone default), PDF. Maximum file size: 20 MB.
Bank Statement Import
Upload a CSV export from your bank to import multiple transactions at once. Zifin auto-detects common bank formats and applies your keyword rules automatically.
How to import a statement
- Log in to your bank's website and download your transactions as a CSV file (usually found under Statements, Activity, or Download).
- In Zifin, tap Import → Upload Bank Statement.
- Upload the CSV file.
- Review the detected transactions — the app pre-assigns categories based on your saved keyword rules.
- Adjust any categories, then tap Save All.
Supported banks and formats
Most US bank CSV exports are supported, including Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, AMEX, Citi, and credit unions. The app looks for columns containing date, description, and amount.
If your bank's format isn't recognised, try exporting from a different date range or contact support.
Sign conventions
- Purchases appear as negative amounts (money leaving your account).
- Refunds, credits, and deposits appear as positive amounts.
- Credit card payments to your card are automatically excluded to avoid double-counting.
Duplicate detection
Zifin checks each transaction against your existing records by date, amount, and merchant. Potential duplicates are flagged so you can skip them.
Categories, Rules & Budgets
Categories
Go to Categories to create and organise your spending categories. You can add sub-categories for more detail — for example, Groceries → HEB or Dining → Coffee.
Categories created here appear in the receipt scanner and statement import screens.
Keyword Rules
When you save a transaction with a category, Zifin remembers the merchant keyword and applies the same category automatically next time.
- For example, saving a transaction from "HEB" as Groceries creates a rule for "heb".
- Rules are matched against transaction descriptions and receipt item names.
- More-specific (longer) patterns take priority over shorter ones.
- View and delete your rules from Categories → Rules.
Budgets
Go to Budgets to set a monthly spending limit for any category.
- The Dashboard shows a progress bar for each budget (green → yellow → red as you approach the limit).
- Budgets reset at the start of each calendar month.
- Only categories with a budget set appear in the budget tracker — categories without a limit are not shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my financial data secure?
All data is encrypted in transit via HTTPS. Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and never stored in plain text. Your data is stored in a private database and never shared with third parties.
Why does my receipt show a 'Mismatch' warning?
The OCR total and the sum of extracted items don't match. This usually happens when OCR misses an item (it's added as 'Other Items') or reads a discount line differently. The calculated total (items + tax) is always saved.
The Add button for a new category isn't working.
On mobile, the text input does not auto-focus. Tap directly on the input field to open the keyboard, type the category name, then tap Add.
My categories aren't appearing in the receipt editor.
If you navigate to Import very quickly after logging in, categories may still be loading. Wait a moment and they should appear. If the problem persists, try refreshing the page.
How do I delete a transaction?
From the Transactions page, tap the trash icon on the right side of any transaction row. You'll be asked to confirm before it's deleted.
Can I export my data?
Yes — go to Export to download your transactions as a CSV file. You can filter by date range before exporting.
What happens if I import the same bank statement twice?
Zifin checks for duplicates by matching the date, amount, and description. Likely duplicates are flagged and skipped, so you won't end up with double entries.
Why is a Costco purchase categorised as Groceries when it was for gas?
Zifin can't always tell which Costco department you shopped in from the receipt alone. After saving, you can correct the category — Zifin will remember your choice as a keyword rule for future receipts.
Still need help? Email us at support@zifin.app