i. compare
Laura vs Driversnote.
Driversnote is a Danish mileage-tracking app with a strong UK following. It does automatic GPS logging, has a Bluetooth iBeacon option for cleaner trip detection, and produces HMRC-compatible mileage reports. It's aimed at people whose week is mostly driving and whose employer or accountant wants a tidy log.
Laura is a UK-focused expense and mileage tracker. Mileage sits alongside receipts in one ledger, costed at HMRC rates, exported as a single file when you need it. Entries are quick and manual rather than tracked in the background. It's for self-employed people who want one place for everything claimable, not a dedicated mileage logger plus a separate receipts solution.
| Feature | Driversnote | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing (at time of writing) | Around £8–10 / month for unlimited; check their site | £4.99 / month (20 AI cleanups) or £85 / year all-in |
| Free tier | Limited free trips per month | 14-day free trial, no card |
| Auto mileage tracking | Yes, GPS background detection; iBeacon option | No — manual or imported entries |
| Manual mileage logging | Yes | Yes — from, to, distance, rate, total |
| Receipt capture | No | Yes — photo or forwarded email; vendor, total, VAT, date extracted |
| HMRC rates built in | Yes — UK rate sets supported | Yes — UK tiers by default |
| Export formats | PDF, Excel | CSV, Excel, PDF |
| Platform | Native iOS and Android apps, web dashboard | Web app and PWA — installs from the browser on iOS and Android |
| UK focus | Multi-country, with UK as a supported region | UK-first |
| Data ownership | Cloud account; export available | Cloud account; export to CSV/Excel/PDF on demand |
Pricing changes — confirm current rates on each provider's website.
When Driversnote is the better choice.
If you drive heavily for work and want trips detected without lifting a finger, Driversnote is built for you. The iBeacon option, in particular, makes the start-and-stop detection unusually clean — fewer ghost trips, fewer false starts. If you're a sales rep, a tradesperson on rotation, or a multi-employer worker who needs a defensible mileage log and nothing else, it's a strong, mature choice.
When Laura is the better choice.
If you want mileage and receipts together, exported as one file, and you don't need a tracker running in the background, Laura fits better. A typical Laura user is a UK sole trader doing some driving but mostly project work — design, consulting, trades on local jobs, freelance services — capturing receipts as they go and logging journeys when they happen. Plans start at £4.99 a month with a 14-day no-card trial.
Switching from Driversnote to Laura.
Export your Driversnote trips to Excel or PDF from their web dashboard and keep that file as the record for the months you were on Driversnote. Start a Laura trial, confirm the default HMRC rates suit you (45p / 25p for cars and vans), and add journeys from your switch date forward. At year-end, one Driversnote export covers the before, one Laura export covers the after.
ii.
Questions.
Does Laura have automatic trip detection?
No. Laura uses quick manual entries instead of background GPS tracking. If automatic detection matters to you, Driversnote is built for that.
Are Laura's exports HMRC-friendly?
Yes. Mileage rows include date, route, miles, rate and total at the HMRC tiers, and exports come out as CSV, Excel or PDF.
Can I import Driversnote history into Laura?
There's no automatic importer. Keep your Driversnote export as the record for the months you were on it and run Laura forward from the switch date.
Does Laura handle receipts as well as mileage?
Yes — that's the main difference. Snap a receipt or forward a confirmation email, and Laura pulls out the vendor, total, VAT and date so it sits in the same ledger as your journeys.
See the mileage calculator or start a 14-day trial. No card needed.