5 Best Mileage Tracking Apps for Sole Traders in Australia 2026

The good news: there's no shortage of tax-compliant kilometre tracker / mileage apps (the terms often being used interchangeably).

The bad news: not all of them are as easy to use or reliable as they claim to be.

We've reviewed all the kilometre tracker and mileage apps that are suitable for Australian sole traders. Here's our shortlist, with the pros and cons of each to help you find the right fit for your business.

How do mileage tracker apps work?

Before we dive in, it's worth understanding the 3 main approaches to automatic trip detection. 

While all of these approaches can work, they're not equally reliable and do each come with their own trade-offs.

If accuracy matters to you (and it should, because the ATO will most likely look at your logbook during an audit), it's worth understanding which method an app uses before you commit.

Motion-based mileage tracking

This uses your phone's GPS tracking and accelerometer to detect when you've started driving. It's the approach taken by most app-only solutions. 

The problem: your phone can't always tell the difference between you driving a car and sitting in a bus, being a passenger, or even walking briskly.

This leads to false starts, missed trips (especially when your phone battery is low or the app isn't running in the background), and logbooks that need constant manual correction.

Apps that use this method don't always track mileage accurately. 

Hardware-based mileage tracking

This requires you to install a physical device in your car, allowing the app to know definitively when you're in your vehicle and driving.

While this approach is the most reliable, it comes with its own trade-offs. Hardware costs money and needs to be installed, making it difficult to switch between cars, and not all vehicles support it. For example, electric vehicles often aren't compatible with hardware-based mileage trackers. 

Connection-based mileage tracking

This approach is more accurate than motion-based tracking, without the hassle of hardware.

With this method, an app uses a Bluetooth, CarPlay, or Android Auto signal to trigger automatic tracking when the vehicle is in motion.

For sole traders with older vehicles (pre-2008), this may not be suitable unless you already have an adaptor or are willing to get one. 

As this is a newer approach, few apps use connection-based tracking as of today.

Top 5 mileage tracking apps for sole traders in Australia at a glance

All pricing is in AUD and includes GST. Accurate as of July 2026.

Rounded Trax: Best app for sole traders who want accurate automatic tracking without the hardware

Rounded Trax is the newest launch from the team behind Rounded, the invoicing and accounting app for Australian sole traders.

Where most app-only mileage trackers rely on motion sensing, Trax uses your car's Bluetooth, CarPlay, or Android Auto connection to detect when you've started a trip.

Because the app knows you've connected to your vehicle, it doesn't have to guess when you're driving. It simply starts tracking.

The result is more reliable trip detection without the false starts or missed drives that can plague motion-based alternatives.

A few features that make mileage tracking easier for sole traders specifically:

• Set up in 30 seconds, then automatically track trips whenever you connect to a work vehicle 

• Easily classify drives as business or personal with a tap when you arrive, or organise in bulk later

• Export ATO-compliant records for your BAS or tax return

• Create custom tags (e.g. 'Client visit') for easier filtering and exporting

• Set your work schedule and custom rules like minimum trip distances

• Auto-classify regular routes as business or personal - simply review and approve

• Track trips in any vehicle, each with its own logbook

Trax calculates both the cents per kilometre and logbook methods, which means at the end of the financial year you can compare both and claim whichever gives you the larger deduction (or whatever your accountant recommends).

Trip data is also stored locally on your device, not dependent on pinging a remote server, which makes the app faster and more reliable in areas with patchy coverage.

But by far, Trax's biggest advantage is its integration with Rounded and its expense tracking features.

Once connected, every business trip you track updates your tax return inside Rounded.

This means you can see how much to set aside for tax as you go and, come EOFY, all of your vehicle deductions are organised alongside the rest of your expenses.

No exporting, switching between apps, or reconciling separate tools.

Where Rounded Trax falls short for sole traders

At this time, Trax is only available on Apple devices, although an Android version will be released soon.

Sole traders can only set up the automatic mileage tracker if their vehicle has Bluetooth, Carplay, or Android Auto. Otherwise, they'll need to manually start and stop the tracker, or ask Siri to start tracking. 

As most vehicles made in the last 20 years will have a connection, this isn't a significant limitation for most. 

Also, Trax is only intended for sole traders, meaning you won't be able to claim reimbursement like with some of the other apps designed for employees and small business owners. 

Again, as the majority of sole traders in Australia operate as a business of one, this won't be a barrier for most, but may be worth considering if you want to also track business mileage for other casual or part-time work.

Want to test Trax yourself?

Download today and get 20 free trips.

Mileage by Hnry: Best app for sole traders using Hnry

Apart from Trax, Mileage by Hnry is the only other solution on this list that is explicitly built for sole traders.

Hnry is a full-service accountant and tax platform for sole traders, and Mileage by Hnry is its companion app for trip tracking.

Like Trax, it integrates with its parent platform, meaning that you're a Hnry user, your mileage claims are automatically raised as business expenses in the Hnry app. 

The app uses motion detection to start tracking automatically when it detects driving activity. Users can then classify trips as business or personal mileage.

Like all motion-based solutions, the accuracy of Mileage's automatic tracking can vary.

Often, it relies on the phone having the required permissions active and running in the background.Users on the Android version in particular may need to adjust battery optimisation settings to ensure trips aren't missed.

Mileage by Hnry supports both the cents per kilometre and logbook methods, and the ATO-compliant reports it generates can be exported and handed straight to an accountant.

Where Mileage by Hnry falls short for sole traders

The motion-based tracking feature means occasional false starts and missed trips, particularly at the start of a tracking session or when phone settings interfere with background processes.

This can mean that some business miles go untracked, and that mileage records are not always accurate (or may need to be manually cleaned up).

This is a common frustration mentioned in reviews from Hnry users:

Additionally, while Mileage itself is free for Hnry users, Hnry's overall pricing is steeper than some alternatives for sole traders.

Hnry takes a percentage of your income every time you get paid (up to $1,500 a year) instead of a fixed monthly fee, meaning that sole traders who take on larger projects or charge a higher rate may end up paying more for Hnry over the course of a year than a solution like Rounded or even Xero.

Driversnote: Best app for sole traders who want hardware tracking

Driversnote is one of the leading apps for automatic mileage tracking globally, and it's well-regarded for its clean interface and ATO-compliant reporting.

It supports multiple vehicles and workplaces, and lets you customise working hours and trip purposes.

By default, Driversnote uses motion detection to start and stop trips automatically.

For users who want more reliable tracking, Driversnote sells an optional iBeacon device for $60 AUD (or includes it for free, when you upgrade to one of their premium annual plans).

Similar to Trax's connection-based tracking, this device uses Bluetooth so that when your phone detects the signal, the app knows you're in your vehicle and starts tracking. 

Independent testing has found that without the iBeacon, motion-based tracking can miss portions of trips, particularly at the start of a journey.

Driversnote's free plan covers up to 15 trips per month, which may be enough for those who only make the occasional business trip. Most sole traders will need to pay at least $15 per month for the Pro plan to get unlimited trip tracking and full reporting.

Where Driversnote falls short for sole traders

The iBeacon that makes Driversnote more reliable costs $60 extra on top of the subscription (unless you pay for an annual subscription upfront).

Without it, the mobile app reverts to motion-based tracking with the associated accuracy limitations.

This also makes it difficult to set up automatic tracking for multiple vehicles, as sole traders will need to remember to switch over their iBeacon (or purchase another device).

Lastly, Driversnote doesn't integrate directly with most sole trader accounting apps, which means you'll be working across separate tools at tax time to consolidate your vehicle expenses. 

GOFAR: Best for sole traders who need the highest level of accuracy and bonus car diagnostics

GOFAR is an Australian-made product that takes a different approach to mileage tracking. 

Rather than relying on your phone at all, it uses a small plug-in device that connects to your car's OBD-2 port (the same port mechanics use to read diagnostic data).

This device captures trip data directly from your car, then syncs to the GOFAR app when your phone is nearby or stores it onboard if your phone isn't present.

Because tracking happens at the vehicle level rather than the phone level, GOFAR is genuinely resistant to the problems that affect apps: it doesn't care whether your phone battery is flat, whether the app is running in the background, or whether you're a passenger rather than a driver. 

It is generally considered to be one of the more accurate mileage tracking solutions out there.

GOFAR also goes beyond mileage logs, offering fuel efficiency reports, car health diagnostics, and real-time engine fault alerts.

This can be useful for sole traders in transport or logistics who spend most of their day on the road.

Where GOFAR falls short for sole traders

GOFAR requires physical hardware, which adds an upfront cost ($100, or free when you commit to an annual plan). While this hardware does improve tracking accuracy, many sole traders don't want to deal with the hassle.

More significantly, GOFAR does not work with electric vehicles, as the OBD-2 port approach isn't compatible with EVs. If you're driving a Tesla, a BYD, or any other EV, GOFAR isn't an option.

The device also needs to be transferred if you change vehicles, and there's a calibration drive required during initial setup. 

This can make it difficult to track mileage automatically, as you'll need to plan ahead and make sure you leave enough time to switch everything over (if you remember to do so).

ATO myDeductions (via the ATO app): Best for sole traders who want a free logbook app

The ATO's own app includes a myDeductions feature that allows sole traders to manually record trips, upload photos of receipts, and export a summary at tax time.

It's not going to win any design awards, and it doesn't offer set-and-forget trip detection or detailed mileage logs in the same way as the other apps on this list. 

But for sole traders who only need to record a handful of client visits per year, the manual mileage entry process is manageable.

Where ATO myDeductions falls short for sole traders

There's no automatic tracking, which means every trip needs to be logged manually. For sole traders who drive frequently for work, this becomes a real admin burden very quickly and defeats much of the purpose of having a mileage logbook app at all.

It also doesn't integrate with any accounting software, so tax time still involves exporting and reconciling data from multiple places.

Which is the best mileage tracker for your sole trader business?

Ultimately, this will come down to your specific mileage tracking needs and preferences. 

If you're using Rounded: Trax is the obvious choice. It's user-friendly, based on a more reliable tracking method than most app-only solutions, and feeds your vehicle deductions directly into Rounded for tax time.

If you're using Hnry: Mileage by Hnry is the natural fit and is already included in your subscription. Just make sure the app is set up correctly, and be aware that you may need to spend some extra time double-checking that all your trips are being recorded correctly. 

If you use multiple vehicles for work: Trax easily pairs with any vehicle in seconds, making it easy to just get in and go.

If you want an app-based solution only: Trax's connection-based tracking offers the best accuracy without a hardware component. 

If you want a hardware-based solution: Driversnote's iBeacon is the most user-friendly for the average sole trader and doesn't need dongles or a complicated setup. GOFAR is worth considering if you drive a high-mileage petrol or diesel vehicle and want extras like vehicle diagnostics.

If you only drive occasionally: The free ATO myDeductions app may be all you need, provided you're disciplined about keeping up a manual logbook.

One last thing worth keeping in mind?

The value of a mileage logbook isn't just convenience.

The ATO can ask to see your records, and incomplete or inaccurate logs can mean you miss out on those tax savings. 

Whatever app you choose, the best one is the one you'll actually use consistently. Ideally without having to think about it.