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Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram

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Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Effortlessly track your expenses with MoneyMate , an n8n workflow that transforms receipts into organized financial insights. Upload a photo or text via Telegram , and let MoneyMate extract key det...

Best for

  • Invoice Processing automation workflows
  • AI Summarization automation workflows
  • advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.telegramtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainllm, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.set, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.outputparserstructured

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Khairul Muhtadin.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram
Workflow name
Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram

Effortlessly track your expenses with MoneyMate, an n8n workflow that transforms receipts into organized financial insights.

Upload a photo or text via Telegram, and let MoneyMate extract key details—store info, transaction dates, items, and totals—using Google Vision OCR and AI-powered parsing via OpenRouter.

It categorizes expenses (e.g., Food & Beverages, Transport, Household) and delivers a clean, emoji-rich summary back to your Telegram chat. Handles zero-total errors with a friendly nudge to double-check inputs.

Perfect for freelancers, small business owners, or anyone seeking hassle-free expense management. No database required, ensuring privacy and simplicity. Deploy MoneyMate and take control of your finances today!

Key Features

  • 📱 Telegram Integration: Input via photo or text, receive summaries instantly.
  • 📸 Receipt Scanning: Converts receipt images to text using Google Vision API.
  • 🤖 AI Parsing: Categorizes transactions with OpenRouter’s AI analysis.
  • 🛡️ Privacy-First: Processes data on-the-fly without storage.
  • ⚠️ Smart Error Handling: Catches zero totals with user-friendly prompts.
  • 📊 Flexible Categories: Supports Income/Expense and custom expense types.

Ideal For

  • Budget-conscious individuals managing personal finances.
  • Entrepreneurs tracking business expenses.
  • Teams needing quick, automated expense reporting.

Pre-Requirements

  • n8n Instance: A running n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted).
  • Credentials:
    • Telegram: A bot token and webhook setup (obtained via BotFather). For more information, please refer to Telegram bots creation
    • Google Cloud: A service account with Google Vision API enabled and API key. For more informations, please refer to Google cloud Vision
    • OpenRouter: An account with API access for AI language model usage.
  • Telegram Bot: A configured Telegram bot to receive inputs and send summaries.

Setup Instructions

  • Import Workflow: Copy the MoneyMate workflow JSON and import it into your n8n instance using the "Import Workflow" option.
  • Set Up Telegram Bot: Create a bot via BotFather on Telegram to get a token and set up a webhook. For detailed steps, refer to n8n’s Telegram setup guide.
  • Configure Credentials:
    • In the Telegram Trigger, Send Error Message, and Send Expense Summary nodes, add Telegram API credentials with your bot token.
    • In the Get Telegram File and Download Image nodes, ensure Telegram API credentials are linked.
    • In the Google Vision OCR node, add Google Cloud credentials with Google Vision API access.
    • In the OpenRouter AI Model node, set up OpenRouter API credentials.
  • Test the Workflow: Send a test receipt photo or text (e.g., "Lunch 50,000 IDR") via Telegram and verify the summary in your chat.
  • Activate: Enable the workflow in n8n to run automatically for each input.

Customization Options

  • Add Categories: Modify the AI Categorizer node to include new expense types (e.g., Entertainment).
  • Change Output Format: Adjust the Format Summary Message node to include more details like taxes or payment methods.
  • Switch AI Model: In the OpenRouter AI Model node, select a different OpenRouter model for better parsing.
  • Store Data: Add a Google Sheets node after Parse Receipt Data to save expense records.
  • Enhance Errors: Include an email notification node after Check Invalid Input for failed inputs.

Why Choose MoneyMate?

Save time, reduce manual entry, and gain clarity on your spending with MoneyMate’s AI-driven workflow. Ready to streamline your finances? Get MoneyMate now!

Made by: khmuhtadin Need a custom? contact me on LinkedIn or Web

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Format Summary Message

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices
Version 2

Block 2 - Get Telegram File

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 3 - Download Image

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.2

Block 4 - Telegram Trigger

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegramTrigger - telegramTrigger
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 5 - Sticky - Telegram Trigger

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 6 - AI Categorizer

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainLlm - chainLlm
Config choices
Version 1.6

Block 7 - Check Invalid Input

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices
Version 2.2

Block 8 - Extract Text Input

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 9 - Check for Image

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices
Version 2.2

Block 10 - Sticky - Check for Image

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 11 - Receipt Parser

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.outputParserStructured - outputParserStructured
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 12 - AI Analyzer

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenRouter - lmChatOpenRouter
Config choices
Version 1

Block 13 - Send Error Message

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 14 - Send Expense Summary

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 15 - Sticky - Parse Receipt Data1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 16 - Extract Value From Image

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-tesseractjs.tesseractNode - tesseractNode
Config choices
Version 1

Block 17 - Sticky - Send Expense Summary1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 18 - Sticky - Extract Text Input1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 19 - Sticky - Parse Receipt Data2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 20 - Sticky - Get Telegram File1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 21 - Sticky - Download Image2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 22 - Sticky - Download Image3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 23 - Sticky - Format Summary Message1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 24 - Sticky - AI Categorizer1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Showing the first 24 of 27 workflow blocks. Download the JSON for the full node graph.

3. Summary Table

Workflow Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram
Complexity advanced
Nodes 27
Categories Invoice Processing, AI Summarization
Author Khairul Muhtadin
Published 13 May 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/4020/4020.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Extract & categorize receipt data with Google OCR, OpenRouter AI & Telegram do?

Effortlessly track your expenses with MoneyMate , an n8n workflow that transforms receipts into organized financial insights. Upload a photo or text via Telegram , and let MoneyMate extract key det...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Invoice Processing, AI Summarization use case.