NeatCloud

At its heart, NeatCloud is but a file-syncing service, one of many that gives you an allotment of remote storage space to keep some files that are always up-to-date no matter how you access them. But you'd be very short-sighted to see NeatCloud only for its syncing and storing capabilities, as its more important purpose is to help you organize and back up documents, receipts, warranties, and other important paperwork. You can use it to keep records of your valuables and sleep better at night knowing that you'll never be without documentation in the event you have to submit an insurance claim after a theft, fire, flood, or other disaster.

NeatCloud, in partnership with its app NeatMobile (only on iOS at the moment, with Android support reportedly on its way) for uploading information on-the-go, bends to most any needs. Flexible folder structures, simple reporting tools, and a wealth of features for cataloging and categorizing your data and files, keep NeatCloud versatile. The only area where this digital filing cabinet falls short is it doesn't integrate with enterprise-level expense reporting, so it's tough to rely on NeatCloud and NeatMobile for business expenses if you work for a large organization. On the other hand, small business owners may be very well satisfied with NeatCloud's ability to spit out PDF expense reports.

What makes NeatCloud different from more traditional file-syncing services, such as Dropbox and SugarSync (both Editors' Choices) is what you put in them. Most file-syncing services take care of documents that are already on your computer, tablet or smartphone (usually, although there are plenty of alternative uses). NeatCloud is meant to help you create entries or digital records for things that aren't stored anywhere electronically but should be.

Prices and Options
The Neat Company, which owns NeatCloud, offers three versions of the service. The first is Personal ($5.99 per month), which supports one user and does not include Web expense reporting, the ability to share files and folders, or NeatMobile, the mobile app that lets you add new records to your NeatCloud account.

The next version, called Home & Office ($14.99 per month), supports two users and includes all those features that are missing from the Personal edition. The Home & Office version also adds more search capabilities and NeatCare Support. If you sign up for a 30-day free trial of NeatCloud (credit card required), this version is what you'll get.

Last is the NeatCloud Business ($24.99 per month), which has everything in the Home & Office version, but supports up to five users.

Getting Started With NeatCloud
To reach NeatCloud, you can log in through the website, where you'll see a very simple and self-explanatory dashboard (see the slideshow). NeatClouds opens with two buttons along the top, import and report, and three icons in a left rail below: Inbox, My Cabinet, and Trash.

The Inbox is pre-populated with four folders, all of which indicate a different method for uploading documents, such as "From Email," "From NeatMobile," and "From NeatScan," which refers to a bulk scanning service that The Neat Company offers (not tested for this review).

The area called My Cabinet houses additional folders and subfolders that you can set up and easily change at any time. I used NeatCloud to catalog my home possessions and homeowner paperwork so that I would have a backup of them in the event of a disaster, and I liked that the Cabinet space gave me complete control and flexibility. I named folders how I wanted and could edit them at the touch of a button, which was crucial in setting up a digital filing cabinet for the first time. Often, you don't know what organizational structure you need until you start making one and revising it, working by trial and error.

When I was ready to populate my folders, I found the Action button on the right side of the dashboard and the option to create item: receipt, document, or contact.

The receipt option is straightforward, with thirteen fields for various bits of relevant information, including vendor, expense category, date, payment type, and even a drop-down menu with tax categories and form names for the U.S. and Canada. It's never a requirement to fill in certain fields, which I appreciated. You can fill in as little or as much as you need, and you can edit the entry later, too.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/fEG5hqFlqIw/0,2817,2408996,00.asp

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