> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clearspend.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Choosing integrations

> Pick the right data source for discovery, invoices, card charges, and alerts.

Not sure which connection to set up first? Use the guides below. You can combine most **Track Spend** sources with **App Discovery** (Google Workspace).

<Note>
  **KPI cards and charts use charges only** — from statement CSV imports or Plaid. Invoice integrations (Gmail, Drive, forward email) add supporting documents, not dashboard totals. See [How data enters ClearSpend](/connect/how-data-enters).
</Note>

## Quick picker

| Your goal                               | Start here                                                                                                                               |
| --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Populate KPI cards and charts           | [Import a statement, statement CSV](/connect/data-sources#import-subscriptions) or [Plaid](/connect/connect-your-bank)                   |
| Attach invoice proof for reconciliation | [Upload invoices](/connect/data-sources#upload-invoices-and-receipts), [Gmail](/connect/gmail), or [Google Drive](/connect/google-drive) |
| Auto-import invoices from email         | [Gmail](/connect/gmail)                                                                                                                  |
| Sync PDFs from a shared folder          | [Google Drive](/connect/google-drive)                                                                                                    |
| Detect charges from your card           | [Connect your card (Plaid)](/connect/connect-your-bank)                                                                                  |
| Discover who uses which apps            | [Google Workspace](/connect/google-workspace)                                                                                            |
| Renewal alerts in Slack                 | [Slack](/connect/slack-integration)                                                                                                      |

***

## Gmail vs Google Drive vs forward email

| Method                                                              | Best when                                                                  | Ongoing?                           |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| **[Gmail](/connect/gmail)**                                         | Invoices arrive as email with PDF attachments in a Gmail inbox             | Yes — scheduled sync               |
| **[Google Drive](/connect/google-drive)**                           | Finance saves PDFs to a shared Drive folder (e.g. `/ClearSpendDocuments/`) | Yes — scheduled sync               |
| **[Forward email](/connect/data-sources#forward-an-invoice-email)** | You don't want OAuth, or invoices land in Outlook/other mail               | Manual per message (or inbox rule) |
| **One-off upload**                                                  | Single missing invoice                                                     | No                                 |

<Tip>
  **Most finance teams:** connect **Gmail** (or forward) for invoices **and** **Google Workspace** for app discovery. They solve different problems.
</Tip>

***

## Plaid vs CSV statement upload

| Method                                                                              | Best when                                                        |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **[Plaid (card link)](/connect/connect-your-bank)**                                 | Ongoing charge detection from linked accounts; no manual exports |
| **[Import subscriptions / CSV upload](/connect/data-sources#import-subscriptions)** | One-time backfill from a card export; no card OAuth              |

Card linking creates **charges** that populate KPI cards and dashboard charts. Statement CSV imports do the same for one-time backfills. Invoices (from Gmail, Drive, or upload) add **supporting documents** — renewal terms and line items — but **do not** add amounts to KPIs without a matching charge. Many teams use **both**.

<Frame caption="Connected card integration on the Integrations page: linked institution and last sync time.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/clearspendaillc/QNKey0pysjjIMUYF/screenshots/integrations-bank-expanded.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QNKey0pysjjIMUYF&q=85&s=975050522350308a2d541d09230c437c" alt="Plaid card integration connected state" width="1024" height="768" data-path="screenshots/integrations-bank-expanded.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Subscriptions: Overview vs Transactions vs Needs review

| Tab              | One row per                             | Use it to                                                               |
| ---------------- | --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Overview**     | Subscription (latest charge)            | Portfolio view, export, bulk actions                                    |
| **Transactions** | Individual payment                      | Reconcile a specific charge, audit history                              |
| **Needs review** | Invoice-only detections (no charge yet) | Triage before Overview; amounts excluded from KPIs until charge arrives |

<Frame caption="Overview tab: one row per subscription with amount, status, and renewal date.">
  <img src="https://assets.clearspend.ai/content/videos/subscription_overview.png" alt="Subscriptions Overview tab" />
</Frame>

<Frame caption="Transactions tab: one row per charge with reconciliation status.">
  <img src="https://assets.clearspend.ai/content/videos/subscription_transaction.png" alt="Subscriptions Transactions tab" />
</Frame>

See [Needs review](/features/subscriptions#needs-review) for the approval queue.

***

## Something wrong?

| Problem                | Fix                                                         |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Invoices not appearing | Check [Activity](/features/activity) or wait for first sync |
| Hit integration limit  | Upgrade plan — [Billing](/settings/billing#usage-limits)    |

## Related

* [Integrations overview](/connect/integrations)
* [How data enters ClearSpend](/connect/how-data-enters)
* [Troubleshooting](/reference/troubleshooting)