# Extract & categorize receipt data with OpenRouter AI: n8n workflow

> Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Telegram. It hands the judgement calls to OpenRouter.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-and-categorize-receipt-data-with-openrouter-ai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Money admin](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Money+admin#library)

# Extract & categorize receipt data with OpenRouter AI

Started by an incoming Telegram message, and works across Telegram. It hands the judgement calls to OpenRouter. 13 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenRouter

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fextract-and-categorize-receipt-data-with-openrouter-ai)

**13 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 3 Logic 4 Service 5

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Telegram Trigger** Telegram trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Receipt Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 3 **AI Analyzer** Lm Chat Open Router *Model*
- 4 **Check for Image** If *Logic*
- 5 **AI Categorizer** Chain Llm *Model*
- 6 **Get Telegram File** Http Request *Service*
- 7 **Extract Text Input** Set *Logic*
- 8 **Format Summary Message** Code *Logic*
- 9 **Download Image** Http Request *Service*
- 10 **Check Invalid Input** If *Logic*
- 11 **Extract Value From Image** Tesseract Node *Service*
- 12 **Send Error Message** Telegram *Service*
- 13 **Send Expense Summary** Telegram *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming Telegram message
- **Steps:** 13, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Telegram
- **Model:** OpenRouter

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Telegram account, and a key for OpenRouter. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming Telegram message.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenRouter. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 13 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 13 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fextract-and-categorize-receipt-data-with-openrouter-ai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Telegram#library)

## Workflows like it

Also money admin, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Extract Details from Receipts with Telegram and Tesseract** 13 steps · calls a model · Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-details-from-receipts-with-telegram-and-tesseract)
- [**Telegram & Gmail expense capture with OpenAI and Google Sheets** 13 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/telegram-and-gmail-expense-capture-with-openai-and-google-sh)
- [**Extract Indonesian stock (IDX) trades from Telegram invoices** 13 steps · Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-indonesian-stock-idx-trades-from-telegram-invoices)
- [**Extract invoice data from Telegram to Gmail and Google Drive** 13 steps · Gmail, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-invoice-data-from-telegram-to-gmail-and-google-drive)
- [**Extract & store receipt data with OpenAI and OCR** 14 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-and-store-receipt-data-with-openai-and-ocr)
- [**Extract & structure invoice data with Google Vision OCR** 12 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/extract-and-structure-invoice-data-with-google-vision-ocr)