Dext and AutoEntry by Sage are two established document capture and bookkeeping automation platforms used by accountants, bookkeepers and businesses across the UK. Both help collect receipts, purchase invoices, sales invoices and bank statements, extract financial information and transfer the resulting data into accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks and Sage.
The main difference is their approach to functionality and pricing. Dext provides a broader bookkeeping automation environment, combining document capture with categorisation, approval workflows, bank matching and practice management tools. AutoEntry focuses on document processing through a credit-based pricing system that allows accounting firms to pay according to the amount and type of information extracted.
For UK accounting practices managing large numbers of clients and looking to standardise bookkeeping workflows, Dext may offer greater operational flexibility. For firms that primarily want to eliminate manual data entry, process invoices and bank statements, and control expenditure according to document volumes, AutoEntry deserves serious consideration.
Neither platform should be selected solely because it advertises high extraction accuracy or compatibility with a particular accounting package. The most useful comparison considers actual document volumes, client submission habits, VAT coding requirements, integration capabilities and total monthly costs.
Dext vs AutoEntry: Features Compared
Both systems operate between the original financial document and the accounting ledger. They collect source records, extract information and prepare transactions for review and posting.
However, the depth of automation and the availability of particular features differ between products and subscription packages.
| Feature | Dext | AutoEntry by Sage |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Document capture, bookkeeping automation and practice workflows | Document capture and automated financial data extraction |
| Receipt scanning | Yes | Yes |
| Purchase invoice extraction | Yes | Yes |
| Sales invoice extraction | Yes | Yes |
| Bank statement extraction | Yes | Yes |
| Supplier statement processing | Yes | Yes |
| Invoice line-item extraction | Available, subject to plan allowances and additional credits | Available for two credits per invoice |
| Mobile document capture | Yes | Yes |
| Email document submission | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp document submission | Supported | Not listed as a standard capture channel |
| Automated categorisation | Yes | Yes |
| Supplier and VAT coding suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| Duplicate invoice checks | Yes | Yes |
| Supplier statement reconciliation | Yes | Yes |
| Employee expense management | Yes, subject to plan and feature availability | Expense reports and approval functionality |
| Practice dashboards and workflow management | Available, particularly in Advanced | Client and document management; less extensive practice workflow features |
| Xero integration | Yes | Yes |
| QuickBooks integration | Yes | Yes |
| Sage integration | Yes | Yes |
| FreeAgent integration | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing structure | Practice plans based on client numbers and required features | Monthly subscription with document-processing credits |
| Unused processing credits | Allowance and additional-credit rules depend on the plan | Unused credits can roll over for up to 90 days |
| Number of users | Subject to subscription structure and permissions | Unlimited users under standard paid plans |
| Client companies | Practice subscriptions depend on client numbers | Unlimited client companies under standard paid plans |
| Main distinguishing feature | Broader bookkeeping automation and practice management | Flexible usage-based processing with all core features available across paid tiers |
The comparison covers the products’ advertised capabilities. Individual integrations, automation rules and additional services should be checked against the exact subscription selected by the accounting practice.
Dext: Bookkeeping Automation for UK Accounting Practices
Dext is designed to reduce the manual work involved in collecting, extracting, categorising and transferring financial information into accounting systems.
The platform combines document capture with bookkeeping rules, supplier management, VAT categorisation, approval processes and additional tools for overseeing work across multiple clients.
Dext is particularly relevant to practices that want to move beyond scanning invoices and establish consistent bookkeeping procedures across their client base.
Receipt and Invoice Capture
Dext enables businesses and accounting firms to submit documents through several channels.
These include:
- Mobile application.
- Direct file upload.
- Email forwarding.
- WhatsApp document submission.
- Automated document collection from supported sources.
- Additional connected services and integrations.
For an accounting firm, offering multiple submission methods can reduce the time spent chasing clients for missing paperwork.
A self-employed electrician, for example, may photograph a fuel receipt immediately after visiting a petrol station.
A limited company director might forward a supplier invoice received by email, while another client uploads several documents from a desktop computer.
The documents arrive in a central processing environment rather than being scattered across email inboxes and messaging conversations.
Automated Data Extraction
Dext uses automated document recognition to extract information from financial records.
Depending on the document, this may include:
- Supplier name.
- Invoice number.
- Document date.
- Net amount.
- VAT amount.
- Gross amount.
- Currency.
- Additional transaction information.
Dext advertises extraction accuracy exceeding 99%.
However, this is the provider’s performance claim rather than an independently established result from a direct comparison with AutoEntry.
The practical accuracy achieved by an accounting firm can vary according to document quality, invoice layout, scan resolution and the complexity of the information being extracted.
Bookkeepers should continue reviewing important fields before transactions are posted to the accounting ledger.
Supplier Rules and Automatic Categorisation
Dext allows accounting practices to create rules for recurring suppliers and transaction types.
For example, an accounting firm may configure transactions from a particular supplier to use a predefined nominal account and VAT treatment.
When another invoice from that supplier is received, the system can suggest or apply the established settings.
This can reduce repetitive coding work, particularly when clients submit large numbers of similar invoices each month.
However, supplier rules should not be treated as a substitute for professional judgement.
A supplier may provide different goods or services with different VAT treatments. An automated rule that is appropriate for one purchase may not be correct for another.
Bank Feeds and Transaction Matching
Dext supports bank feeds, transaction matching and bank-related automation.
These features can help accounting practices connect supporting documents with relevant transactions and identify records that require attention.
For example, a bank transaction may appear without the corresponding supplier invoice.
The accountant can then identify missing supporting paperwork rather than discovering the problem during a later reconciliation.
The exact capabilities depend on the connected accounting system and the Dext features included in the practice’s subscription.
Supplier Statement Reconciliation
Supplier statements are particularly important for businesses that regularly purchase goods on credit.
Dext provides tools for processing supplier statements and comparing them with recorded documents.
This can help identify:
- Missing supplier invoices.
- Potential duplicate documents.
- Unrecorded credit notes.
- Items requiring reconciliation.
The functionality is useful for practices supporting wholesalers, retailers, construction companies and other businesses with high supplier transaction volumes.
Supplier statement processing may use additional extraction credits, depending on the selected plan.
Practice Management and Workflow Visibility
One of Dext’s distinguishing features is its broader approach to practice operations.
Its Advanced offering includes tools for organising work across clients, teams and locations.
Depending on the subscription, firms can access functionality for:
- Monitoring client activity.
- Tracking missing documents.
- Managing deadlines.
- Reviewing team workloads.
- Organising repeatable bookkeeping processes.
- Analysing data quality.
- Monitoring bookkeeping progress across the client base.
These capabilities may be valuable to accounting practices employing several bookkeepers or managing hundreds of client entities.
A firm that only needs to extract information from a limited number of receipts may not require this broader functionality.
Dext: Main Advantages
- Multiple document submission methods.
- Automated extraction and categorisation.
- Broad accounting software compatibility.
- Bank transaction matching and supporting-document workflows.
- Supplier statement reconciliation.
- Duplicate detection.
- Expense management and approvals.
- Practice dashboards and workflow tools.
- Additional functionality for growing accounting practices.
Dext: Potential Limitations
Dext’s pricing and feature structure can be more complicated to evaluate than a straightforward document-credit subscription.
Practices need to consider the number of client entities, required automation features and additional processing allowances.
Some capabilities are limited to particular packages or require additional credits.
For a small practice that primarily processes occasional invoices and receipts, paying for a broader bookkeeping platform may provide limited additional value.
AutoEntry by Sage: Flexible Document Processing for Accountants and Bookkeepers
AutoEntry is a cloud-based document processing platform owned by Sage.
It is designed to capture financial records, extract the relevant information and prepare transactions for transfer into accounting software.
Although AutoEntry is part of the Sage ecosystem, it is not restricted to Sage users.
The platform also integrates with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent and other accounting systems.
Its distinctive feature is a credit-based subscription model in which usage is determined primarily by the type and quantity of documents processed.
Document Capture and Submission
AutoEntry allows users to submit financial records through several methods.
These include:
- Mobile application.
- Desktop upload.
- Scanned documents.
- Email forwarding.
- Batch document submission.
Once submitted, documents are processed and made available for review.
This allows accountants to organise incoming records without manually typing every invoice number, date and transaction amount.
Clients can submit their own paperwork, reducing the need for the practice to collect physical receipts and invoices.
Invoice and Receipt Data Extraction
AutoEntry uses optical character recognition and automated processing technology to extract financial information.
The system can identify information such as:
- Supplier details.
- Invoice numbers.
- Invoice dates.
- Net amounts.
- VAT amounts.
- Gross totals.
- Individual invoice lines when line-item extraction is selected.
AutoEntry advertises extraction accuracy of up to 99%.
As with Dext, this should be understood as a provider claim rather than proof of superior performance in every accounting environment.
The quality of the original document and the complexity of the invoice can influence the result.
VAT and Nominal Code Suggestions
AutoEntry can remember how users categorise transactions and suggest relevant accounting codes.
For example, when a bookkeeper repeatedly assigns invoices from a supplier to a particular expense category, the software can use previous choices to suggest the appropriate nominal account.
AutoEntry can also suggest VAT codes based on existing accounting patterns.
This is useful for standard transactions but requires appropriate checking.
The same supplier may issue invoices containing different goods, services or tax treatments.
Automated suggestions should therefore be reviewed where the correct VAT treatment is not straightforward.
Invoice Line-Item Extraction
AutoEntry offers optional extraction of individual invoice lines.
Instead of capturing only the invoice totals and tax summary, the system can identify line descriptions, quantities, prices and related amounts when the information is available.
This can be useful for businesses that need more detailed purchase records.
Examples include retailers, wholesalers and businesses requiring invoice lines for stock-related processes.
Under the standard AutoEntry credit structure:
- A basic invoice costs one credit.
- An invoice with line-item extraction costs two credits in total.
The additional detail therefore increases the processing cost.
Accounting firms should avoid enabling line-item extraction for every invoice unless the extra information is genuinely required.
Bank Statement Processing
AutoEntry can extract transaction data from PDF bank and credit card statements.
The extracted information can include dates, descriptions, debit amounts, credit amounts and balances.
Depending on the connected accounting package, processed data may be exported directly to the accounting system or downloaded in a suitable file format.
This can be particularly useful when a client has historical bank statements but no usable bank feed for the relevant period.
AutoEntry charges three credits per bank statement page.
Importantly, pages without relevant transactions may still consume credits if they are included in the uploaded statement.
Removing unnecessary pages before processing can therefore reduce expenditure.
Supplier Statement Reconciliation
AutoEntry supports supplier statement extraction and reconciliation.
After processing a supplier statement, the system can compare the listed invoices with purchase documents available in AutoEntry.
The Auto-Match function searches for matching invoices using information such as supplier name, invoice number, date and amount.
Potential missing documents can then be investigated.
This can reduce the time required to reconcile supplier accounts, although unresolved discrepancies still require manual review.
Supplier statement processing normally consumes two credits per statement.
Duplicate Invoice Detection
AutoEntry includes duplicate checking functionality.
Its checks can identify potentially duplicated invoices before they are published to the accounting system.
The provider also offers enhanced matching functionality for selected integrations, including Sage Accounting, Xero and QuickBooks Online.
However, duplicate detection is not a guarantee that every repeated transaction will be identified.
Differences in supplier names, document dates or invoice information may affect matching.
Unlimited Users and Client Companies
One important aspect of AutoEntry’s pricing is that standard paid subscription plans include unlimited users and client companies.
The subscription is primarily based on the number of processing credits required.
This can make budgeting easier for firms with many clients who submit relatively small quantities of paperwork.
However, additional users and client companies do not eliminate processing costs. Every document requiring extraction still consumes the relevant allowance.
AutoEntry: Main Advantages
- Simple credit-based pricing.
- Unlimited users and client companies under standard paid plans.
- Mobile, desktop and email document submission.
- Automated invoice and receipt extraction.
- Optional line-item extraction.
- Bank and credit card statement processing.
- Supplier statement reconciliation.
- Duplicate detection.
- Integration with Sage, Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.
- Unused credits can roll over for up to 90 days.
- All core features available across standard paid subscription tiers.
AutoEntry: Potential Limitations
The credit-based model is easy to understand, but processing costs can increase quickly when an accounting practice handles large numbers of complex documents.
Bank statement extraction and line-item processing consume more credits than basic receipt capture.
AutoEntry also offers fewer practice-wide workflow and management capabilities than the broader Dext platform.
Firms looking for a comprehensive system for monitoring bookkeeping workloads, deadlines and client data quality may need additional software.
Dext vs AutoEntry: Which Is Better for Receipt and Invoice Capture?
Both Dext and AutoEntry support the essential receipt and invoice capture requirements of UK accountants and bookkeepers.
Each allows clients to submit documents electronically and provides automated extraction of key financial information.
The distinction is primarily how the capture process fits into the rest of the practice’s workflow.
Dext places greater emphasis on connecting document extraction with categorisation, bank matching, approvals and wider practice processes.
AutoEntry emphasises straightforward extraction and processing, with usage charged according to the type of document.
A practice should evaluate both platforms using the same selection of real client documents.
This provides a more meaningful comparison than relying on advertised accuracy figures alone.
How Accurate Are Dext and AutoEntry?
Dext advertises extraction accuracy exceeding 99%, while AutoEntry advertises accuracy of up to 99%.
These claims do not establish that Dext is more accurate than AutoEntry.
The providers may use different document collections, measurement methods and definitions of accuracy.
A meaningful comparison would require identical documents and equivalent testing conditions.
For UK accounting firms, the most useful test should include:
- Standard UK VAT invoices.
- Retail receipts.
- Multi-page invoices.
- Invoices with multiple VAT rates.
- Credit notes.
- Foreign currency invoices.
- Supplier statements.
- Bank statements.
- Low-quality scans.
- Unusual supplier invoice layouts.
The practice should record how many fields require correction and how long each document takes to review.
An extraction result may contain most fields correctly but still require significant manual attention if the VAT amount or invoice date is wrong.
For this reason, the practical cost of correcting documents is often more important than a headline accuracy percentage.
Dext vs AutoEntry Pricing in the UK
Pricing is one of the clearest differences between the two systems.
Dext offers subscription packages for accounting practices, while AutoEntry uses document-processing credits.
These models should not be compared solely by looking at the lowest advertised monthly fee.
How Much Does Dext Cost for UK Accountants?
Dext provides practice-focused subscriptions including Essentials and Advanced.
Essentials is intended for firms that require document capture, extraction and core bookkeeping automation.
Advanced includes additional capabilities for organising teams, workflows and practice-wide reporting.
Pricing depends on the number and type of clients supported and the features selected.
The provider offers a plan builder and tailored quotations for accounting practices.
Additional allowances or charges may apply to certain operations, including bank statement extraction, invoice line-item extraction and supplier statement processing.
Dext also offers a separate Solo option for eligible self-employed and landlord clients who need Making Tax Digital for Income Tax functionality.
Solo is not equivalent to a general-purpose practice subscription, so its advertised starting price should not be used as the price of Dext Essentials or Advanced.
How Much Does AutoEntry Cost?
AutoEntry publishes subscription tiers based on monthly processing credits.
Examples of the British pound prices published for standard subscriptions include:
| AutoEntry Plan | Monthly Credits | Advertised Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 50 credits | £15.45 excluding VAT |
| Silver | 100 credits | £27.65 excluding VAT |
| Gold | 200 credits | £51.95 excluding VAT |
| Platinum | 500 credits | £119.35 excluding VAT |
| Diamond | 1,500 credits | £331.50 excluding VAT |
These figures are advertised subscription prices and may change. Firms should confirm the applicable price, payment terms and any Sage bundle arrangements before purchasing.
AutoEntry allows unused credits to roll over for up to 90 days after purchase.
It also offers the option to change subscription levels, making it possible to adjust the allowance when document volumes increase or decrease.
How Many AutoEntry Credits Does an Accounting Firm Need?
AutoEntry applies different credit charges according to document type.
| Document Type | Credits Required |
|---|---|
| Standard purchase invoice | 1 credit |
| Standard sales invoice | 1 credit |
| Receipt or expense document | 1 credit |
| Invoice with line-item extraction | 2 credits |
| Supplier statement | 2 credits |
| Bank or credit card statement | 3 credits per page |
Consider a practice processing the following documents in one month:
- 100 standard receipts: 100 credits.
- 20 invoices requiring line-item extraction: 40 credits.
- 10 pages of bank statements: 30 credits.
- 5 supplier statements: 10 credits.
Total: 180 processing credits.
Under the advertised credit allowances, the 200-credit Gold subscription would cover that example workload.
However, the calculation would change if the firm received more bank statement pages or required line-item extraction on additional invoices.
Which Pricing Model Is More Cost-Effective?
AutoEntry may be attractive when document volumes fluctuate or when a practice manages many client companies with relatively low processing requirements.
Dext may offer better operational value when the firm uses its wider automation, bank matching and practice management capabilities extensively.
The lower monthly subscription is not necessarily the cheaper solution after staff time, document corrections, supplementary processing and additional software are considered.
Practices should calculate the complete monthly cost for their actual workload rather than comparing entry-level packages with different allowances.
Dext and AutoEntry Integrations: Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and FreeAgent
Both platforms integrate with widely used accounting software in the UK.
This is important because neither product needs to replace the firm’s primary accounting ledger.
Integration with Xero
Dext and AutoEntry can prepare and publish extracted invoice and receipt information into Xero.
Accountants should test the handling of:
- Contacts and supplier records.
- Nominal account assignments.
- VAT codes.
- Tracking categories.
- Invoice attachments.
- Credit notes.
- Duplicate transactions.
Exact integration behaviour may depend on the transaction type and the features enabled in the connected account.
Integration with QuickBooks Online
Both products support QuickBooks Online.
Users can prepare financial information for publication into the connected accounting system.
It is important to verify the treatment of supplier invoices, expenses, tax codes and attachments before transferring large volumes of documents.
Integration with Sage Accounting and Sage 50
AutoEntry is part of the Sage ecosystem and offers integrations with Sage Accounting and Sage 50.
Dext also supports Sage products.
For an accounting firm already using Sage, both systems should therefore be evaluated on their actual workflow capabilities rather than assuming AutoEntry is the only compatible option.
AutoEntry may be particularly convenient for practices that already receive processing credits through an eligible Sage subscription.
However, AutoEntry is not universally free for Sage users. The standard service has its own usage-based subscription arrangements.
Integration with FreeAgent
Both Dext and AutoEntry offer FreeAgent integration.
This may be relevant to practices supporting freelancers, contractors and smaller businesses that use FreeAgent for their accounting records.
Before selecting either platform, firms should confirm that the required transaction types can be published in the expected way.
Making Tax Digital: Is Dext or AutoEntry Better for UK Compliance?
Making Tax Digital is an important consideration for UK accounting and bookkeeping practices.
However, document capture and direct submission of tax information to HMRC are different functions.
Using Dext or AutoEntry to extract information from invoices does not automatically mean that the practice has satisfied every Making Tax Digital requirement.
Making Tax Digital for VAT
For VAT-registered businesses within the Making Tax Digital rules, accounting records and VAT submissions must be maintained using appropriate compatible software.
Dext and AutoEntry can support this process by capturing source documents and transferring relevant information into connected accounting systems.
The firm’s accounting and filing software must still meet the applicable HMRC requirements.
Bookkeepers must also review VAT treatment and ensure that documents are allocated correctly.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax began applying to qualifying sole traders and landlords from April 2026.
The rollout started with individuals whose qualifying income exceeded £50,000, with further phases scheduled for April 2027 and April 2028 at lower qualifying income thresholds.
Dext offers a dedicated Solo product with functionality designed for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, including quarterly updates to HMRC.
That capability should be distinguished from Dext’s general document capture and bookkeeping products.
AutoEntry is principally a data extraction and bookkeeping automation tool. Its integration with HMRC-compatible accounting software can support digital record keeping, but AutoEntry should not be assumed to provide every required Income Tax filing function independently.
Accounting practices should confirm that their complete software combination supports the obligations applicable to each client.
Bank Statements and Supplier Statements: Which Platform Is More Suitable?
Both systems can process bank statements and supplier statements, but their commercial models differ.
AutoEntry applies an explicit charge of three credits per bank statement page and two credits per supplier statement.
Dext provides statement processing under the allowances and credit rules of its selected subscription.
For a practice that processes historical bank statements every month, the difference in cost can be significant.
For example, a bookkeeping firm completing several catch-up accounting jobs may need to process hundreds of bank statement pages.
It should calculate how those pages will be charged under each system before deciding which platform is cheaper.
Where bank feeds are available and reliable, the need for manual PDF bank statement extraction may be lower.
For supplier statement reconciliation, practices should test both products with actual supplier statements containing missing invoices, credit notes and discrepancies.
This will reveal whether the reconciliation workflow provides meaningful time savings for the type of clients the firm serves.
Which Software Is Better for Different Types of UK Accounting Practices?
| Practice Requirement | System Worth Considering | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Small practice processing occasional invoices | AutoEntry | Flexible credit-based pricing and access to core features. |
| Large practice managing many client workflows | Dext | Broader practice dashboards and workflow capabilities. |
| Many client companies with low document volumes | AutoEntry | Unlimited client companies under standard paid plans. |
| Frequent mobile receipt capture | Both | Both provide mobile capture functionality. |
| Clients submitting documents through WhatsApp | Dext | WhatsApp is an advertised submission channel. |
| Historical bank statement processing | Both | Compare statement allowances and per-page processing costs. |
| Supplier statement reconciliation | Both | Both offer reconciliation functionality. |
| Complex bookkeeping approval workflows | Dext | Broader automation and approval capabilities, depending on plan. |
| Accounting practice using Sage 50 | Both | Both support Sage integration; test the specific workflow. |
| Practice requiring detailed invoice lines | Both | Both offer line-item extraction, with different charging arrangements. |
| MTD for Income Tax submissions | Dext Solo or other suitable HMRC-compatible software | Dedicated filing functionality is required in addition to document capture. |
| Simple processing cost calculation | AutoEntry | Published credit charges for different document types. |
Client Experience: Which Platform Is Easier for Business Owners?
For many accounting practices, the most expensive part of document processing is not the software subscription.
It is the time spent contacting clients and requesting missing records.
Both Dext and AutoEntry allow clients to photograph receipts and submit invoices electronically.
The success of either system therefore depends partly on whether clients are willing and able to use it consistently.
Dext offers a wide range of submission methods, including mobile capture, email forwarding and WhatsApp.
AutoEntry provides mobile capture, desktop upload and email submission.
For clients who prefer forwarding invoices from their email inbox, both systems may be suitable.
For businesses regularly collecting paper receipts while travelling or working away from an office, the mobile application experience becomes particularly important.
Accounting firms should test how easily a typical client can:
- Photograph a receipt.
- Submit several invoices.
- Check whether a document was received.
- Correct an incorrectly submitted document.
- Locate an earlier invoice.
- Share missing information with the bookkeeper.
The platform requiring the least explanation from clients may ultimately save more staff time, even if its subscription costs slightly more.
Data Security and Document Retention
Accounting practices routinely handle financial records containing personal information, business addresses, bank details and other confidential information.
Both Dext and AutoEntry are cloud-based services offering online document storage and user access controls.
However, a direct ranking of their security cannot be established solely from product marketing materials.
Before implementation, firms should assess:
- UK GDPR obligations and data processing terms.
- User permissions and access restrictions.
- Multi-factor authentication availability.
- Document retention policies.
- Backup and recovery arrangements.
- Data export options.
- Procedures following account cancellation.
- Audit trails and access to historical records.
It is also important to understand how document retention within the capture platform relates to retention obligations under UK tax and accounting rules.
Firms should not assume that a software subscription automatically satisfies every record-keeping requirement.
How Should a UK Accounting Firm Test Dext and AutoEntry?
A controlled trial offers a more reliable basis for selecting bookkeeping automation software than comparing promotional claims alone.
A practice can begin with a small group of clients representing different types of businesses.
For example, the trial might include a sole trader, a VAT-registered limited company and a business receiving a high volume of supplier invoices.
The following process allows a meaningful comparison:
- Use identical documents. Upload the same invoices, receipts and statements into both platforms.
- Measure extraction accuracy. Count incorrect supplier names, invoice dates, VAT amounts and totals.
- Test categorisation. Check whether recurring supplier rules produce appropriate results.
- Review integrations. Publish test documents into the firm’s accounting software.
- Check duplicate detection. Submit repeated documents and review the warnings.
- Test statement processing. Compare the extraction and reconciliation of bank and supplier statements.
- Assess client usability. Ask real clients to upload documents using the mobile applications.
- Evaluate staff workflows. Measure time spent reviewing and correcting transactions.
- Compare complete costs. Include subscriptions, credits, optional services and additional staff time.
- Check data portability. Confirm how documents and extracted records can be retrieved if the practice changes providers.
Dext advertises a 14-day trial for its core services, while AutoEntry offers a trial containing 25 processing credits.
The structure and eligibility of trials may change, so firms should confirm the current terms when signing up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dext better than AutoEntry for UK accountants?
Dext may be more suitable for accounting firms requiring broad bookkeeping automation, workflow management and practice-wide reporting. AutoEntry may be more suitable for practices seeking flexible, credit-based document extraction. The better choice depends on client numbers, document volumes and required features.
Is AutoEntry owned by Sage?
Yes. AutoEntry is part of the Sage portfolio. It offers integrations with Sage Accounting and Sage 50, but it can also be used with other accounting software, including Xero and QuickBooks.
Can Dext integrate with Sage?
Yes. Dext supports Sage integrations, allowing accounting practices to capture financial documents, review extracted information and publish transactions to compatible Sage accounting systems.
Does AutoEntry work with Xero?
Yes. AutoEntry integrates with Xero and supports the preparation and publication of extracted invoice and receipt data. The precise fields and transaction types supported should be checked against the integration requirements of the practice.
Which is cheaper: Dext or AutoEntry?
There is no universal answer. AutoEntry uses published subscription tiers and processing credits. Dext offers practice subscriptions based on client numbers and selected features. AutoEntry may be attractive for variable or relatively low-volume processing, while Dext may provide additional value when its wider automation capabilities are used extensively.
How much does AutoEntry charge per invoice?
A standard purchase or sales invoice uses one credit. An invoice requiring automatic extraction of individual line items uses two credits in total. The monetary cost depends on the subscription tier.
Can Dext and AutoEntry process bank statements?
Yes. Both platforms can extract information from bank statements. AutoEntry charges three credits per page, while Dext applies the allowances and additional processing rules associated with the chosen subscription.
Which platform supports supplier statement reconciliation?
Both Dext and AutoEntry provide supplier statement processing and reconciliation functionality. The workflows and applicable processing charges differ, so firms should test both systems with their own supplier statements.
Do Dext and AutoEntry replace accounting software?
Neither should automatically be treated as a replacement for a complete accounting ledger. Their primary role is to capture documents, extract information and support bookkeeping processes. They generally operate alongside systems such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or FreeAgent.
Are Dext and AutoEntry suitable for Making Tax Digital?
Both can support digital record keeping and the preparation of accounting data. However, compliance depends on the complete software setup and the relevant HMRC requirements. Dext offers dedicated Making Tax Digital for Income Tax functionality through Solo, while AutoEntry is principally a document capture and extraction platform.
Can multiple employees use AutoEntry?
Yes. Standard paid AutoEntry plans include unlimited users. Document extraction still consumes credits according to the type and quantity of records processed.
Does Dext automatically categorise expenses?
Yes. Dext supports rules and automated categorisation to help assign appropriate accounting information to recurring transactions. Bookkeepers should still review the results, particularly where a supplier provides goods or services with different VAT treatments.
Can AutoEntry identify duplicate invoices?
Yes. AutoEntry includes duplicate checking and offers enhanced matching functionality for selected accounting integrations. Its effectiveness depends on the available document information and the configuration of the connected software.
Which platform is better for a growing bookkeeping practice?
Dext may offer an advantage when a growing practice needs additional workflow controls, team management and client monitoring. AutoEntry may remain attractive when straightforward document processing and predictable credit consumption are the main priorities.
Final Verdict: Dext or AutoEntry for UK Accounting Firms?
Dext is particularly suitable for accounting and bookkeeping practices that want to combine document capture with a wider range of automation, approvals, bank matching and practice management functions.
Its strengths include multiple document submission channels, broad accounting software integrations, supplier and categorisation rules, and tools for managing bookkeeping activity across numerous clients.
These capabilities may be valuable for larger practices or firms seeking to standardise workflows across several employees.
AutoEntry by Sage is a strong alternative for practices primarily concerned with extracting financial information accurately and controlling processing costs through a credit-based subscription.
Its unlimited user and client-company model, bank statement processing, supplier statement reconciliation and optional invoice line-item extraction make it a practical option for many accounting firms.
AutoEntry’s pricing structure can be particularly attractive when document volumes are predictable or fluctuate seasonally.
However, a practice processing substantial quantities of bank statements and complex invoices should calculate the resulting credit consumption carefully.
For firms already using Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or FreeAgent, compatibility alone is unlikely to determine the choice because both products support these platforms.
The more important questions are how much manual checking remains after extraction, how effectively the system handles recurring transactions and how easily clients submit their records.
The best choice is the system that reduces the total cost and time required to collect, verify and process financial documents while maintaining the level of control expected by a professional accounting practice.