Hubdoc vs Dext vs Zerentry: Which Invoice Tool Fits Your Practice?
Accountants searching “hubdoc vs dext” usually already know both tools. They have used one, hit a wall, and want to know whether the other solves the problem. This comparison adds a third option, Zerentry, because the landscape has shifted since Xero acquired Hubdoc and Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) expanded into a broader bookkeeping platform.
All three tools do the same core job: capture invoices and receipts, extract structured data, and push it into accounting software. The differences are in how they extract, what they extract, where the data goes, and what it costs.
In this guide
How each tool handles extraction
The extraction engine determines whether you spend ten minutes or two hours cleaning up a batch of invoices.
Hubdoc
Hubdoc uses template-based data capture. According to Xero's product page, it extracts the supplier name, transaction amount, invoice number, and due date from financial documents, then creates draft transactions in Xero. You can photograph, email, scan, or upload documents through a mobile app or desktop. The extraction works well on standard invoices where the layout matches a known template. Complex or unfamiliar layouts require more manual correction.
Dext
Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) uses template-based matching for its OCR. Accuracy sits around 90 to 95% and is template-dependent. Dext also offers a Smart Split feature that creates pre-defined line items for recurring suppliers. The platform integrates with both Xero and QuickBooks.
Zerentry
Zerentry runs extraction through large language models rather than templates or rule engines. Its AI document processing pipeline classifies documents automatically (invoice, receipt, bank statement, credit note), then extracts vendor names, amounts, dates, VAT, and line items from any layout or language. Zerentry reports 99.2% field-level accuracy, with per-field confidence scores so you know which values need human review.
Accounting software integrations
This is where the three tools diverge sharply.
- Hubdoc is a Xero product. That tight coupling is an advantage if your entire client base is on Xero. It is a constraint if any clients use QuickBooks or another platform. Switching accounting software means losing your document capture workflow entirely.
- Dext integrates with both Xero and QuickBooks. This makes it a more flexible option for practices with a mixed client base.
- Zerentry syncs to Xero, QuickBooks, and Zoho Books. Native sync is included on all paid plans with no separate connector fee. Invoices are validated in Zerentry's interface before being pushed to accounting software, so you review everything in one place rather than opening draft bills individually in Xero.
Line item extraction
Line items are where most frustration lives. A header-level total tells you the supplier and amount. Line items tell you what was purchased, at what quantity and unit price, with individual VAT calculations.
- Hubdoc extracts header-level data by default. Line item extraction is limited to certain document types, and many documents only capture totals.
- Dext offers line item extraction, but it carries an additional per-document charge. This adds up fast if you process hundreds of invoices monthly. Reliability also varies by document layout.
- Zerentry extracts full line items (descriptions, quantities, unit prices, VAT) on every plan at no additional cost. The AI reads the line-item table directly from the document layout rather than relying on pre-configured templates.
Pricing structure
| Hubdoc | Dext | Zerentry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | Included with all Xero plans | Free trial, then paid subscription | Free plan: 30 pages/month |
| Pricing model | Bundled with Xero subscription | Per-user | Per-document |
| Paid tiers | No separate cost (requires Xero) | Varies by user count | $29/month (Starter, 600 pages), $79/month (Pro, 2,000 pages) |
| Line items | Included (limited document types) | Additional per-document fee | Included on all plans |
| Accounting sync | Xero only | Xero, QuickBooks | Xero, QuickBooks, Zoho Books |
Hubdoc's bundled model means zero extra cost for Xero subscribers, which makes it the obvious first choice for practices that only need basic capture. Dext's per-user model can scale quickly in larger teams. Zerentry's per-document model keeps costs predictable regardless of how many people on your team upload invoices. The Starter plan includes 600 pages per month for $29, and the Pro plan includes 2,000 pages for $79, with overage charged at $0.05 per page.
Other features worth comparing
- Semantic search. Zerentry offers vector and keyword search across all uploaded documents, so you can query by meaning (“electricity bills from Q1”) rather than exact filenames. Hubdoc and Dext rely on standard search and filtering.
- AI chat. Zerentry includes per-document and cross-document AI chat, letting you ask questions about specific invoices or across your entire document library. Neither Hubdoc nor Dext offers this.
- Duplicate detection. Zerentry uses vector similarity to catch duplicates even when the file name or layout has changed. This is included on all plans.
- Bank statement processing. Hubdoc focuses on invoices and receipts and does not process bank statements. Zerentry handles bank statements alongside invoices and receipts, extracting transactions with debit/credit amounts, dates, and account codes.
- Document storage. Hubdoc stores originals in the cloud with automatic backups and attaches the source document to each Xero transaction. Zerentry stores originals alongside extracted data on SOC 2-compliant infrastructure with audit logs on all plans.
Switching from Hubdoc or Dext
If you are on Hubdoc and hitting limits — QuickBooks clients, complex layouts, missing line items — you do not need to migrate historical data. Sign up for a free Zerentry account, connect your accounting software via one-click OAuth, and start routing new documents through Zerentry. You can run both tools in parallel during the transition.
The same applies if you are on Dext and want to test whether per-document pricing works better for your practice. Zerentry's free plan with 30 pages per month is enough to process a representative batch and compare extraction quality on your actual documents. No credit card is required to start.
For individual head-to-head breakdowns, see the Dext vs Zerentry comparison and the Hubdoc vs Zerentry comparison.
FAQ
Is Hubdoc free?
Hubdoc is included at no extra cost with all Xero subscription plans. You set it up within your Xero account. It is not available as a standalone product for non-Xero users.
Does Dext work with QuickBooks?
Yes. Dext integrates with both Xero and QuickBooks.
Can Zerentry extract line items from any invoice?
Zerentry extracts line items (descriptions, quantities, unit prices, VAT) from all document types on every plan at no additional per-document charge.
Which tool is best for a mixed Xero and QuickBooks practice?
Hubdoc is out since it only connects to Xero. Both Dext and Zerentry support Xero and QuickBooks. Zerentry also adds Zoho Books. The deciding factors are pricing model (per-user vs per-document) and whether you need features like semantic search or AI chat.
How accurate is Zerentry?
Zerentry reports 99.2% field-level accuracy on its AI document processing page. Every extracted field carries a confidence score, so low-confidence values are flagged for review rather than silently passed through.