Dext vs Xero
Side-by-side comparison for accounting professionals.
Dext
AI receipt capture and document extraction
Custom
★4.6/ 5
14-day free
Xero
AI-native accounting platform for growing firms
$25/mo
★4.4/ 5
30-day free
| Feature | Dext | Xero |
|---|---|---|
| Core accounting | ||
| Bank reconciliation | Not available Not an accounting platform. Dext is a capture layer — reconciled data flows to your accounting software. | AvailableAll plans Auto-reconcile (Beta) on Growing+. JAX AI agent handles 80%+ of bank lines in real time. Standard matching on Early. |
| Invoicing | Not available No invoicing. Dext captures incoming documents but does not generate invoices. | LimitedGrowing+ unlimited Unlimited invoices on Growing+ ($55/mo). Early plan caps at 20/mo — unsuitable for active client work. |
| Expense categorisation | AvailableAll plans Supplier rule learning auto-categorises repeat vendors. AI Assist suggests categories for new suppliers. | AvailableAll plans AI suggests categories from transaction history. Learns from corrections over time. |
| Receipt capture | AvailableAll plans Core product. 99%+ OCR accuracy on printed documents. Handles receipts, invoices, bank statements. 11,500+ bank connections. | AvailableAll plans (Hubdoc) Hubdoc included free on all plans. OCR extraction, supplier rule learning, syncs as draft transactions. |
| AI & reporting | ||
| Cash flow forecasting | Not available Not available. Dext is a data capture and pre-accounting tool only. | LimitedEstablished ($90/mo) 180-day forecast with scenario modelling on Established. 60-day on Growing. 30-day on Early. |
| Management reporting | Not available No reporting. Dext is a capture and pre-accounting tool only. | LimitedEstablished ($90/mo) Basic reports on all plans. Syft Analytics with AI narrative commentary only on Established. |
| Business features | ||
| Multi-currency | AvailableAll plans Handles documents in multiple currencies and passes data to accounting software. | LimitedEstablished ($90/mo) Full multi-currency with automatic exchange rate updates on Established only. |
| Time tracking | Not available Not available. | LimitedProjects add-on Via Xero Projects add-on. Not natively built in — requires separate configuration. |
| Payroll | Not available Not available. | LimitedAdd-on by region AU: Xero Payroll add-on. US: third-party integration required (Gusto most common). No native Payroll AI agent. |
| Multi-entity consolidation | AvailablePractice plans Practice dashboard manages multiple client entities from one interface. Purpose-built for accounting firms. | Not available Not designed for multi-entity consolidation. Consider Sage Intacct for complex group structures. |
| Sales tax automation | Not available Not directly available. Tax data flows through to your accounting software. | LimitedAll plans Basic sales tax on all plans. No automated multi-state sales tax agent unlike QuickBooks. |
| Support & pricing | ||
| Client portal | Not available Clients submit documents via mobile app, email, or WhatsApp. Not a traditional client portal. | Not available No dedicated client portal. Clients need their own Xero login for file access. |
| Phone support | Not available Email and help centre support only. | Not available Email and help centre only. No phone line. Flagged in 319 G2 reviews as a top frustration. |
| User seats | AvailableAll plans Multiple users supported. Practice plans allow firm-wide access across all client accounts. | AvailableAll plans Unlimited users on all plans at no extra cost. A 5-person firm pays the same as a sole practitioner. |
Which should you choose?
Choose Dext if…
Accountants managing clients with high volumes of receipts and expense claims — especially hospitality, retail, and construction.
Not ideal: Firms that only need basic receipt capture — FreshBooks built-in scanning may suffice.
Choose Xero if…
Growing accounting firms managing international clients who need the best cash flow forecasting and widest integration ecosystem.
Not ideal: US-focused firms where QuickBooks ecosystem lock-in already exists.