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