Head to head · 2026
Xero vs Dext
Quick answer
Xero is the better fit for small businesses that want an accountant-friendly cloud ledger. Dext is the better fit for small businesses drowning in paper receipts and emailed bills. On our scores Xero comes out ahead overall (4.5 out of 5).
Xero
Xero is a mature, well-rounded choice for small businesses that want clean books, fast bank reconciliation and a large app ecosystem without paying per user. The US Early plan is cheap but its 20-invoice cap is tight, and US payroll is an extra $36/month plus $6 per person. Most growing businesses will land on the middle plan.
- ✓No per-user license fees on any plan
- ✓Bank feeds, reconciliation, invoicing, quotes and bills in every plan
- ✓Integrates with 1,000+ apps, by Xero's count
- –US Early plan limits you to 20 invoices and quotes and 5 bills a month
- –US payroll is an add-on (via Gusto) at $36/month plus $6 per person
Dext
Dext, formerly Receipt Bank, is one of the most established tools for getting receipts and bills out of shoeboxes and inboxes and into your accounting software. It captures by phone, email, WhatsApp or auto-fetch, extracts the details, and publishes them to Xero, QuickBooks, Sage or Zoho under your rules. It suits busy small businesses and bookkeeping firms, but document caps and annual terms mean you should size the plan before you commit.
- ✓Capture by mobile, email, WhatsApp, desktop or auto-fetch from suppliers
- ✓Claims over 99% accuracy in extraction and categorization
- ✓Publishes to QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage, Zoho and 36+ platforms
- –Business plan is capped at 250 documents and 5 users
- –Practice plans have a 10-client minimum
Side by side
| Xero | Dext | |
|---|---|---|
| Brent score | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Features | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Ease of use | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Value | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Support | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Price | US from $27/month; Australia from A$107/month (incl. GST) | From AUD $33.58/month billed annually (excl. GST); 14-day free trial |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Small businesses that want an accountant-friendly cloud ledger | Small businesses drowning in paper receipts and emailed bills |
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Compared on Brent Technologies using the same scoring method for both products.