Dext or Hubdoc: Which Receipt Scanner Is Worth Paying For?
Both tools do the same job: capture receipts and invoices, extract the data, and push it to your accounting software. The difference is who they're optimised for, how accurate the OCR is, and what it costs. The short answer: start with Hubdoc (it's free if you're on Xero). Move to Dext when Hubdoc can't keep up with your receipt volume or accuracy requirements.
By Benjy @ Tradie Scaler
Dext vs Hubdoc — The One-Line Answer
- You're on Xero Standard or Premium
- Under 30–40 receipts/month
- Mostly digital/emailed invoices
- Simple GST categorisation
- Budget is a priority
- 50+ receipts/month from trade suppliers
- Bookkeeper spending time fixing OCR errors
- Need line-item extraction for job costing
- Mix of photographed physical receipts
- Multiple staff submitting expenses
Dext vs Hubdoc — Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hubdoc | Dext | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (included with Xero) | ~$35–$50/month | Hubdoc |
| OCR Accuracy | Good — digital receipts | Excellent — all receipt types | Dext |
| GST Extraction | Basic — works on clear receipts | Accurate — even complex receipts | Dext |
| Line-Item Detail | ✗ | ✓ | Dext |
| Xero Integration | ✓ Native | ✓ Excellent | Draw |
| Supplier Rules | Basic | Advanced with memory learning | Dext |
| Processing Speed | Hours to 24 hours | Minutes to hours | Dext |
| Best For | Small trade businesses, simple receipts | High volume, complex, job costing | Depends on volume |
Dext and Hubdoc — Reviewed for Tradies
Hubdoc does one thing well: it captures documents and pushes them to Xero. The flow is: photograph receipt on phone → Hubdoc OCR extracts supplier name, date, and total amount → creates a Xero bill with the document attached. For a tradie with a modest number of receipts — fuel, materials, software subscriptions — this is genuinely sufficient and costs nothing beyond your Xero subscription.
The fetch function is underrated: Hubdoc can automatically download invoices from supplier portals (Reece, Tradelink, Bunnings, Telstra, etc.) directly, without you having to manually download and upload. Set it up once and supplier invoices arrive automatically. This single feature alone saves most tradies 30–60 minutes per BAS period.
Where Hubdoc falls short: photographed physical receipts from cafes, hardware stores, and tip fees are processed with lower accuracy than digital invoices. GST extraction from unclear receipts sometimes requires manual correction. For a tradie on a job site collecting paper receipts in a muddy ute, the quality of source documents is often suboptimal — and Hubdoc struggles more with that than Dext does.
Pros
- Free with Xero Standard and Premium
- Supplier fetch — automatic invoice downloads
- Native Xero integration — seamless workflow
- Simple enough that tradies actually use it
Cons
- Lower OCR accuracy for photographed physical receipts
- No line-item extraction
- Slower processing than Dext
- More bookkeeper corrections required at high volumes
Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) was acquired by a private equity group and has evolved into the premium receipt capture tool that bookkeepers and accountants across Australia recommend for their high-volume clients. The OCR accuracy is materially better than Hubdoc — Dext processes faded receipts, handwritten totals, and complex supplier documents with significantly fewer errors.
The supplier rules and learning memory is a genuine time saver: Dext learns that "REECE PLUMBING" always maps to your plumbing materials account at 10% GST, and processes future Reece receipts automatically without human confirmation. Over months of use, the automation rate climbs significantly — eventually most receipts require no human review at all.
For a tradie with a bookkeeper, Dext's accuracy improvement directly reduces bookkeeping costs — your bookkeeper spends less time correcting OCR errors and more time on value-added work. At $35–$50/month, if it saves even 30 minutes of bookkeeper time per month at $80/hour, it pays for itself. The break-even point is approximately 20–25 bookkeeper-corrected receipts per month.
Pros
- Best OCR accuracy on the market for physical receipts
- Learning supplier rules reduce manual processing
- Line-item extraction for job cost allocation
- Faster processing than Hubdoc
- Preferred by Australian bookkeepers
Cons
- $35–$50/month vs free for Hubdoc
- Overkill for low-volume receipt environments
- Learning curve for initial supplier rule setup
Not on Xero yet? That changes the calculation.
If you're not on Xero, you don't have free Hubdoc. That changes the comparison — see how Xero stacks up against MYOB for Australian tradies before deciding on your accounting stack.
Xero vs MYOB for Tradies →Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Hubdoc is included in Xero Standard and Premium plans at no additional cost. If you're already on Xero, Hubdoc is effectively free. It handles receipt capture, document storage, and basic supplier code assignment. For most sole traders with moderate receipt volumes, Hubdoc is more than sufficient.
Dext pricing starts at approximately $35–$50 per month for sole trader or small business plans. Pricing varies by receipt volume and user seats. Check Dext's website for current Australian pricing as it changes periodically. Bookkeeper plans have separate pricing structures that give clients sub-accounts.
Dext extracts GST amounts more accurately, particularly from faded, photographed, or complex receipts. For a tradie with 50+ receipts per month from suppliers like Reece, Tradelink, or Bunnings, Dext's extraction accuracy can save significant bookkeeping time and reduce BAS errors. Hubdoc is adequate for clear digital receipts.
Switch to Dext when: you have 50+ receipts per month and Hubdoc's extraction errors are creating bookkeeping corrections; your bookkeeper is spending significant time correcting Hubdoc data; or you need line-item extraction for job cost allocation. For fewer than 30 receipts per month with mostly digital invoices, Hubdoc is sufficient and free.