Both Dext and Hubdoc do the same core job: snap a receipt or forward a bill, and the data lands in your accounting software with the document attached. The difference is in the detail, the cost, and the volume they're built for. Here is the honest, to-the-point version from a Xero bookkeeping team that sets both up every week.
Dext vs Hubdoc at a glance
| Hubdoc | Dext | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free with most Xero plans | Paid, from about A$33.58/mo (annual, ex GST) |
| Line items | Header data only | Full line-item capture |
| Platforms | Xero, QuickBooks Online | Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks + more |
| OCR on messy receipts | Fine for clean documents | Stronger on faded/thermal |
| Supplier rules | Basic | Advanced, learns suppliers |
| ABN & GST check | Not built in | Built-in ABN & GST-status validation |
| Best for | Low volume, already on Xero | High volume, line items, any platform |
The 4 real differences (everything else is noise)
1. Cost. Hubdoc is bundled free with most Xero subscriptions, so if you pay for Xero you likely have Hubdoc already. Dext is a paid add-on. For a low-volume business, free is hard to argue with.
2. Line items. This is the big one. Hubdoc reads header data (supplier, total, date, invoice number) but not the individual lines on an invoice. Dext extracts the line items, which matters for inventory, job costing and margin tracking. If you need the detail, Dext wins outright.
3. Platform. Hubdoc only publishes to Xero and QuickBooks Online. If you're on MYOB, Hubdoc isn't an option and Dext wins by default. Pick for your accounting platform first.
4. Volume and messy receipts. At higher volumes, or when you're photographing faded, thermal-printed dockets from the glovebox, Dext's OCR and supplier rules save real time. At low volume with clean PDFs, Hubdoc keeps up fine.
The underrated one: Dext checks ABNs for you
Here is a feature that rarely makes the headline comparison but can quietly save you thousands: Dext has a built-in ABN check. As bills come in, it validates the supplier's ABN and flags whether they are actually registered for GST. Hubdoc does not do this. It matters more than it sounds, because if a supplier charges you GST they are not entitled to, you cannot legitimately claim that GST back, and the overpayment is real money gone.
When we took on a new client, we reviewed their previous year and found around $15,000 they should never have paid. A subcontractor had been charging them GST on every invoice while not actually being registered for it, so none of that GST was ever claimable. A simple ABN check against each invoice would have flagged it from day one. If they had had us in the chair, or a tool like Dext cross-checking every ABN, that $15,000 would have stayed in their account. It is exactly the kind of quiet leak that clean systems catch.
Which should you choose?
| If you are… | Choose |
|---|---|
| On Xero, under ~50 clean receipts a month | Hubdoc (free, already included) |
| Processing 100+ receipts a month | Dext |
| Needing line items for inventory or margins | Dext |
| On MYOB or QuickBooks (not Xero) | Dext |
| Drowning in faded, thermal or photographed receipts | Dext |
The verdict
Start with Hubdoc if you're on Xero and your volume is modest, it's free and it does the job. Move to Dext the moment you need line items, you're on MYOB, or the receipt volume starts eating your evenings. Most of our clients begin on Hubdoc and graduate to Dext as they grow. Either way, the real win is capturing the receipt the moment you get it, so the paper never piles up and your BAS is never a scramble. For the full workflow, see our guide to receipt capture and expense automation.
Want it set up so receipts feed Xero cleanly and your books stay current? Book a free call or email us at info@truetally.com.au. See our Xero configuration service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dext vs Hubdoc: which is better?
They suit different businesses. Hubdoc is free with most Xero plans and fine for low volumes of clean documents, but captures header data only. Dext is paid, captures full line items, has stronger OCR and works with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. On Xero under ~50 clean receipts a month, Hubdoc is the free starting point. For high volume, line-item detail, or non-Xero platforms, Dext is usually worth the fee.
Is Hubdoc free?
Hubdoc is included free with most Xero subscriptions, so if you pay for Xero you likely have it already. There's generally no separate standalone Hubdoc plan in Australia now. The trade-off for free is header-data capture only, no line items.
How much does Dext cost in Australia?
As a guide, Dext's business plan is around A$33.58/month on annual billing, excluding GST, for roughly 5 users and 250 documents, with line-item extraction on higher tiers. Pricing changes, so confirm on Dext's Australian site. For higher-volume businesses the fee is usually repaid in saved bookkeeping time.
Does Hubdoc capture line items?
No. Hubdoc captures header-level data only (supplier, total, date, invoice number), not individual line items. If you need line-item detail for inventory, job costing or margin tracking, Dext is the better fit.
Can I use Hubdoc with MYOB or QuickBooks?
Hubdoc publishes to Xero and QuickBooks Online. On MYOB it isn't an option, so Dext wins by default since it works across Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks. Match the tool to your accounting platform first, then to your volume.