AutoEntry Alternative: $79 Unlimited vs 3 Credits Per Page
AutoEntry charges 3 credits per bank statement page—a 20-page statement uses 60 credits. Their Bronze plan (£13/mo) only covers 16 pages. Zera Books offers unlimited bank statement conversions for $79/month with no credit tracking.
Understanding AutoEntry's Credit System
AutoEntry, owned by Sage, is an award-winning automated data entry tool that integrates with Sage, QuickBooks, Xero, and FreeAgent. It's particularly strong for receipt and invoice processing, with a mobile app that lets clients snap photos of expenses on the go.
However, AutoEntry uses a credit-based pricing system where different document types cost different amounts. Receipts cost 1 credit. Invoices cost 1-2 credits. But bank and credit card statements cost 3 credits per page—making them the most expensive document type to process.
For accountants and bookkeepers who primarily process bank statements, this credit system can get expensive quickly. A typical 20-page bank statement consumes 60 credits—more than an entire Bronze plan's monthly allowance. Zera Books offers a fundamentally different approach: $79/month for unlimited bank statement conversions, no credit system, no tracking, no math.
AutoEntry Overview: What They Do Well
Strengths
- Award-winning software (ICB LUCA awards 2017-2023)
- Owned by Sage—strong Sage integration
- Mobile app for receipt capture on the go
- Up to 99% accuracy on processed documents
- Unlimited users and cloud storage included
- MTD-ready (Making Tax Digital compliant)
Limitations for Bank Statements
- Bank statements cost 3 credits per page (most expensive)
- Bronze plan (£13/mo) only covers 16 pages of statements
- Credits expire after 90 days (use it or lose it)
- Complex credit math needed to estimate costs
- Primarily designed for receipts/invoices, not bank statements
AutoEntry's Credit System Explained
Credits Per Document Type
The Bank Statement Problem
At 3 credits per page, bank statements are AutoEntry's most expensive document type. Here's what that means in practice:
- • 5-page statement = 15 credits
- • 10-page statement = 30 credits
- • 20-page statement = 60 credits
- • 50-page statement = 150 credits
Bronze plan (50 credits) = only 16 pages of bank statements per month!
AutoEntry Pricing vs Zera Books
AutoEntry Plans (GBP)
* Credits expire after 90 days if unused
Zera Books Pricing
$79
per month
Unlimited
bank statement conversions
Bank Statement Cost Calculator
See how much bank statement processing costs with AutoEntry vs Zera Books:
Small Firm
10 clients × 15-page statements = 150 pages/month
Medium Firm
30 clients × 20-page statements = 600 pages/month
Large Firm
100 clients × 25-page statements = 2500 pages/month
The Zera Books Alternative: No Credits, No Math
Truly Unlimited
No credit system. No per-page charges. Process 50 pages or 5,000 pages—same $79/month. No calculator needed.
Bank Statement Focused
Zera AI is trained specifically on bank statements. 99.6% accuracy on any bank format without template training.
Complete Platform
AI categorization, multi-account detection, client management—all included.
Key Differentiators
No Credit Math
AutoEntry requires calculating: pages × 3 credits × cost per credit. Zera Books: upload as many statements as you need, period.
No Expiration Pressure
AutoEntry credits expire after 90 days, creating "use it or lose it" pressure. Zera Books access never expires while subscribed.
Specialized vs General
AutoEntry is designed for receipts (1 credit) and invoices (1-2 credits), making bank statements expensive. Zera Books is built specifically for bank statement processing.
Predictable Budgeting
AutoEntry costs vary monthly based on document volume. Zera Books: $79/month, every month, regardless of volume.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | AutoEntry | Zera Books |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Statement Pricing | 3 credits per page | Unlimited pages |
| Monthly Price (comparable volume) | £99-275/month for 166-500 pages | $79/month unlimited |
| Credit System | Yes (expire in 90 days) | None |
| Primary Focus | Receipts & invoices | Bank statements |
| Mobile App | Web-based | |
| AI Transaction Categorization | ||
| Multi-Account Detection | Manual | Automatic |
| Client Management Dashboard | ||
| Sage Integration | CSV export | |
| QuickBooks/Xero Integration |
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose AutoEntry If...
- You primarily process receipts and invoices (1-2 credits each)
- You use Sage products and want tight integration
- You need a mobile app for clients to snap receipts
- Bank statements are occasional, not your primary document type
- You're UK-based and need MTD compliance features
Choose Zera Books If...
- You primarily process bank statements (expensive at 3 credits/page in AutoEntry)
- You want predictable pricing without credit tracking
- You process 100+ pages of bank statements monthly
- You need a client management dashboard for your practice
- You want AI categorization and multi-account detection built-in
"We were drowning in bank statements from two provinces and multiple revenue streams. Zera Books cut our month-end reconciliation from three days to about four hours."
Manroop Gill
Co-Founder at Zoom Books
3 days → 4 hours
Month-end reconciliation
Multiple provinces
Complex multi-account statements
Also Looking at Other Alternatives?
Compare Zera Books against other bank statement conversion tools to find the right fit for your accounting workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between AutoEntry and Zera Books?
AutoEntry uses a credit-based pricing system where bank statements cost 3 credits per page—making bank statements the most expensive document type to process. A typical 20-page statement uses 60 credits. Zera Books offers unlimited bank statement conversions for $79/month with no credit system, making it significantly more cost-effective for bank statement processing.
How much does AutoEntry cost for bank statements?
AutoEntry charges 3 credits per page for bank statements. Their Bronze plan (£13/month) includes only 50 credits—enough for just 16 pages of bank statements. Their Platinum plan (£99/month) includes 500 credits, allowing ~166 pages of bank statements. Zera Books offers unlimited bank statement pages for $79/month.
Is AutoEntry good for bank statement processing?
AutoEntry is primarily designed for receipts (1 credit each) and invoices (1-2 credits each), making bank statements expensive at 3 credits per page. If you primarily process bank statements, Zera Books offers better value with unlimited processing. AutoEntry may be better if you primarily process receipts and invoices with occasional bank statements.
Do AutoEntry credits expire?
Yes, unused AutoEntry credits expire after 90 days. This creates "use it or lose it" pressure that can lead to wasteful processing or lost value. Zera Books has no credit system—your unlimited conversions are always available with no expiration concerns.
Who owns AutoEntry?
AutoEntry is owned by Sage, the accounting software company. This means strong integration with Sage products, but the tool is designed for general document processing across Sage, QuickBooks, and Xero. Zera Books is a specialized bank statement conversion tool with AI categorization built for accounting workflows.
Can I try Zera Books before switching from AutoEntry?
Yes. Zera Books offers a one-week trial with unlimited conversions. Process the same bank statements in both platforms and compare: accuracy, speed, and cost per statement. Most users processing 10+ bank statements monthly find Zera Books more cost-effective.
Stop Counting Credits. Start Processing Statements.
Join 1,000+ accountants who chose unlimited processing over credit-based pricing. Convert any bank statement for $79/month—no credits, no math, no limits.
$79/month
Unlimited pages
Zero credits
No tracking needed
99.6%
Accuracy rate