AutoEntry Alternative: Unlimited Document Processing for $79/Month
Tired of tracking AutoEntry credits? Zera Books offers unlimited conversions for $79/month. Process bank statements, financial statements, invoices, and checks without worrying about credit calculations or overage charges. See why 73% of users prefer predictable pricing.
Choosing Between AutoEntry and Zera Books
AutoEntry, acquired by Thomson Reuters from Xcero, has established itself as an invoice and bill automation tool for accountants and bookkeepers working with Xero or QuickBooks. Its strength lies in automatically capturing invoice data from emails and documents, then pushing them directly into your accounting software. For firms primarily focused on accounts payable automation, AutoEntry has proven effective.
However, AutoEntry's credit-based pricing model creates what many users call "per-page anxiety." You buy credits in packages, and each document page consumes a certain number of credits depending on complexity. This makes monthly costs unpredictable and difficult to budget. Additionally, AutoEntry focuses heavily on invoices and bills, with limited support for comprehensive bank statement processing—a critical workflow for most accounting firms.
This comparison explores the fundamental differences between AutoEntry's credit-based invoice tool and Zera Books' unlimited document processing platform. We'll examine pricing models, document type coverage, bank statement capabilities, and use case scenarios to help you determine which solution fits your firm's needs. For related comparisons, see our bank statement OCR comparison or Dext vs Zera Books analysis.
AutoEntry Overview: What They Do Well
Strengths
- Strong invoice and bill automation
- Email capture (invoices sent to dedicated inbox)
- Direct Xero and QuickBooks integration
- Thomson Reuters backing and support
Limitations
- Confusing credit-based pricing model
- Limited bank statement processing capabilities
- No multi-account detection for statements
- Per-page anxiety from tracking credit usage
Pricing Breakdown: Credit Model Explained
AutoEntry uses a credit-based pricing model that many users find confusing. You purchase credit packages (typically 100 credits for around $50), and each document page consumes 1-3 credits depending on the complexity and quality of the document. A clean digital invoice might use 1 credit per page, while a scanned or complex document could use 2-3 credits per page. This variability makes budgeting difficult.
Example cost calculation: If you process 200 invoices monthly (averaging 2 pages each = 400 pages), and each page consumes 2 credits on average, you need 800 credits per month. At $50 per 100 credits, that's $400/month just for document processing—significantly higher than predictable unlimited pricing.
Additionally, AutoEntry focuses primarily on invoices and bills. While it can technically process bank statements, it lacks specialized features like multi-account detection, transaction categorization, and comprehensive bank format support that dedicated bank statement tools provide. If your firm handles both AP automation and bank reconciliation, you may need multiple tools.
The Zera Books Alternative: Unlimited + Multi-Document
Predictable Unlimited Pricing
$79/month for unlimited conversions. No credits to track, no usage anxiety, no surprise bills. Process 10 documents or 10,000 documents—same flat rate.
4 Document Types
Bank statements, financial statements, invoices, and checks. AutoEntry handles 2 (invoices, bills).
Zera AI Technology
Proprietary Zera AI dynamically adapts to any document format with 99.6% accuracy. No template training, no credit calculations—just upload and process.
Key Differentiators vs AutoEntry
Comprehensive Bank Statement Support
Zera Books handles 4,000+ bank statement formats with multi-account detection, transaction categorization, and duplicate prevention. AutoEntry focuses on invoices—bank statements are not its strength.
AI Transaction Categorization
Automatically categorize bank transactions for QuickBooks/Xero chart of accounts. Save 30-45 minutes per client monthly on manual tagging.
Client Management Platform
Organize all conversions by client, track history, access past statements instantly. Purpose-built for multi-client bookkeeping workflows.
Batch Processing Without Credit Limits
Upload 50+ statements at once during tax season or month-end close. No credit calculations slowing you down.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | AutoEntry | Zera Books |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Credit-based (confusing) | $79/month unlimited |
| Document Types | 2 (invoices, bills) | 4 (bank statements, financial statements, invoices, checks) |
| Bank Statement Support | Limited (invoice-focused) | Comprehensive (4,000+ formats) |
| AI Categorization | Invoice-focused | Transaction categorization for all types |
| Multi-Account Detection | ||
| Client Management | Basic organization | Full platform with dashboard |
| Accuracy Rate | Variable by document type | 99.6% consistent |
| Batch Processing | Available (uses credits) | Unlimited 50+ documents |
| Unlimited Conversions | ||
| QuickBooks/Xero Integration |
Pricing Analysis: Credits vs Unlimited
Understanding AutoEntry's Credit Model
How Credits Work
- • Purchase credits in packages (100 credits ≈ $50)
- • Each document page = 1-3 credits (complexity-based)
- • Clean digital invoice = 1 credit/page
- • Scanned/complex document = 2-3 credits/page
- • Must estimate monthly usage and buy enough credits
The Problems
- • Unpredictable monthly costs (variability by document quality)
- • Constant credit tracking and budget anxiety
- • Overage fears during busy seasons
- • Difficult to forecast costs for new clients
- • "Should I process this?" mental calculations
Small CPA Firm
5 clients, 200 pages/month
Zera Books saves $21-121/month ($252-1,452/year). Plus better bank statement support.
Mid-Size Firm
BEST VALUE30 clients, 800 pages/month
Save $321-721/month ($3,852-8,652/year). Massive ROI plus unlimited processing.
Large Enterprise
100+ clients, 2000+ pages/month
Save $921+/month ($11,052+/year). No usage limits or credit tracking at scale.
Cost Calculator: When Does Zera Books Save Money?
AutoEntry Credit Math: At $50 per 100 credits, and assuming 2 credits per page average (accounting for mix of clean and scanned documents), you're paying approximately $1 per page. If you process 200 pages monthly, that's $200/month on AutoEntry—already 2.5x higher than Zera Books' $79/month unlimited.
The Break-Even Point: Zera Books becomes cheaper than AutoEntry at around 80 pages per month (roughly 4-5 clients with typical statement volumes). If your firm handles more than 5 clients or processes any significant volume of bank statements, Zera Books offers immediate savings.
Hidden Value: Beyond raw conversion costs, Zera Books includes features AutoEntry doesn't offer: comprehensive bank statement support with multi-account detection, AI transaction categorization, and a client management platform. These capabilities alone justify the $79/month for most accounting firms—the unlimited processing is bonus value.
Which Tool Wins? Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Solo CPA with 5 Clients (AP Automation Only)
Challenge: Processing client invoices and bills monthly, with minimal bank statement work. Primary need is accounts payable automation.
AutoEntry Fit: If you're ONLY processing invoices and bills with no bank statement needs, AutoEntry's email capture and direct Xero/QuickBooks push workflow may work well. Expect $100-150/month in credit costs for 5 clients.
Zera Books Fit: If you also handle bank statements (most CPAs do), Zera Books at $79/month covers ALL document types—invoices, bank statements, financial statements, checks—without credit tracking.
Winner: AutoEntry IF you truly only process invoices/bills. Zera Books IF you handle any bank statements or want predictable pricing.
Scenario 2: Bookkeeping Firm with 30 Clients (Mixed Workflow)
Challenge: Monthly bookkeeping for 30 small businesses. Need to process bank statements (primary workflow), plus occasional invoices and receipts. Clients have multi-account statements (checking + savings).
AutoEntry Cost: 30 clients × 20 pages (statements + invoices) × 2 credits/page = 1,200 credits/month = $600/month. Doesn't include multi-account detection—must manually split accounts.
Zera Books Cost: $79/month unlimited. Multi-account detection automatically separates checking/savings. AI categorization saves 30-45 min per client monthly (15-22.5 hours total = $600-900 in time savings).
Winner: Zera Books. Save $521/month ($6,252/year) PLUS recover 15+ hours monthly from automation. AutoEntry's invoice focus doesn't match this workflow.
Scenario 3: Large CPA Firm with 120 Clients (High Volume)
Challenge: Tax season and month-end close for 120 clients. Processing thousands of pages of bank statements, financial statements, invoices. Need client management to track everything.
AutoEntry Cost: 120 clients × 30 pages average × 2 credits = 7,200 credits/month = $3,600/month. Credit tracking becomes administrative burden. Invoice focus doesn't serve bank statement workflows.
Zera Books Cost: $79/month. Batch process 50+ statements at once. Client management dashboard tracks all conversions. 4 document types handled without credit calculations.
Winner: Zera Books. Save $3,521/month ($42,252/year). At this scale, AutoEntry's credit model creates massive unnecessary costs. Zera Books built for high-volume firms.
How to Switch from AutoEntry to Zera Books
Migration Steps (5 Minutes)
Sign Up for Zera Books Trial
Start your one-week trial for $1. Get instant access to unlimited conversions—no credit purchases required.
Upload Your Documents
Test with bank statements (AutoEntry's weak point). Upload a few multi-account statements and see how Zera AI automatically separates accounts—something AutoEntry doesn't offer.
Test AI Categorization
Enable AI categorization to see how Zera Books tags transactions for QuickBooks/Xero. This saves 30-45 min per client monthly—time AutoEntry's invoice focus doesn't address.
Gradual Migration (Zero Downtime)
Keep AutoEntry for invoice email capture if you prefer that workflow. Use Zera Books for bank statements and other documents. Transition at your own pace—no forced cutover.
No Data Export/Import Needed: There's no historical data migration required. Zera Books processes your original PDFs directly. Your existing AutoEntry data remains accessible—you simply start using Zera Books for new documents.
Complementary Use: Some firms keep AutoEntry for email-to-QuickBooks invoice automation and use Zera Books for comprehensive bank statement processing. This hybrid approach leverages AutoEntry's email capture while gaining Zera Books' unlimited bank statement capabilities. As you process more bank statements, the $79/month unlimited pricing quickly proves its value compared to AutoEntry's credit consumption.
"My clients send me all kinds of messy PDFs from different banks. This tool handles them all and saves me probably 10 hours a week that I used to spend on manual entry."
Ashish Josan
Manager, CPA at Manning Elliott
10 hours
Saved per week
99.6%
Extraction accuracy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zera Books compatible with AutoEntry's export format?▼
Yes, Zera Books can handle Excel and CSV files if needed. However, most users find they no longer need AutoEntry once they switch to Zera Books, as Zera AI processes original PDFs directly with higher accuracy. For bank statements specifically, Zera Books offers superior processing compared to AutoEntry's invoice-focused approach.
How long does migration from AutoEntry to Zera Books take?▼
Migration is instant. Simply upload your documents to Zera Books and start processing. There's no data export/import needed from AutoEntry. Most accountants complete their first conversion within 5 minutes of signing up, with zero downtime in their workflow. You can test Zera Books alongside AutoEntry before fully switching.
Will I lose any data switching from AutoEntry?▼
No. Zera Books processes your original document PDFs directly, so there's no risk of data loss. Your existing AutoEntry data remains accessible. Many users report BETTER data quality after switching, as Zera AI's 99.6% accuracy rate captures details that may be missed by other tools.
Can I try Zera Books before switching from AutoEntry?▼
Yes. Zera Books offers a one-week trial for $1 with full access to all features, including unlimited conversions. Upload your most challenging documents and compare the output quality to AutoEntry side-by-side before committing. No credit card tricks—just straightforward testing.
What if AutoEntry is already integrated with my QuickBooks?▼
Zera Books also integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. You can switch your document processing to Zera Books while keeping your existing QuickBooks setup. The integration is just as smooth, with the added benefit of unlimited processing and better bank statement support.
How does accuracy compare between AutoEntry and Zera Books?▼
Zera Books achieves 99.6% extraction accuracy across all document types using proprietary Zera AI. AutoEntry's accuracy varies by document type and complexity. For bank statements specifically, Zera Books is purpose-built with support for 4,000+ formats, while AutoEntry focuses primarily on invoice processing.
Ready to Switch from AutoEntry's Credit Model to Unlimited Processing?
Join 1,000+ accountants who switched from credit-based pricing to Zera Books' unlimited model and save 20+ hours per week with AI-powered automation. Try unlimited conversions for one week.
$79/month
No credits, no limits
4 types
Bank statements, financial statements, invoices, checks
99.6%
Extraction accuracy