AutoEntry Pricing vs Zera Books: Per-Document vs Unlimited
AutoEntry (now part of Dext) charges per-document with pricing tiers based on volume, plus per-client fees that compound quickly for growing firms. Zera Books offers flat $79/month unlimited. Calculate when unlimited beats per-document pricing.
Understanding AutoEntry/Dext Pricing Structure
AutoEntry was acquired by Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) and now operates under the Dext brand. Their pricing model combines per-document fees with per-client charges, creating compounding costs that become expensive for growing firms.
Dext Essential
- Starting at ~$24/month
- Per-client fees apply
- Document limits on lower tiers
$24+/month
Plus per-client fees
Dext Professional
- Higher document limits
- $3-5 per client per month
- Costs scale with client count
$50+/month
Base + per-client
Zera Books
- Unlimited documents
- No per-client fees
- Flat rate regardless of volume
$79/month
Truly unlimited
The Per-Client Fee Problem
AutoEntry/Dext charges per-client fees on top of base pricing. At $3-5 per client per month, a firm with 20 clients pays an extra $60-100/month just in client fees. Add 10 more clients and you pay $90-150 more. This scaling model punishes growth and creates unpredictable costs. Zera Books has zero per-client fees—manage 5 or 500 clients at the same $79/month.
Break-Even Analysis: When Does Unlimited Win?
Calculate exactly when Zera Books unlimited pricing beats AutoEntry/Dext per-document model. Spoiler: it happens faster than you think.
Cost Comparison by Client Count
| Client Count | Dext Essential + Per-Client | Dext Professional + Per-Client | Zera Books | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 clients | $24 + $15 = $39 | $50 + $25 = $75 | $79 | Dext cheaper |
| 10 clients | $24 + $30 = $54 | $50 + $50 = $100 | $79 | $21 saved vs Pro |
| 15 clients | $24 + $45 = $69 | $50 + $75 = $125 | $79 | $46 saved vs Pro |
| 20 clients | $24 + $60 = $84 | $50 + $100 = $150 | $79 | $71 saved vs Pro |
| 30 clients | $24 + $90 = $114 | $50 + $150 = $200 | $79 | $121 saved vs Pro |
| 50 clients | $24 + $150 = $174 | $50 + $250 = $300 | $79 | $221 saved vs Pro |
| 100 clients | $24 + $300 = $324 | $50 + $500 = $550 | $79 | $471 saved vs Pro |
The Per-Client Fee Trap
At just 18-20 clients, Dext Essential + per-client fees exceeds Zera Books pricing. And unlike Zera Books, Dext Essential has feature limitations. With Dext Professional, the break-even is around 6-8 clients.
Every new client you add increases your monthly software cost with AutoEntry/Dext.
Zera Books: Growth Without Penalty
At $79/month flat, your per-client cost decreases as you grow. 10 clients = $7.90/client. 50 clients = $1.58/client. 100 clients = $0.79/client. Growth is rewarded, not penalized.
Add clients freely without affecting your software budget.
Annual Cost Impact for Growing Firms
Most accounting firms add 5-10 new clients per year. With per-client pricing, your costs grow automatically. See the 3-year financial impact.
Growing Firm Scenario
Starting with 20 clients, adding 8 new clients per year
Year 1 (20 clients)
Dext Professional
$150/mo = $1,800/yr
Zera Books
$79/mo = $948/yr
Year 2 (28 clients)
Dext Professional
$190/mo = $2,280/yr
Zera Books
$79/mo = $948/yr
Year 3 (36 clients)
Dext Professional
$230/mo = $2,760/yr
Zera Books
$79/mo = $948/yr
3-Year Total Cost Comparison
As your firm grows, the gap widens. By year 3, you save $1,812/year compared to Dext. And Zera Books includes features Dext charges extra for: AI categorization, multi-account detection, and bank statement processing.
The Compounding Cost Problem
Per-client fees create a tax on growth. Every new client you acquire increases your software costs immediately. This creates psychological friction: "Do I really need this client if it adds $5/month to my overhead?"
With Zera Books unlimited pricing, new clients are pure profit opportunity. Your software cost stays flat while your revenue grows. No mental calculation needed—just onboard and serve clients.
Real-World Pricing Scenarios
See how AutoEntry/Dext pricing compares to Zera Books for common accounting firm configurations.
Solo Bookkeeper (12 clients)
- 12 small business clients
- Monthly bookkeeping + bank statements
- ~300 documents/month
Dext Essential
$24 + $36 = $60/mo
Zera Books
$79/month
Dext wins at 12 clients, but Zera Books includes AI categorization and multi-account detection that Dext Essential lacks.
Small CPA Firm (25 clients)
- 25 clients across multiple industries
- Tax prep + monthly bookkeeping
- ~600 documents/month
Dext Professional
$50 + $125 = $175/mo
Zera Books
$79/month
Save $96/month ($1,152/year) with Zera Books unlimited
Mid-Size Accounting Firm (50 clients)
- 50 clients with complex needs
- Full-service accounting
- ~1,200 documents/month
Dext Professional
$50 + $250 = $300/mo
Zera Books
$79/month
Save $221/month ($2,652/year) with Zera Books unlimited
Large Bookkeeping Service (100+ clients)
- 100+ clients across multiple locations
- High-volume processing
- ~2,500+ documents/month
Dext Professional
$50 + $500 = $550/mo
Zera Books
$79/month
Save $471/month ($5,652/year) with Zera Books unlimited
The Inflection Point: ~18 Clients
At roughly 18 clients, even Dext Essential with per-client fees exceeds Zera Books pricing. At that point, you're paying more AND getting fewer features. Most established bookkeepers and small firms are well past this threshold. If you manage more than 18 clients, Zera Books is the clear financial choice.
Beyond Pricing: Feature Value Comparison
Zera Books doesn't just win on price—it includes features that AutoEntry/Dext charges extra for or lacks entirely.
AutoEntry/Dext Includes
Invoice/receipt capture
Email inbox and mobile app capture
QuickBooks/Xero integration
Direct push to accounting software
Limited bank statement support
Focuses on invoices/receipts, not bank statements
No multi-account detection
Manual splitting for combined statements
Per-client fees compound costs
Growth increases software spend
Zera Books Includes (All at $79/month)
4 document types
Bank statements, financial statements, invoices, checks
Comprehensive bank statement support
Zera AI trained on millions of financial documents
Multi-account auto-detection
Automatically separate checking, savings, credit cards
AI transaction categorization
Auto-categorize for QuickBooks/Xero chart of accounts
Client management dashboard
Organize by client, track history, access past conversions
Zero per-client fees
Flat $79/month for 5 or 500 clients
"Month-end reconciliation from three days to four hours"
Manroop Gill, Co-Founder at Zoom Books
"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."
Why Flat-Rate Pricing Matters at Scale
Zoom Books processes financial data across multiple provinces with dozens of revenue streams. With per-client pricing, they'd pay hundreds extra monthly just in client fees. Instead, they process 40+ bank statements monthly at the same flat $79—no budget surprises, no growth penalties. When volume spikes during year-end, their software cost stays the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does AutoEntry/Dext per-client pricing work exactly?
Dext charges a base monthly fee plus $3-5 per client per month depending on your plan. So a Professional plan at $50/month with 30 clients would cost $50 + (30 x $5) = $200/month. Every new client you add increases your monthly bill. Zera Books charges flat $79/month regardless of client count.
At what point does Zera Books become cheaper than AutoEntry/Dext?
The break-even point is around 18 clients for Dext Essential or 6-8 clients for Dext Professional. Beyond these thresholds, Zera Books unlimited is cheaper. Since most established accounting firms serve 20+ clients, Zera Books offers immediate savings.
Does Zera Books handle bank statements as well as AutoEntry/Dext handles invoices?
Actually, Zera Books specializes in bank statements while AutoEntry/Dext focuses on invoices and receipts. Zera AI is trained on millions of financial documents with 99.6% accuracy on bank statements. Features like multi-account detection and AI transaction categorization are purpose-built for bank statement workflows.
Can I use both tools for different purposes?
Yes. Some firms use AutoEntry/Dext for invoice email capture and Zera Books for bank statement processing. However, at combined pricing, this gets expensive quickly. Zera Books processes invoices too, so many firms find they can consolidate to a single unlimited tool.
What happens to my Zera Books price if I double my client count?
Nothing. Your price stays $79/month whether you have 10 clients or 100 clients. With AutoEntry/Dext, doubling clients would roughly double your monthly cost due to per-client fees. Zera Books pricing rewards growth instead of penalizing it.
Stop Paying Per-Client Fees. Start Growing Without Penalty.
Join accounting firms who switched from per-document, per-client pricing to Zera Books unlimited. Add clients freely, process any volume, all for flat $79/month.
Try for one week$79/mo
Flat rate, no per-client fees
Unlimited
Clients and documents
99.6%
Extraction accuracy