Stop Paying for 5 Users When You Only Need 3
Lower minimum, simpler pricing, faster scanning.
SparkReceipt gives small teams fast, accurate AI-powered bookkeeping for $16.65/month, billed annually — with a 3-user minimum compared to Dext's 5. Once simple, Receipt Bank (now Dext) has become complex, pricey, and packed with forced bundles. SparkReceipt is the smarter, faster Dext alternative — built with AI from day one. Scan receipts in seconds, automate everything, and skip the long contracts.
Dext Prepare vs SparkReceipt
See the real differences side by side
Dext Prepare
- Starting at $31.50 per month (for 5 users)
- Scans can take up to 20 minutes per receipt
- Typical bank statement extraction 4-24 hours
- Locked into long-term contracts
- Complex and unintuitive interface
- Reports of price changes
- Limited to 250 documents per month
- Mixed reviews on customer service
SparkReceipt
- $16.65/month, billed annually with simple, transparent pricing
- Scan receipts in 5-10 seconds with AI
- Typical bank statement extraction 3-5 minutes
- No long contracts — cancel anytime
- Simple and easy to use
- Simple, transparent pricing — no hidden fees
- Unlimited document scanning
- Add your accountant or bookkeeper to your account
What Makes SparkReceipt Different?
Dext is old software with AI patched on. SparkReceipt is AI-native.
SparkReceipt is fast, intuitive, and designed to work the way you do. Instant results — scans and categorizes in seconds, not 20 minutes. Smarter automations — just write “Tag Uber as Transport” and it happens. All-in-one, no add-ons — storage, line-item extraction, and statements included.
Truly global — reads any language and handles 150+ currencies. Built-in security — keep every document safe and searchable for 10+ years. Real support — SparkAgent helps instantly, and when needed, Joel (our founder) does too. Simple pricing — try it for 7 days free, scale easily, cancel anytime. No bundles, no tricks.
Cry Less Over Receipts
Let AI do the manual work for you and save 10+ hours monthly
SparkReceipt’s AI receipt scanner processes receipts in seconds — not minutes. Every vendor, amount, date, tax, and category is extracted automatically. No manual entry. No waiting. No fading thermal receipts lost in your wallet.
Connect your Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft, or any IMAP inbox to automatically fetch email receipts from software subscriptions, online purchases, and SaaS tools. Generate expense reports in one click. Invite your accountant or bookkeeper to your account. Sync to QuickBooks Online.
Feature Comparison
A detailed look at what each platform offers
| Feature | Dext | SparkReceipt |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt scanning | Scanning can take up to 20 minutes as data is verified manually. | Scan receipts in seconds with instant AI extraction. |
| Expense categorization | AI rules must be enabled manually and often need user correction. | Lightning-fast AI categorization that gets it right the first time. |
| Line-item categorization | Paid add-on; limited to select document types and suppliers. | Break down each receipt by line. Automatic, accurate, and included on the Elite plan. |
| Expense reports | Manual setup, admin-only access, and multiple steps to export. | One-click reports. Totals, taxes, and receipts ready to export. |
| Data exports | Manual CSV or PDF exports with limited filters and steps required. | Export instantly in Excel, CSV, PDF, or ZIP with full control and detail. |
| Document limits | 250 docs per month minimum plan, fixed 5 seats, paid add-ons for more. | Unlimited document scanning on the Elite plan. No hidden fees or surprise charges. |
| Email receipts | Separate email addresses per user and document type. Slow processing. | Automatic email receipt fetching from Gmail, Outlook, Microsoft, and IMAP inboxes. Instant scanning, categorization, and storage. |
| Accountant access | Requires accountant account and manual setup with permissions. | Invite your accountant or bookkeeper to your account at any time. Live access to receipts, expenses, and reports. |
| Integrations | 30+ integrations, setup required for each connection. | Direct QuickBooks sync plus Zapier, Make, and Google Drive automation. |
| Bank statement extraction | Supports 500 to 700 banks. Uploads take hours and rejections are common. | Upload any statement and get results in minutes with automatic receipt matching. |
| Document management | Vault is a paid add-on with only 100 MB free storage. | Secure 10-year storage for all documents, always accessible and included. |
| Currencies and languages | App in 6 languages, OCR for Latin scripts only. Fixer rates for conversion. | Reads almost any language, supports 150+ currencies with live exchange rates. |
| Mobile app | Powerful but complex, slow processing and setup required. | Fast, intuitive app with instant AI scanning and real-time sync. |
| Income tracking | Available only via Dext Solo for accountants and UK users. | Upload any income document and the AI categorizes it instantly, worldwide. |
| Mass upload | Multi-upload works but needs manual setup and splitting. | Upload up to 100 documents at once, automatically detected and categorized in seconds. |
| Sharing via link | Share via exports, image links, or internal messages. Manual setup required. | Share receipts or collections instantly with secure time-limited live links. |
| AI agent | No native AI. Automations rely on third-party tools. | SparkAgent is built in. Search, summarize, and update with simple prompts. |
| Customer support | Support via chat and email, often slow and scripted per user reviews. | Instant in-app help with SparkAgent plus direct human support from our founder Joel. |
| Free trial | Short free trial with limited access, ends unless you subscribe. | 7-day free trial with full access to all features. |
| Contract length | Annual plans auto renew with 30-day notice required. No refunds after billing. | Cancel anytime via app store or support. No commitments or surprise charges. |
| Multiple workspaces | Supports multiple businesses but setup is manual and each needs its own plan. | Create unlimited subaccounts for different businesses or projects under one login. |
| Automations | Fixed rules for recurring tasks and supplier categorization. | AI Automations understand natural language. Write your rule once and SparkReceipt does the rest. |
This comparison is based on information publicly available from Dext's website and other online sources as of March 2026. Features, pricing, and details may change over time. SparkReceipt is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dext.
Simple Pricing That Scales With You
No hidden fees, no surprise charges. $16.65/month, billed annually with a 7-day free trial.
Elite
For you, your accountant, and your partner.
$199.98/year
- Unlimited documents
- Automatic email receipt fetching (Gmail, Outlook, IMAP)
- Mass upload (up to 100 documents at once)
- Upload documents from anywhere
- Bank statement extraction
- Line-item categorization
- Expense reports (PDF, Excel, CSV)
- AI Automations
- Integrations (QuickBooks Online, Zapier, Make)
- Invite your accountant and partner
- Unlimited linked sub-accounts
7-Day Free Trial
- You Included
- Your accountant Included
- Your partner / co-founder / team member Included
Each additional user: $58/year
Why Thousands Chose SparkReceipt Over Dext
Hear from freelancers and business owners who made the switch
Excellent start and amazing team. Looking forward to making SparkReceipt my default expense management and accounting platform.
SparkReceipt is an excellent alternative to full-fledged accounting software, saving you time and money!
Thanks to you, I’m actually looking forward to my year end FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, when I can surprise my accountant with my completed accounts with a week or so off the end of the year!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Dext for small businesses?
SparkReceipt is a modern alternative to Dext designed for freelancers, founders, and small businesses that want fast AI-powered receipt scanning and simple pricing. Unlike Dext’s 5-user minimum, SparkReceipt includes 3 users and core features without paid add-ons.
Does SparkReceipt replace Dext Prepare?
For most small businesses and freelancers, yes. SparkReceipt covers receipt scanning, expense and income tracking, reporting, exports, document storage, and accountant access. It also adds AI-native features like SparkAgent and AI Automations that are not available in Dext Prepare.
Is SparkReceipt cheaper than Dext?
Yes. Dext’s pricing starts with a minimum of 5 users at ~$359/year. SparkReceipt is $199/year and includes 3 users, with simple, transparent pricing and no surprise charges or long-term contracts. See pricing.
How fast is receipt scanning compared to Dext?
SparkReceipt scans and extracts receipts in seconds using AI. Dext can take up to 20 minutes per document due to manual verification. If speed matters, SparkReceipt is significantly faster.
Does SparkReceipt support expense and income tracking?
Yes. SparkReceipt automatically detects whether a document is an expense or income and categorizes it accordingly. Dext’s income tracking is limited and mainly available through Dext Solo with additional setup.
Do I need to pay extra for line-item categorization in SparkReceipt?
No. Line-item categorization is included in SparkReceipt. In Dext, line-item extraction is a paid add-on and only works for certain suppliers and document types.
Can I invite my accountant?
Yes. Invite your accountant or bookkeeper to your account at any time. They get live access to all receipts, expenses, and reports exactly as you see them.
Does SparkReceipt support multiple businesses or projects?
Yes. SparkReceipt allows unlimited subaccounts (workspaces) under one login, making it easy to separate businesses, side projects, or personal finances. Dext requires separate plans per business.
Is SparkReceipt suitable for international users?
Yes. SparkReceipt reads receipts in nearly any language and supports over 150 currencies with daily and historical exchange rates. Dext supports fewer languages and relies on external currency conversion rates.
Does SparkReceipt have an AI assistant?
Yes. SparkAgent is built directly into SparkReceipt. You can search, summarize, tag, and update documents using natural language. Dext does not offer a native AI agent and relies on rules or third-party tools.
Can I cancel SparkReceipt anytime?
Yes. SparkReceipt has no long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime, and a 7-day free trial is included. Dext plans often require advance notice.