AutoEntry (by Sage)
Data capture and extraction tool for accountants.
About AutoEntry (by Sage)
AutoEntry captures receipts, invoices, and bank statements via mobile upload, email, or desktop scan, then extracts line-level data using OCR and pushes it directly into your accounting software without a manual review queue. That auto-posting step is what separates it from basic receipt scanners: transactions go straight to the ledger rather than sitting in an inbox waiting for a bookkeeper to approve each one. It targets accounting practices and bookkeeping firms handling document volumes for multiple clients, not business owners managing their own records. A firm processing hundreds of supplier invoices and expense receipts monthly across a client portfolio will get more out of it than a single-entity business that uploads ten receipts a week. Multi-client management, bulk upload, and the direct integrations with Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks make it practical at practice scale. The shortcomings are real. AutoEntry duplicates functionality you already have if Dext is in your stack, and the OCR accuracy on poor-quality scans still requires spot-checking, despite the auto-posting positioning. There is no free tier, so evaluating it costs money from day one. Firms already embedded in Sage's broader ecosystem will find the fit natural; everyone else should weigh it carefully against Dext or Hubdoc before committing.
Best for
Accountants processing high volumes of client documents wanting automated data extraction
Key Features
- OCR receipt and invoice scanning with data extraction
- Automated posting to accounting software
- Bank statement processing and categorization
- Multi-client document management for accountants
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Auto-posting sends extracted invoice and receipt data directly to Xero, QuickBooks, or Sage without a manual approval step, reducing handling time per document.
- Bank statement processing converts PDF statements into categorized transaction data, removing the manual re-keying that still trips up most competitors.
- Multi-client document management lets practices organize uploads, processing queues, and posting by client rather than managing a single-entity inbox.
- Line-level extraction on invoices captures supplier, date, net, VAT, and line items individually, not just header totals.
- Mobile and email submission options mean clients can forward invoices or photograph receipts without logging into a portal.
- Direct integration with five accounting platforms including FreeAgent and KashFlow covers mid-market UK practice stacks that Dext sometimes underserves.
Cons
- No free trial or free tier: you pay from the first document, which makes evaluation a budget decision rather than a technical one.
- Redundant if Dext is already in your stack — the feature sets overlap heavily and running both creates duplicate costs with minimal additional coverage.
- OCR accuracy degrades on crumpled receipts, low-contrast invoices, and handwritten documents, meaning auto-posting still needs a periodic audit pass.
- Pricing scales by volume of documents processed, so a spike in client activity mid-month can push you into a higher tier unexpectedly.
- Being part of the Sage ecosystem means product development prioritizes Sage-native workflows; firms on non-Sage stacks may see slower feature parity.
- No native accounts payable approval workflow: if your practice needs multi-person sign-off before posting, you will need a separate tool for that step.
Ledger Brief Take
Sage's established document processing engine specifically targets accounting practices drowning in client paperwork rather than individual businesses managing their own books. The auto-posting integration cuts out the manual review step that many receipt scanners still require, making it particularly valuable for firms processing hundreds of transactions monthly. Being part of Sage's ecosystem gives it solid accounting software integrations but may feel redundant if you're already using Dext or similar tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions accountants ask about AutoEntry (by Sage).
How does AutoEntry pricing work and what does the entry plan include?
AutoEntry starts at $24 per month and charges based on the number of documents processed rather than users. The entry plan covers basic receipt and invoice extraction. Costs rise as monthly document volume increases, so high-volume practices should map their average monthly document count before committing to a tier.
How does AutoEntry connect to QuickBooks and Xero?
AutoEntry connects directly to QuickBooks Online and Xero via API. Once linked, extracted invoice and receipt data posts to the relevant ledger account automatically. Bank statement data imports as categorized transactions. The integration does not require a third-party connector, but chart-of-accounts mapping needs to be configured per client on first setup.
How does AutoEntry compare to Dext?
Both tools do OCR extraction and auto-posting to major accounting platforms. Dext has a larger user base, more established accuracy benchmarks, and a stronger ecosystem of third-party reviews. AutoEntry's edge is tighter Sage integration and bank statement processing that Dext handles less cleanly. Running both is redundant. Choose based on your primary accounting platform and whether Sage is central to your stack.
Is AutoEntry suitable for individual businesses or only accounting practices?
AutoEntry is built for accounting practices managing documents across multiple clients, not for single businesses handling their own bookkeeping. A sole trader uploading a handful of receipts monthly will overpay for features centered on multi-client management and bulk processing. Hubdoc or the native receipt capture in Xero or QuickBooks is a more proportionate fit for single-entity use.
How does AutoEntry handle data security and document storage?
AutoEntry stores uploaded documents and extracted data in Sage's cloud infrastructure. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. For practices handling client financial documents under GDPR or similar obligations, Sage publishes a data processing agreement. Review it before onboarding clients, particularly those in regulated industries where document retention rules apply.
Does AutoEntry require clients to use a portal or app?
Clients can submit documents by forwarding emails to a dedicated address, photographing receipts via the AutoEntry mobile app, or uploading files directly. They do not need an AutoEntry account to submit documents. The practice manages the processing and posting side. This low-friction submission model is one of the practical reasons firms choose it over tools that require clients to log in.