ClearlyLedger vs Dext: Bank Statement Conversion Compared

Dext is a full bookkeeping and document-capture platform that also extracts bank statements and stores them; ClearlyLedger is a focused converter that balance-verifies every export and retains nothing. This comparison covers accuracy, privacy, integrations and pricing so you can pick the right fit.

Last updated 2026-06-28

If you searched for a Dext alternative, you are probably comparing two tools that look similar on the surface — both turn bank statements into accounting-ready data — but sit in different product categories. Understanding that difference is the fastest way to pick the right one.

What ClearlyLedger and Dext Actually Are

Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) is an AI-powered bookkeeping platform. Its Bank Statement Extraction feature accepts PDF and TIFF statements, extracts the transactions, and generates a CSV you import into Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, while storing the original and extracted files in your account. Bank statements are one input alongside receipts, invoices, supplier statements and bank feeds, per Dext's own documentation.

ClearlyLedger does one thing: convert a PDF bank statement into a clean Excel or CSV file. It auto-detects the bank format across 350+ profiles in 50+ countries, runs balance verification on every file, exports accounting-ready columns, and then deletes the source PDF. There is no document library, no receipt capture, and no subscription required to start.

That category difference drives everything below: Dext is a platform you live in; ClearlyLedger is a utility you pass data through.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Capability ClearlyLedger Dext
Product type Focused statement converter Full bookkeeping / capture platform
Balance verification Yes, on every export Not a published feature
Data retention Deleted within 60 seconds Stores originals + extracted files
Receipts & invoices No (statements only) Yes
Direct accounting sync CSV/Excel export Two-way Xero/QuickBooks sync
Free to start First conversion free, no signup 14-day trial
Entry price $15/month flat ~$25-31/month (Business)

Dext claims over 99% extraction accuracy on its marketing pages. That is a confidence number, not a guarantee per file. ClearlyLedger takes a different approach to accuracy, covered next.

Accuracy: Confidence Score vs Arithmetic Proof

The biggest practical difference in statement conversion is how each tool proves the output is correct. Dext, like most AI extractors, reports a high accuracy rate. ClearlyLedger adds a mathematical check: opening balance plus credits minus debits must equal the closing balance printed on the statement, or the export is flagged before you can download it.

This matters because extraction errors are usually silent. A dropped row or a misread debit does not announce itself — it surfaces weeks later when a reconciliation will not balance. An arithmetic gate catches that class of error at conversion time, regardless of the underlying model's confidence.

Data Privacy and Retention

Dext is designed to store your documents: the original statement and the extracted file are kept in your account so you can access them anytime, which is genuinely useful for audit trails and record-keeping. The tradeoff is that sensitive bank data lives in a third-party platform over time.

ClearlyLedger takes the opposite stance. PDFs are processed in memory and deleted within 60 seconds, generated outputs are held only briefly for download, nothing is used to train AI models, and no transaction data is stored in a database. For one-off conversions or privacy-sensitive clients, that zero-retention posture is the point.

Pricing

Dext is sold as a subscription platform. Business plans start around $25 to $31 per month for five users and a monthly document allowance, with bank statement extraction drawing on included credits you can top up. Practice plans for firms are priced per client. There is a 14-day trial but no permanently free tier.

ClearlyLedger is priced for the conversion job itself: the first conversion is free with no signup, then flat plans run $15/month (500 pages), $30/month (1,500 pages) and $50/month (5,000 pages), tax inclusive. There are no document credits to meter and nothing to cancel if you only convert occasionally.

When Dext Is the Better Choice

Dext is the stronger pick when statement conversion is only part of what you need. If you are a firm or business that wants to capture receipts and invoices, chase supplier statements, run bank feeds, categorize transactions, and publish everything into Xero or QuickBooks from one place, Dext's breadth and two-way sync are hard to match with a focused converter. The stored document library and practice-management features are built for that ongoing workflow.

When ClearlyLedger Is the Better Choice

ClearlyLedger is the stronger pick when you simply need accurate statement data, fast, without committing to a platform. Catch-up bookkeeping, lending and underwriting reviews, due diligence, a client whose bank has no feed, or a one-time export all favor a tool that verifies every balance, retains nothing, and bills by the page rather than the seat. It also pairs cleanly with whatever you already use, including Dext, by handing you a verified CSV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dext convert bank statements to Excel or CSV?

Yes. Dext's Bank Statement Extraction accepts PDF and TIFF statements and generates a CSV for import into Xero, QuickBooks or Sage. It is one feature within Dext's wider capture platform rather than a standalone converter.

Is ClearlyLedger a Dext alternative?

For the bank statement conversion job, yes. ClearlyLedger replaces that single workflow with a faster, verified, zero-retention converter. It is not a replacement for Dext's receipt capture, invoice processing or two-way accounting sync.

Can I use ClearlyLedger and Dext together?

Yes. Some teams use ClearlyLedger to convert tricky or privacy-sensitive statements into a clean CSV, then bring that file into their main accounting or capture workflow. The verified CSV is portable.

Which tool is more accurate for bank statements?

Both extract transaction data well. The difference is verification: ClearlyLedger checks the math on every file with balance verification, while Dext reports a high AI accuracy rate. For financial data, an arithmetic check is the stronger guarantee against silent errors.

Key Takeaways

  • Dext is a full capture-to-publish bookkeeping platform; ClearlyLedger is a focused statement converter.
  • ClearlyLedger balance-verifies every export; Dext reports an AI accuracy rate.
  • ClearlyLedger deletes statements within 60 seconds; Dext stores them for ongoing access.
  • ClearlyLedger starts free with no signup and bills by the page; Dext is a subscription from about $25 to $31 per month.
  • Choose Dext for an all-in-one firm workflow; choose ClearlyLedger for fast, verified, private statement conversion.

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