Short answer
If you use Xero and your accountant wants documents published straight into it, Hubdoc — included in Xero plans — is hard to beat. NexaLink Scanner is the alternative when you want a phone-first receipt organiser with on-device reading, projects for job costing and free CSV export that works with any accountant; its Xero connection is in development.
Key takeaways
- Hubdoc was $12 a month standalone when we checked, and Xero says it is included in its plans.[1][2]
- Hubdoc extracts data from bills, statements, invoices and receipts and syncs with Xero and QuickBooks Online.[1]
- NexaLink Scanner reads receipts on the phone, flags uncertain totals and exports CSV free; Xero connection is first on its roadmap (V1.1).
- Using both is reasonable: NexaLink for your own organised records, Hubdoc or Xero for the books.
What Hubdoc is
Hubdoc is a document-capture service owned by Xero. You photograph, upload, email or scan bills, statements, invoices and receipts; Hubdoc extracts the key details and syncs them with Xero or QuickBooks Online, with the original document attached.[1][2]
Two facts shape the decision. First, Hubdoc lists a standalone price of $12 a month after a 30-day trial.[1] Second, Xero's app listing says Hubdoc is included in Xero's plans — and Xero's UK pricing page shows capture on its current plans.[2][3] For a Xero user, that makes Hubdoc effectively free.
Why people look for a Hubdoc alternative
- You are not on Xero or QuickBooks Online. Your accountant uses FreeAgent, Sage, Zoho Books, TallyPrime or a spreadsheet, and wants a file.
- You want your own organised records, not just documents queued for bookkeeping — categories, projects per job or client, and totals you can read yourself.
- You want receipts on your phone, read on the device, rather than in another cloud account.
- You want to catch mistakes at capture time. A total that was misread is cheaper to fix while the paper is in your hand.
Hubdoc vs NexaLink Scanner
| Hubdoc | NexaLink Scanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12/month standalone; included with Xero plans[1][2] | Free (50 receipts); Pro $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr |
| Capture | Mobile, desktop upload, email forwarding, scanner[1] | Phone camera: single, long and batch modes |
| Document types | Bills, statements, invoices, receipts[1] | Receipts (and business cards) |
| Where text is read | Hubdoc's service | On your phone, offline |
| Organise by job/client | Via your accounting software | Projects and tags on Pro |
| Accounting sync | Xero, QuickBooks Online[1] | Not live — Xero first (V1.1); CSV free today |
| Best for | Xero users whose accountant works in Xero | Anyone who wants their own receipt records, any software |
The honest summary: Hubdoc is the better bookkeeping inbox for Xero users. NexaLink Scanner is the better personal record of what you spent, why and on which job.
Using NexaLink alongside Xero today
If you are on Xero, you do not have to choose. A common pattern is to capture and organise in NexaLink — where you can check the total, pick the category and assign the job — and then bring the month's receipts into Xero.
- Capture each receipt in NexaLink when you get it; confirm any flagged values.
- At month end, filter by the month and export CSV (free).
- Bring the data into Xero using the route your accountant prefers — see how to add receipts to Xero for the options.
- Join the Xero early access if you want the direct connection, which will create bills with the image attached.
If you are not on Xero
This is where an alternative matters most. A CSV with date, merchant, category, net, tax, total and currency columns imports into almost any accounting tool and opens in any spreadsheet. NexaLink exports that on every plan, free. For UK users on FreeAgent or Sage, see the FreeAgent and Sage pages; for Indian businesses whose accountant uses TallyPrime, see TallyPrime.
Key facts about NexaLink Scanner
- What it is: NexaLink Scanner is a private receipt and expense organiser for iOS and Android, built for freelancers, sole traders, contractors and small businesses. It is not accounting software and does not file tax returns.
- How it reads receipts: text is read on the phone (on-device OCR) and capture works offline. Merchant, date, total and tax are filled in; any value it is unsure of is flagged, and a low-confidence total cannot be saved until you confirm it.
- Where data lives: receipts are stored on your phone and do not sync to the web. Data leaves only when you export it.
- Free plan: 50 receipts, on-device reading, search, 5 default categories and CSV export. CSV export is free on every plan, always.
- Pro: $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year — unlimited receipts, custom categories, projects and tags, a PDF expense report in the app, tax and multi-currency reports. Image ZIP export and Xero / QuickBooks import files are coming soon.
- Accounting connections (none live yet): Xero — First · V1.1 · QuickBooks Online — Next · V1.2 · FreeAgent — Planned · Sage Accounting — Planned · Zoho Books — Planned · TallyPrime — Import file first. CSV export works with any accounting tool today. Status as of 2026-11-10; see accounting integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hubdoc free with Xero?
Xero's app listing says Hubdoc is included in its plans, and Xero's UK pricing page shows capture on all current plans.[2][3] Standalone, Hubdoc listed $12 a month when we checked.[1]
What is the best Hubdoc alternative if I don't use Xero?
Any tool with a good, free export. NexaLink Scanner exports CSV on every plan, which imports into most accounting software or can be sent to your accountant. If your accountant wants a bookkeeping inbox, Dext or AutoEntry are the closer like-for-like options.
Can NexaLink Scanner send receipts to Xero?
Not yet. The Xero connection is the first one in development (V1.1). It is designed to create a bill with the image attached. Until it launches, export CSV.
Does NexaLink fetch bills like Hubdoc?
No. NexaLink captures receipts with your phone camera. It does not collect documents from supplier accounts or email.
Can I keep both Hubdoc and NexaLink?
Yes. Many Xero users will want Hubdoc or Xero's own capture for the books and NexaLink for their own organised record, projects and quick search.
Is NexaLink Scanner private?
Receipts are read and stored on your phone, and nothing leaves unless you export it.
Sources
- Hubdoc — Pricing — checked on 2026-11-10
- Xero App Store — Hubdoc — checked on 2026-11-10
- Xero UK — Pricing plans — checked on 2026-11-10