AI-powered extraction vs manual bookkeeping for UK accountants
Pricing as of March 2026 · Visit each provider's website for current pricing
From £19/month
Free for sole traders
QuickFile is accounting software — it's where you type in transactions, manage invoices, and run your books. Distil is a document processing layer that sits in front of your accounting software (Xero or QuickBooks) and automates the data entry part.
QuickFile is free for sole traders, but the Affinity program for accountants charges per client. Here's how costs compare.
| Clients | QuickFile Affinity | Distil | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 clients | ~£60/yr | £228/yr | QuickFile cheaper — but no AI |
| 15 clients | ~£75/yr | £228/yr | QuickFile cheaper — but no AI |
| 20 clients | ~£100/yr | £228/yr | QuickFile cheaper — but no AI |
| 30 clients | ~£150/yr | £228/yr | Hours saved offset the cost |
The real comparison isn't price — it's time. QuickFile is cheaper, but you type every invoice by hand. At 30 invoices per client per month, that's 900 manual entries. At 2 minutes each, that's 30 hours/month of data entry. Distil processes them in seconds. At a bookkeeper rate of £15/hour, the time saved (£450/month) dwarfs the £19/month subscription.
| Feature | Distil | QuickFile |
|---|---|---|
| AI invoice extraction | ✓ | — |
| AI bank statement extraction | ✓ | — |
| Bank reconciliation | Auto-match | Manual |
| Supplier auto-categorisation | AI-powered | Manual rules |
| Xero / QuickBooks publishing | ✓ | — |
| Built-in accounting ledger | — | ✓ |
| VAT return preparation | Built-in | Built-in |
| MTD ITSA submissions | Built-in | — |
| Sales invoicing | ✓ | ✓ |
| P&L reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cash flow & balance sheet | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mileage tracking (HMRC rates) | ✓ | — |
| Client portal / upload links | With QR codes | — |
| 6-year HMRC storage | ✓ | — |
| Multi-client management | Unlimited | Affinity (per-client) |
| Bank feeds (Open Banking) | Coming soon | ✓ |
| Payroll | — | Basic |
Free for sole traders
A single sole trader with low volume can use QuickFile at no cost.
Full accounting ledger
Complete double-entry bookkeeping — it's accounting software, not just extraction.
Bank feeds built-in
Direct bank connections pull transactions automatically (Open Banking).
Lower cost at small scale
Affinity programme is very cheap if you only have a handful of clients and don't mind manual entry.
AI-powered extraction
Upload a PDF — AI reads supplier, date, amounts, VAT, and line items in seconds. No typing.
Works with Xero & QuickBooks
Your clients probably already use Xero or QBO. Distil publishes directly into their accounts.
Massive time savings
Process hundreds of invoices per month without touching a keyboard. The ROI is immediate.
All-in-one compliance
VAT returns, ITSA, P&L, cash flow, balance sheet, and mileage — all from processed documents.
Supplier auto-learning
Two-tier rules remember how to categorise each supplier — per client and per practice.
Client portal with QR codes
Clients upload from their phone — no app or account needed. You get notified instantly.
If you're an accountant or bookkeeper managing multiple clients on Xero or QuickBooks, Distil eliminates manual data entry entirely. Upload invoices and bank statements, let AI extract and categorise everything. Known suppliers auto-publish as drafts in your accounting software. You get VAT returns, ITSA, and P&L reporting built-in.
If you're a sole trader or small business owner, Distil's business owner mode starts from £9/month with AI categorisation, VAT filing, and spending reports — no accounting knowledge needed.
If you prefer an all-in-one accounting package and don't mind typing invoices manually, QuickFile's free tier is hard to beat. Both tools serve their audience well.
Try Distil free for 14 days. From £19/month. Cancel anytime.
Pricing information is accurate as of March 2026. QuickFile is a trademark of Quick File Ltd. Distil is not affiliated with QuickFile. Visit quickfile.co.uk for current QuickFile pricing.