Manual entry, OCR service or statement converter?

Transactions are copied from the PDF into the bank agenda. It costs nothing and needs no setup, but with dozens of transactions a month it takes hours, and every mistake in an amount or symbol only shows up when matching payments.

The statement is uploaded to the service server, which recognises the text and returns a data file. It copes with scans too. You usually pay per page, and the statement with your payments leaves your computer.

The service connects to online banking and sends transactions to accounting continuously. It is the most convenient option if it supports your bank, but it requires granting access to the account and usually a monthly fee per connection.

The converter reads a digital PDF right in the browser and creates an import file. VýpisFlow also verifies that the transactions match the balances before the export. The statement is not sent to a server for the conversion; the bank and layout must be in the compatibility matrix.

• A few transactions a month: manual entry may be enough.
• Many scanned statements: an OCR service.
• One supported bank and continuous bookkeeping: automatic integration.
• Digital PDFs from several banks and keeping the data with you: a local converter.

Whichever route you take, ask the same questions before deciding. The answers quickly show which approach suits your practice.

• Where is the statement processed and who has access to it?
• Does the tool support all the banks and payment services you use, including foreign currencies?
• Does it create a format your accounting software actually imports?
• Does it check that transactions match the balances before export, or do you have to check that yourself?
• Do you pay per page, per statement, per bank connection or a monthly flat fee?
• How does the tool warn you about a statement that was already processed?