Zoho Books is an accounting solutions provider offering multiple pricing tiers and plans on a subscription basis. Accounting specialists use Zoho Books to manage finances, track expenses, and generate invoices efficiently. Zoho Books’s pricing structure offers good value compared to its competitors, providing flexible options at a lower cost. This guide covers everything you need to know about Zoho Books pricing, plans, and costs to make an informed purchase decision with confidence.
How Much Does Zoho Books Cost?
Zoho Books’ paid plans start from $15 per organization per month and go up to $240 per organization per month. A free version is available, ideal for solopreneurs and micro businesses. Additionally, Zoho Books offers an ultimate plan with advanced features that cater to enterprises' and specific business needs. These plans include invoicing, project management, inventory management, and mobile access. Users can choose between monthly or annual billing, with the latter offering savings. Custom pricing tiers may be available for enterprises or specific business types, but details are not explicitly provided on the site.
Zoho Books Plans & Pricing Tiers
Here's an overview of the available Zoho Books plans:
Plan Type | Price | What’s Included? |
Free | $0/month (billed annually) | Includes up to 1 user and 1 accountant, 1,000 invoices annually, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, recurring invoices, project time tracking, automated workflows, reporting, mobile app, customer management and client portal, email customer support, payment reminders, online payments, payment links, offline payment recording, auto receipt scanning, and limited integrations. |
Standard | $15/month (billed annually) | Includes free plan features, up to 5,000 invoices, multi-currency handling, recurring expense feature, logo removal for Zoho branding, custom fields, the ability to add third-party payment processors for bank and credit card feeds, bulk account updates, transaction locking, reporting tags, additional support options, and additional integrations such as Zendesk. |
Professional | $40/month (billed annually) | Includes Standard Plan features, up to 10,000 invoices and 5 users, purchase orders, sales orders, custom roles, advanced project management, budgeting, timesheet approvals, and integrations with Zoho People and Zoho Projects. |
Premium | $60/month (billed annually) | Includes Standard Plan features, up to 10,000 invoices and 5 users, purchase orders, sales orders, custom roles, advanced project management, budgeting, timesheet approvals, and integrations with Zoho People and Zoho Projects. |
Elite | $120/month (billed annually) | Includes Premium Plan features, up to 100,000 invoices, 10 users, warehouse management, barcode scanning, serial number tracking, custom modules, and multi-currency transactions for vendors. |
Ultimate | $240/month (billed annually) | Includes Elite Plan features, unlimited invoices, advanced analytics, custom dashboards, scheduled reports, a dedicated account manager, and premium support. |
Let’s break down the available Zoho Books plans a bit further:
Zoho Books Free Plan
Ideal for freelancers and small businesses, the Free Plan supports up to one user and one accountant and offers essential accounting features like invoicing, expense tracking, and basic reporting. It's perfect for startups or small businesses needing streamlined financial management without a high cost. However, it lacks advanced tools like recurring billing features, multi-currency handling, and third-party payment processing.
Zoho Books Standard Plan
The Standard Plan caters to small businesses with moderate accounting needs, supporting up to three users. It provides sales approval, recurring expenses, and vendor credits. Suitable for businesses wanting more control over finances, but without advanced inventory or project management capabilities.
Zoho Books Professional Plan
Designed for growing businesses, the Professional Plan supports up to 5 users. It includes advanced features such as inventory management, purchase orders, recurring bills, and custom reporting. Ideal for companies needing deeper financial oversight, yet it doesn’t offer advanced analytics or custom modules.
Zoho Books Premium Plan
The Premium Plan fits medium-sized businesses with complex accounting needs, supporting up to 10 users. It offers advanced inventory control, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, a custom domain, and custom modules. Best for businesses requiring extensive customization, though it may not meet large enterprise needs.
Zoho Books Elite Plan
Geared towards larger businesses, the Elite Plan supports 10 users and offers advanced features like warehouse management and vendor portals. It suits companies with intricate supply chains but lacks some enterprise-level capabilities.
Zoho Books Ultimate Plan
The Ultimate Plan is tailored for large enterprises, supporting 15 users with advanced analytics, a dedicated account manager, and premium support. It's optimal for businesses needing detailed end-to-end financial insights and streamlined features, but at a higher cost, making it less suitable for smaller companies.
Zoho Books Pricing Vs. Competitors
Zoho Books is generally considered affordable compared to other accounting solutions. It offers multiple pricing tiers, from free to premium, accommodating startups and small businesses. Each plan includes features like invoicing, expense tracking, and banking integration. Users can access integrations with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, available across different tiers. Security safeguards, along with email, chat, and voice support, are included in all plans.
Comparison Chart: Zoho Books vs. Alternatives
Wondering how Zoho Books’ pricing compares to other accounting solutions? Here’s a comparison chart that breaks down the costs of other accounting solutions side-by-side:
Tools | Price | |
Xero | From $15/month (billed annually) | Website |
QuickBooks Online | From $15/user/month | Website |
Zoho Books | From $15/month (billed annually) | Website |
FreshBooks | From $10/month (billed annually) | Website |
BlackLine | Pricing upon request | Website |
Xledger | Pricing upon request | Website |
WAVE | From $16/user/month | Website |
Kashoo | From $20/month | Website |
Patriot Accounting | From $20/month | Website |
Sage Intaact | Pricing upon request | Website |
Alternatives to Zoho Books
Zoho Books is a solid accounting solution, but there are plenty of other options out there. Depending on your use case, budget, team size, and other factors, you might consider shopping around for a solution that’s better suited to your needs. If you’re looking for alternative accounting solutions to Zoho Books, here are a few worth checking out:
How to Choose the Right Zoho Books Plan
When deciding which Zoho Books plan to go with, you’ll want to consider the added value and potential drawbacks that come with each plan. Scrolling through long lists of features can quickly lead to confusion and uncertainty, so here are a few factors to keep in mind as you evaluate and assess your options:
Zoho Books Scalability and Team Size
Evaluating the scalability of Zoho Books for your team's size and growth trajectory Zoho Books offers flexible pricing plans that cater to different team sizes, from startups to larger organizations. For a small team or startup, the Basic plan may suffice, providing essential features like invoicing and expense management. As your team grows, the Standard or Professional plans offer additional functionalities such as advanced inventory management and project tracking. These plans support collaboration and are designed to adapt as your business expands, ensuring that your financial management tools grow with you.
Industry-Specific Zoho Books Features
Evaluating Zoho Books for your industry needs is helpful and practical as it offers tailored features across various plans. For instance, advanced inventory management supports up to five warehouses and integrates with sales channels like Etsy and Amazon, benefiting retail teams. Project management capabilities aid service-oriented sectors, while multi-currency transactions assist global businesses. These features vary by plan, ensuring scalability for different business sizes. Key functionalities include core accounting, sales management, and customizable reports, enhancing operational efficiency for startups, small businesses, and accounting firms.
Zoho Books Integration Capabilities
Connecting your accounting solution with your existing tech stack is a great way to boost efficiency and data coherence. Zoho Books offers native integrations with major payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and Square - although this integration is not available in the gree version. Zoho Books also integrates with Zoho's suite of applications including Zoho CRM, Projects, and Analytics. It supports third-party tools like G Suite, Slack, and Zapier, offering extensive connectivity options. Additionally, Zoho Books provides an API for building custom integrations, allowing your team to tailor the software to specific business needs. This flexibility ensures that your accounting processes align smoothly with other business operations.
Zoho Books Security Safeguards
When choosing a Zoho Books plan, consider the security features each offers to protect your financial data. Zoho Books prioritizes user privacy by using built-in tracking tools, avoiding third-party software. Each plan provides varying levels of data protection and privacy controls. Users can manage cookie preferences and consent settings to enhance privacy. Higher-tier plans offer advanced features like project management and collaboration tools, along with more robust data protection. This ensures that different business sizes and needs are addressed while maintaining a secure environment for financial management.
What additional costs should I anticipate with Zoho Books?
When using Zoho Books, additional costs may arise from features like advanced integrations, premium support, and additional user licenses beyond those included in your chosen plan. There are specific add-ons, additional capabilities that aren’t included in your current plan, that are made available to be purchased based on your specific requirements. Users should also consider potential costs associated with transaction processing fees when using integrated payment gateways.
Are there any discounts or promotions available for Zoho Books?
Zoho Books offers discount for users who pay annually vs monthly. This discount applies to all plans and can result in savings from $5 to $35 per year.
How often does Zoho Books change its pricing structure?
Zoho Books last announced a pricing change effective April 5, 2021. Most of Zoho’s product prices increased, affecting new subscriptions and renewals from January 17, 2022. Existing customers faced price changes upon renewal, capped at 15%. Historically, price changes are infrequent, with no immediate plans for further adjustments.
What regions are exempt from Zoho Books pricing changes?
The pricing changes announced in 2021 did not affect certain regions, including Africa, South America, Latin America, China, and Japan. This decision was made due to local economic conditions.
Can existing customers lock in their current rates?
Yes, existing customers could lock in their current rates if they renewed their contracts by January 16, 2022, for a term of up to one year. Multi-year contracts maintained the current price for the first year, after which new rates applied.
How can I use existing credits with Zoho Books?
Customers can use existing credits for upgrades or to offset price increases, provided the credits remain valid. This option helps mitigate the impact of any price adjustments on their subscriptions.
Is Zoho Books Good Value?
In my opinion, Zoho Books offers significant value for small to medium-sized businesses, particularly those in service-oriented industries. Its feature set includes invoicing, inventory management, and tax compliance, which cover essential accounting needs. Priced competitively, Zoho Books provides a solid return on investment, especially given its integration capabilities with other Zoho products and third-party apps. The interface is intuitive, reducing the learning curve for new users and facilitating smooth onboarding. The support team is responsive, aiding users effectively when issues arise. Zoho Books is particularly beneficial for startups and small business owners that need a reliable accounting solution with flexibility for integration and scalability. An example is a small marketing agency that can easily manage client billing and project expenses using the platform's capabilities.
Verdict: Zoho Books is a cost-effective accounting software solution for businesses seeking a versatile and user-friendly accounting platform.
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