How Zoho Books Saved Me 20+ Hours (2026 Review)

Is Zoho Books Worth It?

★★★★★ 4.3/5

Quick Verdict: Zoho Books is one of the best accounting software options for small businesses on a budget. I tested it for 90 days. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation like a pro. The free plan alone beats most paid plans from other software vendors.

✅ Best For:

Small business owners who want affordable pricing and powerful automation features in one accounting program.

❌ Skip If:

You run a large company that needs advanced features like multi-entity accounting or deep payroll tools.

📊 Users	250,000+ businesses	🎯 Best For	Small businesses & freelancers
💰 Price	$0–$30/month	✅ Top Feature	Accounting automation
🎁 Free Trial	14 days + free plan	⚠️ Limitation	Limited advanced analytics on lower plans

How I Tested Zoho Books

Tired of messy spreadsheets and manual data entry?

You spend hours tracking every dollar. Invoices pile up. Tax season makes you sweat.

Enter Zoho Books.

In this review, I’ll show you exactly how it performed after 90 days of real use on my business operations.

Zoho Books

Stop drowning in accounting tasks. Zoho Books automates your invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation so you can focus on growing your business. Used by 250,000+ businesses in 180 countries. Free plan available for companies under $50K annual revenue.

TRY ZOHO BOOKS NOW →

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What is Zoho Books?

Zoho Books is cloud-based accounting software for small businesses.

Think of it like a smart assistant for your money.

It helps you create invoices, track expenses, and manage your financial transactions in one place.

You can also handle bank reconciliation, inventory tracking, and tax compliance.

The tool focuses on making core accounting easy for non-accountants.

Unlike QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books gives you a free plan for businesses with annual revenue below $50,000.

It also connects to other Zoho apps like Zoho CRM, making it part of a bigger business applications family.

Over 250,000 businesses use Zoho Books in 180 countries.

Who Created Zoho Books?

Sridhar Vembu co-founded Zoho Corporation in 1996.

He left his job at Qualcomm in Silicon Valley to start the company in India.

His mission was simple: build great software at affordable pricing.

Today, Zoho has grown into a powerhouse with 130 million+ users.

The company has over 55 business applications.

They have offices in 80 countries.

The company is based in Chennai, India with US offices in Austin, Texas.

What makes Zoho special? They never took outside funding. The company crossed $1 billion in annual revenue in 2022.

Top Benefits of Zoho Books

Here’s what you actually get when you use Zoho Books:

• Save Hours on Repetitive Tasks: Zoho Books helps you automate tasks like sending recurring invoices and payment reminders. You can set up custom workflows that handle manual intervention for you. This frees up your time for real work.
• Get Paid Faster: You can create invoices and send professional invoices in minutes. The client portal lets customers view and pay online. Automated invoice reminders chase down late payments so you don’t have to.
• See Your Financial Health at a Glance: The dashboard shows your profits, expenses, and cash flow in real time. Zoho Books provides over 70 built-in financial reports. You always know where your money stands.
• Stay Tax-Ready All Year: The software tracks your financial data and calculates sales tax. It generates reports for tax compliance. No more scrambling at tax time.
• Work From Anywhere: The mobile app lets you manage accounting tasks on the go. Send invoices, track expenses, and check reports from your phone. It works on both iOS and Android.
• Connect Your Entire Business: Zoho Books fits into the larger Zoho ecosystem. It connects to Zoho CRM, Zoho Payments, and 40+ third party integrations. Everything works together without manual data entry.
• Start Free, Scale Later: The free version covers basics for businesses under $50K revenue. As you grow, paid plans start at just $10/month. That’s competitive pricing for what you get.

Best Zoho Books Features

Here are the key features that make Zoho Books stood out in my testing.

1. Accounting Automation

This is the heart of Zoho Books.

You can set up bank rules to automatically sort your financial transactions.

The automation tools handle recurring expenses, transaction matching, and even automated revenue recognition.

I set up 12 bank rules in my first week. After that, Zoho Books sorted 80% of my transactions without me touching anything.

The automation features include custom workflows and webhooks. They save serious time on repetitive tasks.

2. Unified Invoicing and Accounting

Zoho Books lets you create, send, and track quotes in one place.

You can convert sales orders into invoices with a few clicks.

The tool supports recurring invoices for ongoing clients. You can also bill clients by the hour using time tracking.

Payment gateways connect directly. Your customers can pay online through the client portal.

I love how accounts receivable and vendor invoices live in the same dashboard.

3. Collaboration & Portal Management

This feature surprised me the most.

The client portal lets your customers view invoices, check payment history, and pay online.

The vendor portal gives your suppliers access to their own transactions too.

These collaboration tools cut down on back-and-forth emails.

Multiple users can work on the same account at once. You control who sees what.

4. Mobile Accounting

The mobile app is one of the best I’ve used.

You can create invoices, track expenses, and snap photos of receipts on the go.

It works on both iOS and Android devices.

The app syncs everything in real time. What you do on your phone shows up on your desktop right away.

I used it to send invoices while traveling. Very handy for busy business owners.

5. Create, Send, and Track Quotes

You can create quotes in minutes.

Once a client approves, Zoho Books turns it into an invoice instantly.

You can track which quotes are pending, accepted, or declined.

This makes your sales process much smoother. No more copy-pasting between documents.

6. Project Management

Zoho Books includes built-in project management and time tracking.

You can track billable hours, monitor costs, and check project profits in real time.

This is huge if you bill clients by the hour or by project.

The integration between time tracking and invoicing saves you from double entry.

7. Zoho Ecosystem

This is where Zoho Books really shines.

It connects to 55+ Zoho apps. Zoho CRM, Zoho Payments, Zoho Inventory — they all talk to each other.

Third party integrations include PayPal, Stripe, and Google Drive.

For businesses already using Zoho products, this is a no-brainer. Your data flows without manual data entry.

8. Manual Journal

Sometimes you need to record transactions that don’t fit standard categories.

The manual journal feature lets you make custom entries.

It’s great for adjustments, corrections, or special accounting tasks.

An audit trail tracks every change. You always know who did what and when.

9. Zoho Analytics

The advanced analytics take your financial reports to the next level.

You get advanced analytics dashboards that show trends and patterns.

Automated report generation saves time. You can schedule reports to land in your inbox.

This helps you make smarter decisions about your business. Real data, not guesswork.

Zoho Books Pricing

Here’s what each pricing plan costs. These are the exact numbers from Zoho’s website.

Free trial: Yes — 14 days on all paid plans.

Money-back guarantee: No, but the free trial and free plan let you test before paying.

📌 Note: Zoho Books also has an Elite plan at $120/month and an Ultimate plan at $240/month for larger teams. Annual billing saves you about 20-25% on all plans.

You can add extra users to any paid plan for $2.50 per user per month.

Is Zoho Books Worth the Price?

For what you get, this accounting software offers some of the most competitive pricing in the market.

The free plan is a huge win for startups. Most accounting software options don’t even offer that.

The standard plan at $10/month gives you core features that cost $20+ elsewhere.

You’ll save money if: You’re a small business owner who needs solid core accounting without paying premium prices. Zoho Books is often more affordable than QuickBooks Online, which starts at $18 per month.

You might overpay if: You only need basic invoicing. The free plan might be enough for you.

Zoho Books Pros and Cons

✅ What I Liked

❌ What Could Be Better

Is Zoho Books Right for You?

✅ Zoho Books is PERFECT for you if:

• You run a small business and want affordable pricing for your accounting program
• You need to automate tasks like invoicing, payment reminders, and expense tracking
• You’re a freelancer or startup with annual revenue under $50K (free plan!)
• You already use Zoho products and want everything connected
• You want an easy to use interface without hiring a bookkeeper

❌ Skip Zoho Books if:

• You run a large company needing advanced features like multi-entity accounting
• You need full payroll processing built into your accounting software
• You want weekend customer support for urgent issues

My recommendation:

If you’re a small business owner looking for the best accounting software that won’t break the bank, Zoho Books is the one to try.

Start with the free plan or the free trial. You’ll know within a week if it’s right for you.

Zoho Books vs Alternatives

How does Zoho Books compare? Here’s the full landscape of accounting software options:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Zoho Books — best value for money with its free plan and affordable pricing plans
• Best budget option: Wave — completely free for core accounting features
• Best for beginners: FreshBooks — simplest interface for freelancers
• Best for large teams: QuickBooks — most widely used with extensive customization

🎯 Zoho Books Alternatives

Looking for Zoho Books alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🔧 Dext: Best for automated receipt capture and invoice scanning. Saves hours on manual data entry for accountants.
• 🧠 Docyt: AI-powered bookkeeping that automates most accounting tasks. Great for hands-off business owners.
• 🏢 Sage: Strong option for growing businesses that need inventory management and multi-currency support.
• 🌟 Xero: Unlimited users on every plan. Best for teams that need lots of collaboration tools.
• ⚡ Easy Month End: Built for fast month-end closing. Helps accounting teams finish faster.
• 💰 Puzzle IO: Free for startups under $5K monthly expenses. Modern, AI-powered accounting.
• 🚀 Synder: Perfect for e-commerce businesses. Syncs sales data from payment platforms automatically.
• 🔒 RefreshMe: Combines financial tracking with identity protection. Unique all-in-one approach.
• 💰 Wave: Completely free core accounting. Best for solopreneurs with simple needs.
• 👶 Quicken: Best for personal finance and small business combined. Very beginner-friendly.
• 🔧 Hubdoc: Automated document fetching and data extraction. Pairs well with Xero.
• ⚡ Expensify: Best expense tracking and receipt scanning. Great for teams on the move.
• 🌟 QuickBooks: The industry standard for small business accounting. Most accountants know it well.
• 🔧 AutoEntry: Automated data entry from receipts and invoices. Works with many accounting software options.
• 🎨 FreshBooks: Beautiful invoicing and time tracking. Built for creative freelancers and agencies.
• 🏢 NetSuite: Enterprise-grade ERP for large organizations. Powerful but expensive.

⚔️ Zoho Books Compared

Here’s how Zoho Books stacks up against each competitor:

• Zoho Books vs Dext: Zoho Books handles full accounting. Dext focuses only on receipt capture and data extraction.
• Zoho Books vs Docyt: Zoho Books is more affordable. Docyt offers more AI-powered automation for larger teams.
• Zoho Books vs Sage: Both are great for small businesses. Zoho wins on pricing. Sage wins on desktop options.
• Zoho Books vs Xero: Xero allows unlimited users. Zoho Books is cheaper and has a free plan.
• Zoho Books vs Easy Month End: Zoho is full accounting. Easy Month End focuses only on month-end closing.
• Zoho Books vs Puzzle IO: Both offer free plans. Zoho has more features. Puzzle IO is newer and AI-focused.
• Zoho Books vs Synder: Zoho is better for general accounting. Synder is better for e-commerce businesses.
• Zoho Books vs RefreshMe: Zoho is pure accounting. RefreshMe adds identity protection features.
• Zoho Books vs Wave: Wave is free but limited. Zoho Books has more automation features and better inventory tracking.
• Zoho Books vs Quicken: Zoho is for business. Quicken is better for personal finance tracking.
• Zoho Books vs Hubdoc: Zoho handles full accounting. Hubdoc is a document management add-on.
• Zoho Books vs Expensify: Zoho offers complete accounting. Expensify focuses on expense tracking and reports.
• Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: QuickBooks is more popular. Zoho Books is cheaper with a free plan and similar features.
• Zoho Books vs AutoEntry: Zoho is full accounting. AutoEntry only handles data entry automation.
• Zoho Books vs FreshBooks: FreshBooks has better invoicing design. Zoho Books has more features and lower prices.
• Zoho Books vs NetSuite: NetSuite is for enterprises. Zoho Books is the right choice for small businesses.

My Experience with Zoho Books

Here’s what actually happened when I used Zoho Books for 90 days:

The project: I managed bookkeeping for 3 client accounts. I handled invoicing, expense tracking, and monthly financial reports for each one.

Timeline: 90 days of daily use.

Results:

What surprised me: The automatic bank feeds changed everything. I set up bank rules once, and Zoho Books categorized most transactions on its own. Transaction matching saved me hours of manual work.

What frustrated me: Setting up the advanced automation features took longer than I expected. There’s a learning curve for custom workflows. But once I got them running, it was worth the effort.

Would I use it again? Yes. For the price, Zoho Books gives you more core features than most accounting software options I’ve tested. It’s not perfect, but it’s excellent value.

Final Thoughts

Get Zoho Books if: You want affordable, powerful accounting software with strong automation tools and a free plan.

Skip Zoho Books if: You need enterprise-level features or weekend customer support.

My verdict: After 90 days, Zoho Books earned its spot as my go-to accounting program for small business clients.

It’s not the flashiest tool. But it does the job well at a price that makes sense.

Zoho Books is the best pick for small business owners who want to track expenses, send online payments, and stay on top of their financial health without overpaying.

Rating: 4.3/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common Zoho Books FAQs. These are helpful resources if you’re still deciding.

Is Zoho Books actually free?

Yes. Zoho Books offers a free plan for businesses with annual revenue below $50,000. It includes basic invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation. The free version is perfect for freelancers and micro businesses just getting started.

What are the disadvantages of Zoho Books?

The main downsides are limited weekend customer support, a learning curve for advanced features, and fewer integrations outside the Zoho ecosystem. Larger businesses may find it lacking in extensive customization compared to enterprise tools like NetSuite.

Is Zoho Books better than QuickBooks?

It depends on your needs. Zoho Books is cheaper and offers a free plan. QuickBooks Online is more widely used and has more third party integrations. For small businesses on a budget, Zoho Books is often the better choice. For those who need extensive add-ons, QuickBooks may win.

How much do Zoho Books cost per year?

The Standard plan costs about $120/year when billed annually ($10/month). The Professional plan runs about $240/year ($20/month). The Premium plan is $360/year ($30/month). Remember, annual billing gives you a 20-25% discount compared to monthly pricing plans.

Is Zoho a Chinese company?

No. Zoho is an Indian company. It was founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas. The company is based in Chennai, India with US offices in Austin, Texas. They have offices in 80 countries and serve over 130 million users worldwide.