# Zoho Books Pricing: A Comprehensive Guide | Capterra

> Check out the Zoho Books pricing guide to understand the cost of different pricing plans, features, and insights on how to choose the right plan.

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/pricing

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Zoho Books Pricing Guide 2025

Last updated on June 11, 2025

Written by [Saumya Srivastava](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/ssrivastava/)

Writer

Edited by [Parul Sharma](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/parul-sharma/)

Editor

Pricing for Zoho Books

[4.4 (672)](#reviews)

User rating:[

4.4

](#reviews)

Based on (672) reviews

## Overview of Zoho Books pricing

[Zoho Books](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/) is a highly rated accounting software tool featured on the [2025 Capterra Shortlist for accounting](https://www.capterra.com/accounting-software/shortlist/?year=2025). Reviewers highly rate this tool as a comprehensive accounting solution for invoicing, accounting, and payment management capabilities. 

Zoho Books offers various accounting features across five different pricing tiers: Standard, Professional, Premium, Elite, and Ultimate. Each plan provides varying pricing, feature sets, integration, and support resources. We analyzed our extensive database of verified user reviews and interactions to help you understand the key differences between these plans and choose the best one based on your team size and business needs. Let’s compare these plans in detail:

Free

$0.00

* * *

It Includes

-   1 User + 1 Accountant
-   Add Multiple Bank and Credit Card Accounts
-   Automate Payment Reminders
-   Bank Rules & Reconciliation
-   Chart of Accounts & Sub-Accounts
-   Client Portal

Standard

$20.00

Other,Per Month

* * *

It Includes

-   Add Multiple Bank and Credit Card Accounts
-   Automate Payment Reminders
-   Bank Rules & Reconciliation
-   Bulk Updates
-   Chart of Accounts & Sub-Accounts
-   Chat

Professional

$50.00

Other,Per Month

* * *

It Includes

-   Add Multiple Bank and Credit Card Accounts
-   Automate Payment Reminders
-   Automatic Exchange Rates
-   Bank Rules & Reconciliation
-   Bills
-   Bulk Updates

Premium

$70.00

Other,Per Month

* * *

It Includes

-   10 Custom Modules
-   Add Multiple Bank and Credit Card Accounts
-   Automate Payment Reminders
-   Automatic Exchange Rates
-   Bank Rules & Reconciliation
-   Bills

Elite

$150.00

Other,Per Month

* * *

It Includes

-   Dashboard customization
-   Manage warehouses
-   Composite items
-   Track serial numbers
-   Batch tracking
-   Print shipping label

Ultimate

$275.00

Other,Per Month

* * *

It Includes

-   Revenue recognition
-   Add and track KPIs for your business
-   Analyze Zoho Books data along with other data sources
-   Collaboratively create reports with colleagues
-   Embed reports in web sites/applications

The latest pricing information is available on the Zoho Books website.

## Cost breakdown

Zoho Books delivers extensive value and core accounting functionality upfront. It offers a range of pricing tiers designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small to midsize organizations with basic accounting needs to large enterprises managing complex financial systems. 

The evolution of features at each pricing tier enables Zoho Books to support sales processes, purchasing, banking, accounting-level business processes, inventory management, and reporting and tax requirements at different levels. As pricing tiers progress, additional functionalities include internal finance controls, project and timesheet tracking, document management, client and vendor collaboration, analytics, and customization and automation tools. Higher-tier plans also offer broader integration support, along with advanced inventory and analytics features designed to meet the specific needs of larger organizations.

### Starting prices

Zoho Books offers a 14-day free trial and a free plan for accounting and finance teams to try out the tool's capabilities before investing. As your business grows, Zoho Books offers scalable pricing options, from the Standard tier at $20 per month to the enterprise-level Ultimate tier, starting at $275 per month, billed annually. Let’s briefly discuss the plans and their starting prices.

-   **Standard:** $15 per month when billed annually; $20 per month when billed monthly
    
-   **Professional:** $40 per month when billed annually; $50 per month when billed monthly
    
-   **Premium:** $60 per month when billed annually; $70 per month when billed monthly
    
-   **Elite:** $120 per month when billed annually; $150 per month when billed monthly
    
-   **Ultimate:** $240 per month when billed annually; $275 per month when billed monthly
    

### Billing options

Businesses that can budget ahead and treat Zoho Books as an annual expense can take advantage of significant discounts for yearly billing, particularly at the popular Standard and Professional tiers. Here’s how much you can save by paying annually:

-   $60 savings per year at the Standard tier (25% monthly savings)
    
-   $120 savings per year at the Professional tier (20% monthly savings) and Premium tiers (~14.3% monthly savings) 
-   $360 savings per year at the Elite tier (20% monthly savings)
    
-   $420 per year at the Ultimate tier (~12.7% monthly savings)
    

### Feature differentiation

The Zoho Books website offers a detailed breakdown of its features across five different pricing tiers. At a high level, plans differ based on the volume of invoicing and billing or expenses that can be issued and tracked. Beyond these core factors, each tier provides an expanding range of services and support, catering to businesses of different sizes and operational needs.

-   The **Standard** plan provides essential accounting functionality, including quotes and invoicing, a customer portal, online payment support, limited purchasing support, and a wide array of accounting and bookkeeping tools and software integrations.
    
-   The **Professional** plan access adds sales- and payment-focused features, including multi-currency purchasing and invoicing. It also adds vendor management tools. For accountants, it adds recurring journals. Professional access also provides users access to improved inventory tools, reporting capabilities, and back-end collaboration tools. 
-   The **Premium** plan introduces multi-location support, access to a vendor portal, expanded budgeting and internal finance control tools for accountants, and improved reporting capabilities. 
-   **Elite** and **Ultimate** tiers are designed to fully support multi-unit enterprises, with added support for managing warehouses and advanced inventory management tools including batch tracking, shipment tracking, and connection to online sales channels and Shopify stores.
    
-   **Ultimate** expands the analytics functionality of Zoho Books with built-in data visualization capabilities, KPI tracking, and the ability to analyze Zoho Books data alongside other data sources to identify insights and opportunities to improve the business.
    

## What users say about Zoho Books pricing

Our team analyzed 130+ reviews from verified Zoho Books users on our website over the last two years to understand their views about the tool’s pricing and received mixed responses. 

Of those reviews, some users praise the platform for its affordability, highlighting that it offers a wide range of features at a reasonable price. The platform’s value is enhanced when used with other Zoho products. However, some users find it expensive as their business grows or when they need the ability to add additional users. Users especially appreciate the free tier of Zoho Books and the feature-rich accounting solution it provides to solopreneurs, freelancers, and startups. 

Here are some verified review excerpts about Zoho Books to understand what users find valuable and decide whether it could provide value to your business relative to the pricing details provided on this page[\[1\]](#footnotes):

Raksha S.Operations AnalystMarketing and Advertising1-2 years

I liked the following features of Zoho Books: User-friendly interface with quick access to important features, Integrations with Zoho apps and third-party tools, Automated invoicing and payment tracking, Multi-currency support, Budgeting and financial reporting, Mobile app available, Affordable pricing, including a free plan, Strong customer support.

February 2, 2023

Nathan S.Digital Marketing Manager1-2 years

We have been using Zoho for over 5 years and almost swear by it, especially in our line of business. With integration with payment options, we can accept multiple payment options from clients without changing our workflow. Whether used on its own or used with the other suite of Zoho apps, Zoho Books is definitely a recommended tool for anyone starting out and looking for an affordable accounting/CRM solution.

March 26, 2018

Siddesh R.Manufacturing EngineerMechanical or Industrial EngineeringLess than 6 months

Zoho is a good accounting software to know each transaction but its really expensive and hard to use and keep track of.

May 29, 2018

Anthony C.University InternElectrical/Electronic ManufacturingLess than 6 months

In addition, integration with third-party services may be limited compared to other popular accounting software and more economical plans might not include certain sophisticated capabilities like inventory management and budgeting.

May 6, 2023

[Read more Zoho Books reviews here.](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/reviews/)

## Detailed breakdown of Zoho Books pricing plans

### Free plan

**Maximum users:** One user and one accountant

**Ideal for:** Solopreneurs and micro businesses who are just starting out and trying multiple accounting tools to enhance bookkeeping and financial reporting. 

Zoho Books offers a 14-day free trial, after which companies that meet specific revenue limits can access Zoho Books's Free pricing tier. The free plan is ideal for freelancers and small businesses with basic invoicing needs. It allows managing up to 1,000 invoices and 1,000 expenses annually. The plan includes basic product support via email, access to basic reporting and expense tracking, a customer portal, the ability to create and accept online payments, and the ability to set up payment reminders.

**Free plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes)**:**

-   **Invoices and quotes:** Create custom invoices with specific fields and business branding. The feature allows generating quotes and converting them into invoices, with tracking and follow-ups. 
-   **Mileage tracking:** Track mileage using the mobile app, which leverages GPS to accurately record distances traveled for business purposes. The app automatically calculates mileage expenses based on entries and allows categorizing trips for better expense management.
    
-   **Online payments:** Integrate with payment gateways to allow customers to make online payments for availed services. The feature automates payment reconciliation, updates invoice status, and provides real-time notifications for incoming payments.
    
-   **Self-service customer portal:** Allow customers to access and view their invoices online and make payments, using the self-service portal. Customers can also view their payment history and download receipts, update their content information, and communicate with the support team for payment-related queries. 
-   **W-9 and 1099 forms:** Request W-9 forms from vendors, track their submission status, and store them securely within the platform’s cloud storage. The feature also automatically tracks payments to 1099 contractors throughout the year and generates 1099 forms for tax filing. 

_Customer transaction management in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

### Standard plan

**Priced at:** $15 per month (billed annually); $20 per month (billed monthly)

**Ideal for:** Small businesses requiring more advanced features and handling moderate transaction volumes.

The Standard plan, built around the needs of small teams and business owners, is functional and intuitive for small businesses seeking functionality that will support future growth. It builds upon the free plan features and offers advanced features. These include more complex invoicing through progress and retention invoices, the ability to set recurring expenses, improved accounting templates, and bulk account updates. Users also gain access to custom reports and basic tax management tools beyond the ability to generate and manage basic W-9 and 1099 forms.

**Standard plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes):

-   **Progress invoicing:** Invoice customers in increments for ongoing projects rather than billing the entire amount at once. The feature creates a progress invoice by specifying a percentage or a fixed amount of the total project value. As the project progresses in the workflow, users can generate further progress invoices until the full amount is billed. 
-   **Divisional reporting:** Create financial reports using ‘Reporting Tags’, which label various transactions, such as invoices, expenses, and bills. This tagging helps generate reports that provide a financial breakdown for each division or department within the business. 
-   **Retention payments:** Withhold a percentage of an invoice amount until project completion. The feature allows setting a retention percentage automatically calculated from the total project amount and added to the invoice.
    
-   **Transaction period locking:** Set a specific date range for the lock period, such as a month, quarter, or year. Once the period is locked, no transactions within that date range can be added, edited, or deleted. The feature allows users to define which periods they have permission to lock or unlock and maintains an audit trail of all locking and unlocking activities. 
-   **Custom reports:** Create custom reports tailored to your specific business needs. You can generate reports that go beyond the standard, pre-built templates the tool offers. The feature provides a drag-and-drop interface to add or remove data points across the reporting dashboard.
    

_Retention payments in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

### Professional plan

**Priced at:** $40 per month (billed annually); $50 per month (billed monthly)

**Ideal for:** Midsize businesses experiencing growth with complex accounting needs and higher transaction volumes.

The Professional plan is for businesses at the turning point between being a business just getting started and needing extensive support to help sustain and promote growth. At this level, users can track sales and purchase orders, manage vendor bills and payments, project and report on profitability, and integrate inventory management tools. Professional pricing further allows users access to business workflow customization and team collaboration and communication channels.

**Professional plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes)**:**

-   **Sales and purchase orders:** Create detailed sales orders to confirm customer orders, including items, quantities, and prices. Monitor the status of sales orders as they progress from pending to fulfilled. The feature allows for the creation of purchase orders to request goods or services from vendors, specifying items, quantities, and delivery status. Track expenses associated with purchase orders and integrate them with accounting records. 
-   **Multi-currency transactions:** Create and manage transactions in various currencies preferred by customers or vendors. The feature automatically updates exchange rates, ensuring accurate conversions, while users can also manually adjust exchange rates. The tool also creates invoices, expenses, and bills in the selected currency and generates financial reports comparing base and other currencies. 
-   **Project profitability:** Track invoices and expenses related to specific projects to gain insights into budget spending and profitability. The feature allows the creating project reports and dashboards that display key metrics such as revenue, costs, and profit margins. 
-   **Inventory management:** Track and manage the inventory stock levels to balance the demand and supply. The feature allows for categorizing items, setting up units of measurement, and tracking stock levels across multiple warehouses. Users can also set up notifications related to drops in stock levels and status on purchase orders.
    
-   **Collaboration:** Facilitate collaboration among team members via built-in chats, voice and video calls, and screen sharing. The feature allows users to share reports and dashboards and brainstorm on data analysis and decision making.
    

_Project tracking in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

### Premium plan

**Priced at:** $60 per month (billed annually); $70 per month (billed monthly)

**Ideal for:** Growing, multi-unit operations needing enhanced control over finances and operations.

The Premium plan ups the ante over the Professional pricing tier by enhancing inventory management tools, improving the vendor portal, introducing the ability to manage budgets, and overall allowing much more customization to the tools and interfaces to match business requirements.

**Premium plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes):

-   **Asset management:** Manage fixed assets, such as buildings, machinery, and vehicles, by tracking their use and depreciation. The feature allows recording asset details, including purchase date, cost, and depreciation methods, and calculating maintenance expenses over time. 
-   **Budget management:** Create and track budgets for various accounts and periods. The feature allows setting budgets for income, expenses, and specific projects, facilitating comparison between actual expenses and projected budgets. The platform also provides various budget variance reports and visualizations to identify areas of overspending and underspending. 
-   **Cashflow forecasting:** Predict future cash flow based on past data and projected transactions. The tool visually represents anticipated cash inflow and outflow, allowing users to identify potential shortfalls and surpluses. 
-   **Custom domain:** Personalize a web address for your customer portal with a branded domain that is easily recognized by customers and vendors. 
-   **Custom field validation:** Set specific rules and criteria for validating inputs in custom fields. This includes accepting a certain numerical value, a certain range, or a specific text format.
    

_Purchase order generation in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

### Elite plan

**Priced at:** $120 per month (billed annually); $150 per month (billed monthly)

**Ideal for:** Large, multi-location businesses with extensive inventory and complex sales processes.

The Elite plan prepares larger multi-unit businesses to better manage accounting processes for multiple warehouses, track and report on shipments, connect with online sales channels, and integrate with Shopify stores.

**Elite plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes):

-   **Dashboard customization:** Personalize the financial performance dashboard for specific metrics, such as revenue or expenses, related to current business goals. The feature allows adding charts, graphs, and tables to display key data and highlight performance changes. 
-   **Warehouse management:** Track inventory movements across multiple locations and monitor stock levels in each location. The feature supports bin locations and transfer orders for more efficient warehouse management and stock control. 
-   **Online sales channels:** Connect and manage online sales channels within the built-in tool’s dashboard. The feature allows importing sales data, synchronizing inventory levels, and managing orders from the connected channels within Zoho Books. 
-   **Batch tracking:** Group and track items with similar attributes, such as manufacturing date, expiry date, or serial number. This feature is particularly useful for businesses dealing with perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, or electronics, where tracking is required for quality controls and traceability. 

_Inventory management in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

### Ultimate plan

**Priced at:** $240 per month (billed annually) or $275 per month (billed monthly)

**Ideal for:** Enterprise businesses seeking in-depth financial analytics and extensive user collaboration.

The Ultimate plan provides the full experience of other plans to this point, but enhances the user experience with improved data analytics tools, including pre-built data visualization, the ability to add and track KPIs, and project and analyze Zoho Book data alongside other data sources, and access to collaboration tools to create customized reports. 

**Ultimate plan features**[\[2\]](#footnotes):

-   **Revenue recognition:** Automatically recognize business revenue based on predefined payment schedules or project milestones, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and providing an accurate picture of financial performance. 
-   **Data visualization templates:** Use the data visualization templates to strategically represent the financial data in a clear and insightful manner. These templates provide pre-designed charts and graphs that can be customized with goal-specific data, simplifying the identification of trends, patterns, and key performance indicators. The templates cover various aspects of reporting, such as income and expense analysis, cash flow tracking, and sales performance. 
-   **Website/app embeds:** Download the financial reports in PDF or CVS format and embed them into the business website or mobile applications. These reports help in highlighting the business’s financial performance for customers and prospects and build their trust for long-term commitments. 

_Data visualization in Zoho Books (_[_Source_](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/)_)_

## Total cost of ownership

When evaluating Zoho Books for your accounting needs, it’s important to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO), including the upfront costs and any additional one-off or recurring costs. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand all potential expenses:

### Upfront costs

Upfront costs are the initial expenses incurred when purchasing or subscribing to the software, such as licensing, installation, setup, and training. Setup fees typically include customization, data migration, configuration, training, and installation charges.

Zoho Books does not charge any setup or installation fees. You can subscribe to any of their plans directly through their website. Each plan offers a 14-day free trial, allowing you to assess the software before committing.

### Additional costs to consider

While Zoho Books provides a comprehensive set of features within each plan, there are potential additional costs to keep in mind:

-   **Advanced or customized integrations:** Depending on your business needs, you might require additional Zoho applications or third-party integrations, which could involve extra subscription fees.
    
-   **Additional licensing:** In addition to the included users in each plan, extra users can be added at $3 per user per month (billed monthly) or $2.50 per user per month (billed annually).
    
-   **Transaction fees:** Certain payment gateways may incur additional transaction fees. It’s important to review each gateway’s terms to understand associated costs.
    
-   **Premium support:** For enhanced support services, Zoho Books offers a Premium Support plan priced at $49 per month or $490 annually, or 20% of the subscription fee, whichever is higher.
    

#### Services needed to implement or manage the platform

-   **Data migration:** Migrating existing data from other vendors can be complex, especially if customization or integrations between systems are required. The process can be costly and time-consuming, particularly for businesses using legacy software or those with intricate accounting practices. Planning for potential delays and additional expenses is essential to ensure a smooth transition.
    
-   **Integration:** If you’re considering integrating Zoho Books with other Zoho products, exploring bundled solutions may be a cost-effective option. As part of the broader Zoho business suite, Zoho Books works seamlessly with various Zoho applications, and depending on your needs, subscribing to a Zoho bundle could provide additional value.
    

#### Internal resources needed for ongoing platform management

Managing Zoho Books typically doesn’t require dedicated IT staff, but consider:

-   **System administrator:** An internal resource to manage user access, and permissions, and oversee integrations to ensure smooth operation.
    
-   **Financial personnel:** Your accounting or finance team will handle daily operations within the platform.
    

## How to choose the right Zoho Books pricing plan

Choosing the best Zoho Books pricing plan depends on your business goals. Here are some factors to guide your decision:

_Key considerations while choosing the right Zoho Books plan_

-   **Assess your team size.** One of the key differences between Zoho Books pricing tiers is the number of users included without requiring additional licenses. Before choosing a plan, it’s important to determine how many individuals will need to perform accounting and bookkeeping activities in your organization. Additionally, consider how many invoices you need to be able to process and how many bills and expenses you need to track, as these are also key metrics used by Zoho to break up their pricing plans into meaningful tiers.
    
-   **Compare features offered in each plan.** Choosing the right Zoho Books plan depends on the complexity of your accounting needs and how much functionality your business requires. The **Free** plan is best for freelancers and microbusinesses with basic invoicing and expense-tracking needs. The **Standard** plan suits small businesses looking for more structured accounting tools. For growing businesses, the **Professional** plan introduces more advanced financial management capabilities, including purchase order tracking, project profitability insights, and vendor bill management. The **Premium** plan expands on this with greater customization, budgeting, and inventory management, making it a solid fit for mid-sized businesses. Businesses managing multiple locations or warehouses may find the **Elite** plan more suitable, as it offers multi-warehouse accounting, shipment tracking, and integration with online sales platforms. The **Ultimate** plan provides the most comprehensive accounting and reporting tools, with advanced data analytics and KPI tracking for businesses requiring deeper financial insights.
    
-   **Consider your budget.**  Zoho’s Free, Standard, Professional, and Premium plans cater to businesses in their early growth stages, offering affordable, feature-rich solutions to support expanding operations. These plans help businesses manage the challenges of sustained revenue growth while ensuring room for scalability. Choosing a plan that aligns with current revenue and client needs is crucial, especially when considering contact limits for invoicing and payments. The Professional plan is the first tier with unlimited contacts, making it a key option for businesses with growing client bases. The Premium plan offers an affordable solution for growing mid-sized companies, while Elite and Ultimate provide advanced accounting and full inventory management for businesses requiring enterprise-level functionality.
    

## How to maximize the value of your Zoho Books subscription

Maximizing the value of your Zoho Books subscription involves leveraging all the features available to enhance your business’s operational efficiency and workflows. Here are some strategies to get the most out of your Zoho Books subscription:

_Ways to maximize the value of your Zoho Books subscriptions_

### Utilize all features

When considering which pricing plan for Zoho Books is right for your operation, it’s vital that you not only understand the breadth and scope of your accounting needs but you also do a deep dive on the company’s website to fully understand how features and functions are included at each price point. 

If you’re a freelancer, it’s extremely likely that the free plan will cover most of your accounting needs. If you’re on the cusp in terms of invoice or transaction volumes, it will be better to err on the side of going up a tier and having access to more tools that will support sustained growth over time and future needs to avoid the disruption of additional platform upgrades.

### Leverage customer support and learning resources 

-   Use the platform’s knowledge base, product demos, and tutorial videos to learn how to implement the tool effectively into the existing business operation. You can also watch recorded webinars to gain a deeper understanding of specific features and capabilities. 
-   Explore the customer forum to stay informed about new features and best practices shared by other business owners and industry experts.
    
-   Leverage the migration assistant and supporting documents to efficiently transfer data from the old accounting system to Zoho Books with reduced errors. 

### Tips for getting the most out of your plan

-   Review your usage metrics regularly to identify areas where costs can be optimized. If you notice underused services, consider downgrading or shifting resources to high-impact areas.
    
-   Zoho Books frequently updates its platform with new capabilities. Subscribe to product updates and attend webinars or events to stay informed and integrate new tools that can enhance your communication strategy.
    
-   Connect Zoho Books with CRMs, customer service platforms, or marketing automation tools to streamline your communication workflows and create a unified customer experience.
    

## Is it worth paying for Zoho Books?

Whether Zoho Books is worth investing in depends on your needs and budget. Here's a breakdown to help you decide.

### Value for money

Reviewers on Capterra have rated Zoho Books’ Value for Money at 4.4 out of 5 stars over the last two years. Zoho Books is highly recommended by users to small businesses due to its affordability and robust features. It helps track finances and manage projects effectively. However, some small businesses do find the pricing to be out of reach, especially nonprofits and startups with limited budgets. While it’s ranked highly for the value it brings to the table, users have mixed feelings about Zoho Books' pricing transparency. Some report significant price increases after the first year, causing dissatisfaction. Issues with recurring invoices not reflecting new pricing also lead to service problems and customer dissatisfaction, negatively impacting the overall value perception.

Mohamed E.managerAccounting6-12 months

The main benefit is that it offers a range of plans at reasonable prices to accommodate diverse business needs.

August 4, 2024

Sam S.Director, Learning Technology and DevelopmentHealth, Wellness and Fitness6-12 months

The cost is great and, for the features, it's really all I needed to do invoicing, keep track of expenses, and also access a quick Dashboard feature that gives me an idea about monetary performance.

November 27, 2018

Cassi H.Operations & Finance DirectorHealth, Wellness and Fitness6-12 months

There's no real good workflow capabilities and no real way to automate processes that the user imports over and over again. If you're just starting out and don't have many sales (especially online sales) or a big budget, this is great accounting software for the value.

December 18, 2018

John D.Small Business Owner2+ years

The downside is that it's price for the premium plan costs almost the same as upgrading to their Zoho One OS for Business which give you access to this and 40 other apps they offer, many of which you may not need.

July 10, 2018

[Read more Zoho Books reviews here.](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/reviews/)

### Free plan features

The Free tier sets the foundation for all of the other plans and is a fairly robust offering of features and functions. It provides access for one user and one accountant, with a limit of up to 1,000 invoices per year. Users can set recurring invoices and payment reminders, customize invoice templates, and track up to 1,000 expense line items. 

The free tier also allows adding multiple bank and credit card accounts, importing bank and card statements, and tracking inventory. Reporting features include dashboard and report access, with the ability to export or print reports for external sharing. Users can also access tax features such as W-9 management, 1099 contractor tracking, and 1099 form preparation. The free plan also enables integration with third-party applications, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), payroll, and business intelligence tools. 

### When to upgrade

You may need to upgrade from a free Zoho Books plan to a paid one if:

-   You need to create more invoices than 1,000 invoices and track more than 1,000 bills and expense line items. 
-   You need more team members to access the platform
    
-   You need priority support from the vendor 

### Customer support options

Zoho Books is extremely generous with access to support and resources. All users have access to a knowledge base and community forums. In addition: 

-   The Free plan includes email support available Monday through Friday, with agents responding during an eight-hour daily window. Users can expect a maximum response time of 24 hours.
    
-   The paid plans (Standard, Professional, Premium, Elite, and Ultimate) include email, chat, and toll-free phone support available Monday through Friday during an eight-hour daily window. Users can expect a maximum response time of eight hours and also gain access to remote assistance tools for additional support.
    
-   Premium support plans are available for $49 per month, $490 per year, or 20% of the subscription fee, whichever is higher. The plan provides 24-hour access to support Monday through Friday, with additional support available through remote assistance, product onboarding, and platform configuration assistance, all with a maximum response time of three hours.
    

## Is Zoho Books right for you?

### Assessing your requirements

Now that we’ve broken down the full pricing structure of Zoho Books and what it offers to customers, we need to explore whether it’s a good fit against your business requirements and whether its competitors might be a better fit overall. Here are some key factors to consider and discuss with Zoho’s sales team when considering whether to adopt Zoho Books:

-   **Feature set:** Check if Zoho Books’ Free plan or any of its paid subscription plans provide the features and functionality necessary to meet your accounting needs. If yes, assess the volume of invoicing and expense tracking you anticipate on an annual basis. Also, check if you can afford the ideal (selected plan) at current revenue levels to provide sufficient access to the platform for the number of individuals you have carrying out accounting functions.
    
-   **Scalability:** Zoho Books’s paid pricing tiers should support your current as well as anticipated future accounting needs resulting from projected growth. As your business grows and your number of clients increases, it should be able to seamlessly adapt to changing business needs without the need to frequently transition between plans.
    
-   **Customer support and training:** Assess if the platform is easy for your team to adapt to their existing workflow and if your team has the skills necessary to minimize the learning curve associated with learning the platform. Look for answers to questions such as: Does Zoho Books’s limited customer service access model outside of its Premium service plan meet your needs as a business owner, or does the selected plan’s customer service fall within your budget?
    

### Alternatives to Zoho Books

**Zoho Books** users have given the accounting software a **value-for-money rating of 4.4 out of 5** stars on Capterra. But how does the tool compare to competitors in the accounting management software space in terms of features and pricing?

Some of the Zoho Books competitors score better in terms of price points against the offering. **QuickBooks Enterprise,** for example, scores a 4.3 value-for-money rating. Its pricing starts at $2,210 per year; billed annually for the first year. **Xero** has also received a rating of 4.3 and its pricing ranges between $20 to $80 per month. **Odoo** follows with a value-for-money rating of 4.2 and pricing ranging between $31.10 to $46.70 per user, per month when billed annually

**Sage Intacct** has received a value-for-money rating of 4 out of 5, and its pricing is available upon request from the vendor. **NetSuite** has a value-for-money rating of 3.8, and its pricing is also available upon request. 

-   **QuickBooks Enterprise** users recognize it as a comprehensive accounting solution with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 for its highly customizable and detailed reporting such as income statements and balance sheets. 
-   **Xero** users rate its receipt management system 4.9 out of 5. It allows them to capture receipts using the mobile app or upload them directly into the system using the device camera. Xero securely stores receipts in the cloud storage, automatically extracting key data and adding them to the accounting books. These receipts can be linked to bank transactions, categorized, and used for reporting and analysis. 
-   **Odoo** users rate its mobile access 4.3 out of 5, owing to the user-friendly interface and access to all the feature offerings. 
-   **NetSuite’s** income and balance sheet feature is rated 4.6 out of 5. The tool helps generate customizable reports, such as profit and loss statements and balance sheets, to track revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equity. Users can track finances across multiple business entities and accounting periods. 
-   **Sage Intacct’s** users rate its general ledger feature as 4.3 out of 5. The tool allows users to track financial data across various departments, locations, and projects. They can maintain separate books for different purposes, such as tax reporting, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), or international financial reporting standards (IFRS).
    

Check out the top [Zoho Books alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/alternatives/), comparable in terms of core features, pricing, and usability.

### Cost comparison: Zoho Books vs. popular alternatives

[4.4 (672)](https://www.capterra.com/p/163115/Zoho-Books/#reviews)

* * *

Starting Price

$20.00

Other

, Per Month

* * *

[4.4 (3290)](https://www.capterra.com/p/120109/Xero/#reviews)

* * *

Starting Price

$25.00

Flat Rate

, Per Month

* * *

[4.2 (1304)](https://www.capterra.com/p/135618/Odoo/#reviews)

* * *

Starting Price

$31.10

Per User

, Per Month

* * *

[4.2 (2035)](https://www.capterra.com/p/135757/NetSuite/#reviews)

* * *

Starting Price

Contact vendor

* * *

[4.3 (684)](https://www.capterra.com/p/76/Intacct/#reviews)

* * *

Starting Price

Contact vendor

* * *

### Making the final decision

When finalizing your decision to invest in Zoho Books, you must weigh its strengths, user ratings, and alignment with your business needs. Here's a clearer breakdown:

The tool's ease-of-use rating is 4.4 out of 5, making it a user-friendly choice for teams with varying skills and knowledge. Additionally, it has received a functionality rating of 4.4 and an overall rating of 4.5. Reviewers on Capterra highly rate its invoice creation (4.7), income and balance sheet (4.3), and financial reporting (4.2) features. 

Zoho Books offers six pricing tiers, starting with feature-rich free plan available to small businesses that meet regionally set gross revenue limits. Beyond the free tier, Zoho Books is offered at the following cost points:

-   **Standard:** $15 per month (billed annually); $20 per month (billed monthly)
    
-   **Professional:** $40 per month (billed annually); $50 per month (billed monthly)
    
-   **Premium:** $60 per month (billed annually); $70 per month (billed monthly)
    
-   **Elite:** $120 per month (billed annually); $150 per month (billed monthly)
    
-   **Ultimate:** $240 per month (billed annually); $275 per month (billed monthly)
    

Lauded for its flexible invoicing functionality and the sheer depth of accounting-focused features, Zoho Books is a powerful accounting system, providing small  and midsize companies with a standalone accounting system that can scale with their growth. At higher subscription prices, the tool transforms into a platform capable of supporting enterprise-level operations with complex inventory and accounting needs.

Once you’ve performed the necessary groundwork internally to determine your accounting needs in terms of invoicing and expense tracking, and identified additional business process gaps that might exist, reach out to Zoho’s sales team to arrange your 14-day trial and find the plan that best meets your business accounting requirements.

## FAQs

Does Zoho Books offer any discounts?

Users willing to commit to an annual subscription paid upfront can receive between a 12.7% and 25% discount on the paid plans offered by Zoho Books. The Free pricing tier is only for small businesses with a gross revenue that falls under a regionally-specific maximum.

What is the difference between Zoho Expense and Zoho Books?

Zoho Books is an accounting software designed to support small businesses with their financial processes, including expense tracking. However, Zoho Expense is a dedicated application built for managing and tracking business expenses. It integrates with Zoho Books, enhancing and expanding the platform’s expense management capabilities for more detailed tracking, reporting, and automation.

How many users can use Zoho Books?

The number of users allowed to use and manage Zoho Books is dependent on the user's subscription tier. The **Free** plan allows one user and one guest accountant, the **Standard** plan allows up to three unique users, the **Professional** plan allows up to five users, the **Premium** and **Elite** plans allow up to 10 users across three locations, and the **Ultimate** plan allows up to 15 users across eight locations.

Does Zoho Books include invoicing?

Yes, invoicing is included at different levels depending on the pricing tier a user is subscribed to. The **Free** plan allows up to 1,000 invoices per year, the **Standard** plan allows up to 5,000 invoices per year, the **Professional** plan allows up to 10,000 invoices per year, the **Premium** plan allows up to 25,000 invoices per year, and the **Elite** and **Ultimate** plans allow up to 100,000 invoices per year.

#### Methodology

1.  Review excerpts are passages extracted from longer reviews written by verified reviewers. We obtain these excerpts by applying an algorithm that considers factors including, but not limited to, length, topic coverage, and thematic relevance. Excerpts are evaluated for positive or negative sentiment and receive a sentiment score. Excerpts represent user opinion and do not represent the views of, nor constitute, an endorsement by Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are not edited for clarity or grammar.
    
2.  Our research team identified these features from vendor websites (as of Feb. 17, 2025) based on their analysis of what users find valuable or expect from accounting software. This list is not exhaustive. For additional features, refer to the vendor’s website.
    

[Saumya Srivastava](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/ssrivastava/)

Saumya Srivastava is a writer at Capterra. She provides insights to help small and midsize businesses identify the right software for their needs by analyzing over 550,000 Capterra user reviews and nearly 48,000 interactions between Capterra software advisors and buyers. Prior to Capterra, Saumya wrote content related to educational and advertising domains.

[Parul Sharma](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/parul-sharma/)

Parul Sharma is a content editor at Capterra with expertise in curating content for various niches, including SaaS, digital marketing, and search engine optimization. With over half a decade of experience in content writing and editing, Parul has the expertise to simplify complex terms into engaging, valuable content for targeted audiences. She completed her graduation and post-graduation in English literature from Delhi University and was awarded the Dr. Asha Sahni Memorial Award for being the...

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Table of Contents

-   [Overview of Zoho Books pricing](#overview-of-zoho-books-pricing)
-   [Cost breakdown](#cost-breakdown)
-   [What users say about Zoho Books pricing](#what-users-say-about-zoho-books-pricing)
-   [Detailed breakdown of Zoho Books pricing plans](#detailed-breakdown-of-zoho-books-pricing-plans)
-   [Total cost of ownership](#total-cost-of-ownership)
-   [How to choose the right Zoho Books pricing plan](#how-to-choose-the-right-zoho-books-pricing-plan)
-   [How to maximize the value of your Zoho Books subscription](#how-to-maximize-the-value-of-your-zoho-books-subscription)
-   [Is it worth paying for Zoho Books?](#is-it-worth-paying-for-zoho-books)
-   [Is Zoho Books right for you?](#is-zoho-books-right-for-you)
-   [FAQs](#faqs)