Zoho Books
Affordable, scalable cloud accounting with unlimited billable clients even on free plans
Zoho Books is a cost-effective cloud accounting solution designed for startups, sole proprietors, and small businesses. It offers invoicing, expense tracking, inventory management, and financial reporting. The platform places no limit on billable clients regardless of plan tier, and even the free plan allows 1,000 invoices annually. Zoho Books integrates with the broader Zoho suite of business applications.
| Pricing from | Free; paid plans from $15/month |
| Best for | Startups, sole proprietors, or businesses working with independent contractors |
| Website | www.zoho.com/books |
Company facts
| Social profiles | LinkedIn, X, Instagram, YouTube |
Facilities and features
- Published pricing
- Free trial
- Free plan
- Self-serve sign-up
- API
- Integrations
What stands out
The product allows sole traders to file SA100 returns with HMRC directly.
“Whether you are a sole trader, landlord, or a limited company director, you can now file SA100 return with HMRC from Zoho Books.”Zoho Books, own website
Zoho Books manages foreign transactions with automatic or manual exchange rates.
“Manage foreign transactions with our multi-currency feature. Apply exchange rates automatically or manually.”Zoho Books, own website
Worth knowing
Corporation Tax filing is an add-on and project management is limited on lower tiers.
“CT600 & Final Accounts Filing (Available as an add-on)”Zoho Books, own website
Strengths and trade-offs
- Genuinely free plan with no restrictions on billable clients, ideal for bootstrapped startups
- Seamless integration with other Zoho applications for CRM, HR, and inventory management
- Customer support quality is inconsistent across different regions
- User interface can feel cluttered with too many features in the free tier
Appears in
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#1 in Best financial reporting software
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 18; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 20.
“Get actionable insights on your cash flow, taxes, profit and loss, and sales on demand.”Zoho Books, own website
#1 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 18; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 20.
“Get actionable insights on your cash flow, taxes, profit and loss, and sales on demand.”Zoho Books, own website
“All-in-one platform for practice management, bookkeeping, tax & compliance, built to streamline workflows, strengthen collaboration, and help your practice grow.”Zoho Books, own website
#2 in Financial reporting software for small businesses
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 18; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 20.
“Reports Get actionable insights on your cash flow, taxes, profit and loss, and sales on demand.”Zoho Books, own website
“Free Plan Free accounting solution for small and micro-businesses”Zoho Books, own website
Alternatives to Zoho Books
| Nomi Cloud accounting software for accountants & bookkeepers | #2 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 96.0 |
| Synder Accounting automation software for retail, ecommerce and SaaS | #3 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 94.0 |
 Spotlight ReportingReporting, forecasting, consolidation & ESG all in one place | #4 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 92.0 |
 CasewareThe first AI that understands the engagement | #5 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 88.0 |
 CrediwireBetter Financial Experiences via the connected Platform for Financial Data | #6 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 86.0 |
 IRISSmarter solutions for the work that has to work | #7 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms | 84.0 |
Questions about Zoho Books
How much does Zoho Books cost?
Lister lists Zoho Books's pricing as: Free; paid plans from $15/month.
Is Zoho Books free?
Yes. Its pricing reads: Free; paid plans from $15/month.
Who is Zoho Books best for?
Zoho Books is best for startups, sole proprietors, or businesses working with independent contractors.
Where does Zoho Books rank?
Zoho Books is ranked #1 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms (Lister Score 98.0), #1 in Best financial reporting software (Lister Score 98.0), #2 in Financial reporting software for small businesses (Lister Score 98.0) and #4 in Top 10 Accounting Software (Lister Score 87.5).
What are the best alternatives to Zoho Books?
The closest alternatives on Lister are Nomi (#2 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms), Synder (#3 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms) and Spotlight Reporting (#4 in Financial reporting software for accounting firms).
Is this your company?
Claim Zoho Books to suggest corrections to its listing (pricing, features, details) or ask about an enhanced profile. We review every claim before anything changes.