Zoho Books vs. QuickBooks: Features Comparison, Pros, Cons
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Zoho Books is better for:
QuickBooks is better for:
Zoho Books pros and cons at a glance
Pros
Free plan for businesses making less than $50,000 annually.
Suite of in-house solutions for CRM, social media marketing, HR, etc.
Workflow automations in Professional plan and up.
Cons
Fewer third-party integrations than competitors.
Poor customer support, according to user reviews.
QuickBooks pros and cons at a glance
Pros
Familiarity among accountants.
More than 750 app integrations, including live, in-house bookkeeping.
Variety of in-depth reports in all plans.
Cons
More expensive than many competitors.
Poor customer support, according to user reviews.
Zoho Books vs. QuickBooks: Head-to-head comparison
| Zoho Books | QuickBooks Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Price:
|
|
| Key features | Has robust reporting tools, but offers fewer reports than QuickBooks. Has customizable invoicing features, advanced inventory control in higher tier plans and a capable mobile app. | Has robust reporting tools and report customization options. Invoicing for an unlimited amount of clients. Inventory tracking in higher tier plans, plus a capable mobile app. |
| Ease of use | Includes tools that help automate the reconciliation process, along with a global search function. Auto-categorizes transactions for you and lets you set up your own bank rules. Customizable dashboard available in Elite and Ultimate plans. | Includes tools that help automate the reconciliation process, along with a global search function and customizable dashboard. However, there is a learning curve. |
| Scalability | Highest-tier plan includes 15 users (additional users can be added for a fee). Typically serves businesses with fewer than 100 employees. | Can support larger small businesses with dozens of employees. Highest-tier plan includes 25 users. |
| Ease of sharing with accountants | Includes audit trails and easy accountant access. Less popular than QuickBooks Online. | Includes audit trails and easy accountant access. Has millions of users, so your accountant will likely be familiar with it. |
| Integrations | Integrates with fewer than 50 third-party apps. Limited choices for point-of-sale integrations. | Integrates with more than 750 apps and offers live, in-house bookkeeping add-on. |
| Customer support | Email support in free plan. Phone and live chat support from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on weekdays in paid plans. | All plans include 24/7 live chat support. Phone support is available 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST Saturday and Sunday. |
| Advanced features | Includes project tracking tools in higher-tier plans, along with reporting tags. Lacks industry-specific reports. Users with multiple businesses must pay for separate subscriptions. | Includes project tracking tools in the Plus plan. Limited transaction tracking tags. Lacks industry-specific reports. Users with multiple businesses must pay for separate subscriptions. |
Where Zoho Books stands out
In-house apps
Price point
Where QuickBooks stands out
Ubiquity in small-business accounting
Advanced reporting
Zoho Books and QuickBooks alternatives
Starting at $20/monthAdditional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80. | Starting at $21/monthAdditional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom. |
Promotion 50% offfor 3 months. | Promotion 90% offfor 3 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. |
Article sources
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews accounting software products before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Information is gathered on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy.
NerdWallet’s accounting software ratings favor products that are easy to use, reasonably priced, have a robust feature set and can grow with your business. The best accounting software received top marks when evaluated across 10 categories and more than 30 subcategories. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses
| Product | Starting at | Promotion | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Xero Nerdwallet Rating on Xero's website | $20/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80. | 50% off for 3 months. | on Xero's website |
 QuickBooks Online Nerdwallet Rating on QuickBooks' website | $38/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275. | 50% for first three months or free 30-day trial. | on QuickBooks' website |
 FreshBooks Nerdwallet Rating on FreshBooks' website | $21/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom. | 90% off for 3 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee. | on FreshBooks' website |
 Zoho Books Nerdwallet Rating on Zoho Books' website | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | on Zoho Books' website |
