Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: Which is Better?

Accounting software is one of the most important resources for a small business owner or freelancers. Most of all it helps keep your finances organized for tax reasons but it also helps manage your expenses, invoices, and cashflow.

While there are literally dozens of cloud-based and other online accounting tools out there, probably the two tools that have the most value in the marketplace are Zoho Books and QuickBooks. Both are powerful accounting platforms meant to simplify the management of your business finances. Each accounting solution is a good product but also has distinguished advantages and limitations based on slightly different sets of users.

In this complete comparison, we will look at Zoho Books vs QuickBooks for crucial factors such as features, price, ease of use, integrations, customer support, and more. No matter if you are a solopreneur in search of an easier solution or an evolving business needing richer tools, you will know by the end of this comparison which accounting software is the better option.

Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: Quick Comparison

Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: Key Features

User interface and ease of use

 Zoho Books:

• Clean, modern dashboard.
• Beginner-friendly layout.
• In-app guides for speedy onboarding.

Zoho Books has an intuitive user interface that’s designed for non-accountants. You don’t have to be a financial expert to figure out how to send invoices, log expenses, or generate reports.

 QuickBooks:

• Feature-packed, but slightly more complex.
• Time to learn for beginners.
• Helpful tutorials, accountant-friendly layout.

QuickBooks has all the features you’d want, but on the flip side, the accounting platform does have a larger learning curve than other programs. Once you get used to it the depth and functionality is quite impressive.

Invoicing & Billing

Zoho Books

• Custom invoice templates
• Automated payment reminders
• Multi-Currency and multilingual
• Recurring invoices and client portal

QuickBooks:

• Professional invoice designs
• Recurring billing
• Connects to many payments’ processors
• Sales tracking, tax included billing

Both accounting programs have the basic invoice features small businesses need but Zoho Books gives small businesses additional customization and automation options with clients in other countries.

Expense Tracking & Reconciliation

Zoho Books:

• Automated categorization of expenses categorical, and attachment of receipts.
• Bank feeds and reconciliation.
• Upload receipts from your phone while on the go.
• Recurring expense automation.

QuickBooks:

• Excellent expense tracking system.
• Smart matching receipts.
• Bank sync and rule-based expense categorization.
• Mileage tracking for business.

QuickBooks has a slight edge here with a more mature system that is accounting friendly However, Zoho Books does a great job for small teams who don’t need all the bells and whistles.

Time & Project Management

Zoho Books:

• Time tracking capabilities.
• Assign billable hours to projects.
• Project profitability reports.
• Best for service-based businesses.

QuickBooks:

• Project tracking tools.
• Integration with QuickBooks Time.
• Profitability overview.

If you bill your clients hourly or have multiple projects, Zoho Books is easier to use without needing third-party apps.

Reports & Analytics

Zoho Books:

• Customizable financial reports.
• Schedule report delivery automatically.
• Dashboards for cash flow and receivables.

QuickBooks:

• 50+ customizable reports.
• Sales, profit and loss, tax summaries.
• Dashboard with real-time insights.
• Export features that are accounting-friendly.

In terms of advanced reporting, QuickBooks wins. If financial analysis is critical to your business, QuickBooks’s reporting

Integrations & Ecosystem

Zoho Books:

• Integrations with Zoho CRM, Inventory, and Projects with no hassle.
• Select Apps integrated with 3rd party Apps (Stripe, PayPal, Slack).
• Good for companies that have already built their software stack with Zoho.

QuickBooks:

• Hundreds of integrations (Shopify, Gusto, HubSpot, Square, etc.).
• Large developer community.
• Accountant access is built-in and add-ons are available.

QuickBooks is a part of a large software ecosystem with expansive 3rd party compatibility. The focus on flexibility probably means it wins in this area.

Mobile App Experience

Zoho Books:

• High ratings on iOS & Android.
• Full accounting functionality (invoicing, tracking, reports).
• Real-time sync with web version.

QuickBooks:

• Excellent receipt capture and expense logging.
• Send invoices and track sales on the go.
• Slightly more advanced features require desktop.

Customer Support & Community

Zoho Books:

• Phone, email, and chat support.
• Large knowledge base and user community.
• Responsive even on lower-tier plans.

QuickBooks:

• 24/7 support (on select plans).
• Access to QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
• Large and active U.S. accounting community.

Pricing & Value for Money

Zoho Books:

• Free plan for low-revenue businesses.
• Paid plans start around $15/month.
• Offers automation and multi-user access at low cost.

QuickBooks:

• Entry-level starts at around $30/month.
• Offers more features, but at a premium.
• Advanced plans offer inventory, payroll, and custom reporting.

Zoho Books vs QuickBooks: Pros and Cons

Best Fit: When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Zoho Books if:

• You’re a freelancer, startup, or small team.
• You use or plan to use other Zoho products.
• You want a budget-friendly, easy-to-use accounting tool.

Choose QuickBooks if:

• You need complex accounting, payroll, or inventory.
• Your accountant recommends it.
• You’re scaling and need advanced reporting or team collaboration.

Real User Feedback

What Zoho Books Users Say:

• We have saved time and money using Zoho Books. Easy to use and just what our small agency needs.
• The Zoho ecosystem is incredible. Everything works together.

What QuickBooks Users Say:

• QuickBooks is like a full accounting department in one tool.
• Great for working with our accountant. It takes time to learn, but it’s worth it.

Final Thoughts: Zoho Books vs QuickBooks

The selection of accounting software for your company’s needs can be a vital factor, and the answer is seldom straightforward. Both Zoho Books and QuickBooks stand out as credible, cloud-based accounting platforms. Their intent is to help you complete a lot of financial-related tasks easily, to stay compliant with government regulations and taxes, and provide you with insights and data that will help you make informed choices that can fuel your business’ growth.

In general terms, while both these software products have a lot of similarities, the value propositions of the two products are generally better suited to certain business types, size of businesses and business budgets.

Why Zoho Books Might Be the Best Fit for You

With features like project management, auto invoicing, mobile receipt uploads, multi-currency billing, and an abundance of others, Zoho Books is designed perfectly for smaller teams or organizations looking for an accounting solution that’s simple yet smart, without over-complicating the process.

• Zoho Books is suitable for any scenario with an emphasis strong on ease of use, low-cost pricing and the ability to leverage the Zoho ecosystem effectively.
• Freelancers, consultants, and solopreneurs who are looking for a powerful bookkeeping software solution on a budget.
• Startups and small enterprises that need automation at a lower price point.
• Teams who are currently using Zoho CRM, Zoho Inventory or Zoho Projects and want to keep their financial workflows with minimal ‘friction’.

They even have a free plan for companies that have little revenue, which is a nice option to have. Zoho’s continuing popularity, in my opinion, is well documented – their accounting software is smart, easy to use, cost-effective, and continuously features new functionality and tax regulations for various countries.

If you want a clean, simple, and inexpensive accounting tool that takes the complexity out of everyday accounting tasks, Zoho Books is an excellent option.

Why QuickBooks May be the Better Value

QuickBooks is a robustly-structured, widely-used accounting software that is supported by accountants, finance consultants, and growing businesses. QuickBooks has depth when it comes to financial reporting, payroll integration, and even inventory management, making it especially suitable for:

• Established or growing businesses that need detailed insights into cash flow, profitability, and expenses.
• Teams that work with accountants who prefer QuickBooks Online for its collaboration tools.
• Businesses that plan to scale and that will benefit from using advanced modules like QuickBooks Payroll, Time tracking, or Sales Tax Automation.

QuickBooks offers a robust suite of tools for businesses that are looking for more than basic invoicing and expense tracking. While QuickBooks is more expensive than Zoho Books, that investment is purely supported for businesses using granular data, needing integration to hundreds of third-party applications, or needing regional payroll compliance in the U.S.

If your business will require complex accounting, or you are looking at growing a scalable finance process for the future, QuickBooks is likely the better option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do Zoho Books and QuickBooks Cross-compare?

Zoho Books is simply viewed as a manner of simplicity and convenience while still giving options that are really cheap. With Zoho well integrated with other Zoho applications like CRM, Inventory, and Projects, we can say Zoho Books is good for freelancers, solopreneurs, and very small businesses.

QuickBooks, then, is a more robust software and is more widely accepted, and with newer and better features to offer in finance like payroll, inventory, and built-in reporting so is a better choice for growing businesses and professional accountants.

What will be the best accounting software for small businesses?

Both are excellent accounting software; the better one depends really on your needs.

For a user-friendly and cost-effective system, and especially if you use other Zoho applications, it is quite easy to say that Zoho without doubt is the best software for your small business.

If you want something advanced-with payroll integration and inventory, or just because your accountant prefers QuickBooks-there are good reasons to go for QuickBooks.

Do accountants favor Zoho or QuickBooks?

QuickBooks is probably the most favored accounting software among accountants (especially in the U.S.) because of its extensive usage, accountant tools, and file-sharing method. However, Zoho is growing in popularity because of its cheap price and ease of use. Zoho is gaining traction among startups and international users.

Can I access QuickBooks on a mobile device?

Yes, QuickBooks has a well-rated mobile app for sending invoices, capturing receipts, and tracking your vehicle mileage. Not all of the more complicated features are available by default on mobile or may be included on a certain plan.

Which accounting software is more economical?

On the whole, Zoho Books is more economical than QuickBooks. Zoho Books plans start lower than QuickBooks and even offers a free version for smaller businesses. As you scale or improve features such as payroll or add multi-users, QuickBooks usually becomes more expensive.