Zoho Books review (2026): pricing, fees and who it's for

Full accounting software from Zoho with a free plan for businesses under $50K revenue.

By the OwnerUnlocked team · Facts checked Oct 4, 2026 · How we rate · Partner links

8.8/10

OwnerUnlocked score

Best for: New low-budget businesses wanting full accounting free

Cost for a new business 35%10.0

free plan

Owner ratings 30%9.5

4.7/5 average across public ratings

Spanish and support 20%5.0

Not confirmed

Openness 15%10.0

published prices, free plan or trial, app

Starting priceFree plan

Free plan or trialFree plan

SpanishNot confirmed

SupportEmail (Free); phone, chat on paid plans; M-F 9am-9pm ET

Mobile appYes

Public rating4.7/5 · Google Play (30,717)

Good fit if

New low-budget businesses wanting full accounting free

Pick something else if

You need payroll built in; Zoho Payroll is a separate $39/month app.

What we like

Free plan allows 1,000 invoices per year plus mileage tracking.
Free plan includes 50 receipt autoscans per month.
Interface and invoices can be set to Spanish.
Zoho Payments: cards 2.9% + 30¢, ACH 0.8% capped at $5.

Watch out for

Free plan lacks automatic bank feeds; they start at Standard ($15-$20/month).
Free plan only applies while yearly revenue stays under $50,000.
Free plan support is email only; phone and chat start at Standard.

Zoho Books pricing

Plan	Price	Notes
Free	$0/mo	For revenue under $50K/yr; 1 user + 1 accountant
Standard	$20/mo	$15/mo billed yearly; bank feeds, sales tax, 3 users
Professional	$50/mo	$40/mo billed yearly; inventory, projects, 5 users
Premium	$70/mo	$60/mo billed yearly; budgets, cash flow forecast, 10 users

Prices as published on Oct 4, 2026. Confirm on their site; promotions change often.

The details

Price	$0 (Free); paid from $15/mo billed yearly
Free plan	Revenue under $50K/yr; 1,000 invoices/yr; 1 user + 1 accountant
Users	Free: 1 + accountant; Standard: 3
Invoicing	Yes; 1,000/yr on Free, 5,000/yr on Standard
Bank connection	Standard and up; manual reconciliation on Free
Receipt capture	50 autoscans/mo Free; 200/mo Standard
Mileage tracking	Yes, all plans
Payroll add-on	Zoho Payroll: $39/mo + $6/employee (separate app)
Sales tax	Standard and up
Time tracking	Professional and up
Inventory	Professional and up
Accountant access	Yes, all plans (1 accountant on Free)
1099 contractors	Track 1099s on Free; e-file on Standard and up
Online payment fees	Cards 2.9% + 30¢; ACH 0.8% (max $5)

Before you sign up

You'll need

Company name, email address and phone number
Card only when you choose a paid plan
SSN or EIN and bank account to accept online payments

Do this first: Open your business bank account first, then connect it so transactions flow in automatically.

See where this step fits in your startup checklist →

Free option first: Very small and simple? Wave and Zoho Books have free plans, and a spreadsheet can carry you through the first months.

What users say in public ratings

4.8/5

App Store · 5,204 ratings

4.7/5

Google Play · 30,717 ratings

Seen on Oct 4, 2026. App store ratings mostly reflect the app; Trustpilot leans toward billing and support stories.

Zoho Books alternatives

9.4/10QuickBooks OnlineBusinesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks · Free plan Zoho Books vs QuickBooks Online
7.9/10FreshBooksSolo service providers who bill clients by invoice · From $23/mo Zoho Books vs FreshBooks
7.4/10WaveSolo owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping · Free plan Zoho Books vs Wave
6.6/10XeroSmall teams that want unlimited users at one price · From $27/mo Zoho Books vs Xero

Compare all side by side

Questions

How much does Zoho Books cost?

Free: $0/mo; Standard: $20/mo; Professional: $50/mo; Premium: $70/mo. Free trial: 14 days.

Does Zoho Books have a free plan?

Yes. Free costs $0/mo.

Does Zoho Books offer help in Spanish?

We couldn't confirm Spanish support. Ask them before you sign up.

What do I need to sign up for Zoho Books?

Company name, email address and phone number; Card only when you choose a paid plan; SSN or EIN and bank account to accept online payments.

Is Zoho Books good for a new business?

It fits new low-budget businesses wanting full accounting free. Pick something else if you need payroll built in; Zoho Payroll is a separate $39/month app.

What are the alternatives to Zoho Books?

QuickBooks Online (Businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks); FreshBooks (Solo service providers who bill clients by invoice); Wave (Solo owners who want free invoicing and bookkeeping); Xero (Small teams that want unlimited users at one price).

Sources

Checked Oct 4, 2026. Something out of date? Tell us. Our score is calculated from public facts; partners can't pay for a better one.