Zoho Books vs. Quickbooks

Managing finances is a crucial part of every business’s operations. The right software for the task can make a huge difference, not only in streamlining your business processes but also in keeping your overheads down.

Two of the most popular current solutions are Zoho Books and Quickbooks Online. If you’re wondering which of these two options is right for your business, read on for a detailed comparison.

Zoho Books vs. Quickbooks: The Basics

Zoho Books and Quickbooks are both online accounting solutions. Zoho Books is one of the many highly intuitive business tools the Zoho Corporation offers in its all-around business suite. Quickbooks is an accounting and finance management tool by Intuit.

Zoho Books and Quickbooks are both cloud-based, meaning you can use them from your browser window. They also offer various integrations and are suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, startups, freelancers, etc.

Zoho Books vs. Quickbooks: Comparison

With numerous advanced features on both sides, it can be difficult to choose which software is better suited to your needs. We’ll look at some of the crucial aspects of these solutions below. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be much better placed to make a decision.

Pricing

When talking about pricing, Zoho Books comes out on top.

Zoho Books is free for small businesses with less than $50,000 revenue per year. The free version comes with a solid set of features. It generates up to 1,000 invoices per year in multiple languages, and has a dedicated client portal and automated payment reminders, among other options. Zoho also offers five different paid plans, so businesses of all sizes can find a suitable solution. Prices range from $15-$240 per organization per month on a yearly subscription and from $20-$275 on a monthly basis. You can also try the app on a 14-day free trial.

Quickbooks doesn’t offer a free plan, but users can try a 30-day free trial to test the app’s features. Four different payment plans let businesses select the right option, in addition to a dedicated Freelancer plan. Subscription prices start from $15 for self-employed individuals. Businesses can expect to pay from $30-$200 per month. Nevertheless, discounts can help you save money in the first three months, so watch out for promotions.

Integrations

Integration can truly simplify life for businesses. Both Zoho Books and Quickbooks offer a wide range of app integrations, with Quickbooks having a slight edge in this regard.

Currently, you can integrate over 40 business apps with Zoho Books. If you use other Zoho solutions, you’ll have no issue creating a unified workflow. Using Zapier cloud integration, you can connect hundreds of other apps to Zoho Books, too.

Quickbooks is even more flexible when it comes to third-party integrations. At present, you can integrate over 750 business apps with this accounting solution. Chances are, whatever you use, it’ll be on the list.

Platforms

Both Zoho Books and Quickbooks are web-based solutions. However, you can also use them on the go with a range of other devices. While both solutions offer mobile apps, users tend to prefer those of Zoho Books.

Zoho Books has a powerful mobile app for Android and iOS devices. It’s also available for Windows and Kindle Fire tablets. The app has a user-friendly interface and comes with useful widgets for your home screen. You can even use Siri shortcuts for managing your books using the Zoho app.

Quickbooks offers a capable mobile app for iOS and Android as well. While superior to most other accounting apps, customers sometimes complain about bugs and other issues.

Customer Support

Reliable customer support is crucial for a smooth workflow. Both platforms have a robust knowledge base customers can explore when they run into an issue. When it comes to live support, Zoho Books provides a better experience.

Zoho’s free plan includes email support, while all the paid plans offer voice and chat besides email. Users praise Zoho’s customer support for being highly responsive. Knowledgeable agents will readily solve any issues you have with the software.

Quickbooks customer support has received some critique in the past. Contacting support agents can sometimes be a hassle with this app.

Ease of Use

No one wants to deal with complicated apps with steep learning curves. Fortunately, both Zoho Books and Quickbooks are user-friendly. The winner in this category will depend mostly on personal preference.

You’ll find the dashboards of both apps easy to navigate. Plus, there are numerous guides to consult in case you can’t find the feature you’re looking for. Generally, Zoho Books is recommended for businesses that want a solution that’s easy to set up and ready to use in no time. On the other hand, Quickbooks is for those who need specific integrations and don’t mind a slight learning curve.

Features

Zoho Books and Quickbooks share most of their features. Both apps cover crucial necessities like inventory and project management, expense tracking, tax support, bills, mileage tracking, reporting, etc. Naturally, the breadth of features included will depend on your subscription in each case.

You can use pre-made invoicing templates on both platforms. While Quickbooks offers six customizable templates, Zoho Books has prepared 16 for its clients. Zoho Books also supports more languages when it comes to invoicing.

That said, Quickbooks has a slight edge for those who need lending functionalities. Zoho Books doesn’t yet offer built-in lending.

Zoho Books vs. Quickbooks: The Verdict

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with either of these leading cloud-based accounting solutions. However, small businesses looking to optimize their operations without breaking the bank will find Zoho Books a game-changer. Their free plan can be a fantastic starting point for a small business taking its first steps in the commercial world. Those with more robust needs have various payment plans to choose from. The tool is also user-friendly, which makes it perfect for those looking for a simple solution.

Have you used Zoho Books or Quickbooks before? Which platform did you find easier to navigate? Let us know in the comments section below.