Zoho Books Reviews

“cannot handle credit-card statements as required

Pros

The ability to tag transactions to different projects is something I really like. It is clearly designed with medium and large companies in mind that have a separate accounts department.

Cons

I'm not able to make it handle credit-card merchant statements the way government regulations require. For example for transactions under 2000 the MDR is not subject to GST and there's no built-in way to apply that rule so I'd have to enter each one by hand. For a retail operation handling about 1,000 transactions every day, doing that manually is terrible and the support had no solution for me.

“merchant statement handling falls short

Pros

A useful part of Zoho Books is being able to tag transactions to different projects. It also feels more suited to medium and large businesses that have a separate accounts department.

Cons

Where it really struggles is with credit card merchant statements under current government rules. For example, on transactions below 2000, MDR does not attract GST and there's no proper way to manage that apart from entering every transaction manually. For a retail business processing 1000 transactions a day, that setup is simply impractical. Even Zoho support has not provided a workable solution.

“simple to use with reasonable pricing

Pros

What I like most is how simple it is to use. As I have never had to reach out to customer support for any issue and the pricing is reasonable for mid-sized businesses.

Cons

The tools for switching currencies is fairly complicated. Likewise trying to adjust the invoice layout becomes somewhat tricky and can leave you confused at times.

“Great value with warm and helpful support

Pros

Zoho Books offers great value for the money and the support team has been very warm and helpful. The app is remarkably easy to use too as we didn't need any formal training or external support to get started. Making payments to our vendors through it works so well that I can't overstate how much it's helped our workflows. Data management is great too as I upload all our invoices directly into the application. My customers can view their statements in real time. We haven't experienced any bugs and the one minor issue we had was resolved immediately. Overall I'd recommend it for both small businesses and large organizations.

Cons

When transaction volumes get high I feel like the bank reconciliation process could be simplified to save time and effort. It's not exactly a deal-breaker but I'd like it to consider adding more features to the starter plan.

“impressed by budget-friendly solution

Pros

I'm really impressed by how budget-friendly Zoho Books is as it's an excellent solution for my small business. The interface is also user friendly and I can reach customer support whenever I need help.

Cons

It contains practically everything I need to operate my business but I am wishing there was a simple way to connect it with other roofing specific programs or maybe that integration exists and I simply haven't found how to set it up yet.

“Reliable and user-friendly bookkeeping

Pros

Getting around this tool has been very simple. I've never had to reach out to customer support for anything which says a lot about how usable it is. The pricing also feels fair and well suited for a mid-sized business.

Cons

The currency conversion features are a bit complicated to work with. On top of that, customizing the invoice layout can be somewhat confusing as well.

“fantastic value and support

Pros

This tool has felt like excellent value for the money. The support team has been incredibly warm and helpful and the system is so user-friendly that we did not need any training or outside support to get going. Paying our vendors through Zoho has been especially impressive and is something I really have to highlight. Data management has also been very strong and I upload all our invoices directly into the app without any issues. Another big plus is that our customers can view their statements in real time. I have not run into any bugs so far and the one concern we had was resolved immediately. I would definitely recommend it to both small businesses and larger organizations.

Cons

One area that could be improved is the bank reconciliation process especially when dealing with a high volume of transactions since it could be made simpler. It is not really a major downside but I would also love to see Zoho include more features in the starter plan :)

“affordable and user-friendly pick

Pros

Running a small business is a lot more manageable with Zoho Books because it's very affordable and offers a lot of value. The platform is user-friendly so it doesn't take much effort to get comfortable with it and customer support is there when needed.

Cons

Zoho Books covers pretty much everything needed to run a business which is a big plus. The only thing I wish it had is better integration with other roofing software, unless that option already exists and I just haven't figured it out yet.

“Reliable for memberships over five years

Pros

For over five years I have been using this and it reliably handles the memberships we sell. Plus I can set up multiple membership types and link everything smoothly to Zoho CRM without hassle.

Cons

I find it a little inflexible and the UI is not always easy to use. As I often have to dig around to locate the settings or options I need.

“great membership management

Pros

After more than five years of using it, it has consistently handled the membership sales side of our business well. We're able to set up different membership types and the automatic connection with Zoho CRM is really useful.

Cons

It could be more flexible and the interface isn't always very simple. Sometimes you have to dig around a bit to find the features or information you need.

“Poor customer support

Pros

This tool is not helpful at all. In the beginning they advertise that every feature is free which convinced me to try it. But after I purchased the add-ons I ended up being charged extra fees anyway.

Cons

Their customer support has been poor. Even after seven months of back and forth, they could not resolve my problem or offer a workable solution. I would advise against using this tool.

“hidden charges and poor support

Pros

It really hasn't been useful for me. At first, they make it sound like all the features are included for free but once you buy it, you end up having to pay extra for everything.

Cons

On top of that, the customer support is extremely poor. Even after waiting 7 months, they still couldn't provide any solution to my issue. I would not recommend going with Zoho Books.

“Easy to use with simple layout

Pros

One thing I really like is how easy it is to use even for someone like me who is not an accountant. Plus the layout is simple, uncluttered and very easy to understand.

Cons

My main complaint is the restrictions placed on users outside the United States. As several functions simply do not work for people not located in the US which can be quite limiting.

“Clean interface and simple workflow

Pros

Getting around feels very simple, even if you don't have an accounting background. The layout is clean, clear and makes the whole system simple to use.

Cons

One thing that bothers me is how limited it can be for users outside the United States. A few features aren't available or don't work properly if you're not based in the US.

“simplified recurring invoicing and payments

Pros

Using Zoho Books seriously simplified our recurring invoicing process and saved us from a lot of manual tracking. It also cut down on late payments thanks to automated reminders and systematic payment follow-ups.

Cons

I have noticed that the Bank Feeds can drop intermittently, requiring us to re-authenticate to get them back up. We also had to create several custom rules to handle telecom-specific tax calculations.

“Easy to update accounts and manage inventory

Pros

Keeping my accounts up to date is pretty easy and I find managing inventories and creating Purchase Orders very simple. plus the fees are quite affordable overall.

Cons

To be honest I have not found any downsides. It was easy for me to use right away and the reports produce accurate results.

“Useful bank connection and clear financial snapshot

Pros

Being able to connect my bank account directly to the app was extremely useful because it meant I didn't have to manually import every single incoming and outgoing transaction. I also found that the software provides a clear snapshot of my profits, expenses and gross profit which made tracking financial health much easier.

Cons

The interface is a little hard to navigate compared to QuickBooks and setting up automated recurring invoices felt unnecessarily over-engineered. On top of that it would not pull in my bank transactions until the day after they posted, even when I refreshed the feed. Because I prefer to record income and expenses as soon as the payment clears, that delay makes it harder for me to keep my books up to date.

“User-friendly but reporting is limited

Pros

The interface is really user friendly, the accounting automations work effectively and it integrates excellently with other tools I use.

Cons

One downside I noticed is that customizable reporting is quite limited and the technical support does not always respond quickly.

“clean and simple interface for small business

Pros

What I liked most was the clean, simple interface and how easily I can manage invoices, expenses and generate reports. It is especially well suited to small businesses and remains easy to use even when handling everyday bookkeeping tasks.

Cons

I was frustrated that many of the more powerful capabilities are tucked behind higher-priced tier. Also integrating with external apps sometimes feels limited. This makes expanding functionality or connecting other tools less seamless than I expected.

“recurring invoicing done right

Pros

Recurring invoicing became much more manageable. It cut down the manual tracking we used to do and helped us reduce late payments thanks to automated reminders and payment follow-ups.

Cons

Bank feeds do disconnect once in a while so we have to re-authenticate them to get everything working again. We also ended up creating a few custom rules to handle telecom-specific tax logic.

“affordable accounting that just works

Pros

Keeping the accounts organized with Zoho Books has been really simple. Inventory management is simple to handle, generating purchase orders is convenient and the pricing is affordable too.

Cons

I honestly haven't come across any negatives. It was simple to start using right away and the reports come out accurate and reliable.

“Bank syncing and clear profit tracking

Pros

Being able to connect my bank account directly to the software was really helpful because it meant I didn't have to manually import every incoming and outgoing transaction. It also provides a solid overview of profits, expenses and gross profit which makes it much easier to keep track of the business financially.

Cons

Navigation felt a little more complicated than QuickBooks and setting up recurring invoices seemed a bit fiddly and more complex than it needed to be. Another minor issue is that bank transactions don't appear until the following day, even when the feed is refreshed. I prefer logging income and expenses as soon as a transaction happens so I can stay on top of my books.

“fantastic invoicing for small teams

Pros

A clean, simple interface made this one of my favorite tools to work with. Managing invoices, expenses and reports is very simple and it fits small businesses really well without much of a learning curve.

Cons

My biggest complaints were that some of the more advanced features are locked behind higher-tier plans and the third-party app integrations can occasionally feel limited or a bit clunky.

“Helpful when juggling multiple tasks

Pros

It is really helpful when I am juggling multiple things. I mean a quick look tells me which payments went through and which ones still need a reminder.

Cons

Occasionally I run into strange behavior when making edits but those glitches rarely interrupt my workflow and in the end that's the most important thing.

“Handy view of payments

Pros

Managing several things at once is a lot easier with this. At a quick glance, I can see what's already been paid and what still needs a reminder.

Cons

Every now and then, editing does something a bit odd. Still, it rarely causes any real trouble and that's the part that matters most.

“Likes how zoho products tie together

Pros

I really like how Zoho ties together so many of its own products along with third-party apps. For example I rely on their Zoho Billing app to automatically invoice customers each month and those transactions are then recorded automatically in Zoho Books. Previously I had to do those billing and recording tasks manually when I used other software which was a hassle.

Cons

In my experience they were slow to add integrations with popular payroll providers like Gusto likely because they were building their own payroll solution. Now its native payroll is available in all 50 U.S. states, finally filling that gap.

“Easy to use with smooth connections

Pros

The interface is pretty easy to use. Also I can track time on every single task and it connects seamlessly with Zoho Mail and our CRM.

Cons

For me automating workflows can get a little tricky unless I bring in an external automation tool.

“smooth billing automation

Pros

One of the biggest wins with Zoho Books is how well it connects with the rest of the Zoho ecosystem along with a lot of third-party apps. I specifically rely on Zoho Billing to charge customers automatically every month and those transactions get recorded in Zoho Books right away. With other software, I used to handle that process manually so this has been a huge improvement.

Cons

The only frustration was that they were a bit slow when it came to integrating with well-known payroll providers like Gusto, probably because they were developing their own payroll solution. That said their payroll feature is now available across all 50 states in the U.S.

“Powerful tracking and integrations

Pros

Navigation feels simple, time can be tracked for every task and it connects nicely with Zoho Mail and CRM.

Cons

Workflow automation can get a little complicated if you do not use an external tool.

“Favorite is automated invoicing and tracking

Pros

My favorite thing about it is the automated invoicing and payment tracking as it makes billing almost hands-off. Creating invoices is also easy and the recurring billing and payment integrations really smooth out our cash flow. The mobile app is handy too because it gives me up to the minute access to our finances. There is also a great free tier for firms under $50K in revenue and we run it alongside Zoho Expense with flawless integration.

Cons

I've noticed the customization options for both invoices and reports are pretty limited. The interface is clean and easy to use but I don't have many tools to tweak invoice templates or create tailored reports to fit specific needs which can be frustrating when we want documents that better reflect our branding or reporting style.

“automated invoicing that delivers

Pros

Automated invoicing and payment tracking have been the biggest wins for us. Creating invoices is simple and features like recurring billing plus payment integrations really help us stay on top of cash flow. The mobile app is also a nice bonus because it gives real-time access to our financials when we're away from the office. The free plan for businesses under $50K in revenue is very useful and we also use it alongside Zoho Expense which connects smoothly.

Cons

The biggest limitation is the lack of customization for invoices and reports. The interface is user-friendly overall but there just isn't much flexibility when it comes to adjusting invoice templates or tailoring reports the way we'd like.

“Good at automating monotonous accounting tasks

Pros

Zoho Books is good at automating monotonous accounting tasks from creating and sending invoices to tracking expenses and handling bank reconciliations. For example I use it to schedule recurring invoices for my clients which saves me several hours of manual effort every month. On top of that its GST compliance capabilities are strong and a real plus for my business.

Cons

The mobile app doesn't match the desktop experience in terms of functionality and although the reporting suite is decent, I wish it allowed more customization to fit my needs. Also the initial setup can be pretty involved and time-consuming especially for companies with complicated accounting structures.

“Features exactly what i need

Pros

The features are exactly what I need and they fit my requirements perfectly.

Cons

Honestly I have no issues as it's a fantastic tool and program so yes I couldn't find anything to complain about.

“dashboard and reporting tools are amazing

Pros

What I really like about Zoho Books is its dashboard and reporting tools. Plus the dashboard gives me a clear snapshot of our finances and overall organizational health. The reports are excellent too for breaking things down and bringing more clarity to the numbers.

Cons

Pricing is something that I do not like as I feel the plans are somewhat pricey. If a company is financially comfortable, it is an excellent solution but for bootstrapped startups, the cost can be prohibitive. Yes there is a free tier but I needed paid features for my workflow. They do offer startup credits that cover about a year which helps. After a year of using it, I also found myself hesitant to switch away because the system becomes so convenient that migrating feels like a hassle.

“gst-friendly accounting automation

Pros

Zoho Books has been a big help because it takes care of a lot of repetitive accounting work, from invoicing and expense tracking to bank reconciliation. I've used it to set up recurring invoices for my clients and that alone saves me hours of manual effort every month. The GST compliance features are also really valuable and give my business a strong advantage.

Cons

The mobile app still doesn't offer as much functionality as the desktop version. The reporting tools are useful but I'd still like more customization options. Initial setup can also take quite a bit of time especially for businesses with more complex accounting requirements.

“fits our accounting needs perfectly

Pros

It's really the feature set that makes this stand out and it matches my requirements very well.

Cons

Honestly I don't have any complaints. It's a fantastic tool overall.

“Powerful finance visibility

Pros

One of the best things about Zoho Books is the dashboard and reporting. The dashboard gives a really clear snapshot of the company's finances and overall business health, while the reports help break everything down in a much more detailed and understandable way.

Cons

The only real downside is the pricing. It feels a little expensive especially for bootstrapped startups. For a company that is already in a stable position, it's a very solid product but smaller startups may find the cost a bit high. There is a free version but I needed some of the premium features for my specific needs. They do offer startup credits that can cover the cost for a year but once you've used the software that long, it becomes so convenient that switching to something else is hard to even consider.

“i like drafting and sending from zoho

Pros

I really like being able to draft a quotation and send it straight from Zoho so I don't need to download the file, open my email, compose a message and attach the document separately.

Cons

One downside I ran into is that you cannot modify customer information on an invoice like updating the customer's name if it originated as a quotation which is really inconvenient.

“Works well for bookkeeping, support is slow

Pros

It works well for bookkeeping and is really easy to use.

Cons

In my experience the customer support team is slow to respond and often takes a while to provide a resolution.

“stands apart with time-tracking and api

Pros

Zoho Books really stands apart from other similar software. As its time-tracking capabilities make it simple for me to accurately bill invoices and I find the API and reporting tools to be excellent. One of the things I appreciate most is its clean, user friendly interface.

Cons

It never lets me down even when I face challenges.

“User-friendly and full-featured accounting

Pros

In my experience Zoho Books brings together all the accounting features a business needs for invoicing and billing in a single platform. I have also found it to be the most user friendly and full-featured accounting system I've used and its integrations make sending and tracking quotes and invoices much simpler.

Cons

I think it is an excellent platform overall. The interface feels smooth and responsive. I would say that refining UI elements such as the menu would make the overall user experience even noticeably better.

“Brings quoting and invoicing together efficiently

Pros

It nicely brings quoting and invoicing together in a very efficient way. I also like the wide range of options it gives me to customize templates and automate processes so I can save as much time as possible.

Cons

At first the user experience felt overwhelming to me though I gradually came to terms with it as I used the app more and adapted over time.

“simple tool but reporting has limits

Pros

I find the layout very user-friendly and tidy making it simple to locate a customer and move between sections quickly. The app also offers useful customization like setting payment reminder notifications for clients which has been very helpful for keeping invoices on track.

Cons

Some reporting has limits such as when I need to pull up historical data it is not possible which is frustrating. On top of that the currency exchange rates are occasionally off so I cannot always rely on them for accurate conversions when dealing with different currencies.

“fast quotes and direct sending

Pros

Being able to create a quotation and send it straight from Zoho is a big plus since I don't have to download the file, open a separate email and attach it manually.

Cons

One thing that could be better is that customer details can't be edited while invoicing, like changing the name when the document started as a quotation.

“Good bookkeeping, slow support

Pros

Handles bookkeeping well and is simple to use.

Cons

Customer support takes too long to respond and resolve issues.

“Pricing outperforms competitors, amazing features

Pros

The pricing outperforms all other bookkeeping leaders. The features are amazing too especially the client portal. It also links with my CRM.

Cons

I miss having an Undeposited Funds option but it's not available. I also wish it supported sub-items.

“app is very easy to use with simple features

Pros

Zoho Books app is very easy to use. Plus its features are simple to locate and use.

Cons

Pricing and subscription tiers bothered me and at times support replies were slow.

“simple and quick to install and start

Pros

When I tried this tool during installation and the initial setup, I found it very simple and quick to install across our organization so we could start using it right away.

Cons

I did not run into many issues and on the rare occasions something did crop up, their support team was responsive and helped me resolve it.

“Loves automating recurring payments

Pros

I love how it automates recurring payments and invoices. Overall it's simple and really easy to use.

Cons

For me it is unexpectedly cool for handling tax compliance and automating calculations so no complaints.

“interactive interface with a free plan

Pros

The interface is very interactive and engaging. I also like that there's a free plan available which helps a lot. To me, it is a strong alternative to the bigger accounting platforms and the customer portal is excellent. Overall it's really easy to use.

Cons

I'd like the maximum number of users to exceed ten because the current cap is restrictive for our team. I also wish their support were more responsive and helpful.