Quiz: What is the best Zoho Books alternative for your business?
Quicken vs QuickBooks vs Bonsai
What is Zoho Books?
Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software designed to automate workflows, manage finances, and collaborate across departments. It is typically used by accounting professionals, bookkeepers, and small businesses. Users love that they can combine this software with other Zoho apps to keep all of their business processes in one place.
What is QuickBooks?
QuickBooks Online has remained one of the most popular accounting software programs for years. The web-based tool comes with a wide range of financial management tools. Smaller businesses especially benefit from the software’s accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense tracking, and other automated workflows.
At Bonsai, we understand how a freelancer’s workflow differs from that of a small business with employees. For that reason, we specially designed our software to include all the features you need to manage your unique expenses, clients, self-employed taxes, and more.
Set Up Process for Zoho Books vs QuickBooks Online
Though both Zoho Books and QuickBooks are web-based programs, the setup process has key differences. For Zoho, you can simply create an account and update it with your basic business information. From there, the app directs you to a getting started page that walks you through the rest of the process. Customers have been reporting QuickBooks Online is a bit more tedious to set up. It goes into more detail that can leave first-time users confused. Since Zoho Books and QuickBooks are web-based, you can use them on any device that has internet access. You can even set up a mobile application for either program.
Comparing Zoho vs QuickBooks Accounting Tools
When you look at Zoho vs QuickBooks Online, it’s easy to see each accounting software has an extensive list of tools and features, including inventory tracking and bill management. However, Zoho Books comes out on top in terms of general accounting capabilities. It has more features than QuickBooks Online, and one of the most notable is the ability to upload and modify your chart of accounts. You can also add more users with limited access to fit their roles. Though QuickBooks has some limitations in the bookkeeping department, you can pay more for a live bookkeeping service. QuickBooks Online also makes up for its shortcomings in the banking category with the ability to seamlessly integrate your bank accounts, issue refunds, and deposit receipts into any bank account.
Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online Pricing
Both QuickBooks and Zoho Books offer four-tier pricing. Unlike QuickBooks, Zoho starts with a free plan. You can then upgrade to a Standard or Professional Plan for $15 and $40 per organization per month, respectively. Their more advanced plan costs $60 per organization per month. No matter which plan you choose, you can expect to be billed annually. Though QuickBooks sometimes runs promotions, the cost of their paid plans are $25, $50, $80, and $180. All of their plans are billed on a monthly basis.
Support Available for QuickBooks Online and Zoho Books
If you find yourself in need of a little extra support, you’ll be happy to know that Zoho Books has excellent customer support. You can choose phone, email, or live chat to get in touch with a knowledgeable representative. Phone representatives are available toll-free 24 hours a day Monday-Friday. You can also search FAQs, videos, and guides for help. With QuickBooks Online, live support is more limited for most plans. Phone and chat agents are available Monday-Friday 6 AM-6 PM PT and 6 AM-3 PM on Saturdays. If you have more advanced plans, you may get 24/7 support. They also offer self-help solutions through an automated chat.
Ease of Use for Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online
You don’t have to be a tech expert or CPA to understand these programs. Both QuickBooks online and Zoho Books are designed to have a very user-friendly interface. Like Zoho Payroll and their other apps, Books is well organized and designed with the user in mind. Though there are some features that are hard to uncover than others, you can catch on in no time. The QuickBooks Online dashboard also has easy navigation with some hidden elements. If you ever get stuck, you can always access their built-in support option, which will direct you right to the tool you need.
The Alternative to Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online
We promise we’ll get back to our honest review of Zoho Books vs. QuickBooks, but we also recognize that you might already be looking for an alternative that better fits your freelance workflow. That’s where Bonsai comes in.
Did you know that more than 500,000 self-employed business owners have chosen Bonsai over both Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online? More and more freelancers continue to sign up for our workflow management tool so that they can keep their accounting, contracts, and project management all in one spot.
While other accounting software creators cater their programs to small businesses with dedicated departments, Bonsai understands that most freelancers are wearing all the hats themselves. That’s why we worked so hard to create an alternative for self-employed business owners.
How is Bonsai Different?
Unlike Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online, Bonsai is far more than just a basic accounting software for small businesses. We created Bonsai to be a one-stop shop for all of your freelance workflow needs. Not only do we offer expense tracking and accept payments, but we also provide you with:
Vetted Contract Templates
If you are a freelancer, your clients don’t expect you to act as a lawyer, but they do expect professional contracts. You don’t want to put them or your business in a risky situation. Fortunately, we make it convenient and affordable to get contracts vetted by legal professionals. In fact, freelancers love that we offer more than 80 different templates with:
- E-Signatures for Automated Approval
- Automatic Reminders and Notifications
- Customization Options to Fit Your Line of Business
