Zoho Books vs FreeAgent

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Our analysts compared Zoho Books vs FreeAgent based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

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Product Basics

Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software offering streamlined bookkeeping tools for small businesses and freelancers. Its core functionality revolves around managing expenses, invoices, payments, and payroll. Users can track income and outgoings, generate financial reports, and collaborate with their accountant. Zoho Books caters best to solopreneurs and small teams seeking an affordable, user-friendly accounting solution. Its intuitive interface and mobile app make it accessible for individuals with limited accounting expertise. Key benefits include automatic data entry, bank reconciliation, and inventory management. Popular features encompass purchase orders, recurring invoices, and project profitability tracking. User reviews within the accounting context praise its ease of use, affordability, and helpful customer support. Zoho Books offers tiered pricing based on the number of users and required features. Plans range from a free version with basic functionality to more comprehensive options for growing businesses, making it a scalable solution as accounting needs evolve.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable pricing
  • Mobile app access
  • Good customer support
  • Solid basic features
Cons
  • Limited advanced features
  • Reporting customization
  • Inventory management depth
  • Integrations with third-party apps
  • Scalability for larger businesses
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FreeAgent is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and freelancers. It streamlines tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and tax filing, offering a user-friendly interface and mobile app for on-the-go management. FreeAgent shines for its intuitive design and automation features, making it ideal for those with limited accounting knowledge. Key benefits include automatic bank feeds, expense categorization with receipt scanning, and HMRC-compliant VAT returns. Popular features like project tracking and time billing further cater to freelancers and service-based businesses. Compared to similar products, user reviews praise FreeAgent's ease of use and excellent customer support. However, its focus on simplicity may lack the advanced features sought by larger businesses or those with complex accounting needs. Pricing starts at a monthly subscription fee, with additional costs for features like multiple users or payroll. FreeAgent offers a free trial to allow potential users to test its capabilities before committing.

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • Mobile app access
  • Automated tasks
  • Freelancer-friendly
  • Good customer support
Cons
  • Limited features for complex needs
  • Higher cost for multiple users
  • Not ideal for large businesses
  • Invoice customization limited
  • Reporting could be more robust
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$9 Monthly
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$6.50 Monthly
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Windows
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Android
Chromebook
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Mobile
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Mobile

Product Assistance

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Live Online
Videos
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Live Online
Videos
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Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
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24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Efficient Invoicing: Personalize and send invoices to patrons and receive payments in various currencies with the invoicing tool. Users may add their company logo and fonts to reflect their company values and even establish invoice reminders for clients. 
  • Accurate Estimates: Add contact information, item details and prices saved within the platform with the estimation tool. Users may also send estimates and receive approvals from customers in real time. 
  • Communicate with Clients: Enable patrons to sign estimates with the client portal apparatus digitally. Consumers may also make bulk payments in one click, paying users fasters.  
  • Upkeep Expenses: Keep track of expenses such as office supplies and monthly employee allowances with the expense module. Manage, organize, and charge consumers with expenditures as needed and even attach bills, receipts and credit notes to the related transactions. 
  • Maintain Bills: Initiate recurring bills for expenses and purchases at normal intervals through the billing apparatus. Users may also attach landed costs to statements so they can properly cipher the full value of items. 
  • Perform Bank Reconciliations: Obtain accurate cash flow estimates and balance mismatches, replicated payments and past reconciliations with the banking dashboard on the bank reconciliation module. Utilize various bank rules to pinpoint and sort transactions automatically. 
  • Monitor Projects: Control several projects by creating new ones, adding new duties to each project and allocating responsibilities to particular workers with the project management function. Users may also grant certain permissions and restrictions to employees, such as the timesheet appliance to log time or employ the timer. 
  • Oversee Inventory: Arrange inventory according to its valuable information such as stock-keeping unit (SKU), product image, vendor details, cost and available stock with the inventory module. The inventory tracking feature allows users to stay in the loop of their inventory levels constantly. 
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  • Effortless Time Saving: Automate tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and tax filing, freeing up time for what matters most.
  • Simplified Organization: Stay on top of your finances with a clear overview of income, expenses, and cash flow, all in one place.
  • Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance: Reduce errors and ensure compliance with automatic bank feeds, VAT returns, and HMRC filing.
  • Mobile Access on the Go: Manage your finances from anywhere with the convenient mobile app, perfect for busy freelancers and entrepreneurs.
  • Streamlined Collaboration: Easily share invoices, track project progress, and collaborate with clients and team members.
  • Peace of Mind and Support: Gain confidence knowing your finances are in order, backed by excellent customer support whenever you need it.
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  • Sales Order: Tailor sales orders with company logos, fonts and colors with the sales order idiosyncrasy. Users may transform approved estimates into sales orders and invoices in just a few clicks. Users may also pinpoint their best clients and merchandise with real-time reports from their transaction histories. 
  • Purchase Orders: Trace all items purchased and mutual prices set by vendors with the purchase order management appliance. Print, copy and share purchase orders through emails to work together with clients, partners, internal stakeholders and more to swiftly complete tasks. 
  • Online Payments: Pick the best payment portal —including Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay and more — to collect payments from customers promptly. Users may also enable recurring transactions to receive payments at weekly, monthly or yearly intervals automatically.  
  • Reporting: Evaluate total receivables, sales, top expenses and more KPIs with the reporting module's dashboard. Obtain reports like profit and loss, balance sheets, cash flow statements and more to dive into data and make wiser decisions. 
  • Automation: Deliver instant payment reminders, save client information for future automatic billing and recurring invoices and immediately send out transactions with Zoho Books' automation tools. 
  • Documents: Chronicle document details and shift them into invoices, expenses, bills, sales orders or purchase orders with the document management accessory. Users may match documents to bank feeds or previously-made transactions for proof of commerce for their archives.  
  • Mobile-Friendly: Deliver invoices, estimates and account statements to patrons and track miles traveled with the iOS app. The Android app enables users to take pictures of receipts and attach them to recorded expenses in addition to overseeing earned revenue and gathered fees. 
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  • Estimates: Send estimates and invoices via email and keep a tab on the approval and rejection. Convert accepted estimates into invoices. Manage outstanding amounts with the Invoice Timeline. 
  • Expenses: Save photos of the receipt directly from the mobile phone. Keep a tab on the running balance for reimbursement by tracking employee expenses. Track payments using live bank feeds or by importing bank statements.  
  • Tracking: Keep a record of when work was completed. Create an invoice for unbilled time and send it to the client. Check where time is spent across the active projects with timesheet reports.Payment tracking can be done by uploading a picture of the receipt through the mobile app. Reminders for making payments are sent automatically by setting up recurring invoices. Track invoices, taxes, estimates, alongside expenses. 
  • Dashboard: Monitor profit and loss with cash flow reports and the invoice timeline. 
  • Project Management: Create a project by adding billing rates, tasks, default currency, budget, start and end date. Attach charges and billable and non-billable time to projects and invoice the cost to customers. 
  • Expense Management: Categorize charges by currency and link them to a particular activity. Track and document expenses once the invoice is settled. Forgo the need to upload bank statements with the feed enabled. Include bank statements in the reporting after uploading. 
  • Navigation: Display data and keep track of the business’s financial health. Access invoices, time slips, estimates and projects from the dashboard. 
  • Payment: Integrate with PayPal, Stripe and GoCardless to pay bills easily. Make direct payments and add links to the payment system in the invoice templates. Conduct transactions in more than 80 countries around the globe. 
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Product Ranking

#7

among all
Accounting Software

#86

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

88
82
100
89
95
84
100
79
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Accounts Payable
Banking and Cash Management
Inventory Management
Platform Capabilities
Platform Security
Platform Security
Financial Statements and Revenue Management
Mobile Support
Project Accounting
Tax Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Zoho Books
FreeAgent
+ Add Product + Add Product
Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 100 95 100 90 90 75 82 100 85 80 60 100 92 92 96 89 84 79 68 98 88 85 78 81 97 70 89 97 70 95 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 546 reviews
Great User Sentiment 200 reviews
88%
of users recommend this product

Zoho Books has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 546 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

87%
of users recommend this product

FreeAgent has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 87% when considering 200 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (14)
n/a
4.6 (60)
4.3 (29)
n/a
4.4 (125)
4.4 (412)
n/a
4.1 (60)
4.3 (46)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Zoho Books and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Accounts Payable, Inventory Management and Platform Capabilities.

Accounts Payable Award
Inventory Management Award
Platform Capabilities Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise Zoho Books for its simple and easy-to-navigate interface, even for those without prior accounting experience.
Automation superpowers: Tasks like invoicing, payment reminders, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting become effortless with Zoho Books' automation features, saving users significant time and effort.
Seamless integrations: Zoho Books smoothly integrates with other Zoho apps, like CRM and Projects, as well as popular third-party tools, streamlining workflows and eliminating data silos.
Mobile accessibility: The user-friendly mobile app allows for on-the-go accounting, ensuring users can manage finances anytime, anywhere.
Value for money: Zoho Books is consistently praised for its affordable pricing plans, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Customer service responsiveness: Users frequently highlight the prompt and helpful support provided by Zoho Books' customer service team.
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Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise FreeAgent's user-friendly design, making it easy to navigate and find features even without accounting expertise.
Automated tasks: FreeAgent automates many time-consuming accounting tasks, such as bank reconciliation, VAT calculation, invoice creation, and mileage tracking.
Comprehensive features: The software offers a wide range of features to manage all aspects of accounting, including invoicing, expenses, projects, taxes, and payroll.
Mobile app: FreeAgent's mobile app allows users to manage finances on the go, access key features, and capture receipts with ease.
Excellent customer support: Users consistently rate FreeAgent's customer support highly, with quick and helpful responses to queries.
Integrations: FreeAgent integrates with various popular business tools, such as bank accounts, payment gateways, and expense management apps.
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Transaction limits: Users express frustration with the capped number of monthly transactions (5,000 on the highest plan), potentially hindering high-volume businesses.
Inventory management constraints: While Zoho Books offers inventory tracking, it lacks advanced features like sales analytics and in-depth item breakdowns, making it less suitable for businesses with complex inventory needs.
Coding requirements for automation: Unlocking the full potential of automation features often requires knowledge of coding (Deluge script), posing a challenge for non-technical users.
Occasional reporting issues: Some users report occasional glitches or inconsistencies in financial reports, necessitating careful review and potential manual adjustments.
Multiple subscriptions for multiple businesses: Managing multiple businesses requires separate subscriptions, which can become cost-prohibitive for users with several entities.
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Limited customization options: While FreeAgent offers some customization, users report feeling restricted in terms of branding and layout compared to other accounting software.
Learning curve for complex features: Some users find FreeAgent's advanced features, like inventory management or project accounting, have a steeper learning curve compared to basic functionalities.
Higher pricing for larger businesses: FreeAgent's pricing scales with the number of users and features needed, making it potentially expensive for larger businesses with complex accounting requirements.
Limited integrations with some industry-specific tools: While FreeAgent integrates with popular business tools, some users in specific industries might miss integrations with specialized software they rely on.
Occasional bugs and glitches: Some users report encountering occasional bugs or glitches within the software, although FreeAgent's customer support is generally praised for responsiveness.
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Zoho Books lands a punch with its user-friendly interface and automation superpowers, even for accounting newbies. Invoicing, bank reconciliation, and reports become automatic allies, saving users precious time. Integration with the Zoho ecosystem and other popular tools keeps workflows in harmony. Plus, the mobile app lets you manage finances on the go, a big win for busy entrepreneurs. However, Zoho Books stumbles with transaction limits, potentially tripping up high-volume businesses. Inventory management feels like a lightweight sidekick compared to some competitors, lacking the muscle for complex needs. Unlocking automation's full potential requires coding know-how, leaving some users stranded. And while reports are generally reliable, occasional glitches necessitate a closer look. Managing multiple businesses under separate subscriptions can also add up cost-wise. So, how does Zoho Books stack up? Users often compare it to Quickbooks Online. Zoho shines with its intuitive interface and affordability, especially for solopreneurs and small teams. But Quickbooks packs a heavier punch in its inventory management and advanced reporting features, catering to larger businesses with complex needs. Zoho's seamless integrations and user-friendliness win hearts, while Quickbooks offers a more robust toolset for seasoned accountants. Ultimately, Zoho Books is a capable accounting sidekick for businesses starting their financial journey. Its ease of use, automation muscle, and affordable price tag make it a tempting choice. But for high-volume businesses or those with intricate inventory needs, other contenders might offer a more powerful punch.

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FreeAgent carves a niche for itself in the accounting software world, earning enthusiastic praise from users seeking an intuitive and automated solution to manage their finances. Its user-friendly interface and wealth of automated features like bank reconciliation and VAT calculation, often cited as lifesavers, make it ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses who want to ditch spreadsheets and manual data entry. This convenience, however, comes with a trade-off: some users feel limited by FreeAgent's customization options, especially compared to the robust branding and layout control offered by competitors like Xero. FreeAgent's strengths truly shine in its mobile app and excellent customer support. Users adore the on-the-go access and quick, helpful resolutions to queries. This agility differentiates FreeAgent from some software giants notorious for sluggish mobile experiences and frustratingly long wait times for assistance. However, power users with complex accounting needs might find FreeAgent's advanced features, like project accounting, less intuitive than Xero's, requiring a steeper learning curve. Ultimately, FreeAgent's user reviews paint a picture of a friendly, efficient, and mobile-first accounting solution. It excels at simplifying finances for non-accountants and automating tedious tasks, but its customization limitations and potential learning curve for advanced features might make larger businesses or those seeking extensive control look elsewhere. In the quest for simplicity and time-saving automation, FreeAgent stands out as a top contender, especially for solopreneurs and small businesses just starting their financial journey.

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