Zoho Books Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Zoho Books pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $70 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Zoho Books offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 1 user + 1 accountant
- Up to 1,000 invoices/year
- Expense tracking
- Bank reconciliation
- 50+ reports
- W-9 management
- 1099 tracking
- Mobile app
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 3 users
- Up to 5,000 invoices/year
- Everything in Free
- Progress invoicing
- Sales tax tracking
- E-filing 1099 forms
- Bank feeds
- Custom reports
- API access
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| users | 1 | Unlimited/Higher |
| invoicesPerYear | 1000 | Unlimited/Higher |
| revenueLimit | 50000 | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 3 users or Up to 5,000 invoices/year
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Zoho Books branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Standard Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Standard $20/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 8 included | 9+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Zoho Books branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Sole proprietors with under $50K annual revenue | Small businesses with growing invoicing needs |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Zoho Books free?
Yes, Zoho Books offers a freemium plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on users, invoicesperyear that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Zoho Books's free plan?
Zoho Books's free plan includes: 1 user + 1 accountant, Up to 1,000 invoices/year, Expense tracking, Bank reconciliation, 50+ reports, and 3 more features. Key limits include users: 1, invoicesPerYear: 1000, revenueLimit: 50000.
03 What's NOT included in Zoho Books's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 3 users, Up to 5,000 invoices/year, Everything in Free, Progress invoicing, Sales tax tracking. You'll also have Zoho Books branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Zoho Books's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 3 users or Up to 5,000 invoices/year, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $20/month.
05 Is Zoho Books's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Zoho Books's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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