5 Best Zoho Books Alternatives and Competitors

When using Zoho Books, you’ve probably noticed how quickly costs add up once you add more users or integrations. Well, it’s solid accounting software, but it’s rigid!

Thus, we’ve tested tools that deliver the same invoicing, customization, automation, and reporting without the overwhelm. 

From here, you’ll find the best Zoho Books alternatives that make accounting simpler, collaboration smoother, and scaling far easier.

Quick List of the Best Zoho Books Alternatives

1. Agency Handy: Best for agencies managing proposals, invoices, projects, and client portals effortlessly.
2. Wave: Perfect for freelancers needing free invoicing, payments, and simple bookkeeping.
3. FreshBooks: Best for service providers who value easy billing and quick payments.
4. Xero: Ideal for growing businesses wanting automation, multi-currency support, and strong reporting.
5. Bonsai: Good for creative teams combining client CRM, contracts, and project tracking in one place.

Reasons to Consider a Zoho Books Alternative 

Here are some reasons business owners start looking for an alternative, and you should too.

• Limited Customization and Branding: Invoice and template customization is far too rigid. You can’t even rename invoice titles or fully match your brand identity. This makes Zoho Books feel generic!
• Pricing: Zoho Books’ affordability fades once your team grows. Essential tools like multi-currency invoicing, custom roles, or recurring billing only open up on the $40+ Professional plan. 
• Lack of Workflow Flexibility: Zoho Books excels at accounting, but stops there. It doesn’t support multi service listing, project management, or task tracking within the same platform. 
• Steep Learning Curve: While Zoho Books offers plenty of features, its cluttered layout makes navigation confusing, especially for beginners. It takes hours to figure out tax setup, integrations, or reporting.
• Weak Customer Support: When issues pop up, it takes time to get help. The email-based system feels distant, and tickets sometimes loop without resolution.

Comparison Table of the 5 Top Zoho Books Competitors

Below is a quick side-by-side comparison of the top five Zoho Books alternatives to help you identify which one fits your workflow best.

Top 5 Alternatives to Zoho Books for Small to Medium Businesses

We tested and compared the top Zoho Books alternatives based on real usability, automation, pricing, integrations, support experience, etc. Following, you’ll find the tools that make invoicing easier, projects smoother, and financial tracking more reliable.

1. Agency Handy

Agency Handy is the best alternative to Zoho Books for teams that want more than just accounting automation. 

Zoho Books handles bookkeeping well, but keeps quoting, invoicing, and client work in separate corners. Agency Handy brings proposals, payments, and projects, all in one connected workflow.

You can create invoices the moment a client places an order. Billing can be one-time, recurring, or subscription-based. Also, payments are just as flexible! You can connect to PayPal, Stripe, Wise, manual banking, or even crypto. Automated reminders handle follow-ups.

Meanwhile, every invoice stays white-labeled, multi-currency ready, and perfectly on-brand under your own domain. 

What truly separates Agency Handy is what comes after invoicing. You can track leads, close deals, and deliver projects in one place. Manage tickets, tasks, and time logs without switching tabs. The Kanban board keeps progress visual, and your team stays accountable from start to finish.

And because you decide who sees what, access is fully role-based and secure. Clients log in to their own branded portal, view proposals, pay invoices, and leave feedback.

The result? The Zoho Books benefits of accounting, paired with the hands-on project control your agency actually needs.

Key Features of Agency Handy

Agency Handy brings everything together in a way that accounting tools like Zoho Books simply can’t.

White-Label Customization

Agency Handy’s white-label setup allows you to make the entire platform feel like your own brand. You can upload logos, use your brand colors, and link a custom domain (like clients.youragency.com). 

Every invoice, proposal, and notification email looks consistent and professional. Unlike standard accounting systems, it gives your agency full ownership of its digital presence.

Automated Billing and Subscription Management

It offers automatic invoicing tied directly to client orders. As soon as a client confirms a service, the invoice is created without any manual setup. It supports both one-time and recurring billing, with clear visibility into renewals, invoices, and payment history. 

Also, you can send automated reminders for overdue or upcoming payments, and clients can pay through PayPal, Stripe, Wise, manual bank transfer, or even crypto.

Tax Rate Configuration

Agency Handy provides flexible, easy-to-manage tax settings for both local and global clients. You can define region-based tax rates, apply inclusive or exclusive taxes, and even handle varying state or country percentages. 

In addition, the system automatically applies tax after discounts and add-ons to ensure accurate totals without complicated calculations. 

Proposal and Quote Management

This feature helps you send branded proposals and get instant client approvals, all from one dashboard. Once a client accepts, the system automatically generates the related order and invoice to save time and manual effort. 

You can also offer service add-ons or apply coupons within the proposal flow to make upselling and customization effortless.

Email Template Customization

Agency Handy’s Email Template feature provides complete control over your client communication. You can create or edit templates for all workflows, from invoices, proposals, and tickets to reminders and order confirmations. 

Each template supports placeholders, subject customization, and body editing so your messages stay clear and consistent. The latest update also adds an “Agency Payment Confirmation” template, allowing you to personalize post-payment communication fully.

Client CRM and Lead Tracking

Its CRM helps you manage your entire sales pipeline, from new leads to active clients. You can categorize leads by status (New, Contacted, Qualified, etc.) and value. That way, you always know where each opportunity stands. 

Once converted, all data, like orders, tickets, invoices, and communications, are linked to the client profile. 

Order, Task, and Project Management

This helps you turn client orders into structured projects instantly. You can break down work into smaller tasks, assign them to team members, set priorities, and track progress through an intuitive Kanban board. 

Meanwhile, real-time updates, due dates, and progress bars make it easy to keep projects on schedule and teams accountable.

Ticketing System

Agency Handy’s built-in ticketing system lets your clients submit support requests directly through their portal. Each ticket carries a full communication history, deadlines, and file attachments. 

Plus, you can assign tickets to the right team members and track resolution times without leaving the platform. 

File Feedback and Version Tracking

This feature allows clients and teams to comment directly on uploaded files, like PDFs, images, or even live web pages. You can highlight sections, leave notes, or draw annotations. 

Each file retains version history, so you can easily compare revisions. 

Role-Based Access Control

Agency Handy lets you control what each user can see or do with flexible role assignments. Create roles like Super Admin, Admin, Manager, or Assignee, each with specific permissions. 

You can even customize sidebar visibility to show or hide modules like Orders or Files for different users. 

Embed Integrations

This feature allows you to bring your favorite tools, like Google Drive, Figma, YouTube, or Docs, directly inside your workspace. Just paste the embed link, set visibility, and access everything without switching tabs. 

It keeps teams and clients connected to their most-used resources right where they work.

Time Tracking and Timesheets

Agency Handy’s Time Tracking helps you log and manage work hours accurately. You can start a real-time timer or enter hours manually for each task. All entries appear in organized timesheets, sortable by user, task, or project. 

Once a task is marked as done, its time log becomes read-only to keep records clean and tamper-proof.

Beyond its core functions, Agency Handy includes several smaller yet valuable tools that add convenience and control. 

• Appearance
• Custom Domain
• Sign-In Portal
• Email Setup
• Multi-Package Service Catalog
• Coupons
• Add-Ons
• Portfolio
• Forms

Best Use Cases of Agency Handy

Below are practical examples of how different users can apply it.

• Accounting and Bookkeeping Firms: Use built-in invoicing, tax setup, and recurring billing to manage multiple client accounts. Role-based access ensures sensitive financial data remains secure.
• Marketing and Creative Agencies: Manage proposals, client orders, and deliverables in one workspace. Convert approved quotes into tasks, track time, and issue invoices automatically without switching tools.
• Freelancers and Consultants: Simplify operations with branded invoices, crypto and bank payments, and client feedback on shared files. Everything stays organized under one clean dashboard.
• Subscription-Based Service Providers: Automate renewals, send reminders, and apply coupons or add-ons easily. Keep every recurring invoice tied to its subscription for better cash flow visibility.
• Sales and CRM Teams: Track leads from first contact to client conversion with structured pipelines. Each lead’s journey, communication, and billing history are stored in one continuous record.
• Remote and Global Teams: Collaborate securely across time zones with controlled access and multilingual, multi-currency billing. Everyone works from the same shared workspace, no matter the location.

Pros of Using Agency Handy

• Automates invoices and billing directly from client orders.
• Fully white-labeled for complete brand consistency and control.
• Supports PayPal, Stripe, Wise, and crypto payments easily.
• Includes built-in ticketing for client support and issue tracking.
• Enables real-time team collaboration through tasks and feedback.
• Customizable user roles with flexible sidebar and access control.
• Integrates proposals, orders, and payments into a single workflow.
• Simplifies tax setup for agencies with regional flexibility.

Agency Handy Pricing

• Freelancer: $19/month or $13/month billed annually 
• Team Starter: $99/month or $66/month billed annually
• Business Pro: $199/month or $166/month billed annually 

You can try it free for 7 days, no credit card needed. Plus, it offers 4 months free if you opt for the yearly option.

What Users Say About Agency Handy

Reviews on Product Hunt: 5 out of 5

“Agency Handy is a game-changer for agency operations, seamlessly integrating project management, client communication, and invoicing into one intuitive platform.” – Alauddin

Reviews on G2: 4.9 out of 5

“The setup was notably easy, saving me time. I appreciate the custom branding capabilities which uplift my brand and instill confidence in my clients.” – Brittany N.

Reviews on Capterra: 4.5 out of 5

“Quite affordable for the amount of features.” – Henry P.

Why Should You Choose Agency Handy as a Zoho Alternative?

Here’s a quick look at how it outperforms Zoho Books in the areas that matter most.

2. Wave 

Wave is a Zoho Books alternative built for small teams that want simple accounting without the paywalls or setup fatigue. You get unlimited invoices, clients, and bank connections, completely free. 

Plus, you can track income, record expenses, or take payments using Wave without switching between add-ons or complex modules.

However, it lacks advanced tools like time tracking and deeper reporting. As Suman A. noted on G2, “It’s great for freelancers and small businesses, but it’s not built for growing operations with complex needs.”

Key Features of Wave

Here’s a quick look at what Wave offers —

• Invoicing Software: Create and send professional, branded invoices in seconds, complete with automated reminders for faster client payments.
• Online Payments: Accept credit cards, bank transfers, and Apple Pay securely, with funds typically deposited within 1–2 business days.
• Accounting Tools: Track income and expenses, manage cash flow, and generate essential financial reports automatically in one clean dashboard.
• Mobile Access: Manage invoices, payments, and expenses from anywhere using Wave’s mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
• Recurring Billing: Automate invoices and payments for repeat customers through Wave’s Pro Plan or optional payment add-on.
• Secure Payments: Process transactions through PCI-compliant, encrypted channels with a built-in “Pay Now” button on every invoice.
• Custom Templates: Design invoices and estimates using drag-and-drop templates with customizable colors, logos, and layout options.
• Notifications and Tracking: Receive alerts when invoices are viewed, due, or paid to help you stay ahead of overdue accounts.

Pros of Using Wave

• Simple, intuitive setup without accounting experience.
• Unlimited invoices, clients, and bank connections.
• Fast online payments with low transaction fees.
• Clean interface for easy financial tracking.
• Offers mobile access for invoicing on the go.

Cons of Using Wave

• Lacks project management and advanced reporting tools.
• No dedicated customer support for free users.

Pricing of Wave

When it comes to a free Zoho Books alternative, Wave offers a free tier and straightforward pricing.

• Starter: $0/month 
• Pro: $19/month 
• Wave Advisors: Starting at $199/month 

Wave Starter is free forever and ready to use right away.

What Users Say About Wave?

Reviews on G2: 4.3 out of 5

“It integrates will with my contacts and have no issues with accessing the information later.” – John K.

Is Wave Better Than Zoho Books?

Yes, Wave is better if you need an easy setup, unlimited invoices, and automates core bookkeeping tasks at zero cost. Zoho Books, however, suits growing businesses that need advanced features like custom roles and deeper tax compliance.

3. FreshBooks

If Zoho Books feels overwhelming with too many features, FreshBooks can be a better alternative to handle invoicing and payments. With FreshBooks, you can send invoices, track time, and accept payments all from one clean dashboard.

It’s flexible too, letting you automate recurring billing and get paid faster through ACH, PayPal, or credit cards.

However, its reporting depth is limited compared to larger systems. As Mendel R., a G2 reviewer, noted: “FreshBooks strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality, though I wish reporting had more customization.”

Key Features of FreshBooks

FreshBooks simplifies accounting, invoicing, and client management with its following features —

• Invoicing: Create professional, branded invoices in minutes and automate recurring billing to save time and get paid faster.
• Online Payments: Accept credit cards, ACH, Apple Pay, and PayPal directly from invoices for quicker, more convenient payments.
• Advanced Payments: Manage recurring billing, store client payment details securely, and process online, in-person, or phone transactions with ease.
• Time Tracking: Track billable hours automatically, convert them into invoices, and monitor team productivity across projects or clients.
• Proposals and Estimates: Build customizable proposals with visuals, pricing, and e-signatures that easily convert into invoices once approved.
• Collaboration Tools: Enable file sharing, comments, and updates within projects to keep teams and clients aligned in real time.
• Team Roles and Permissions: Assign admin, manager, or contractor roles with controlled access to ensure security and accountability.
• Client Portal: Give clients 24/7 access to invoices, proposals, and projects for smoother communication and faster approvals.
• Multi-Device Access: Work from desktop, tablet, or phone with full sync across devices.

Pros of Using FreshBooks

• Faster invoicing and payments with built-in automation.
• Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve.
• Strong mobile app for invoicing and expense tracking.
• Built-in time tracking converts hours into invoices instantly.
• Flexible payment options including credit cards and ACH.

Cons of Using FreshBooks

• Limited advanced reporting for deeper financial analysis.
• Lacks complex accounting tools for large enterprises.

Pricing of FreshBooks

Whether you’re just starting or managing multiple clients, each tier of FreshBooks scales with your needs.

• Lite: $10.50/month 
• Plus: $19/month 
• Premium: $32.50/month 
• Select: Custom pricing 

Plus, you can enjoy 50% off for the first 6 months plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What Users Say About FreshBooks?

Reviews on G2: 4.5 out of 5

“Since I started using FreshBooks to help me keep my accounting more organized, but above all, to improve my performance in billing and expenses,” – Oliver G.

Is FreshBooks Better Than Zoho Books?

Yes, FreshBooks is better if you value simplicity, a cleaner invoicing system, and ease of set-up. However, Zoho Books is a better fit for larger businesses that need deeper accounting controls and advanced financial automation.

4. Xero

Xero stands out as a smarter alternative to Zoho Books, especially if you’re tired of high-tier pricing and limited user flexibility. At its core, Xero is built to simplify accounting through automation. 

Bank Feeds automatically pull in and categorize your transactions to make reconciliation nearly effortless. Plus, you can handle over 160 currencies with real-time exchange rates and accurate conversions. Meanwhile, Avalara-powered automation ensures your sales tax compliance is always current. 

When you compare Xero and Wave, Xero offers detailed reports and analytics to give you full visibility into your performance. Wave, on the other hand, mainly focuses on freelancers and offers limited reporting.

Key Features of Xero

Here are the key features of Xero —

• Online Payments: Let customers pay directly from your invoices using Stripe or GoCardless, helping you get paid faster and more securely.
• Automated Invoicing: Create and send personalized invoices in a few clicks, set reminders, and automate recurring billing for regular clients.
• Business Reporting and Analytics: Generate profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and real-time reports to track performance and forecast future growth.
• Projects and Time Tracking: Record billable hours, link costs to projects, and invoice clients based on tracked time and material usage.
• Multi-Currency Management: Handle transactions in 160+ currencies with live exchange rates and automated conversions for global sales and purchases.
• Sales Tax Automation: Automate complex sales tax calculations across US jurisdictions with Avalara, and generate detailed tax-ready reports.
• Bill Management: Capture and organize bills automatically, assign approvals, and pay multiple vendors at once for streamlined cash flow.
• Quotes and Estimates: Create professional online quotes customers can accept instantly, then convert them into invoices with one click.

Pros of Using Xero

• Easy bank connections and quick reconciliation.
• User-friendly for beginners and non-accountants.
• Real-time insights with detailed financial reports.
• Smooth mobile access for invoicing and payments.
• Global-ready with multi-currency and tax automation.

Cons of Using Xero

• Customer support response is sometimes slow.
• Lacks built-in sales order management.

Pricing of Xero

Xero keeps things simple with plans that match your stage of growth.

• Early: $25/month (Now $2.50 for 3 months till October 31st, 2025).
• Growing: $55/month (Now $2.50 for 3 months till October 31st, 2025).
• Established: $90/month (Now $2.50 for 3 months till October 31st, 2025).

You can grab 90% off for the first three months or try Xero free to see how it fits your workflow.

What Users Say About Xero?

Reviews on Capterra: 4.4 out of 5

“It’s easy to create a new invoice and send to existing customers, especially when line items are discounted – it shows those explicitly on the invoice.” – Jonathan L.

Is Xero Better Than Zoho Books?

Yes, Xero generally wins for automation and ease of use. Its real-time bank feeds and reconciliation reduce manual work dramatically. Zoho Books, still fit smaller teams that prioritize affordability and don’t need multi-currency or advanced integrations.

5. Bonsai

Bonsai is a Zoho Books alternative that unifies client, project, and financial management into one seamless platform. In fact, it simplifies your workflow by bringing CRM, project tracking, invoicing, and reporting together in a single system.

You can manage client relationships, track billable hours, and automate contracts or recurring payments without switching tools. Plus, its built-in client portal also keeps communication organized and transparent.

If you weigh Bonsai against FreshBooks, both handle invoicing and payments well. However, Bonsai adds deeper project tracking and collaboration tools better suited for agencies and small teams.

Key Features of Bonsai

Bonsai brings together everything a small business, accountant, or agency founder needs to manage clients, projects, and finances — all in one streamlined workspace.

• Invoicing and Payments: Generate professional invoices, accept global payments, and automate billing for retainers or recurring work.
• Reporting and Insights: Monitor project profitability, team utilization, and revenue trends with easy-to-read dashboards and reports.
• Automations: Automate repetitive steps like sending contracts, reminders, or forms to save hours of manual work each week.
• CRM and Client Management: Store and organize every client, lead, and vendor in one place with custom fields, tags, and linked contracts.
• Client Portal: Give clients a secure, branded space to view updates, invoices, contracts, and share feedback in real time.
• Project Management: Manage budgets, tasks, and timelines from a unified dashboard with Kanban, Gantt, or calendar views.
• Time Tracking: Use built-in timers or automatic timesheets to record billable hours and ensure every minute gets invoiced.

Pros of Using Bonsai

• Clean and intuitive modern interface.
• Saves time through automation across proposals and invoicing.
• Offers built-in CRM for better client organization.
• Centralizes communication with a branded client portal.
• Supports online payments in multiple currencies.

Cons of Using Bonsai

• Customer support can be slow or unresponsive.
• Integrations occasionally cause bugs or sync errors.

Pricing of Bonsai

Bonsai keeps pricing simple and flexible, so you only pay for what your business actually needs.

• Basic: $15/user/month
• Essentials: $25/user/month
• Premium: $39/user/month
• Elite: $59/user/month

You can start free to test everything out or switch to yearly billing to save up to 4 months. Teams with over 30 users also get discounted rates.

What Users Say About Bonsai?

Reviews on Capterra: 4.6 out of 5

“Bonsai brings proposals contracts invoicing and time tracking into one clean workspace.” – Katie S.

Is Bonsai Better Than Zoho Books?

Yes, Bonsai is generally better for agencies and freelancers who want an integrated CRM, project tracking, and invoicing tools in one place. Zoho Books, on the other hand, suits businesses that mainly need advanced accounting or prefer a traditional finance-first setup.

Key Features to Look for in Zoho Books Alternatives

Whether you are looking for an alternative to Zoho Books for personal use or professional use, you should look for the following features.

Customization and Branding Flexibility

Choose software that lets you make the workspace feel like your own. You should be able to customize invoices, proposals, and dashboards to reflect your brand’s style. Simple tweaks like color themes, logos, and layout adjustments help your business look polished every time a client interacts with you.

Smart Invoicing and Payment Automation

Find a tool that creates invoices automatically as soon as a client confirms an order. It should handle recurring billing, send out payment reminders, and offer flexible payment options like Stripe, PayPal, Wise, manual transfers, or even crypto.

Integrated Project and Task Management

Choose a tool that helps you manage client projects alongside your finances. Built-in task tracking, Kanban boards, and time logs let you stay on top of deadlines while keeping every detail in one place. 

Client Portal and Collaboration Tools

Pick a system that gives clients their own secure portal. They should be able to view invoices, approve proposals, check project updates, and leave feedback, without the usual back-and-forth emails. Remember, clear communication in one shared space saves you time.

Tax and Multi-Currency Support

Make sure the tool handles regional and international tax rules smoothly. You should be able to set tax rates by region, apply them automatically, and work confidently with multiple currencies. It keeps your books accurate, especially when dealing with global clients.

What’s the Best Zoho Books Alternative?

The best Zoho Books alternative is Agency Handy, an all-in-one platform that goes beyond accounting. You can bill clients automatically after they place an order, handle payments in multiple currencies, or crypto. 

Beyond that, it helps you to keep every invoice white-labeled under your own brand. Plus, the dashboard gives you an instant view of revenue, clients, orders, tickets, and even unpaid invoices, so you know what’s going on. 

With flexible pricing, role-based permissions, and built-in CRM and ticketing, Agency Handy helps you manage everything from first quote to final delivery.

Final Words

Finding the right Zoho Books alternative comes down to what your business truly needs. Zoho Books handles accounting well, but its limits on customization and plan-based pricing can slow you down as your business grows.

If you’re ready for a tool that goes beyond bookkeeping, Agency Handy is worth a look. It automates invoices right from client orders, supports Stripe, PayPal, Wise, or even crypto, and gives you a fully white-labeled client portal. 

FAQs

Is there a free alternative to Zoho Books?

Yes. Wave offers a free plan with unlimited invoices, clients, and bank connections. It’s a great option for freelancers or small teams that don’t need complex accounting features.

Do Zoho Books alternatives offer white-label options?

Yes. Agency Handy provides full white-label customization. You can add your logo, brand colors, and custom domain, so clients interact with your brand not a third-party tool.

Which Zoho Books alternative is best for growing agencies?

Agency Handy is built specifically for agencies. It connects billing, proposals, time tracking, ticketing, and CRM tools in one secure, role-based system to scale your operations.