Akaunting vs Zoho Books: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Akaunting and Zoho Books side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Zoho Books leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Akaunting
Free, open-source accounting software for small businesses and freelancers.
Zoho Books
Integrated accounting for small businesses in the Zoho ecosystem
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Akaunting | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $12/mo, billed monthly STANDARD CLOUD plan | Free plan, paid from $20/mo flat, billed monthly Standard plan |
Category | Accounting Invoicing | Invoicing Accounting |
Rating | 2.9/5 Capterra 3.8 · G2 1.8 40 reviews | 4.4/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.4 1,009 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Free plan limited to 1 user + 1 accountant and $50K annual revenue cap |
Choose Akaunting or Zoho Books?
Choose Akaunting if
- You need accounting features specifically.
Choose Zoho Books if
- You want a free tier before you commit
In-Depth Analysis
Akaunting
Free, open-source accounting software for small businesses and freelancers.
Akaunting's cloud pricing is quite expensive compared to many accounting software solutions, especially for small businesses.
Strengths
- Pro: Free and open-source option available for self-hosting
- Pro: Accessible online from any device
- Pro: Comprehensive features for small business accounting
- Pro: Supports multiple languages and currencies
- Pro: Client portal enhances customer interaction
Weaknesses
- Con: Advanced features like double-entry and payroll are only available in higher-tier paid plans
- Con: The free version is self-hosted, requiring technical knowledge for setup
- Con: Limited number of included apps in lower-tier cloud plans
Key features
Zoho Books
Integrated accounting for small businesses in the Zoho ecosystem
Zoho Books is the best value in cloud accounting.
Watch out
Free plan limited to 1 user + 1 accountant and $50K annual revenue cap
Strengths
- Pro: Affordable accounting
- Pro: Good for small business
- Pro: Inventory included
- Pro: Multi-currency
- Pro: Zoho integration
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited in some countries
- Con: Less powerful than QuickBooks
- Con: Support can be slow
- Con: UI dated
- Con: Reporting limited
Key features
Plans and prices: Akaunting vs Zoho Books
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Akaunting |
| akaunting.com/pricing read Oct 28, 2026 |
| Zoho Books |
| zoho.com/us/books/pricing read Nov 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Akaunting pricing and Zoho Books pricing.
Key Takeaways
Akaunting
- Worth considering for accounting
Zoho Books
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 2.9/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Zoho Books leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Zoho Books has the higher user rating (2.9/5 from 40 reviews for Akaunting, 4.4/5 from 1,009 reviews for Zoho Books).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Akaunting $12/mo, billed monthly; Zoho Books $20/mo flat, billed monthly.
- Only Zoho Books has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Akaunting and Zoho Books compare in 2026?
On the data below, Zoho Books leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Zoho Books has the higher user rating (2.9/5 from 40 reviews for Akaunting, 4.4/5 from 1,009 reviews for Zoho Books). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Akaunting $12/mo, billed monthly; Zoho Books $20/mo flat, billed monthly. Only Zoho Books has a free plan.
What are Akaunting and Zoho Books used for?
Akaunting: Free, open-source accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. Zoho Books: Integrated accounting for small businesses in the Zoho ecosystem.
What does Akaunting cost vs Zoho Books?
Akaunting's cheapest paid plan is STANDARD CLOUD at $12/mo, billed monthly. Zoho Books's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $20/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 4, 2026.
What's the main difference between Akaunting and Zoho Books?
Akaunting's main strength: free and open-source option available for self-hosting. Zoho Books's main strength: affordable accounting.
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