Managing your business finances isn't just about sending invoices. It's about keeping everything organized, accurate, and moving towards your organization's goals. At Zoho, we understand the complexity, which is why we offer two powerful yet distinct solutions: Zoho Billing and Zoho Books.
While these applications share overlapping features, they are designed to serve a defined purpose. If you have been wondering "Which one should I choose?" or even "Do I need both?", this guide will give you the answers.
What is Zoho Billing?
Zoho Billing is an end-to-end dedicated billing automation platform designed to manage all your customer billing needs in one place.
It supports diverse billing models, including one-time billing, subscription-based billing, and milestone or project billing, which makes it more versatile. With Zoho Billing, you can create professional invoices, automate payment reminders, and collect payments.
Beyond just invoicing, Zoho Billing offers advanced automation features like dunning management, consolidated billing, and workflows. Its wide range of reporting focuses on revenue insights like recognized versus deferred revenue, MRR, ARR, Invoice Aging, and more.
Zoho Billing is purpose-built for companies that want to simplify, streamline, and scale their billing operations with reduced manual efforts.
What is Zoho Books?
Zoho Books is a comprehensive online accounting solution that includes all the billing features of Zoho Billing while expanding into full financial and accounting management.
It enables businesses to manage their entire accounting cycle. Starting from creating invoices to tracking expenses, managing vendor bills, reconciling bank accounts, and handling inventory.
Zoho Books ensures tax compliance and offers professional-grade financial reporting, such as Profit & Loss statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Forecast. This makes Zoho Books the ideal choice for businesses that need complete visibility and control over their finances.
It brings billing, expenses, banking, and inventory together in one system, eliminating silos and errors caused by them.
Why choose Zoho Billing if Zoho Books has invoicing features?
It's true that Zoho Books includes invoicing features. However, Zoho Billing is specifically designed to offer more advanced, dedicated features for billing automation that go beyond standard invoicing.
Businesses that need to manage complex billing modes like subscription, project-based billing, or hybrid models will benefit from Zoho Billing's flexibility. Its automation feature reduces manual work, improves payment success rates, and ensures you get paid faster.
Zoho Billing also provides specialized revenue-focused insights that help finance teams analyze and forecast revenue trends with greater precision. In other words, if billing is a major operational focus for your business, Zoho Billing is designed to make it easier, more reliable, and scalable.
Which one should I choose?
Choice 1: If your primary objective is to automate billing, remind customers of their outstanding balances, and collect payments regardless of any billing model, Zoho Billing is the right choice.
Choice 2: If you need full accounting functionality, including expense tracking, vendor management, inventory management, banking, and tax compliance, Zoho Books is the comprehensive solution for that.
Choice 3: If your business needs both automated billing and full-stack accounting, managing them in two different applications can easily become confusing and might lead to several inconsistencies. That's where Zoho's ecosystem keeps you covered.
Designed to work together, these applications automatically sync the common modules such as customers, invoices, payments, and revenue recognition. With this integration, your financial records will stay accurate and up to date without any manual intervention.
By using both applications together, you get the best of both worlds: advanced billing capabilities plus complete accounting management. It's a scalable setup that can evolve with your business needs over time.
Whether you choose Zoho Billing, Zoho Books, or both, you will be equipped with tools that reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and help you grow with confidence.
If you are not sure which one is right for you, our team is always happy to help you figure it out.
Recent Topics
Turn Decision Box to a button
Dear all, I need your help on CSS to turn a Decision Box to a Button. I have a Decision Box like: Turn on/off to refresh the information. (on User Input, either True or False, will refresh the information) Now I want to simulate to treat it like a Refresh
How to restrict user/portal user change canvas view
Hi , I would like to restrict user / portal user change their canvas view because I hide some sensitive field for them. I dont want my user switch the canvas view that do not belong to them But seems Zoho do not provide this setting?
New Customization options in the module builder: Quick Create and Detail view
Hello everyone, We have introduced two new components to the module builder: Quick create and Detail view. The Quick Create Component It is a mini form used to create a record and associate it to the parent record from a lookup field. For example, if you have a Deals lookup in the Contacts module, then you can associate existing deals or create a deal and associate it with the contact. You can customize this Quick Create form by adding standard as well as custom fields. There is no limit to the number
CRM x WorkDrive: File storage for new CRM signups is now powered by WorkDrive
Availability Editions: All DCs: All Release plan: Released for new signups in all DCs. It will be enabled for existing users in a phased manner in the upcoming months. Help documentation: Documents in Zoho CRM Manage folders in Documents tab Manage files
unblock my zoho mail account. outlines@zoho.com
please unblock my zoho mail account, outlines@zoho.com
SMTP email sending problem
Hello, I've sent emails before, but you haven't responded. Please respond. My work is being disrupted. I can't send emails via SMTP. Initially, there were no problems, but now I'm constantly receiving 550 bounce errors. I can't use the service I paid
Mailk got blocked / Inquiry About Email Sending Limits and Upgrade Options
Dear Zoho Support Team, My name is Kamr Elsayed I created this account to use for applying for vocational training in Germany. As part of this process, I send multiple emails to different companies. However, after sending only 8 emails today, I received
Forwarder
Hi, I tried to add a forwarder from which emails are sent to my main zoho account email . However, it asks me for a code that should be received at the forwarder email, which is still not activated to send to my zoho emial account. So how can I get the
Less clicks, more connection – the usability edge of Zoho Desk
Imagine joining a new workplace, eager to prove your skills, partner with peers, learn new tools, and build a strong foundation for your career. The standards you've set could drive pressure into your head. You now discover the organization is using Zoho
No chat option
Chat option is not supported.
Direct “Add to Google Calendar” Option in Zoho Meeting
Hello Zoho Meeting Team, Hope you are doing well. We would like to request an enhancement related to the “Add to Calendar” functionality in Zoho Meeting. Currently, when we open Zoho Meeting and view our meetings under My Calendar, there is an Add to
Multi-currency and Products
One of the main reasons I have gone down the Zoho route is because I need multi-currency support. However, I find that products can only be priced in the home currency, We sell to the US and UK. However, we maintain different price lists for each.
Default Tagging on API-generated Transactions
If one assigns tags to an Item or Customer, those tags get auto-populated in each line item of an Invoice or Sales Order when one creates those documents. However, if one creates the Sales Order or Invoice via the API (either directly coding or using
DKIM cannot be enabled for the domain as no verified default selector present
Hi Support Team, For Domain DKIM record trying to enable status. but showing error "DKIM cannot be enabled for the domain as no verified default selector present" So, please resolve the issue. Thank you.
unable to send message reason 554 5.1.8 Email outgoing blocked
unable to send message reason 554 5.1.8 Email outgoing blocked
I can't log in to my account on Thunderbird
I've just had to rebuild my PC (calamitous mess from Microsoft with Win10/Win 11 'upgrade' - they confirmed I had to start with a new build). I have used Zoho mail for years via Mozilla Thunderbird, but now I've had to download the latest version of TBird,
Should I Use DMARC?
When I configure Zoho Mail's DMARC settings, it's mandatory to fill in the RUA and RUF (Aggregate notification email address*, Forensic notification email address*) addresses. When we enter an email address in these fields, we receive reports from the
Introducing Profile Summary: Faster Candidate Insights with Zia
We’re excited to launch Profile Summary, a powerful new feature in Zoho Recruit that transforms how you review candidate profiles. What used to take minutes of resume scanning can now be assessed in seconds—thanks to Zia. A Quick Example Say you’re hiring
Books API Receiving an Error that Doesn't Make Sense when Creating Credit Note - trying to use 'ignore_auto_number_generation' argument
Hello, I'm working on a newly created routine and I'm getting an error that doesn't make sense when trying to create a new Credit Note. Here is my POST request. Endpoint: https://www.zohoapis.com/books/v3/creditnotes?organization_id=########## Body: {
How do i move multiple tickets to a different department?
Hello, i have several tickets that have been assigned to the wrong department. I am talking about hundreds of automatically generated ones that come from a separate system. How can i select them all at once to move them to another department in one go? I can select them in "unsassigned open tickets view" but i can't find a "move to another department" option. I also can't seem to assign multiple tickets to the same agent in that same view. Could somebody advice?
Zoho Desk API Documentation missing a required field
We are trying to create a section using this information. Even after preparing everything based on that page, we still get an error. The error we get is this: {"errorCode":"INVALID_DATA","message":"The data is invalid due to validation restrictions","errors":[{"fieldName":"/translations","errorType":"missing","errorMessage":""}]}
How to move emails to Shared Mailbox?
Hello, I created a Shred Mailbox instead of using a distribution group. But I cannot move previous emails to certain shared mailbox. Is it possible move some emails from inbox to shared mailbox?
Collaboration with free plan user.
Hello. Do both users need to be on Pro plan to collaborate? Or can a Pro user share a note with a free plan user with the ability to edit?
All new Address Field in Zoho CRM: maintain structured and accurate address inputs
The address field will be available exclusively for IN DC users. We'll keep you updated on the DC-specific rollout soon. It's currently available for all new sign-ups and for existing Zoho CRM orgs which are in the Professional edition. Latest update
Send email template "permission denied to access the api"
Hello, Per the title, I'm trying to send a Zoho CRM Email template based on the advice given here: https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/community/topic/specify-an-email-template-when-sending-emails-in-custom-functions (I'd prefer to send right from Deluge
Zoho sign and creator error message {"code":9043,"error_param":"Checked by","message":"Extra key found","status":"failure"}
Good day, I receive the error message: {"code":9043,"error_param":"Checked by","message":"Extra key found","status":"failure"} when running below code from creator to sign, void TestForSign(int ID) { //Fetch Template Details (Optional, for dynamic mapping)
Zoho Inventory Now Supports VeriFactu for Businesses in Spain
Starting from January 1, 2026, Spain requires real-time invoice reporting for all B2B transactions. From July 2026, this requirement will extend to B2C transactions as well. All reporting must be carried out through the VeriFactu to AEAT (Agencia Estatal
Connection to other user
Zoho Cliq handles sharing of Custom OAuth Connections that require individual user logins.
Issue in Annual Leave
We created a policy to credit 21 days at the Start of the Year An employee has taken 16 days of leaves thought the year, so we expect to see 5 Leaves remaining right? But Zoho People is Showing 12 Days of Leave Balance Available If we check the Leave
Missing information data Zoho inventory
there some missing data in Zoho inventory connection. pick list stock counts bin location we have requested it via mail and the support team doesn’t gove feedback. has anyone achieve to get these info or to ask other ya les
In arattai received message can't be deleted
The issue has been noticed in following: arattai app (Android) arattai app (Window) arattai web While the message posted by me may be deleted, the ones received from others can't be. The item <Delete> change to <Report> when the message is a received
Enhance productivity with the revamped Zoho Sheet View
Hello folks, For some time now, you've been able to use the Zoho Sheet View to quickly edit multiple records or to insert a batch of new records. Its tabular interface allows users to engage in these tasks productively. Despite this, the existing Sheet
Analytics Portal
I have the "standard plan" and want to explore the portal option; I activated the 15-day trial but do not see the pricing for the add-on. How can I get the price under "Upgrade add-ons." Thanks Rudy
Can I filter a Lookup field to only show related records from another Lookup in Zoho CRM?
In our Leads module, we have two Lookup fields: Recruitment Agency – the agency that the lead came from Recruiter – the individual contact from that agency who sent us the lead Both fields link correctly to their respective records in CRM. However, our
Zoho Books API invoice email bouncing with 'relaying-issues' error
I have waited over 30 days for zoho books uk to assist with the following and i have had no replies or tickets erronously closed. The service has been terrible - very unlike zoho! So i am raising this here hoping that a community member can assist: Hello,
How do I filter contacts by account parameters?
Need to filter a contact view according to account parameter, eg account type. Without this filter users are overwhelmed with irrelevant contacts. Workaround is to create a custom 'Contact Type' field but this unbearable duplicity as the information already
Zoho Writer to Zoho Sign Template Misalignment – Request for Community
We are currently facing a critical issue impacting our live business operations due to a misalignment problem between Zoho Writer templates and Zoho Sign output. Issue Summary: We have an automated workflow in Zoho CRM using Deluge scripts that generates
Account blocked
Yesterday I got my Zeptomail account blocked due to too many hard bounces. My account is used exclusively for sending transactional emails (eg. your order has been shipped, a form has been filled, etc) and the sudden blocking impacted hundreds of websites
IF Formula
Hi, I'm having trouble setting up a custom formula in a field. Can you help me with it? The formula should do the following: If the created date is less or equal to 30 days the field should display a string New in pieline or Exisitng pipeline if above
View comprehensive logs of all actions in Custom Module History
Hello everyone, We are happy to announce our new feature, Detail View in Custom Module History, which enhances visibility, control and accountability over your records. Users can now access a detailed timeline of every action that has been performed on
Next Page