A simpler Zoho One alternative for small agencies
Last reviewed by the Agency Cloud team at Nilede Technologies
Short answer
Agency Cloud is a simpler alternative to Zoho One for agencies and service businesses with up to about 15 people. It puts invoices, a sales pipeline, signed proposals, attendance, leave and payroll in one app with one login, and charges one flat monthly price for the account. Zoho One has far more apps, but it is licensed per user or per employee and takes longer to set up.
- One app instead of several Zoho apps to connect and configure
- One flat monthly price for the account, not a licence for each person
- Built for service businesses: estimates, proposals, retainers and payroll
- Free plan with no time limit and no card needed, so you can try it first
Agency Cloud and Zoho One side by side
| Agency Cloud | Zoho One | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is priced | One flat price per month for the account, up to the plan’s user limit | Per user, or per employee for every person on payroll (annual licences) |
| Number of apps to learn | One app: Invoices, CRM and HR | 45+ separate apps that share data |
| GST invoices with CGST and SGST | Yes | Yes, in Zoho Books |
| Proposals signed online | Yes, typed or drawn signature, locked once sent | Through Zoho Sign and other apps |
| Office-radius check-in and leave | Yes | Yes, in Zoho People |
| Payroll with loss of pay and payslips | Yes (calculation and payslips, not statutory filing) | Yes, in Zoho Payroll |
| Time to set up | About two minutes to create a company, then a checklist | Depends on how many apps you set up |
| Free plan | Yes, no time limit | No free plan for Zoho One |
What Zoho One offers is taken from its own website on the review date. Check the source below for current plans and prices.
Why do small agencies look for a Zoho One alternative?
Zoho One is a large suite. For a company with a full-time operations person it can run almost everything. For an agency of five or ten people it often means setting up Books, CRM, People, Payroll and Sign separately, and paying for a licence for every person.
Most small agencies need a shorter list: send estimates and invoices, chase payments, track leads, get proposals signed, and handle attendance, leave and salaries. Agency Cloud does those jobs in one app, so the customer you won in the CRM is the same customer you invoice, and the person who checks in is the same person on payroll.
What does Agency Cloud include?
- Invoices: estimates, invoices, recurring invoices, partial payments, automatic payment reminders, bills and reports (income, expenses, profit and loss, tax summary)
- CRM: lead pipeline with follow-up reminders, proposals signed online, projects linked to invoices, and a client portal on the top plan
- HR: employee profiles, office-radius check-in, work-from-home requests, holidays, leave that accrues monthly with approvals
- Payroll: salary structures, loss of pay for unpaid leave and absences, review before finalising, payslip PDFs emailed with your logo
- Roles for owner, admin, accountant, sales, HR manager, manager and employee, plus two-factor sign-in and passkeys
How do the costs compare?
Zoho One is licensed per user, or per employee if you choose the all-employee model, so the bill grows with every hire. Agency Cloud charges one price per month for the account, and that price covers every person up to the plan’s user limit. See the live prices in the pricing table on this page, and Zoho’s current prices on its own pricing page.
When Zoho One is the better choice
- You need many business apps beyond invoicing, CRM and HR, such as help desk, marketing automation, inventory or analytics.
- You have more than about 15 people in one company.
- You need GST e-invoicing, e-way bills or statutory payroll filing inside the same suite.
Questions
Is Agency Cloud cheaper than Zoho One?
For a small team it usually is, because Agency Cloud charges one flat monthly price for the account instead of a licence for each person. Compare the live prices on this page with Zoho One’s pricing page for your team size.
Can I move from Zoho to Agency Cloud?
Yes. Start on the free plan, add your company details and tax rates, and add your customers. Your past records stay in Zoho for reference; new invoices, leads and leave requests start in Agency Cloud.
Does Agency Cloud file GST returns or e-invoices?
No. It creates GST invoices with as many taxes as you need, such as CGST and SGST, and gives you a tax summary report and CSV exports for your accountant. Return filing and e-invoice registration stay with your accountant or GST software.